This Week

 This week on a Greek island

K changed the flags again.

We were given a brand new Greek flag which is supposed to be of a stronger material which will not tear or fade in the sun.  

We will see

More gifts from Greeks.

4 old but sturdy wooden chairs with reclining backs

They need sandpapering and varnishing.

Will they be repaired and repainted or will they end up being used as they are now

The bed bases we acquired last winter are now out in the garden covered with a tarp.

That's an olive tree beside them. We got that tree about 8 years ago. It's almost the same size and never has any olives. A bit of a disappointment but it's healthy enough.

Son in law Kyriakos 

With a cup of greek coffee and bag of funeral wheat

Saturday morning was a 1 year memorial for a friend of ours. 

After the church service we all went for coffee as is the tradition. We are given a small bag with funeral wheat, plastic spoons to eat it with and a very nice muffin.

I just had a sugarless Greek coffee. I didn't drink my usual 2 or 3 glasses of the sweet liqueur.  It is sweet and easy to drink a few small shot glasses and wobble home.

After the coffee we were all invited by the family to a lunch downtown. It might have been a sad memorial for a friend gone before his time but it was a nice day. 

About 30 friends and relatives gathered. We had a really good lunch at one of the few harbourside tavernas still open. It was a beautiful sunny day, the food was excellent, the wine, according to the expert was very drinkable and the company and conversation most enjoyable.

The Greeks have many different courtesies which they utter at these times.

One of them is

'May you live long and remember him with love'. 

And that's what we are doing

Sunday lunch

Fresh fish fried by my fisher man. A variety of small fish from the Aegean.

Eaten with potatoes baked with lots of lemon juice, garlic and oil.

No Greek salad. 

Simply accompanied by bread and wine.