Anavlohos Walks

"ACTIVITY IS THE ONLY ROAD TO KNOWLEDGE"

'Anavlohos Walks' was officially launched yesterday with the 'maiden voyage' so to speak of a group walk from the centre of Vrahassi to the Monastery of St. George. We were 15 people in all, the weather was just perfect and the timing of the walk worked out exactly as planned. As the old road proved quite impassable in places we were forced to use the farmers' roads through the olive groves, however the descent from the village along the ancient donkey track was a delight and there were many interesting things to talk about on the way. Once at the Monastery we sat under the big tree near the natural spring in an area known as Karvousa and ate our sandwiches before taking a closer look at the Monastery itself. As is usually the case in the life of George Little Legs, his plan to have the key to the church fell flat as he could not find Papa Georgos before we set off. Never mind! Everyone was very happy with the trip and we did get to look inside the wonderful small church of St John on the return road. Once back at the bar it was chicken curry and drinks all round. We had all learned a lot and been very active. The next walk will be in February; date to be announced.

Scrubbing up!

I've had a wonderful day today, scrubbing out the new bar. We went to buy some paint this morning and little legs has made a splendid job of freshening up the 'xromata'.
Another day should see us ready to open, hoorah! Jane Guevara's Revolution Bar. The wonderful electricity men came to switch on the electric and once lit up there was no stopping us. The view from the bar is absolutely stunning;right down to the sea and Dia Island, and, of course, a bird's eye view of the main street, the mountains and Anavlohos as a wonderful backdrop. What a place to work. I thought Lefteris place was good but this is so much better, a proper bar (cum cafeneion for the locals). Once the music is on the party will begin, yipee! Join the Revolution brothers! We shall put some sort of 'George's Bar' sign up and I shall be Calamaty Jane at the OK... All we need are a couple of guns swinging from the hips... hm that gives me an idea... well it is a Revolution bar. Cretan, Greek, and Revolutionary...
Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Come on y'all George and I are still dancing!

DON'T FORGET - George and I shall be leading a walk to the Monastery of St George, along as much ancient path as we can, on MONDAY, 29 JANUARY, setting off from the statue in Vrahassi at 10 a.m. It's about 6 miles round and we should be back for about 2.30 p.m. Good shoes, refreshment, camera and sense of humour required. All welcome.

This is the bar as it looks today but when the new windows and doors are put in downstairs and when it is signed of course it will look better.

GREEK LESSON PARTY NIGHT TONIGHT!
We are all galavanting off to Volosoros restaurant in Apano Sissi tonight for the end of term BASH. I'll report tomorrow on how it goes.

The weather has just been so perfect for days. Lovely warm sunshine and no wind. Yesterday I was down on the harbour at Sissi taking a Greek class there during the interim before the Revolution Bar opens, it was just heaven. The sea was still, caiques were bobbing lazily, the ducks were paddling around and Cactus Bar was the ideal venue. I've always had a soft spot for Sifis (short for Joseph), at the Cactus Bar, because he was the first person to give me a job hundreds of years ago. And he hasn't changed one bit. If you are in Sissi call in and say hello and say that you read about his bar on Jane's Blog, I'm sure it will chuff him to bits. While you're at it call next door at Roger's bar too. Roger is a great English guy who has helped me so much with my business. His bar is called 'Hemingway's' and that says it all, very classy, very Noel Coward with a bit of Raiders of the lost Ark man thrown in. And when you've done the harbour and the evening volta bit, get yer comfy gear on and head up to the Revolution Bar in Vrahassi. See ye there!

Byeeeeeeee!

Olive Picking Good

Oh how good it is to see that virgin viscousness come pouring out into your plastic drum. We had a good harvest this year and the product was brilliant. Our virgin oil will be used in the bar on our salads and we shall sell some to our English neighbours.

Work on 'THE BEDROOM'

Dust everywhere (what's new). It's ten to nine, Lee is in the back splattering the wall with plaster, David has gone to the builder's yard for more sand and I'm getting ready to go to choir practise at Inga's house at Ag.Nick. I want to go on holiday for a week and come back when it's finished (though I don't think it will be finished untill mid March). David has told me he will give it a week now and then has to pull off the job while he gets back to work on another house. Oh well, at least it's on the go. Meanwhile little legs is sleeping... but only a few minutes more. I shall ring him in a mo to get him up to do the olives. And what a marvelous job he is doing. Photo tomorrow. Must go. Blood tests today for Thyroid and a bit of shopping before I come home. Arm well on the mend now, thank God, (and Bryan who looked after me so well with the ultra-sound treatment, plus the excellent Reiki I had from Margaret and others).

While I'm mentioning Bryan, he and Carole are offering a dog-sitting service for those people who want to get away but find it difficult because they have a dog. If you want details drop me an e-mail or click on comment and I'll get him to give you a ring.

Byeeeeeeee!

Tree Rustling

SOME BASTARD HAS HARVESTED 4 OF MY BEST TREES

Calm down Jane, there are worse things happen in the world. I knew that tree rustling went on but I never expected it to happen to me. George and David have been doing our olives over the weekend. They cleared our 16 ground and today have moved on to the 10 ground. That's where they found that 4 of the 10 (the best four of course) have already been harvested. Well I hope whoever took them enjoys my oil. A case for fencing the land for sure.

I've not had an easy time of late, what with finishing at the cafeneion and sorting out things to start at the next place. The good news is that I have totally ended any connection with 'her who must be obeyed' who was seen sitting in her place last night without a single customer. (No I'm not gloating really). I do in fact wish her all the best but after the way she spoke to me I will find it very hard to even offer a 'good morning'.

George and I are very excited about the new place. We shall have a grand opening but are hoping to get the key this week and get in there to start muckiing out. If we do have the key tomorrow we shall use the bar for the Greek class, if not I shall bring everyone up to my house and sit on the roof.

James and Yvonne's party was great. The weather was good, very little wind and not too cold. We sat around a small log barbie on the terrace and drank champagne. The Marks and Spencers sausages were fantastic and, haveyoueverseenanythinglikeit chocolate fountain, was a very sensual sight. I'm not sure George new what to make of it. There was a firework display and the whole terrace was festooned with balloons and lit up with tiny candle lanterns. We danced to some party disco music that Yvonnes grandchildren had selected and it was so good I want a copy for the bar. Great company, great party! Thanks Yvonne and James.

I've a lot on my 'to do' list; design fliers for the walks, re-vamp the History of Vrahassi booklet, sort out my health (blood test for Thyroid prob), get my eyes tested, book a massage with Carol, bleach my roots, washing, ironing, etc, etc...

So, I'll keep everyone updated on what's going on.

Hello Mano from Palekastro, thanks for the comment.

Reply to 'The Neapolis Kid'... Well done Neapolis, hope you enjoy the new Civic Medal - Vrahassi has better things to spend its money on!

Bye for now,
Jane x

GOOD MORNING VRAHASSI

GOOD M O R N I N G V R A H A S S I!

And here we are again on the early morning show. It's 6.30 a.m. and the sky is dark. I got up saying 'hey, there's no crack of dawn'. But it's cracking as we speak and the shepherds won't be far behind. Only a few more days of the early shift left.

Vrahassi is finally looking up - two new things to make me say this. First the brand new, all singing all dancing, multi-manned, mechanical, blue and white rubbish truck was seen in Vrahassi yesterday on its maiden voyage to collect the rubbish. Yippee, hoorah!

Secondly, apart from the paperwork I have done the deal to take the bar in the sky. It's very exciting as there is an office area below from which I will, hopefully, set up a computer-cum-information centre and also run my walks through the olive groves to the Monastery of St George. Talks are on the way with the new Council for the ancient footpath to be cleared so that I can use the route. So it really is onwards and upwards folks. Of course 'little legs' will not be far away. This will be our place with no outside influence, no 'she who has to be obeyed' (apart from me that is). As soon as I have a picture I'll post one.

Greek lessons will continue. Parties will continue. Coffee mornings will continue. There will be a book swap corner and lots more. (Maybe even Quiz nights).

Watch out for the signs on the road "Jane Guevara's" and once in Vrahassi the bar is in the centre just a little further on from the statue, on the corner. It will be very visible!

Lydia if you are reading this all hope of a washing up job is not lost.

Oh God I'm late for work must go.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeee

AROMATA

I wrote my blog at work today in readiness for typing it up when I had a minute at home. I's now 4.30 p.m. and I have closed the bar until 6 when I shall return. The seven o'clock start is not so bad after all, just the customers that I get in a morning. A particularly uncouth, backward, grunty lot that demand rather than ask for Metaxa. It is amazing how the Metaxa is supped by so few in so little time, then they leave, mount their 4 x 4s and disappear up their own... mountain.

The 7 a.m. trade is certainly not the 7 p.m. trade when we have (from time to time) lovely, polite, English people.

I know, I live on the mountain, among mountain people, and I just have to accept that's the way they are, but do I really nead to keep so much company with them, grunting and spitting and snooking all over the place.

At about 12 noon Papa Niko came and sat with me. He comes to see if there is any post for him, the postman leaves it at the bar. We chatted about the Greek lessons and how people seemed to like my style of teaching, then one of those special moments happened. We were talking about how the Orthodox church has this rule that menstruating women are not allowed into the church, when he let out a long, slarty fart. Of course neither of us let on that we had heard it and we continued to discuss women's problems (in conection with Orthodox rules). Papa Nikos commented that the rules are now relaxed and menstruating women do in fact go to church. The fart by this time was percolating through the air, which today was very pleasantly warmed by the midday sun, and, as there were no eggs cooking ( or any other concoction) it seemed very politic to excuse myself to the kitchen where all the morning pots were waiting to be washed.

Better buzz off now David has made my tea... Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

The early bird...

Ok, so I said that I would never do the early shift. Needs must, as they say. I'm afraid 'her that has to be obeyed' pushed me too far yesterday by asking me who taught me to light the gas the way I did it. Now I know that no-one, and I mean NO-ONE can to anything as good as the Greeks, but come on, lighting a gas ring is not even making a cup of tea science (which can be quite involved). I mean, so long as the lighter works and gas comes out of the little holes, how could I have possibly got it wrong? You know what, I shouldn't have put the little coffee pot on the burner before I lit the gas, I've been doing it wrong for 8 months (in fact for a lot longer than that)... I rang Lefteris, "I think we had better have a talk," I said.

So, I asked for the removal of 'her that has to be obeyed' until I had closed the business and given it back to Lefteris. There was no hesitation, no interuption, nothing. I said I'd open the shop at 7 a.m. every morning until the 20th (that's when we close the business) and a lot better it is too!

Anyway have to tell you more tomorrow 'cos David wants the computer now. It's 10 p.m. I'm off to bed with the biography of Churchill ready for a 6 a.m. rise and shine.

Oh, looks very much like the business is going to be transferred things have hotted up on future Guevara escapades - byee for now.

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful comments.

Tablecloths off!

It's early morning but I've a lot to do today. I don't usually get up until 8 but I am in quite a lot of pain with my arm and I can't stay in bed. I really am trying not to put pressure on it, no lifting, no stretching, I've got the old sling out again. It hurts more in the night and last night I forgot to take a couple of panadol. Ah well, I did Christmas. The good news is that the treatment that Brian is giving with his ultrasound does have a brilliant effect and has given me great relief.

George is back from Sitia and has had a great couple of days away talking to all his mates there in the cafeneion.

I saw Stella commenting on the tablecloths yesterday, I didn't hear what she was saying but I guess it had something to do with the expense. (Or maybe she is planning nicer ones). Anyway seeing as we only had 5 paper ones left I thought it a good oportunity to stop using them. I have removed all the tableclothes in the cafebar and now we are getting back to the place it was when I took the shop.

I suppose when I have gone she will economise on using the extractor fan and the cafeneion will revert to it's type and be clouded with smoke.

Now, I have to ask myself, did the revolution fail? And that is not a concept that I want to accept and won't accept. And you know what that means folks! I'm not out for the count. Watch this space carefully.

Plan number one is to find a publisher for my book. It has been finished for some time and the manuscript is gathering dust (along with everything else in the house). Plan number two is to buy myself a cooker, (the two gas ring novelty has played out). Plan number three is to get my health back on track ready for Jack (my grandson) and Joanne (my daughter) coming over 28th March. And after that I have lots of plans for work which I will look at carefully before leaping in. I've told George that I don't want to work with him but that I will help him if he wants to take a bar. We at least own a barbecue and can still dance together!

I do feel happier though I have put on a bit of weight again. So, must get on now. Oh, the latest from Sissi is that the Albanian boyfriend of a young English girl has been rounded up by the police and is being sent back to Albania. (Illegal imigrant). It happens every year about this time. This is so hard for young love and I feel very sorry for the girl. (You see, there is always someone worse off).

24 days to go and counting.

I must say it would have been much better if George had stuck with me for the final month. However, he got a strop on and has quit the village for a couple of days, looking for work. Ah, well, that's how it goes I suppose. At least we have remained friends. Stella is working the morning shift and I go in at 11 a.m. I don't expect to make any money this month. Tomorrow I shall go to the accountant and ask him to wind up the business and I suppose that will cost me. Anyway, I am very positive at the moment and have to say that all my dear English friends have been very loyal.

The river flows doesn't it! Kiros o Kostas who is president of the bank in Sissi has approached me with a few ideas so we are to meet to discuss them. I am not going to jump into anything for a while though. I need time to stand back and get the whole picture.

Today is the name day of 'Yannis' (John the Baptist) so there will be lots of Xronia Pollas (No Greek P on keyboard). Let me see, who do a know with the name Yannis? Oh dear, there is 'Phone throwing Yannis', he'll be totally pickled. There is Yannis who has the shop next door but we don't speak. There is my neighbour Yannis but he has forgotten how to speak. There is Yannis from Platanos (Lefteris' brother in law) a nice chap and quite a few more though I can't think of them right now.

David is staying at home today to try to clean up the house a bit. Bless! I think he is sick of me calling it a hovel. We are looking forward to James and Yvonne comming and to letting our hair down at their 'Soiree'.

I had ultrasound treatment on my arm day before yesterday and am going to have another session today. It did ease the pain though I had another bad night last night.

We shall carry on with the Greek classes for the time being.

So, eleven para deka (10.50 a.m.) and I'm off down to Jane Guevara's. It would be good if I could take the name somewhere else (but not Vrahassi eh!). Byee for now.

12 o'clock news

Good evening from Vrahassi. I've just got in. Moving all my stuff back from the bar is like moving house one black bag at a time. No wonder I felt so much at home down there, half my home was down there. I think that once the Christmas trimmings are down and the music centre is back home and all my pictures have disappeared off the walls, then Lefteris and Stella may realize that I'm serious. Give them their due they have asked my to stay (several times), in fact Lefteris' family have started to use the place again, that includes Tidgy Bear, who still does not speak to me and who still owes me 27 euros for souvlaki that he didn't pay for monthes ago. I have a feeling that his brother (Toy Boy - ask me later) would quite like to take the cafeneion, and I think he would be ideal for the job. Meanwhile, George and I are best of mates again now that we are not working together.

I do hope that whoever takes the place makes it good enough for me to frequent or how else am I to catch up on the gossip. I could always sit in the grocery shop like some of the village women do, or I could feign illness and visit the doctor's surgery every week, that should do it. Rest assured intrepid I have become and intrepid I shall remain. There was a coach load of Turks dining up at Platanos tonight, (probably trying to find their roots). They are staying at a posh hotel in Elunda. The bodygard was showing on Star TV so I watched that for the umpteenth time (in the bar) and now I'm going to make a start on the biography of Churchil written by Roy Jenkins and lent to me by our good friends from Malia.

We are in the middle of a thunder storm, it's raining and I will have to try to dodge the drops as I go to bed (in the shed on the roof) and hope that I am not mightily smote, by God (or by lightening even) for my actions of the past few days.

So, from a very atmospheric Vrahassi, this is Jane Sharp, news at 12.

Night, night!

Oh, and done't forget...

COFFEE AND CAKE (SWAP SHOP) MORNING, Saturday, 6th January, 11 p.m.

FRIENDS MEETING

See you there!

New Year - New Life!

Sometimes you come to crossroads of life. Yesterday I came to some such. The road behind me was lined with supporters clapping me on, the road infront was blocked with a sign that read, "Danger road blocked", the road to the left was signed "Road to Nowhere", and the road to the right was signed "Into the Unknown".

So,I took the road to the right and have set off on yet another adventure in life. I have given Lefteris a month to find someone else to run the cafeneon. Now it wasn't easy but I have been so unhappy of late, and that is not the name of the game, is it. George has been drinking more and more, unwashed, wouldn't go home to sleep, never saw a job that wanted doing, argued all the time with customers (and me), and even though he has been my best friend for years we just found it impossible to work together. I just had to choose, carry on being miserable or do something about it. Of course trying to discuss it with George was impossible. He said that if I gave the cafeneon up then he would go that day. I tried to get him to understand that he may as well take money for another month, food (and drink) and time to look for another job, but no that didn't work.

Now there is also another factor blocking the road ahead, and that is the future wife of my 40% partner Lefteris. She is a very strong willed, (a bit like me really but with a lot of money and power behind her) young woman, and she started to lord it over me and tell me what to do. (Can't have that, can we chaps!). So, step back and regroup.

Sad as it may be, George and I should be very proud of what we have created in the past eight months, the many loyal friends we have made, and the fun we have had. It has certainly been an experience. So I want to thank all of you who were lining that road which is now behind me, I can still hear you clapping and that sound is propelling me into the unknown. Of course, you can always look me up when you are in Vrahassi, bring a beer and join me on my roof, my house is not far from the cafeneon and the view of the mountain is fantastic. Come to think of it Jane Guevara's roof garden sounds like a good idea. Meanwhile I shall have plenty to do cleaning the house of 8 months of grime, (and oh, the ironing pile!).

So, onwards and upwards, I've lots of plans, lots of visions, lots of goals. I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the 2007. My love and best wishes to all.

The one, the only JANE GUEVARA....................................................
UP THE REVOLUTION!

New Year - New Life

VN Day, Sunday 31st December 2007

This is the ancient Monastery of St George where the swearing in ceremony took place. The service was attended by the Despotis (top Orthodox Priest for the area) Papa Yorgos, Papa Mixaelis of Sissi (and others) but Papa Nickos of Vrahassi was not there. I asked him later, why not, and he told me that people called him "Rufianos" which basically means the same is our rufian and he's not one of the 'political set'.
(I feel there is more to this story).

VN DAY - 1

"Victory over Neapolis"

Do we call this VN Day from now on? This was the official 'stamp' which gives power to the council of Vrahassi, lots of money will now be theirs to administer. (And I mean lots). I am to be official spokesperson on behalf of ex-pats, so now is your chance to let me know how you think the money should be spent. Think about it. I shall be organizing a meeting soon so that you can all meet the new Mayor and put your point of view. (Go easy though, it will all be sigar-sigar).

Inauguration of new Mayor

I'm running a bit late this morning because I've been looking for recipes for a party of eight tonight but I've just got to record the 'happening' of Sunday when George Sfirakis and his band of councilors were sworn in at the Monastery of St George. It was a jolly gathering of villagers who barbecued merrily (meat not villagers) on site at the monastery. The ceremony was 'orthodox' (candles, incense, chanting, etc) then speeches. The Despotis (chief church man for the area) was there so there was a lot of bowing and kissing of his ring. George Sfirakis, with cigarette in mouth as usual, looked happy. David and I didn't stay for the feasting but I recorded the event for posterity.