28th and Sunshine

 An awesome day 

In every way

The sun came out this morning and looks like it will stay. Today is a most important National holiday.  Greece is celebrating 'Ohi' Day. OHI - NO.

 This day on 28th October 1940 Prime Minister Metaxas said 'No' to Mussolini who had delivered an ultimatum demanding occupation of Greece. Next morning Italian forces invaded through Albania.  The Greek army pushed them back over the snow covered mountains of northern Greece in a brutal 6 month campaign.  It was the first major defeat for the Axis forces. 

Today there is a military parade in the northern city of Thessaloniki, capital of Greek Macedonia.

  On Poros waterfront school children parade, wreaths are laid, speeches are made and all the island will gather to clap and cheer.  Not us though.  We no longer have small children in the parade and we have a stressful journey tomorrow. 

28th October is also the birthday of my dear brother Paul. Pictured here on one of his many Poros visits with sis in law Karen and K.

Happy Birthday Paul

A sign that someone up there is looking out for us

This feather appeared out of nowhere on our coffee table this morning 

Tomorrow we have another trip into Athens to the Onaseio heart hospital where K has to have some tests before they'll do his shoulder surgery.  We are stressing about the tests and taxis and timing. I believe we've been told to chill. We'll be fine 

Today I found growth in the garden

My green pepper plants grew happily all through summer and produced nothing. Suddenly they're bending over with fruit. Better late than never 

Flying the Greek flag

K raises our Greek flag a few days before all National celebrations

Granddaughter Luli with the Mayor of Poros

She was presented with a special award for her acceptance into the Athens School of Economics

Here she is with her Mum, front right

Petros with the glasses on his head is another award winner, a national kayak champion.  A future Olympian 

An awesome day

In most ways

It's raining again

We have an early morning sailing. I hope we are not stranded.  Friday there is a  national strike and there will be no boats sailing anywhere.  We need to be there and safely back tomorrow