NOT Santa Barbara

 Barbara is the name of the cold front which has moved into Greece from southern Europe. 

We are sitting beside the fire watching the Athenians in the northern suburbs struggling with snowy roads. It was announced on tv days ago that anyone driving on city and national roads must have snow chains. If there's no snow they must have them in the car or there'll be a fine of 80 euros.  We are goggling at the number of drivers being turned around as they try to drive onto the snowy  Athens motorway and ring roads. 

Honestly, where do they think they're going. I hope they are actually being fined as well.

It has been raining here this morning but no snowflakes yet. K was supposed to be going to the yearly cutting of the ex-Navy New Years cake. Greek tradition which goes on till the end of the month. He decided to stay at home and warm up with a tot of something fiery. I'm not sure that's a good idea.  He could easily have gone down and would have had company to swap Navy tales with other old-salts. They're worse than fishermen with 'the one that got away'.

Here he's stuck with me and the TV.

To make it worse the television crews are highlighting tavernas in small villages with spits of roast pig and offal. 

I roasted a chicken, with lemon and oregano, in our wood fire oven last night so it only needs warming up.

Sad for K though. Roast chook does not compare favourably with roast pig on a day like this.

Snow is falling on the hills opposite.

Those clouds are unloading snow. It probably won't fall any lower than the mountain top.

Thanks for the photo Elli 

Northern Greece is properly snowed under.

Schools all over the region of Attiki (Athens, Piraeus, suburbs, and us) will be closed tomorrow.

Only essential shops and services will be open.

High winds, rough seas have meant inter island boats aren't allowed to leave port. Poros car ferries and taxi boats will still be working unless the straits get very turbulent. That probably happens a couple of times a year, for several hours.

But who knows. News is that there's worse to come. And it will last till Wednesday.

The US nuclear aircraft carrier, George W Bush, is moored out in the Bay near Piraeus. They don't have to worry about the weather. It carries a crew of 6,000 and 85 fighter jets. 

It's here to strengthen the NATO alliance, so they say. A message of strength being sent to Turkey!