One Day

 I woke up this morning with a feeling of doom and gloom.  It must have just been winter blues because the day has gone quite smoothly.

Spit spit spit...... Go away dark thoughts

I talked to one of my granddaughters on the phone and saw a daughter in town with her crowd of happy coffee drinking friends.

I have every reason to be happy

This afternoon as I was returning from my daily walk my son in law Yiannis whizzed past on his bike. Another cheery greeting and a wave.  He's super fit biking up our hills and around the island. 

Yiannis wind surfing in yesterday's Saharan dust storm

There aren't many people around when I go out.  It's gets chilly early. I usually see more dogs and goats than humans. 

But this evening there were neighbours up the road clearing out a shed. We called cheery  'good evenings' and on my return another neighbour slowed down as he drove past and we exchanged a 'how's things' before each continuing on our way.

The day started with morning coffee, sitting in our lounge with the sun pouring through the big windows. 

Then it was time to get out of the house for our weekly shop. 

First stop at the bottom of the mountain were the rubbish bins to toss our rubbish and recycling.  I checked our post box which is in a bank of boxes on  the roadside there.  'Lo' my Xmas calendar from cousin Jenny in NZ had arrived.  I bet she sent it months ago.  I love the way Jenny always sends a photo too.

I must get some photos printed and send them to friends and family.  It's lovely to have an actual colour close-up to stick on the fridge. 

If I send them next month they might just arrive before next Christmas!

After the rubbish drop off we went to one of the bike hire places so K could look for a new helmet.  I go on about how peaceful and safe this island is but it's not crime free.  His helmet was stolen from the closed baggage carrier on his motor bike which was parked right outside our house. Who the hell took it??  We are both puzzled and disappointed. 

The dogs all bark when a stranger goes down our road. I often go outside and see who it is. Nosey? Yes!   Who was skulking around  and what were they looking for besides his helmet?  And oddly enough they also took the board of nails he leaves on the bike seat to deter cats. Kids?  Who knows

I'm glad we have shutters which I can shut tight. 

We went to Kostas Bike shop to look for a helmet. Kosta is a school friend of my K and his  shop is open all year round.  I left them to reminisce and wandered along the waterfront to take photos. 

On one side there were blue skies and on the other storm clouds. The storm clouds soon covered all the sky but the rain has kept away today. Tomorrow will be wet again.  We've had plenty of rain this winter. The vineyards and olive groves around us still have a lot of ground water. 

K can buy a helmet for 45 euros from Kostas. He has an old one he can wear while he decides what to do. His bike also has a flat battery. We use the car more in winter. 

On to the supermarket where I was again aware of price rises.

A good cheese from Crete or the island of Naxos can be up to 20 euros a kilo.  We only buy feta now, at around 10 euros a kilo or gouda which is even cheaper.  K is finicky where his feta is concerned.  It has to come from Kalamata (where those olives grow) or from a village up north.  They all taste the same to me.  Strong

Bread and milk prices have remained steady.  Honey has risen by a few euros.  We usually buy our honey from our little Farmer's market but use cheaper stuff for baking.  I use honey instead of molasses, treacle or golden syrup. 

I often buy supermarket brands because they're a cheaper version.   Macaroni, flour, are fine. 

 Filter coffee prices have gone up. We are only given the choice of Jacobs....or Jacobs, the most expensive on the market here.  The downside of living in a small town. 

Last stop the Allwyn shop.  All-wyn?  Who are they kidding.  This is the betting shop.  It's where we play EuroJackpot and Joker.  I checked the numbers I played a couple of weeks ago.  I often win a couple of euros.  Nothing this time.  But it's only 4 euros to play both games.  If you don't play you can't win!

I usually buy a 1 euro Scratch card too so it comes out at an even 5 euros. 

Home again

Home again, James

And don't spare the horses

As my grandmother loved to say