Doesn’t time fly when one’s enjoying oneself? I may be finding garden clearing hardwork but it is certainly doing me good and making me feel better – when I stop. My only problem is that I have a constantly recurring propensity to black out briefly when I am working hard. Everything goes black in my sight and gongy in my ears. I feel like I am going to pass out and fall over. Pauline panics, understandably. It happens so often now that I’ve learned to cope with it.
At least I am showing positive results in my weight loss challenge. Since I started sixteen months ago, I have lost 9 stones or 57 kilos. This is rather more than my wife weighs in her entirety. No wonder I’m passing out!
Liverpool couldn’t do it, could they? Even my friend, Giannis, who is an ardent Liverpool fan, doesn’t believe it any more but no one I know wants City to do it. We’ll see this afternoon.
12th May, 2014
Lots of garden clearing today. We are very tired and aching after it. Received a phone call from London from our underfloor heating company, Warmup. They want to know if we would like to upgrade our installation in Greece.
13th May, 2014
I’m sorry the Blog is even more boring than usual. We have hardly left our grounds for days. We are still working on clearing weeds and will be for quite some days yet. At least this year our lemon trees have fruited well. We are picking them as and when we need them. Unlike apples and pears, they seem to hold perfectly on the trees for a long time.
I will try to do something more interesting than photograph lemons in the next few days so as not to bore my readers any more!
14th May, 2014
I was wrong about boring. Our house was inundated with visitors in the afternoon. I will tell you more if and when I can. It was tiring and stressful. For four weeks we live a quiet life and then the world turns up. I don’t know about you but I find that tiring and stressful.
It majors on Greek Smyrneian cuisine and makes a welcome change from traditional island fare.
Today, we still felt full from eating too much. We worked in the garden and then started sorting things out inside the house. It’s nice to get rid of some old stuff at times. It’s also nice to reminisce through papers of the past.
15th May,2014
A chilly start to the morning on a calm and, eventually, reasonably warm (23C) day. We haven’t been out. Garden clearing was the morning’s focus. There is something reassuring about the small world relationships of a tiny, Greek island. We were clearing down near our boundary wall along the roadside. While we were working, Moshka’s husband, Apostolis, came down from the farm on his motorbike and stopped to say ‘Yassas’ and ask if we were ‘Kala?. His son, Nikos, came by on his bike and gave a cheery wave. Papa Boulis brought his brother down in the Hotel van, driving the flock of sheep before them. They stopped to admire our land clearance and to ask how we were. The farmer who we call ‘Smiler’ for obvious reasons, tooted and waved and our friend, the taxi driver, tooted twice as he went up and again as he went down the hill. These are superficial but life-informing contacts.
I tested my INR this morning and recorded a near perfect 2.6. It really is great to be in charge of my own destiny by testing and self-prescribing and it’s all free on the wonderful NHS!
16th May,2014
How can we have got past the half way mark in may already? Feeling the strain of daily garden activity. My arms and fingers ache, my legs are cramping. I’m finding it hard to hold the mattock straight today. Press on!
Only managed a couple of hours work today although the weather was ideal – a cool 23C/71F. Resorted to reading the newspaper and snoozing. It’s one of those things you can do when you’re retired. Lovely story in The Times of a sign outside a Health Club:
Fat and Ugly? Join our Gym and just be ugly.
This was counteracted by the shocking but predictable report of:
Research which heaped doubt on the rate of global warming was deliberatelysuppressed by scientists because it was “less than helpful” to their cause..
It’s standard stuff from the Climate Religion these days.
17th May,2014
It is a delightful, warm (23C) summer’s day. Out of the sun and, when the breeze is there, there can be a slightly chilly cutting edge. We ache from days of garden clearing and have decided to rest. We did our shopping in Apolonia and came home for coffee and the papers.
We have been so busy in the five weeks since we got here that we haven’t seen much of the island at all. We drove down to Platys Gialos. It was very enjoyable. The resort has been much smartened up since we were last there. Took these photographs en route:
We came back and prepared meal of cold, smoked fish and salad – delicious and very healthy. The only downside today is that Greek TV has not bought the FA Cup Final from ITV/BT Sport. Pity!
We couldn’t sleep so got up around 6.30 am. We even went out to the Café early – 8.30 am – to download The Sunday Times and gossip over coffee. Back home, we got the pressure washer out for the first time this year and cleaned the car. We must have English suburbia ingrained. Sunday Morning/Clean the car.
Didn’t eat much today. We weren’t hungry. We had tomato & cucumber salad with kipper fillets. Watched a couple of poor football matches this afternoon which confirmed that Chelsea are out of the race. Early night. We must get some physical work done tomorrow.
Just going to bed at 10.30 pm and Mother Cat turns up at the back door looking sweet and starving. Pauline opened a new tin of her favourite Italian Salmon. Well, it looks and smells vaguely like salmon but also contains beef and lamb. She loves it and came back for seconds tonight. I can deny her nothing!
5th May, 2014
Wonderful day – warm but not too hot. Spent the morning gardening and the afternoon sorting through clothes. This house is stuffed full of HUGE t-shirts, trousers, shorts, swimming trunks that I will no longer wear or need. We have filled three, enormous bin bags with them ready for them to go to the charity shop (or similar). Our special friend has told us of a church organisation who will receive them and redistribute – if they can find desperate, very large men who want to look ‘cool’ (not!).
Mother Cat was waiting at 7.00 am and was fed. She was back at 4.00 pm and was fed. She came back for another helping but we had run out. Of to the Notary’s office tomorrow along with shopping so she might get some more in the evening.
We have booked the hotel for our break in Athens. Interestingly, it was cheaper through Booking.com than by doing it direct with the hotel. Strange!
6th May, 2014
Went to bed late last night after watching Liverpool go 3-0 up with half an hour to go. Couldn’t believe it this morning when the BBC reported that they had drawn the match. It looks like it was all a step to far for this season. Pity. Busy day so up early and out. Another meeting with the Notary amongst other things and disposal of five/ heavy bin bags of clothes which we sorted out yesterday. The amount of money that has been piled into these things is embarrassing.
Posted Ruth’s Birthday card today. It must be difficult to be so old. Being so much younger, we went out for Lunch at Captain Andreas’ Taverna. Later in the evening, I watched the Manchester United team’s swansong as they beat Hull 3-1.
7th May, 2014
A blustery and chilly (19C) morning. We are spending the day gardening which should generate some heat.
The Notary has asked us to meet her again tomorrow morning. I am watching the City v Villa match tonight. City only need a point to be virtually sure of the Championship. It may not take long tonight. Walked round outside this evening. The air is distinctly nippy. Inside the house is wonderfully warm. The assessor said we have one of the most energy efficient houses on the island.
8th May, 2014
It is incredible that we left our Surrey home almost five weeks ago and have been living in our Greek home for a month. We have almost forgotten what it is like to go out to a supermarket and find, not only what we want but so much more to tempt us. It might cost more but it is there to tempt us. We have been in Greece for a month and I haven’t seen one Health Club. How strange the world is!
As the Geek from Hell, I catalogue everything. I know exactly how much I have in my Greek Bank account, my UK Bank Account, my Investment Bank Account, my ISA accounts. I know how much electricity, water, etc. that I use each week in my Greek house and my UK house. I record my INR, my blood pressure, my blood sugar, my cholesterol. I know how much I paid for my washing machine in 1982 and my coffee machine in 2014. It amuses, amazes and sometimes horrifies people. However, when the Notary wants some information, she is confident she will get the answer with paperwork to back it up. So it was today when we went up to meet her in her delightful office garden.
In line with my geekery, I capture and record the ferry timetable for our island – for future reference. At least it will inform my book. In the month since we arrived, these are the timetables in place:
9th May, 2014
Haven’t been out today. We’ve been garden clearing and really enjoying it. The day has only been interrupted by phone calls from our special friend and from the Notary. Otherwise, we have worked with a will.
Mother Cat is, at best, feral. She is a wild cat but, within two weeks of our return, has settled in to a twice daily feeding pattern. She is waiting at 7.00 am when we get up and is fed dried food and a bowl of water. At 6.00 pm, she calls for her Supper and has a bowl of fish mixed with dried food.
We usually have a chat before she eats but, when she’s finished, she leaves fairly swiftly and silently.
10th May, 2014
I don’t think I’m cut out for gardening. I just don’t have the stamina. Last year, The Pensioners worked six hours per day clearing our land with barely a rest. This year, these pensioners need all the rest they can get and don’t manage more than three hours per day. It’s not very impressive but what is these days?
Spent yesterday dealing with matters back in Surrey, writing letters, emails, etc.. I think I’m more built for the academic life.
Mum died six years ago today. I find it almost impossible to believe. It has gone so fast. So much has happened in the time. And yet the pain is still there. I weep for her.
My natural instinct to phone her and discuss the day’s events has, naturally, lessened over the years but is still there regularly. I know I will carry it until the day I die.
Went to the Cafe this morning and were warmly greeted by Christos and his Mother and Father. Had coffee and a chat to the practical joker – Makis – who keeps asking us to go for coffee. We must do it soon.
28th April, 2014
Out to the Accountant first thing this morning. Call in for coffee at Prago and post the Blog. I am expecting Giannis to call in the next few days to give me a mobile internet dongle. We have a number of things To do at the Accountant’s including requesting an E9 Form for the Notary. Don’t ask!
The day will be dominated by gardening. Fortunately, it is a cool 17C this morning which is conducive to physical work. Yet another football match tonight although I was saddened to watch Liverpool lose to Chelsea last night and for Gerrard’s mistake to be the cause of it. Maybe they can still do it.
29th April, 2014
My friend, Giannis, called this afternoon to tell me he had my internet connection ready. It is a new Cosmote wi-fi hub which will allow us to connect our two laptops, the Desktop and iPad.
What a wonderful man! He ordered it from his friend who runs Germanos on Leros. He was down in Kamares because the football team he coaches is playing here tonight. Internet in the Study. Life can start again.
30th April, 2014
Well, the last day of April has opened cold (15C) and wet. Now we have a wi-fi hub, Breakfast was improved with the radio – BBC Today programme with John Humphreys – which made my fresh orange juice even better.
Off to Apollonia this morning. Coffee at Prago but spied some very interesting people at another coffee shop. Mario’s Supermarket have offered me a job packing customers’ bags. I have yet to decide. I don’t know if I’m cut out for it.
1st May, 2014
May already. Happy new month to you all.
It’s a beautiful day here on Sifnos – just right for gardening. For the first time in this house I’ve downloaded my newspaper through wi-fi thanks to Cosmote Leros and Giannis. It will make life much more enjoyable. Happy May.
Pauline is booking a three night break in Athens to have her hair cut and generally swan about the shops to take advantage of Greek deflation. Electra Palace Hotel will be our choice.
All day cats have been howling in the olive grove. Occasionally, we would catch sight of a face in the long grasses. Tonight, to make our day, Mother Cat returned for the fourth consecutive year and brought two, huge children with her. They are much bigger than her so, wherever they’ve been during the Winter, they haven’t been starving. Pauline had saved two tins of Mother’s favourite Salmon and put one out in three separate bowls which were quickly cleaned. Children eh! Who’d have them?
More pictures to follow when I can catch them.
2nd May, 2014
Nice, quiet day gardening and reading the newspaper. We haven’t been out at all. Pauline cooked a meal of chicken, peppers and onions. Hold the Front Page!
Actually, one remarkable occurrence today involved our on-line Banking. You may find this strange but we have so many different things going on that I check our Bank accounts each morning normally and provide updates to Pauline who transfers them to her computerised accounts. She has been keeping them since shortly after we got married. With the re-introduction of our internet connection here, my normal routine has been resumed. Until today.
Today I was locked out of our accounts at 8.00 a.m.. I phoned the bank in UK and was told we were suspiciously attempting to access data. What was suspicious? We are in Greece! This is the first time in years they have found it necessary to question our actions. Apparently, it is a sign of heightened security because of increasing fraud from abroad. We don’t complain. Indeed, we have to be thankful they are protecting our assets so assiduously.
3rd May, 2014
A lovely day although only 19C. We drove up to Apolonia where it was like a different climate – three degrees cooler, cloudy and threatening rain. Tried to blow it down to Kamares to help with the gardening but without luck.
Pauline booked her hair apartment with Michalis Anousakis at his salon across the road from our hotel. She has been using him for quite a number of years now and, despite being a city centre salon, the charges are a quarter of her Vidal Sassoon stylist.
Last night we went to bed around 11.30 pm and heard the beach being blown up at about midnight. It was only a small explosion by previous years’ standards but it was audible.
We are not remotely religious. Easter used to mean holidays. Now it means the shops are closed and television schedules are more dire than usual. Nowhere could this be more true than Greece. We had a few visitors today with Easter presents but, otherwise, it was an ordinary gardening day. Actually, we went out to download the Sunday newspaper and we cooked a leg of lamb for Dinner but in all other aspects we didn’t acknowledge the calendar at all. We certainly felt better for it. How confining it must be to be tied in to those ancient rituals. Even so, some still need them and they have our pity.
21st April,2014
A noticeably warmer, gardening day. We are getting on quite well with the work. We have been here a week and away from England for two. It feels like a lifetime already. All this fresh and garden labour is driving my weight down again. I was hoping to keep these clothes for the duration but I may have to order new before October.
22nd April,2014
Warmer even at 7.00 am today. 23C/71F registers first thing. The wind is coming from Africa and the temperatures are set to rise. We may actually turn the underfloor heating off today.
A busy morning will start with downloading the newspaper to the iPad, visiting the Post Office to collect a parcel. I must say, they have become very efficient now. Our 60 Kgs in three parcels that we posted the day before we left England was reasonably cheap to send and arrived days before we did. I hear my friend, Giannis, has gone back there temporarily so I’m hoping to see him. He contacted me a couple of times in Surrey over the mum winter. We will go on to see the Notary in her ‘new’ premises. They have a lovely view. We met there before Easter. We will go to the café to upload this Blog. I am going to speak to Cosmote too, hopefully, organise Internet on the Go and top up Pauline’s phone. A bit of shoping and then back to garden clearance in the afternoon.
The newspapers are full of David Moyes’ impending doom. Personally, I would still like to see him given more time but it’s a cut-throat business. If Ferguson hadn’t been given time, the long era of triumph would have been stillborn!
23rd April, 2014
Out early but our parcel has not arrived yet. The reason is probably Easter delays. Working temporarily at the Post Office again, Giannis is sorting me out with a new (5th) mobile internet, USB stick. The new one is much improved and includes wi-fi reception. I know most wi-fi passwords in the locality so that will be helpful. I might opt for 20Gb instead of 10Gb this year although it may be a bit of an indulgence. We have quite a bit of news from and for the Notary at the moment so we are going to be seeing plenty of each other over the next few weeks. She tells us that her children loved our Easter presents and have declared us their favourite English people.
It was almost mid day by the time we got back to the house. It already felt like quite a full day. We decided to go out for Lunch. We drove down to Miropi restaurant. We had already had a nice chat with Apostolis (who also looked like he’d lost weight over the Winter) and now we were warmly greeted by Moshka who has always been a friendly favourite of ours. We met Nikos’ fiancé. She looked a nice girl. Her father, an electrician, helped us last year. We also had a lovely, long chat with Christos and his brother at the cafe. They were warm and spent some time trying to persuade us not to sell our house and hoping we will commit to the island for years to come. There are so many, lovely people on this island.
We hadn’t been home long when there was a light, respectful tapping on the front door. It was a courier delivering our parcel from Surrey.
24th April, 2014
Pauline gets her State Pension today. It comes round so quickly and always makes us laugh. She gets £451.04 every four weeks not every month. It is a small amount but better that a poke in the eye with a sharp stick as the saying goes. It almost pays our Grocery Bill which is helpful. When I get my State Pension in just under two year’s time, I will receive £640.00 (at today’s value) per four week period which will boost our income to around £1100.00 every four weeks on top of our Teachers’ Pensions. We have Greek island friends who would be very happy to have £1100.00 (€1300.00) as their full pension for a month. It would be nice to help them.
It is thirty years since I completed a research M.A. in the History of Ideas. It was research into late nineteenth century left wing thought. I did it while I was working full time. Now I’m retired, I’ve decided to challenge myself to some research in political thought through history. I am going to discipline myself to review the timeline of political thought development from Confucius, Plato and Aristotle to the current day. I will review things in my Blog as I deal with them intellectually so, be warned. When I get back to England, I will continue with my book about life on a small and very parochial Greek Island and the fascinating characters who people it.
25th April, 2014
Had two lots of potential buyers round the house yesterday, both for second viewings. They came with the Notary who we are getting to know very well. We are back to see her again this morning to sort out the required Energy Efficiency Report for the house and fill out the Well Registration forms. Paper, paper, paper – just what ex-teachers love!
It’s a beautiful day and I would rather be spending time in the garden but these are important matters to resolve. Maybe there will be time this afternoon. Did my INR test yesterday and it was at its optimum of 2.5 which is wonderful. Nowadays, I email the UK hospital and they reply within an hour with Dosage Advice. It’s a fantastic service.
I came out in a shirt and sweater this morning and, already, it is too hot. Met Giannis outside Prago Café this morning and he said my Mobile Internet stick and contract is ordered, payed for and on its way. He will phone us in on Monday to collect it. Wonderful. Thank goodness for that. The Notary has offered us free use of her wi-fi whenever we want. We are almost living with the Notary at the moment. She has been wonderful. We spent two hours with her this morning. We’ve set up the Energy Efficiency survey, completed the Well Registration, taken it to Nik in the Community Office and had it accepted. The process involved half a dozen phone calls including two to the plumber. Nik did a search on Google Earth for the co-ordinates and everything was filed probably never to be seen again. As he pointed out, this is as much to stop people opening new wells/bores or re-opening old ones without permission as it is about licensing working ones.
I’ve uploaded this on Pragonet which is lovely. They make good coffee and Pauline has a huge cheese pie which makes me feel sanctimoniously good. We ate out last night after a stressful/exciting day. We had chicken souvlaki and grilled vegetables. Pauline had bread. We did drink a little wine. Today will be a light one with fish and salad.
26th April, 2014
Up at 6.30 am today. It is a delicious, warm morning. It will be spent in the garden. Later, there are two football matches to watch and three more tomorrow. I’m going to get so fit.
Happy Birthday to me…….Got a nice birthday card from Ruth which gave me pleasure. It was the only physical one. Pauline wished me Happy Birthday at midnight and again at 5.00 am when a house alarm went off somewhere in the neighbourhood.
Of course, at 63, I am becoming an Old Thing although my mind is still fairly young.
8TH April,2014
We were up at 5.00 am and out of the house by 6.00 am. We were setting out on our fifteenth consecutive drive to Greece or our twenty ninth crossing of the Continent of Europe. We drove to the Tunnel – just over an hour – caught an early train and drove on. Always, when we get to this point, we are both thinking about what we’ve forgotten. Six months is a long time to be without something we need.
We drove off in Calais at 9.00 am after having put our watches forward one hour. This is the second hour we have lost in a week have put the clocks forward in UK last Sunday. We have a lovely, two and a half hour journey to the Cathedral and Champagne city of Reims. We are staying at the Hotel de la Paix in the city centre. We find it easily with our sat. nav. and drive into their underground carpark. It is only about 1.30 pm and we haven’t pushed it. We had two stops for petrol and coffee.
The hotel is lovely and we are soon swimming in their indoor pool and trying out their sauna and steam rooms. Much refreshed, we have some wine and and some nibbles and wait for Dinner. While we wait, we watch their only British TV channel – BBC1. Dinner is excellent. We had a salad and roast loin of cod (cabillaud). It fills us and we are soon in bed to prepare for the next leg.
9TH April,2014
We don’t usually eat breakfast but we have a cup of tea in our room and are ready for leaving before 9.00 am. We are driving to Mulhouse (Muloose) in Alsace. We have stayed there many times and like it. A four hour drive with stops got us there for around 2.30 pm. Same routine in this Holiday Inn. We checked in, unpacked, booked a table for Dinner and then went down to the deserted indoor pool and gym. We swam for the best part of an hour and then went back to our room.
At 7.30 pm we went for Dinner in their excellent restaurant. Salad and Knucke of Pork roasted in beer and honey. It was really high quality cooking. We don’t have Sweet but go back to our room for coffee and watch the remorseless questioning of Pistorious. It is such a determined, step by step questioning that I am beginning to believe I might have killed myself. I don’t know why he doesn’t just throw his hands up and plead guilty andput us all out of our misery.
10TH April,2014
From our bedroom window in Mulhouse, we could see the French Alps. There was snow on them. This was the first time we’ve seen snow in the 2013-14 season. In fact, this is the first year out of the 36 we’ve been married that we have seen no snow in England.
As we set off on our five hour drive, we are soon at the Swiss Border. We don’t really like Switzerland although the scenery is quite pleasant. The roads are awful and have been for the past fifteen years. Lane closures without warning, narrow lanes, multicoloured road markings, terrible drivers who never move over. It really isn’t pleasant. To cap it all, they stop us at the Border and grumpily charge us €40.00 for a vignette giving us the privilege of driving on their terrible tarmac.
The weather is hot and sunny as we approach the 17 km Ghottardo Tunnel. We are amazed to see, however, for the first ever time in our fifteen year’s experience, the mountains are thick with snow right down to the roads. We are amazed. It isn’t as if we are earlier this year. We go round the lakes – Lake Luzern is the first major after Basel and then Lake Maggiore on one side and Lake Como on the other. Then we hit the Milan ring road just at the end of rush hour. That’s fun. On past Piacenza and, after just about five hours we arrive at another of our favourite stopovers – Holiday Inn Express Parma.
No pool here but the Desk Clerk is called Elvis. Really, no one looks less like Elvis than Elvis Montiano but his parents decreed it. We unpack, log on to the internet and check our emails, watch BBC News and then go out for a walk in the sunshine. Dinner tonight was a sinful cheese and spinach pancake followed by veal which was just a little rare for Pauline.
11TH April,2014
The last leg of Western Europe is a three hour drive past Modena, Bologna, Forli, Cesena, Rimini (skirting San Marino) and to the port of Ancona. We are there well in time. Our drive has been relaxing and without incident. The weather has been good throughout since we left Surrey on Tuesday and the traffic has been relatively light. This is the beauty of travelling out of Peak Season. Even our ferry tickets are half price what they would be in July.
We check in at what looks like a Bus Station. Superfast ferries are our line of choice. They used to boast Italy –Greece in 18hrs. Now, because of the financial crisis, they cut their speed to save fuel and do it in 23hrs although, when we get on board, they use Greek time so our watches go forward for a third hour in two weeks. We are trying to avoid ferry-lag. To reward ourselves for having made it in one piece, we have a Luxury Cabin which is huge and contains a table, large sofa, arm chairs, a fridge stocked with goodies, a flat screen TV which receives BBC News throughout the whole trip down the Adriatic and a huge and very comfortable double bed. It also, of course, has a toilet and shower room.
We are taken to our cabin by a steward who explains the air conditioning controls and that we must close the curtains at dark. We are at the top and front of the ship with a large porthole window to see what is mainly just Adriatic sea. We go and buy a 24hr wireless internet pass for my i-Pad to receive emails and download the paper. It costs €5.00. In all the hotels en route, wi-fi has been free. At least, the satellite internet on board is strong and good quality. I can use it happily in the comfort of our cabin. One of the benefits of paying a large amount of money for a luxury cabin is to be served Breakfast free of charge in the A La Carte Restaurant. I would have thought free wi-fi would be a good addition. I wrote it in the suggestions box.
12TH April,2014
The Superfast XII had already called at Igoumenitsa by the time we were breakfasting in the State Room on Fresh Orange Juice, Bacon & Eggs and Pauline had croissants. We turned into Patras harbour about 2.30 pm. When we got down to the ship’s garage, we found it almost deserted like the ship itself. We were soon off and driving out of the new, Patras Port towards Kaminia a bit further up the Peloponnese coast where we were staying at the Poseidon Palace Hotel. It’s a nice hotel in a lovely, quiet spot. We’ve stayed there four or five times since the Old Port closed. It has a wonderful pool and access to the sea. The restaurant is pleasant and the room is large and incredibly cheap off peak. It also has strong and free wi-fi which is an essential.
13TH April,2014
Up early and settle the bill. Breakfast is huge buffet of bacon, sausage & eggs with lots of fresh coffee (could have had toast, doughnuts, chocolate croissants, fruit salad, etc..) although we were still full from the night before. By 7.30 am, we are on the road to Piraeus. We feel we own it. We are certainly paying a lot for its development through European Finance Initiatives. It was started four or five years ago but regularly ran out of money. A new tranche has been released and work is going on apace. It is beginning to resemble Switzerland because there are so many tunnels. At least it’s better than the death trap it is replacing. We know the route so well now that we are at Piraeus Docks well before 11.00 am. Collecting our tickets for Speed Runner, we are soon driving on board and in our seats.
I downloaded my newspaper in the hotel room and used the journey to Sifnos to read the main section of the Sunday Times. We snoozed a bit, watched TV a bit and had to fend off a beggar asking for money. It turned out to be Makis from the camping site on Sifnos. He gets me with practical jokes wherever I go. He is desperate for me to go round for coffee. I must do it soon.
We docked right on time just after 3.00 pm and drove to the house. It looked great and certainly was inside. Our friends had made sure of that. We later learned that two or three viewings by potential buyers had gone on in the last month before we arrived and they couldn’t believe that a house locked up for six months could stay so well maintained.
After unpacking the car which took about an hour, we showered, changed and went out to see Panos & Rania to eat at their restaurant. I had grilled chicken and grilled vegetables. It was lovely and felt as if we hadn’t been away.
14TH April,2014
Woke up to two shocks. Friends phoned to say they would accompany us to the Community Offices because we have to register our well – our water source. Actually, it turns out not to be a major problem and will be completed before the May deadline. The next and most important thing was to go to see our friend at the Germanos technology shop. He contacted me a few times over the winter in Surrey and I was looking forward to seeing him again. I have known him for years from when he worked in the Post Office. What a shock, then, to find that just a week before we arrived Germanos had forced the closure of the shop on the grounds that it wasn’t generating enough business.
I usually purchase a six month contract for 10Gb per month mobile internet on a USB stick from Cosmote. My Germanos friend copes with any bills while I am away and I settle up with him. Now I have to phone Cosmote direct and get someone to speak English to deal with me direct or we go to Germanos on Milos which is a bit of a hike.
15TH April,2014
Another problem that arose yesterday was the washing machine. It was the cheapest model in the shop when we bought it eight years ago because we only used it for six or so weeks a year. Now it is doing six months washing at a stretch and seemed to have failed didn’t really surprise us. The programmes worked although there was one, small problem. It would take in water which can be a problem for a washer. I had turned the water supply on. I unscrewed the connecting pipe but could see no problem. We agreed to buy a new machine tomorrow. I tried to reattach the supply pipe so there were no leaks over night, pushed the washer back into its place in the Laundry and forgot it. An hour or so later, Pauline thought she would give it one more try and, unbelievably, it worked perfectly. Our activities had dislodged a blockage of dried and crusted soap powder from the water inlet valve and our eight year old, very cheap washing machine jumped into action. Two full wash programmes later, it was working as if it was new. They don’t make them like that anymore – at least not in Greece!
16TH April,2014
Woke up early after a weird dream this morning. I never dream – or at least I am never aware of any of them. I get to sleep very easily and am dead to the world until the alarm goes at 6.00 am. Tis dream was bizarre because I was back in school, walking down corridors I had walked many times but not for the past five years. I was pushing a trolley. I’ve no idea why. Suddenly, I was outside in the street still pushing my trolley – a book trolley I think – I couldn’t find my way back into the school. Is there some deep meaning hidden there?
Did our second, big supermarket shop this morning so we now have all we need to get through the Easter weekend. Our lovely friend, Flora, took the trouble to contact us in Surrey and we looked forward to seeing her again. We get wonderful oranges from her father’s garden for my morning juice. We had coffee at the cafe and used their wi-fi to collect and send emails. A friend contacted Cosmote in Athens and we look like ordering a 20GB mobile internet stick to get us through the year. Things are gradually sorting themselves out.
We drove home and, after coffee, set about cleaning the patio with a real will. All this effort is already driving my weight down. I have now lost 54 Kgs and it is really beginning to show. All the clothes I left here last Summer look like huge sacks on me. Don’t say anything. I know they did anyway.
For our meal today, Pauline cooked Tarragon Roast Chicken with peppers and onions and a wonderful sauce. We had yoghurt and a plum sauce she had cooked. A lovely meal to grace a lovely day.
17TH April,2014
Woke up early today to the sound of torrential rain on the roof. There was a heavy, low cloud falling over the mountain opposite our house and water spouting from the rooftops. Fresh orange juice and tea for breakfast and we put the underfloor heating on because it felt a little chilly. It certainly feels colder than we did in Surrey. We are still struggling to sort an internet connection out even with help from friends.
Today, at Café Prago, we trawl through the Cosmote site and realise it can all be done on line. I will phone them tomorrow to iron out the details and then buy a 20Gb USB stick and contract and soon, we will be cooking with gas. (or surfing with electricity.
18TH April,2014
Had the underfloor heating on again this morning. A bit of a nip in the air outside. The only reason to mention it is that we are in danger of using the heating more in Greece than in Surrrey this yyear. Spoke to Cosmote this morning on the phone. We will be up and running with mobile internet soon and we will top up our Greek mobile at the same time. That done, we went up to the Butcher’s shop in Apollonia and bought 8 x large Pork Chops, 4 x Beef Steaks, a Fresh Chicken and a whole, fresh Mounara cheese. Everything is so cheap. Large Pork Chops cost less than £4.00 for two. Wonderful Beef Steaks cost £6.70 for four. These are prices that people dream of in Surrey.
We went on to Mario’s supermarket to buy staples – 8 x bags of dried, skinless chickpeas. We know from experience that they go missing during the Summer and are not replaced. Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, mushrooms, oranges for Breakfast juice. We gave Flora Easter presents for her children. We have them for the children of about ten of our friends & helpers.
This afternoon, we will complete the cleaning of our windows, shutters and patio and then start on clearing weeds from the garden. Let’s hope it stays dry.
19TH April,2014
We were woken up by a huge clap of thunder at 3.30 a.m. followed by a massive lightning flash. There was very little subsequent rain. Pauline struggled to get back to sleep but I went out like a light as usual.
Today we began garden clearing of annual (flowers) weeds depending on how you view them. It will do us good and keep us occupied for a couple of weeks.
Despite losing an hour, we were up early and out to do the week’s shop at the supermarket. It’s still very busy – probably with people planning barbecues in this lovely weather. It was 19C/66F at 8.00 am and forecast to be the warmest day so far this year.
Back home, we are still unpacking from our Yorkshire trip. I’ve got letters to write to people we met and we’ve still to prepare for our trip to France a week after next. We are going to Reims hopefully via Arras. I’m really looking forward to it.
Reims embodies the Champagne Region and I’m looking forward to visiting a Champagne House like the one below. It’s also where the Germans signed their acceptance of surrender terms in 1945.
There is also the famous cathedral, of course, where they took the trouble to carve images of Pauline and I in stone. We still look quite good!
31st March, 2014
Lovely, mild day to say ‘Goodbye to March, 2014. We will never see it again other than in our dreams. Did a quick trip to Tesco’s and then called in on Phyllis & Colin to deliver the pies. Colin didn’t look well. I think he is suffering at the moment. Let’s hope the pies perk him up. Pauline has set me a whole string of ‘office’ tasks today including scanning in and cataloguing a pile of documents. She obviously is embracing the idea of a ‘paperless office’.
Pauline is washing and ironing with a view to our French trip in ten days or so. We might meet sometime today if she lets me out of the Study.
1st April, 2014
Happy New Month and Welcome to April.
Right on cue for April Fools, the boiler had broken down in the Energy Centre and it was cold showers all round. We had to be out by 9.00 am for Pauline’s haircut so there was no time to prevaricate. Someone else contacted the Management Company to get it fixed.
2nd April, 2014
Had to go to the dentist to have my temporary cap replaced. My dentist is in Westminster (Pimlico actually!). When I was about 13, I read a short story called The Pimlico Kid. It was a thriller type plot set in smog-bound central London. Ironically, someone published a ‘first’ novel with exactly that title last year. Equally ironically, central London was forecast to be smog bound today with Saharan dust. Actually, it wasn’t bad and the temperature was a balmy 21C/70F. Men were walking round in shorts. I was in shirt sleeves and without a coat.
The trip to the dentist is a little longer than we would prefer – a 30 minute train journey from West Byfleet to Waterloo and then two tube journeys each of two stops to Pimlico. It’s very easy really and today’s journey saved me about £400.00. In Woking the Dentist offered a cap on private Dentistry for £650.00 but at her NHS practice in Pimlico, she would do it for £250.00. We’ve really enjoyed going there and, today, it took three and a half hours door to door return including the treatment. I’m not a great fan of trains but this was excellent.
3rd April, 2014
Today is the fifth anniversary of our leaving work in Education and joining the What shall we do today? group. Although the time has flown by, we still don’t feel completely adjusted to idleness. Never mind! Someone’s got to do it so it might as well be us. Just heard that the bloke who succeeded us at the replacement Academy has just been sacked (moved on) for inappropriate treatment of a pupil. It’s not a world for old men or even for me.
Had the burglar alarm system serviced this morning. Life doesn’t get much more exciting than that. The service engineers employed by our firm all seem to be chosen for their stature – tall enough to do the work without needing a ladder. We pay £250.00 per year for a response alarm system which is serviced twice a year by Custom Security Services.
4th April, 2014
Today, as we walked out into warm, early Summer sunshine, we looked at the gardens around our house. The flowering cherry trees were just coming into flower bud at this time last year. This year, the trees have flowered wonderfully and dropped and are now getting on with growing. Everywhere, Spring is finished at least a month earlier than last year. For at least two weeks, the fields have been decorated with May Blossom from the end of March.
Birds around here have already nested are getting on with the job of egg production.
5th April, 2014
We are on a short trip to visit our French friends in a week and Pauline is busy washing, ironing and preparing. I’m taking my computer for its annual service on Tuesday so I’m spending the weekend cleaning it up. I have Bank Account logins, Investment Account logins, ISA Logins, etc. which I wouldn’t like anyone else getting access to so I have to back them up and clear them from my machine.
Our near neighbour, a lad in his early 30s, went out in a suit yesterday and came back with a bouquet of flowers.
We couldn’t believe it. We met his Mum. She was younger than us. It has shaken us both.
It is only the first week of April but so warm outside this evening that we sat outside around 9.00 pm and shared a glass of red wine to usher out my 62 year. It was delightful and every moment like that must be savoured.
A bright, sunny, warm day which we spent indoors working on cleaning, tidying and research. We did receive a lovely card from Sifnos friends which had been delivered to the wrong apartment and was brought round this morning.
The weather is forecast to turn colder soon, particularly in the North where we will be venturing. I think there was some snow in Lancashire/Yorkshire this evening.
24th March, 2014
The travelator of time is hurtling the future towards us. It will soon be April and I will soon be 63. What fun!
A relatively chilly 11C/51F outside. Only going out to the Health Club today. Greece is in the low 20sC/69F.
25th March, 2014
We’ve got two trips in the offing. This week we are going to Yorkshire and, in two weeks we are visiting Reims in France. I’m looking forward to them both. We’ll need some Euros for France and they’re currently being sold at £1.00 = €1.165. Must buy some soon. Will it go up or down? Who knows?
Been out this morning to underscore some research – to get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Well, actually, we discussed the family relations with Pauline’s sister, Phyllis. It was brilliant. She not only remembered some, long dead characters but produced photos of some as well. You can always rely on very old people!
Here is a photograph from the first year of World War 1 showing Pauline’s Grandfather, John William and her Father, Philip.
What a tale it tells and what a changing world they were about to experience.
26th March, 2014
Up at 5.00 am and out at 6.00 am. The M25 was quiet and the M1 was fine. We arrived in Oldham via Holmfirth and Meltham, by 10.00 am. The weather was fine but cold. Just one stop for coffee and a banana. First stop was Joyce & Harry for a discussion about our research on the Farrow-Houldsworth family lines. Joyce & Harry were delightfully welcoming but chaotic on memory as usual.
Drove back across the Pennines and stopped on the tops to have a snack of tomatoes, celery and cold sausages before going to our hotel in Brighouse and checking in.
27th March, 2014
Yesterday we were up at 5.00 am and on the road by 6.00 am but that was planned. Today we were up at 7.15 am and in the car park by 7.20 am but that was totally unplanned. After a long day and still in the deep sleep of recovery, we were woken in our hotel bed by an almighty siren. We hadn’t ordered a wake-up call and, waking drowsily and slowly, I first thought it was the alarm on my iPad.
Of course, it wasn’t. The sound was shaking the walls of the whole hotel. We got dressed. Pauline was complaining loudly. I ventured out into the corridor to find the Fire Door open and a cold blast blowing towards me. We walked out of the hotel and into the car park as other guests joined us. Two fire engines were roaring up the drive and hotel staff with clipboards were ticking guests off their lists.
Fortunately, it was dry and not too cold and we soon walked back in through the front entrance with a strong smell of burnt toast lingering. Pauline, looking like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards but gorgeous, soon showered and dried her hair in case it happened again. Talk about shutting the stable door!
28th March, 2014
We didn’t get our early wake-up call today so no fire. Even so, we were up by 7.30 am and out on a meat pie hunt by 9.000 am. The pies are not for us but for Colin who pines for Lancashire grub. After a tour round Asda, and Sainsbury’s, we found just six in Tesco’s which will have to do for him.
We are going to see a new born baby this afternoon – first Granddaughter to one of our friends. Pauline took us into Next to buy baby clothes. I found it a remarkably enjoyable activity. We bought two outfits and this is one of them:
I meant to say Happy Birthday to Jane. I sent her an email saying:
After 60 there is no way back. Enjoy your day. Love from sunny Yorkshire.
She mailed back:
I certainly will – as we’re in St Lucia where it’s glorious. Both the Times and Guardian apparently have my name in their birthday lists – think I’ll have to be dead for that to happen again!
29th March, 2014
Had a wonderful meal out with friends at the Olive Branch restaurant in Marsden.
Still feel full this morning. Up at 7.00 am and we will set off soon after 8.00 am.
The weather is warm and sunny – almost like early, English Summer. The drive back is delightful. The temperature outside has reached 21C/69F. The traffic is conspicuous by its absence and all is well with the world. We have done the drive in three and a half hours although the last ten miles on the M25 were difficult and frustrating. The first thing we say to each other as we leave the motorway and approach our home – Yorkshire, Surrey, they’re like two different worlds.
It can’t last much longer but today has been glorious again with clear, blue skies and strong sunshine. The temperature has reached 20C/68F and the windows have been open all day. Pauline has been outside doing some garden tidying. In this weather, everybody has been outside somewhere.
Today we ordered a new Kindle E-Book Reader from Amazon. Pauline loves hers which is entering its fourth year and this is a newer, lighter and more powerful edition. She has literally hundreds of books on it. The real beauty of it is the free, 3G wireless internet connection which allows her to buy and download books and magazines but also to get email and even browse the web.
The Tablet, a leather cover and superfast charger all delivered in two days only cost £200.00. A Bargain! Pauline will get hours, days and years of happy reading from it. She can have one in the Lounge and one in the bedroom and they will both synchronise to open at the right page for her reading automatically.
17th March, 2014
The beautiful weather has gone! It was still here at 7.00 am but, as predicted, clouded over by 10.30 am. Fortunately, I stumbled across this infallible weather forecasting kit on Twitter.
We’ve reached 17C/62F this afternoon and it feels pleasant. The countryside surrounding our drive to the Health Club is a riot of optimistic colour.
18th March, 2014
A day of sun and cloud. The little cherry sapling planted outside our home is starting to come in to its own.
We haven’t seen snow or even cold weather this year. We are hoping that spell won’t be broken when we go up to Yorkshire in a week or so.
Our grounds were those of a Nineteenth Century Convent. All the planting is from the brooding, peaceful past. Deep in our wooded surrounds, huge Camellia trees are blossoming profusely but out of sight. Ever the intrepid explorer, I waded in with secateurs and brought back a bounty of pink and white blooms. Pauline trimmed them up and arranged them beautifully.
We touched 17C/63F this afternoon with pleasant, intermittent sunshine and one, brief, light shower. It has rained on five of the past ten March 18ths.
19th March, 2014
An overcast morning which is forecast to reach 17C/63F. We are leaving for a holiday in Yorkshire in a week or so and Pauline is organising our requirements while I am contacting friends to make arrangements to meet up. We’ve booked hotels and restaurants for reunion meals already. It is Budget Day in Britain so I will be glued to the Broadcast of the speeches at midday. With a election only just over a year away, we can expect some (bribes) giveaways.
As we drove away from the Health Centre this afternoon, the gauge on the dashboard reported 21C/69F outside. It certainly felt like Summer although are told there are cooler times ahead.
Certainly, the Budget warmed things up a little. The tax we pay doesn’t kick in until each person has earned £10,000.00 and that will increase by another £500.00 next year. The ISA, tax-free cash savings allowance is going up from £5,760.00 per year to £15,000.00 per person. Pauline & I can stash away £30,000.00 jointly per annum without paying tax. The Help to Buy Schemewhich appears to be fuelling house prices down here is being extended to 2020. A new (4.0%) National Savings Bond will come in by 2015 to help savers. We will take this help and then vote Labour in next year. Ironically, Santander wrote to us today to say that our £24,000.00 at 4.0%, two year ISA would mature in May and be transferred into a 1.00% alternative which will be less than half the inflation rate.
20th March, 2014
Out early to the local hospital for an INR check to assure myself that my own machine is working accurately. This will be the third and last time this year. I agreed with my GP that I would have it serviced and recalibrated after 12 months. We were there at 6.40 am but only third in the queue. Home by 7.10 am.
I’ve got into a bad habit of watching a programme called Heir Hunters which is shown at 9.15 am each weekday. I could easily save it to watch later but it doesn’t seem to have the same enjoyment so Pauline had to wait until 10.00 am before we did they weekly trip to the supermarket. It was chaos – old people everywhere – and impossible to navigate the aisles without being mown down by a mad Granny!
The Camellias I scrumped a couple of days ago are really opening up to show their true glory.
21st March, 2014
A nice, sunny morning but not too warm at 10C/50F. My INR result has come back by email today and, pleasingly, is just within parameters. The Doctor has written asking me to contact him about the results of my 24hr ECG.
Today and for the rest of this weekend I will be researching the Farrow/Houldsworth side of Pauline’s family because we will be visiting relatives in Oldham when we stay in Yorkshire. Some are Primary Sources for our research and the time with them will be valuable. It’s going to be a busy few days.
Summer has arrived. We are told that we will be warmer than Greece today and that everyone in the South is heading down to the beach. Can’t think of a better reason not to go there. The record High for this day is 15C/59F. At 10.00 am this morning, we have already exceeded it.
Happy Birthday to Catherine. I’ve made and sent her an e-card.
I was shocked to work out that, with all the age upgrades, she isn’t entitled to her State Pension until 2021 when she will be 66. However, looking as she does, it shouldn’t be a problem.
10th March, 2014
The media told us that we reached 20C/68F yesterday and it was certainly a warm night here. This morning opened a warm and sunny 15C/59F but clouded over by mid day as we were going out. We had an appointment at the Halifax to discuss moving ISA Funds in from Santander but they left us waiting for 20 minutes without explanation so we left giving them a flea in their ear as old people are inclined to do.
The Doctor’s Surgery phone me to say that my Blood results were back and fantastic. They are completely removing Pioglitazone and reducing my Metformin by 25%. There is actually a belief forming that, if I can lose four or five more stones in weight I could cease to be Diabetic. This will be fantastic although I’ll probably be dead from a heart attack. The results of the ECG will not be back for a while.
As we drove to the Health Club today, it was striking how a warm weekend has brought everything out. It was just waiting to display itself.
11th March, 2014
A rather overcast and cool morning for our trip to London. On this day last year, snow was falling in Surrey. Half an hour by train from West Byfleet to Waterloo followed by a couple of Tube journeys to Pimlico. I was visiting the Dentist in Chapter Street, Westminster. It looks innocuous enough but it cost us £8.00 for two coffees nearby.
Jane lives just across the river and, unbelievably, the Dentist lives just down the road from her and her Uncle lives in an Apartment in Imperial Court.
We left home at 10.00 and were home by 4.00 pm. We go back at the beginning of April to have the crown fitted.
12th March, 2014
A grey, chill start gave way to sun and 20C/68F by the afternoon. On this day last year, cars within twenty miles of here were stuck in thick snow. I know which I prefer.
We had a couple of trips out in the car to do shopping but sharp chest pains deterred me from visiting the Health Club today.
13th March, 2014
Beautiful, sunny day reaching 17C/63F. It seems to have shot past. Why does time do this to one’s life? After a series of fairly innocuous and mundane activities like shopping and walking in the sunshine, it’s suddenly tea time. There is something suspiciously wrong with the chronology of this world!
The evenings are staying lighter and lighter as March marches on. As I write, at 9.00 pm, the temperature outside is 16C/61F whereas Skiathos is only 14C/57 and Athens is a cold 9C/48F. All around us the gardens are full of heady Springtime. Blood red Camelias and pink tinged Magnolia jostle for the eye with Flowering Cherry and the carpets of daffodils. Mum would have loved it.
14th March, 2014
The day started off chilly and with fairly thick fog at 7.00 am but has soon given way to blue skies and beautiful sun. It is forecast to reach 16C/61F. This day in 2011, it was -5C/23F.
However, today is a sad one. It was announced this morning that one of my life’s heroes had left the world over night. Anthony Wedgewood Benn (Tony Benn) has died aged 88 years.
I suppose one shouldn’t be sad. He led a wonderful life and lived to a good age but it is always sad when a character of real influence departs. I was born in to an essentially middle class, Tory voting family, did an arts degree in English Literature and joined a middle class profession in Teaching. Hearing Tony Benn speak, I was galvanised by left wing analysis – essentially, Marxist Dialectic. I needed to understand it better and had to go back to its origins, its history. I found a young man at Huddersfield University – Dr Bill Stafford, who was looking for people who were interested in the History of Ideas, had an initial Graduate qualification and were prepared to research part time in the evenings. The overt prize was a Higher Research Degree, a Masters in the History of Ideas. The immediate prize for me was the introduction to a world I could otherwise only have dreamt of.
I read Marx’ seminal work, Das Kapital, I read Tonnies’ Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft (Community & Association), Max Weber’s Community & Society and this led me, ultimately, to the life and works of R.H.Tawney. Having been brought up a Roman Catholic and having rejected it completely in my teenage years, I was particularly interested in the relationship between Religion and Politics. R.H.Tawney addressed this. I read Religion and the Rise of Capitalism: A Historical Study on a beach in Greece. It was riveting! I began to consume Tawney:
The Agrarian Problem in the Sixteenth Century The Acquisitive Society Education: The Socialist Policy The British Labor Movement Equality Land and Labour in China
All of this time, I was teaching a full day, going home and reading and thinking. It rather got on top of me. I hadn’t been looking for another qualification just some understanding. It was Pauline who pushed me on and past the winning post. She sat and typed and printed out my whole dissertation – R.H.Tawney & the Medieval Tradition on our trusty Amstrad PCW. It was a labour of love and I was awarded my Master of Arts in 1988 when I was 27. It really should have been awarded jointly.
I’ve just done The Skiathan’s Greek God Test and I’ve, worryingly turned into Athena!
15th March, 2014
A delicious Summer’s day in Surrey. Everything looks so much more alive in the sun. Freshly squeezed orange juice, freshly poured Yorkshire Tea, freshly brewed coffee and newly downloaded copies of The Times …. these are a few of my favourite things and then I don’t feel so bad. Still got three 6 Nations Rugby Matches and two Premier League football matches to watch. It is too much for one man. By mid-afternoon, we have reached 20C/68F which is not bad for mid-March.
The other job on my list for today is to continue my research into the Farrow/Houldsworth family lines from which Pauline was derived. I’ve got it back to the 1840s and one more Generation should be possible before we hit the difficult stage of few, available records. I haven’t been helped by a Census Recorder or a subsequent transposer listing Farrow as Farraw and Houldsworth being occasionally recorded as Holdsworth. I have been helped by the families’ propensity to remain centred in Oldham something which was still noticeable of our pupils in Oldham Education during our teaching days.
Can you believe it? Almost April already! It has been another pleasant day of Spring weather until darkness when heavy rain set in. That’s the way the world should be organised.
Interesting week coming up. Pauline is having a fasting blood test tomorrow. I’m then driving her in to town to buy the new coat she hasn’t stopped talking about for months. She insists she needs it desperately. Why shouldn’t she? She can have as many coats as she wants. You only live once. And, on that theme, I will be 63 in one month and we will have been retired for exactly 5 years. Why does it advance so swiftly and so silently? Later in the week, I’m going in to have a 24hr ECG monitor fitted. I’m hoping it will illustrate the extent of my heart problem.
3rd March, 2014
Out early today to take Pauline for her blood test. The morning is quite chilly but dry. I think the daffs may regretting emerging.
Heard from a Sifnos friend which reminded me that I must contact Martin.
For some reason, I felt lethargic and lacklustre and ducked going to the gym which was lazy and foolish and I regretted shortly after making the decision. We are going to have a busy day tomorrow to make up.
We have to plan our trains and underground to get to the dentist in Westminster on Monday of next week. Watched an interesting analysis of the ‘London Economic Pull’ which clearly explains why property around us has increased by 30+% in the 3 years we’ve been here and why properties sell within days of going on sale. No one who works in the city can afford to live there. It only takes 20-30 minutes to get there by train from Woking where prices are relatively high but much more affordable. In fact, many are prepared to commute 2 hours each way each day to buy property they like.
4th March, 2014
Chilly start to a beautifully sunny day. Just 2C/39F although it is forecast to reach 10C/50F. We are off to the Peacock Centre in Woking to give Pauline a spot of ‘retail therapy’ as if she didn’t get enough on-line!
The strangest thing happened when we went shopping. Pauline took me in to look at the £80.00 coat she had viewed last Saturday and had decided she wanted my opinion on before buying it. Just as she was trying the coat on in the Principles section of Debenhams, an announcement was made across the store that all coats were ‘Half Price’ just for today. My considered opinion saved us £40.00 and Pauline got her coat!
Amazingly, the temperature reached 16C/61F this afternoon. The warmest this Spring. Chris, our Honda salesman/friend from Huddersfield phoned just to touch base. We look forward to seeing him in about a month.
5th March, 2014
Apart from going for a blood test. I hardly have any blood left in my arm now. It is five years since I started taking warfarin and statins.
The rest of the day was taken up with research, photography plus editing and presenting material for the Management Committee to present to Woking Council.
Pauline & I will have to attend a Planning Hearing in mid – late April. Ironically, we received a lovely letter from our Sifnos friends this afternoon.
6th March, 2014
Chilly start to a wonderful, Spring day. Had to attend the local hospital to have an ambulatory ECG monitor fitted. Straight off to the Supermarket to do the weekly shop and then home to finish of the research and email it off. I have a Diary to keep for the 24hrs to allow the analysis to be tied in with the readings. There was some suggestion this morning that I may have to have a pacemaker fitted. Certainly, my heart was originally in intermittent atrial fibrillation but in recent times it is in that state every time it is checked. May be they will be able to shock it back in to regularity.
Pauline’s friend, Margaret, phoned to say her daughter had had a baby daughter after a particularly long and difficult delivery which spread over three days. Unimaginable! We’re going to visit Margaret in Yorkshire in a month.
I’m determined to do a standard day so, after coffee and reading the paper, we go to the Health Club for an hour. Thirty minutes on the jogging machine followed by fifteen minutes on a cycle. We left the rowing machine out today to avoid dislodging the chest sensors. Even so, I was sweating as we left. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to shower because of the sensors. Pauline had to sponge me down. Too much information? Sorry!
7th March, 2014
Wonderful day which reached 21C/69F in mid-afternoon. Lovely sunshine. We went out reasonably early to return the ECG monitor. By the time we returned, the gardeners had arrived and were hard at it. The grounds are tended every Friday. We’ve recently appointed a new team of gardeners at a cost of £12,000.00 per year. They are excellent and very hard working.
It is wonderful to see the Spring signs on trees and bushes, plants and bulbs and the abundance of birdlife. It was a planning stipulation of Woking Borough Council that bird boxes were put up on the trees throughout the property. We wake up to a concerto of thrushes advertising their wares.
8th March, 2014
Another Wonderful Spring Day. Sunny and 16C/61F. It makes one celebrate being alive! I got so carried away, I had my hair cut. Around here they charge £35.00 to cut men’s hair. Mine is done for free. Working on the principle that my hair is cut 6 times per year, in the past 36 years at today’s prices, I’ve saved 6 x £35.00 = £210.00 x 36 = £7,560.00. Could have had a really good meal out and a bottle of fine wine for that price.
