Busy Few Days

 Tuesday we were at a funeral.  A beloved maiden aunt passed away at age 92.  All her nieces and nephews gathered on Galatas from one end of Greece to the other to say goodbye.  There were tears in the church, a slow 3k walk behind the hearse to the cemetery, and back, then coffee, liqueur, hugs and laughs at a café and a family meal to end the day. Cousins, friends and extended family in a warm togetherness

Life goes on

20th was Saint Lydia.... Or Poppi day. She and I share our name day.  Lydia is the nearest greek name to Linda. Tradition. She's named after her maternal Grandmother. Me

It was a busy day for me.  I made pastitsio (greek lasagna) and stuffed tomatoes for all the family. Delivered that to them.

Later we had an appointment at a bank to sort out our cards. 

The bank is changing from Visa to Mastercard and we get sent new cards and don't know why. Got that sorted. Very helpful girls.

 Most of our banking is done online nowadays.  We still use cards for shopping, with pin numbers 

I have the pins written down, somewhere.  But I had completely forgotten one.  I went to try a rarely used card in the ATM to see if it still worked, tried it, wrongly, 3 times and of course the machine ate my card

21st     

So early this morning I was down at the bank again.  Got my card back and the pin sorted in a few minutes. Easier when you know the bank employees.

 Daughter Elli is going to put all my cards on my phone. Sounds like a good idea as long as I don't lose my phone. I have it in a case on a long strap and wear it crossbody so I don't leave it anywhere.

Then we ran into the girls drinking a very early morning coffee before they both went off to work.  It is daughter Elli's name day.  Lots of hugs all around and 'Chronia Pollas' (that's Many returns, to you). It is also Ks name day and granddaughter Nels and Ks sister Dina

My Instagram 'cheers' to Nels and Poppi 

My present from the family

Isn't that bloody marvellous!

And so true

My superiority recognised at last

It changes colours at night

K in his happy place, surrounded by grandkids 

Thanks kids for such lovely gifts

Yesterday ended with the pick up of 7 x 20 litre boxes of wine from the vineyards of a vintner in nearby Nemea

3 boxes for us of white wine and another 4 of red wine for a friend

Tonight K will hold his name day dinner for friends. You don't invite.  They just turn up, most stay for a glass or 2 of wine and a plate of food, then move on to the next celebration. Half of Greece is celebrating today.

K is cooking, boiled lamb and pilafi, rice boiled in the lamb juices . His Greek friends will love it and smother everything in lemon juice

Meantime his phone is ringing every few minutes as friends, acquaintances and absent family call to wish him well

On Sunday we have the family dinner. Roast pork and potatoes