In case people back
home think that we are lazing around a beach or pool with long, cool
drinks in our hands and idling all day long, we need to put the story
straight. ...And we thought the saga of the IKA book was unparalleled!
K's Greek Driving
Licence expired and he started the process to renew it about five
weeks ago. We went to the local market town of Perama where the
Citizen's Advice Bureau (KEP) gave him a sheet of paper with the list
of requirements he had to supply. The whole process cost in excess
of 200 euros. He had to go to the Photographer for a large number of
photographs – two for the licence and one for each Doctor
consulted. There was a list of Doctors and Ophthalmologists he could
choose from, two cheques or receipts from the Post Office in
different sums of money for different government departments and a
labour of Hercules to complete in sizzlingly hot weather on crutches.
Each appointment has necessitated a trip to the very busy and hot
Rethymnon, parking and taxis to get to different Doctor's Surgeries.
Fortunately (or not, ) I had five appointments at the Dentist for
root canal surgery, so could assist with lifts most of the time. We
feel as if this process has been going on for months. It was only at
the last visit to the Dental Surgery that I realised that I had been
consulting the wrong Dentist. But, that … is ... another ...
story! Two Dentists with identical shaped and arranged surgeries –
one on the first floor of the building and one on the second!
However, that relieved us of a further 180 euros and I digress!
K visited the Optician
and had his glasses upgraded. Then, the GP Doctor (10 euros)
referred him to an Orthopaedic Specialist (10 euros) which we left
until the next journey into town; this Specialist referred him to a
Neurologist, so we had to make another trip. After a few weeks of
travelling backwards and forwards, queuing, and consulting Doctors,
we arrived back at KEP with all our papers, fees paid, photos taken;
they told us that we had to go back to the GP Doctor for the final
sheet of paper. The Neurologist found that both legs had problems
and we were beginning to think that the quad bike might have to go
into mothballs, but eventually, we emerged from the KEP office on
Friday with a one year driving licence and the advice to start with a
different GP next time! Each Doctor gave us a sealed envelope to be
presented at KEP as part of the process, so it was all a bit
unnerving. K and I are completely exhausted and a bit annoyed as we
feel sure that none of the locals in our village bother about
licences anyway!
In the meantime, we
have both been in the wars. Regular plant pot watering outside
leaves the porch and terrace tiles wet and slippery so K had his
first fall when his feet just shot out from under him and we were
struggling hard to get him up again. Then a tangle with his feet as
he dismounted the quad bike landed him with a huge bump on the back
of the head, which is just beginning to heal. Worn ferules on the
crutches slid out from under him and the elbow piece gouged a large
chunk out of one arm most recently. Every time we take the car out,
we have to clean up residue from the swallows and sparrows who gather
on the electric wires above our head and leave the car in a horrible
mess. Yesterday, I was adjusting sun shades over the car windows and
managed to catch the bridge of my nose with the boot flap … so,
maybe we just shouldn't be allowed out at all!
However, we are getting
ready for the arrival of visiting children and grandchildren in mid
July and gathering beach towels and buckets and spades in readiness.
We are sussing out the most interesting beaches, train rides and
tavernas to prepare an action packed or sleepy holiday as they
choose. I regularly stop off at the Church of the Four Martyrs in
Rethymno to light prayer candles for safe travel and a happy holiday
as well as all the other requests of the time.
Our regular walks with
my energetic walking buddy have continued. We have explored a back
track between our village and Panormo through the olive groves and
market gardens and will follow this early one morning with K on the
quad bike and myself walking, when we have a spell of cooler weather.
Last week, we found a lovely unspoiled beach – well off the beaten
track with shady seats and a beach bar and … most importantly for
us, accessible car parking just at beach level. It is really great
that our walks are helping us to find hidden treasures both inland
and unexpected coves on the coast. We spent a happy morning in
Fodele, where El Greco is reputed to have been born and enjoyed a
tour the little village and followed the shady nature walk along the
fast flowing river.
Almost by accident, I
have joined an on line Group entitled the Upcycled Clothing
Collective which seems to have spread round the world via Facebook.
There are a good few posts day by day showing what lovely clothes and
upholstery/furnishings have been designed by reusing pre loved
materials and not buying anything new. I had no idea that donated
clothes to Charity Shops commonly end up in land fill so have found
it inspirational for ideas although I think that the occasional frock
made out of a table cloth looks a bit odd! I had a go at using
natural dyes from eucalyptus and then with tea bags on white cotton
to see what would happen. I have a work in progress by way of a
quilt sampler. Sewing and embroidery is so much less hot and sticky
than knitting this time of year. I had a hilarious interval in the
Stationery Shop trying to explain what transfer paper was. The
assistant didn't know whether I wanted a pen, paper or an iron by the
time I finished my charade. Slow progress is under way
Crete is HEAVING with
people. We have to leave really early to get a place in the car park
on our trips to Rethymnon and then pay much more because we have been
there longer! People are spilling off the pavements, tour parties
are doing the circuits, hire cars are filling the roads and the
beaches are chock a block! It must be a good year for Greece, but we
will be glad when the hot, crowded season is over and peace reigns
again!
Kalo taxidi; safe travel and happy
holidays!
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