Well, as we predicted, the lovely days
of February, when all the snow on the peaks of the mountains melted
away in the hot sunshine, came to an end in March when winter arrived!
Lots of rain, wind and dark cloud drove us back indoors and we
started making calculations about the log pile and whether we would
have enough to get us through the cold weather. We didn't - so Nikos
the Wood was asked for another load. It is a bit of a puzzle because
we don't want any wood left during the summer so that the walls in
the porch can be cleaned up again and get a new coat of paint. Log
piles are very dirty and dusty and take a lot of cleaning up both
from the fires inside and the residue outside.
So we have been occupied on inside
things – mainly knitting for new babies due in the family or for
jumpers, scarves and blankets for the Red Cross but it has kept us
busy. Kimon has spent almost entire days doing his job of cleaning
out the log burner and fetching logs – one by one – for the wood
basket. I also tasted the new marmalade recipe … Tutti Frutti. I
am pleased to report it a success on our morning porridge.
Last Friday we drove to the Lab in
Perama for K's blood tests. These have to be done every time he sees
the Professor at the hospital in Heraklion. We had sent the Prof a
large list of questions in preparation for our appointment so that he
had a chance to think about them in advance. On arrival at the
hospital, we dropped into Gregory's Coffee Bar opposite the hospital
and said our “Ti kanete – how are you?” to all our friends who
looked after us so well when we were “installed” there for a couple
of months last year. The cinnamon mini doughnuts were just as good as
we remembered them and the sun was out for the drive there and back,
which made the journey round the mountains and coast a bit easier. I
am getting much more confident behind the wheel, which is just as
well.
K's PSA reading was down again starting
with a minus, which was what the Professor wanted to see. This means
that in spite of all the horrendous problems with the first
prescription of hormone injection, which caused a bad reaction and
the horrible abscess, the second type (three monthly, not in his
abdomen) still seemed to have done its job. Even so, he thought
K needed to be a bit more robust to begin radiotherapy and as the
hormone therapy was working he did not think there was any need to
rush. But, as he said, the hormone was only putting the cancer to
sleep, the radiotherapy was needed to stop it dead. So we will see
on the next visit in June. We stopped on the way back from the
hospital at one of the few tavernas open during the winter and had a
celebratory souvlaki and chips with Greek salad! All these outings
would make you think that we are hopping about like mountain goats,
but the truth is that walking is a big problem still for K and he is
getting about with a walking frame better, but his progress is still
very slow. We are wondering whether aqua-therapy would help get some
more strength and confidence back and encourage nerves to regenerate
as his left leg is still completely dead from the knee downwards.
Back in the village, the schoolteacher
has been ill and there have been far more children around than usual
because when this happens school is cancelled! We called at the shop
and Kostas had damaged his shoulder and Maria had a cold, so we
realised that Cretans do not “do winter” with any sort of relish
although we were amused to hear how much they like grey skies! Such
a change from boring old blue. Our French friends turned up to
borrow English books to read. The house, which they are building,
is turning out to be a long drawn out nightmare and will not be ready
to move into until September. They were moving from their rented flat
because it was very damp and the owner had just installed rabbit
cages right outside their window. They had moved to another flat
which was just as wet and could not work out why Cretans co-existed with
all these leaky buildings! We sympathised and thanked God for the
umpteenth time for our good friends who coated our roof back in
September. This is the first winter it has not let in a drop of
rain! We know now that we need to do this every Autumn to prepare
for the deluge. This summer we will be busy because all the internal
walls will need attention – we will have our work cut out.
On the hillsides, the yellow clovery
carpet is now widespread under the trees and along the roadsides.
The wild flowers are so bright with daisy like flowers and mallow
everywhere. There are lots of busy sparrows about but no swallows
yet. We know our noisy neighbour will rejoice loudly on their
return. I am looking forward to getting some pot plants for the
terrace and front porch as the only things to survive after our
absence last year are the geraniums and some larger shrubs together
with a scattering of buds on the grape vine. All the lavenders,
basil and other herbs have died and the pots need new soil to replace
all that has been dried up or washed away. A trip to the garden
centre is planned on our next fine day.
