SMOKEY SEPTEMBER

On 23^rd September, Pa and Ma Crozier had been married 44 years and considering all the adventures of recent years, each new year is given over to celebrating just being here. We decided to backtrack to The Emerald Hotel in Plaka which we had visited briefly in June and rebooked for a few more days over a long weekend.

In addition, we took delivery of a new (to us) car which came our way almost by accident but which was being offered by an English couple returning to the UK and being sold at a reasonable cost. We thought we would have a problem selling our little faithful run-about but there have been two or three interested parties, so things may work out happily all round. Anyway, we took the new car through its paces to Plaka – across a couple of mountains and down lots of hairpin bends to the coast and it performed beautifully. We were alarmed to hear that the original owners had it cleaned and valeted every two weeks and felt obliged to clean it on our arrival home in case it had been splashed by sea spray. We will try to keep it up, but life being what it is …..

Until last week the hot, dry days had continued and we were roused one afternoon by the sound of a helicopter zooming back and forth carrying a telltale bucket of water to deal with brush fires on the mountains. Four or five trips by the helicopter fire service banished the fire which we could see from the terrace on the distant hills disappearing into smoke and steam, but the following night, a larger and more serious fire took hold near to Rik the Builders house, but it was put out after an hour or so by two helicopters working flat out. The following day, everyone was relieved to welcome the first shower of rain for months to cool everything down a bit.

So now the weather is much cooler, which is rather nice. The second visit to Plaka at the end of the year meant that the gardens were less flowery, the hotel staff much more exhausted and the morning croissants slightly less crispy (!) we are getting a bit too fussy in our old age, but we had a wonderful rest and were glad to escape from the village where there seems to be massive amounts of activity now that the weather is on the change. When we arrived home, Kostas and Angeliki from the kafeneon had been hacking leaves off the lower branches of our tree outside so that the goats could get some fresh stuff to eat and most of the branches had been reduced to bare sticks. In a few days, we will need to set about pollarding all the branches and gathering up everything for disposal. Sadly the wood does not burn at all! Yianni the Painter finished waterproofing the roofs over one weekend, just before it rained and we felt to be ahead of the game for this year at least.

Sister in law Anna is beginning to get really fed up with being held up at home until the hardware is retrieved from her broken ankle and can only manage limited hopping on the “good” leg, whose knee is barely recovered from the last breakage. It is all very frustrating and in many ways a waste of the best part of a year. We hope that physiotherapy gets her up and moving as soon as the Doctor gives the go ahead and Anna is back up to speed again.

Our Makers Group meets at the Kimolia Cafe in a secluded little square in Rethymnon every Thursday at 11.00 am.  Makers and other friends have come up trumps with all the drawstring bags which we wanted to make for the children at the Autistic School when we next buy supplies for them. My old manual sewing machine inherited from my grandmother has developed a loud squeak from its hard work and I am wondering whether there is still anyone who would be able to service it for me in this age of electricity! K suggested WD40, but I have my doubts. Anyway, I now calculate that we have thirty (either made or on their way), so bravo to everybody who helped.

Uta, Carole, Femke, Anne, Steph and Trish busy making ...

Crete has two growing seasons, so after the long, hot summer and a few refreshing September showers many plants which have sizzled in the hot sun send up shoots and start to grow as if it is Spring again. In consequence, the garden and the outside stretches of the house all need a good “Autumn” cleaning to get rid of the Summer dirt and dust and changeover of furniture. The porch table and chairs are folded away and the pallets arranged ready for winter logs. All the dead leaves from the tree outside have to be swept into huge bags and retrieved from behind the big flower pots and dark corners where the wind lodges them. A few pots will need fresh plants and just cleaning the upstairs and downstairs terraces takes the whole of the day.

The tourist clientelle has changed now that all the schools are back, so that most of the tourists are our age (= over 60s) and enjoying the chance to enjoy less crowded beaches, set off on lovely country walks and take things in a leisurely way. We are vastly amused to see hired cars negotiate the very narrow alley ways as far as the small kafeneon and try to get any further. Whichever way they turn from the little plateia (tiny square), there is no way through, so watching them speed past along a narrow track always means that we nod to each other with knowing grins and, lo and behold three minutes later they reappear, very flustered trying to reverse their way out again. We really do need to put some “No Through Road” signs up but it would spoil all the fun. Very occasionally, the occupants ease out of the car bringing their maps with them and stop for refreshment before summoning up the energy to find their way out of the maze! When I first set off by car, I was heartily embarrassed and intimidated at directions given by at least three people seated around the little square all shouting at once. It reminds me of the day we bought the chairs, but that is another story and how much has changed since then.

Kalo dromo! Go to the good!