HOW BAZAAR!

The Revolution Bar is no more - so what am I going to do with my time? Seems like I haven't had a problem this week. First we welcomed new neighbours and friends from England, Ian and Diana who have a beautiful house in Vrahassi. Then the debut in Neapolis of Grant and Ross who entertained with 'Rock music' and didn't these two young boys do well in front of a large audience. Then it was my turn to play when Gillian, John and Elizabeth came to rehearse our newly formed quartet. Thanks to Vanessa and Simon we all got together for a barbecue on the beach at Malia and still in party mode we were invited to the 'house warming' of Maria and George from Italy (Vrahassi certainly has some class property). The Bazaar which was held in Neapolis was a bit of a non-event however we shall be holding another in Cindy's Bar in Ag Nik in a couple of week's time. So, that was last week and it seems like this week is shaping up well. Art class yesterday and, apart from going into the electricity office to pay my telephone bills it was a lovely day ending with a dinner invitation to George and Anna's place at Sissi. Today is music practice day and tomorrow Greek Class in Kritsa. That will bring me nicely to Friday, 10th July and MY BIRTHDAY! See ya later!

Music on the mountain.

Ian and Diana just arrived from England for a life in the sun and David and Gail with son David who will be joining us very soon.

Maria and George perfect hosts at their house warming party.

Androniki, Dimitri and son Manolis (the Serviceland gang) with David enjoying the fun.

NO SMOKING AS FROM TODAY!

It is official, as of today there is a 'no smoking' ban inside the cafeneo in the centre of Vrahassi. If anyone smokes at Yianni's place then he is liable to incur a very heavy fine. This ban goes for all restaurants and cafenea unless they have a special licence to allow smoking - this licence costs a few thousand euro too so Yianni has decided to ban smoking from his shop. It is OK while ever people are sitting outside in the summer air but what will happen in the winter? It will be very interesting to see what happens. Anyway, well done Yianni for trying to stick to the law.

KALO MINA - JULY 1ST 2009

Well, one pelican doesn't make a summer! This was 11.00 a.m. today in Sitia and the streets were almost empty. We however had a brilliant day in the sunshine and ate and drank heartily at the taverna 'Zorbas' on the harbour. Just by flook we settled at this taverna whose owner happens to be a 'Che Guevara' fan. My 'tsipoura' had been fished out of the sea only 10 minutes before and tasted delicious. We caught the 5.45 bus home and David was waiting in the square to meet us.

VANESSA'S BIRTHDAY - CRETAN NIGHT!

It was great we all went on a coach (tourists for the night) and enjoyed the music, the dancing and the food. It was something different and I am sure that Vanessa had a lovely birthday.

And these lovely people are Jan and Nina Winter who had heard that I was selling my piano accordion and who came looking for me in Vrahassi. Jan Winter is a famous hurdy-gurdy, groddalira player from Sweden. He brought me a gift of his latest CD (very celtic sound) but my accordion was too big for him.

David meanwhile was setting up my piano in the house ready for me to practice for our next Soiree. That will probably be at the end of August so watch out for the ads as to where and when it will be held.



As you can imagine this week is a mixture of hard work and tattered emotions. The bar is almost empty (except for the dust) and my lovely new house is busting at the seems with boxes of household posessions. It is nearly the 30th, Tuesday, when I have to be at a tribunal at the IKA office in Ag Nik to state my case against he who shall not be named. They are asking a sum of just over 28,000 euro in payment of insurance stamps which he who shall not be named is claiming as being due to him from me. When I would not give in to his blackmail threat of 'Give me 10,000 euro or I will go to IKA' he did just that saying that he was 'employed' by me. Well, he knows the truth and I know the truth and to say that my digestive system is a wee bit upset is putting it mildly but I have to go through this. I have a good lawyer and can only go with that. One thing is for sure, I don't have anything like that sort of money.

Looking on the bright side of things...I have some wonderful friends and one hell of a fantastic husband, and me and Valentino are getting on just fine. (For those of you who don't know it, Valentino is my Cello).

So, at 3 p.m. on Tuesday I would appreciate as much positive energy as possible to see me through this nightmare. Thanks to all who do that.

I will of course be letting you know what happens but it may not be until next weekend because on Wednesday I am off to Sitia with a group of laughing ladies. It is another coach trip. Yippeeee!

Bye for now,

Jane x

SO MUCH GOING ON!

Whilst I was in Kritsa this week I came across this beautiful home that is for sale. (Learn more about it in a couple of days).

It may look like a social outing but 'Greek Class' has got very serious. We now have the wonderful Manolis to give us a lesson each week. Manolis, who taught at Agios Nikolaos comes all the way from Ierapetra to help us along. Some of us used to be in his Advanced class and we were keen to continue. Now I've lots of homework, David too.

Meet Pouchie, he was starving and had a piece of wire around his neck as a collar. Now he has one foot firmly in the door but I am still prepared to give him back if his owner wants to come and collect. Zoukie seems to have taken on the role of mother and seems to know that Pouchie needs a home.

The opening of Julia's exhibition of paintings and photographs got off to a good start with a cheese and wine reception given by the 'Cultural Committee' of Agios Nikolaos. The title of the exhibition is 'Precious Inheritance' and is being held for the next 10 days in the gallery which is in the pedestrian precinct just up from the lake. I wore my tiara of course!

And now it's bedtime! I have a busy day tomorrow. Art class in the morning, Greek lesson for beginners in Vrahassi, 2.30 p.m. and I am sitting in at the Exhibition tomorrow night 6 - 10 p.m. (When am I going to move my stuff from the bar? - It will have to be weekend). Night, night!

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER IN VRAHASSI!

It was a beautiful setting with the newly renovated exterior of the church providing a backdrop for the musicians, the souvlaki was delicious and the bottled wine a reasonable price. I think the Cultural Association should be congratulated for organising such an event. (Thanks for putting me right 'Vrachassi').

WORLDBUSK WEEK

Collector Carol who helped us gather in the euros.

We were a hit in Agios!

"Buskers are always prone to wind"
Gillian and I took our music (and were joined by Alison on the violin and Nick on triangle) into the street in Elounda to help raise money to fund music programmes for children in underdeveloped countries. That was Monday, we based ourselves in Agios Nikolaos today, Sunday and joined thousands of buskers all over the world going for the World Record of the number of buskers busking at any one time. It was great fun and we had lots of supporters. Thanks to all those people who generously gave money we raised 132.43 euro.