Monday 31 December 2018

The Eve

New Years Eve 
Here we go again, but at least not in our house.  The cooking and eating will be happening in my daughter's house, and they'll be doing the washing up.  Thanks Elli and Kyriakos.
And they'll be doing New Years day lunch.

Carol singing day again for small children who come knocking on the door trilling this day's song and banging metal triangles.  I don't know how much banging and trilling was done on Poros today.  No-one came a-knocking on our door out in the wilds.  It is pouring with rain and bitterly cold.

The carol (kalanda) today proclaims the arrival of St Basil.  My youngest grandchildren go from door to door and into every shop asking 'can we say it?'  A few people actually say 'no' having heard the same kalanda many times since early morning.  Not nice.  This is an age old tradition.  The housewife used to give the singers a sweet or cake, nowdays they get a coin.  The kids go in groups and can earn quite an impressive sum of money.  Xmas Eve they sing another carol and on the eve of Epiphany, 6th January.

Kosta is making bone soup today to keep out the cold and I'm making a 'vasilopita', the New Years cake with a lucky coin in it.

Tonight we have to descend to sea-level at 10pm to see-in the New Year with some of the family.  Ye gods and little fishes.  My traditional person would not let me miss this such important occasion but i would very happily stay at home, go to bed at 10pm and let the storm rage and the year change without my participation.  The year will change with or without my presence and what will be will be

10 hours later, still raining chair legs and snow falling on the hills around Athens



Happy New Year from sunny Greece






26 comments:

  1. Wisps of Words was here....!!!

    Happy New Year!!!

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  2. You too! Have a year full of happiness , good neighbours and great health

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  3. Wishing you both a Happy and Healthy New Year , may it be filled with Blessings galore.
    Hugs,
    ~Jo

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  4. Happy new year to you and your family.

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  5. Thank you Yael. All the very best to you. Hope this year is peaceful

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  6. I would want to stay home in the warm too, and go to be! Happy New Year Linda!

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    1. I wrapped up very very warmly! Almost over and I can at long last get to my bed!!!
      All the best for you....my warmest wishes

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  7. Happy New Year to you. I would have gone to bed nice and snug.

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  9. Keep Warm. Enjoying good food, family and friends.

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    1. Know you're having a marvellous time! Happy new year

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  10. Happy new year and all the best in 2019!

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  11. Dry, sunny, and cold, here. I should be in Oz.

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    1. Dry, sunny and cold sounds like our weather till today. A lot of rain has fallen but I guess the earth needed it.

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  12. Happy New Year and here's to a fantastic 2019.

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    1. And a happy and fruitful 2019 for you and your other half with lots of concerts, music and an abundant garden

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  13. Yup. I’d of much rather stay at home by the warm fire
    Stay warm and dry
    Many blessings to your family for the new year xx

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    1. Thank you Angela. Still very cold here. Rain and wind. It is forecast to be 4oC here tomorrow. We lit the fire early this morning and are cooking food in the oven at the top of the stove.
      Hope 21019 brings you a lot of happiness and better health! Kronia Polla

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  14. Happy new year to you too. Bet it's cold there, you're welcome to come here, it's roasting.

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    1. Freezing here and roasting downunder! Just as it should be I suppose but I wish the sun would come out just a little.
      Wishing you many happy days in 2019 with good health and fruitfulness

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  15. And she snuck in here very quietly without my presence. Not quite as cold at our house as it was at yours though:)
    Happy New Year to you and your family Linda
    Take care
    Cathy

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    1. We both seem to be having extremes of temperature though my family in Perth are not complaining. Lots of lovely photos of them on the beach on New Years day.

      All the best Cathy. Hope you and your family have a happy 2019

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