MAGIC IN THE AIR

You know those days near the end of winter, when the bright sunshine and magic in the air fool you into thinking that the dark days are over and Spring is here. Then a few days later, the snow and winds return and you are back in the midst of winter again? Well, we had a couple of those magical days this week when the sun shone, the birds sang and the air shimmered with warmth and promise. We drove to Bali yesterday to take a walk around the four coves there – up and down the rocky headlands and enjoying every view with bright yellow flowers reflecting the sun and lighting up the fields and hedgerows wherever we went.

The water is so clear you can hardly see the message in a bottle

On Wednesday 4 January, we woke to another sunny morning and decided promptly that it was warmer out of the house than in … therefore imperative to go out for a spell. The track to our village cove is not that easy to find and having done a bit of shopping and asking directions we nudged our way through all the variously parked cars in the alleyways to get on the right track for the beach. The road winds up and down (but mainly up hill) over big bumps and puddles until you are at the top of tall cliffs looking down and down a slippery dirt track which hairpins a few times to a tiny cove with a pebbly beach. If you wanted a swim, it would be way too much of a hassle to get there, but we had other plans.

Bearing in mind our adventures at Geropotamos beach a month or so back, we wisely left the car at the top of the incline and Kimon stumped down to the beach with his fishing gear while I set up a comfy chair, paintbox and sketchbook at the top looking out to the blue horizon. It was WONDERFUL in the warm sun, with a very calm sea lapping round the rocks and onto the pebbles. A brilliant way to spend an hour or two and the end results were not works of art – but we just soaked it all up while we had the chance. Just as we were leaving, a small yacht wound round the headland trailing a dinghy behind it making its way to Panormo. It was the only sign of other people around that we had seen all morning.

The slippery path down to the Cove ...

On our return, the Postman had been and we had a lovely parcel to open from our son which had taken quite a long time to get to Crete along with a few Christmas cards. I had often noticed that the Postman carried a large leather briefcase wherever he went and was fascinated to see that several people gave Mikalis the Postie, money to pay their bills and he was able to cash cheques for them. Postmen in Crete are obviously people in a position of absolute trust - and we are confident that our parcels will all get to us eventually. We notice that packets and parcels are put on buses and left at tavernas and cafeneons, picked up by other people and delivered to the next point. No one would dream of interfering with them and they always seem to arrive sooner or later. We have a feeling that these longed for items will be arriving throughout January – which makes New Year all the more interesting and enjoyable.

New Year at the Melody Garden

New Year itself was spent in Rethymnon and it poured with rain all night long. The Mayor had already cancelled having any fireworks in the town square for New Year because of the austerity measures and so it was a relief to find ourselves at a nice warm, dry restaurant called the Melody Garden with a good Greek music group and great food. The part of the taverna where we sat was in the cellars a little away from too much noise and we really enjoyed the meal, watching Greek families celebrating and even a little dancing in the minimal space available. New Year came and went, Kimon put a piece of charcoal over Anna's doorway to signify 'first footing'.

Epiphany is a big day in the Greek calendar when the priests and bishops come down to the water's edge to bless the waters – salt and fresh - all of which play a huge part in the livelihood of Crete. We hear that the Priests throw a Cross into the water and then several boys dive into the water to retrieve it.  As soon as it has been rescued there is the year's blessing upon the water, the lake, river or sea wherever the event takes place. It would be good if this lovely fine weather lasts until then if only for the swimmers' sake! K and I plan to go to Panormo harbour to see it happen this year before we take all our Christmas decorations down and clean the house from top to bottom.

2011 was a bit gloomy in terms of world news; so we hope that 2012 will be much more settled, more peaceful, bringing good health, good times and enough good things to enjoy and share around.

KALI CHRONIA! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The enormous cauliflower was a New Year gift from our neighbour!