UPDATE ON ADSL

It's 9.40 a.m. Just had a phone call from a man at OTE (telephone company).
"Good morning Mrs Sharp."
"Good morning."
It started off well. A man, speaking English (albeit in a sort of deep almost Russian sounding accent) Maybe he'd not been awake long.
"I am calling from OTE."
"Oh Kalimera."
"You cannot have an ADSL in Vrahassi."
(Sigh) "No," I said (indicating he was wrong). "I CAN have an ADSL line in Vrahassi."
"No, it is too far, " he went on, gutturally.
"No, it is not too far," I said, patiently.
"There is only 35 m of cable from Neapolis, so Vrahassi is too far."
"Then, how come I have an ADSL line in my house?" I asked, and mentioned the other people.
"What is your number?"
I told him and he said he would come out to Vrahassi at 10 o'clock today. Now I have a walk to the Monastery so hopefully David will see the guy when he comes.
Interesting, isn't it!

Feel the Force!

What a week it is turning out to be, FAN-YUMMYDRACULOUS!
Monday, up early for the Monastery, Tuesday, a small group up Anavlohos and back in time for Music and Movement with Damien (of New Age Shop fame, Malia). To cap off the day I went to Greek Dancing class as usual. Wednesday, some wonderful people came to view the house (I think they will buy) and, guess what, the guy was famous, a writer (anon for now) who has given me a contact publisher to send my book to. David has another house renovation to look at, today is Greek Lesson Day and tomorrow I have another walk booked to the Monastery. It really is ever since I started putting 'The Secret' in to practice, and that's just the beginning!

Not only that I spoke to my wonderful son yesterday (well chatted via text cos' Skype not working) and with no hesitation told him that there is every possibility that we shall go to Bridlington with the family in the summer. Now I know Brid is not the Costa Del Sol but to be together with my lovely grandchildren will be fantastic. We shall take a week in August when it is too hot to walk or to build. I doubt very much that the world will stop if I take a week's holiday.
Enjoy the pictures.

Kronia Polla and all that!

So Little Legs can get up without my phoning him - hoorah! Come 7.30 this morning he was out and about, ruck sack packed (bottle of Metaxa mix and packet of fags) and raring to go. Everyone arrived just on time, but just on time does it, and off we set down the old track for the St George Day service at the Monastery over the valley. 'Hi Ho, Hi Ho,' a happy little band of nature lovers with me at the front and Little Legs at the back. We set a pace because we didn't want to miss the last half hour of the service and sure enough we arrived dead on 9.30. And, oh what a most beautiful part of the praise we joined. George's brother, Mixaelis, and Sophia, Papa Yiorgos' wife sang the psalter whilst Papa Yiorgos did his bit with incense, candles and little bells. The singing was more hymnal than at a normal service and those of the congregation who knew the tune sang along. It was all very holy, very emotional. I gave thanks for a perfect day and took communion at the end of the service. It was bread only which Papa Yiorgos handed out having his hand kissed each time.

Outside the church a long trestle had been set and we were all invited to sit down and drink and eat together with the other people there. And the feasting didn't end there. After a swift hike back Georgie got the barbecue on and we all spent a very pleasant few hours in Vrahassi.

So, Georgie Little Legs had a good name day (lots of cakes, yummy, yummy) and it was great to get together with people we hadn't seed for ages.

I've just had a lovely hot bath and now it's time to relax before setting off up the mountain tomorrow with another little group. (Yippee!) Just time to read a page or two of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Almost Everything. Byeeeee!

Milatos Cave

What a great evening we had singing in the cave and feasting in the old school at Kounali afterwards. The service was very beautiful and the cave was full of people who had gathered in remembrance of all those souls who were slaughtered by the Turks in 1823. Ladies from Milatos provided the choir with raki and meze before and after the service, which was quite jolly and helped us all relax.

It's Sunday and I'm having the morning at home. I told George I would open the office at 12. I made an executive decision yesterday not to ring him every morning to get him out of bed. I had a word with him and said that it was about time he took control of himself and got himself up. If he can't get up and the bar is not open then I shall have to do it myself. But, the beard is trimmed and that was a major hurdle so I have every faith that he will accept the responsibility of opening at 10 a.m. every day.

Tomorrow is his Name Day so I'm looking forward to a celebration, those who can, come and join us, if you can't make the walk we shall be barbi-ing from about 2 p.m.

Oh, and Vrahassi has a Street Cleaner. Yes a proper Street Cleaner with a little yellow cart to wheel up and down and fill with rubbish. This is a very positive step from the new Council. The young chap looks a bit lost at the moment, like a new father out with his pram, but he seems to be getting the hang of it.

And, after much Counselor prodding a bobcat finally came and removed all the rubble of a house side that had fallen and was totally blocking a street.

Plus I have my ADSL line and it's almost set up (Tomorrow should see the great ON LINE day).

So, all in the garden is rosy and the sun is shining. Byee for now.

P.S. Have you taken a look at Verybestaudiobooks.com
yet?

Milatos Cave

DON'T FORGET,

Milatos Cave tomorrow, Saturday 21st, at 5 p.m. The Rainbow Choir will sing at a short service to be held inside the cave.

Monday, St George's Day Walk to the Monastery of St George (No Charge) Early start to get there in time for the Church service. Start from Vrahassi 8 a.m. Barbecue on return - please bring whatever you want to put on the barbecue.

Tuesday 24th An afternoon of music and dance and discussion. Organized by the Ladies Night this replaces Monday night and is open to everyone (bring your partner). 2.30 p.m. Jane Guevara's Revolution Bar.

Jetsom

Is it rubbish or is it art?

Long Haired Cretan With Plastic Bag

This Long Haired Cretan was spotted yesterday moving stealthily through the reeds at Yeros Potamos not far from Rethymnon. I call the picture 'Long Haired Cretan with Plastic Bag'. Believed to be a rare breed of short legged homo sapien this gentle creature is very rarely seen far from its pit so I was extremely lucky to catch sight of such a magnificent specimen as it searched for horta by the water's edge. I suppose I was just in the right place at the right time!

RESULT!

Can anyone tell me what this plant is? It is growing on the top of Anavlohos on a flat piece of land scattered over about 200 sq m. The orange and yellow one not the dandelion.

Well, what d' y' know? The 'very nice' man from the top of the tree at OTE spoke to me yesterday and said that I should go to the OTE office in Neapolis and sign a form for my ADSL line, and that's what I did. I have to pick up my box of tricks today. Listen to The Secret, it really does work.

Verybestaudiobooks.com or click on the banner above.

Ladies night was very quiet last night so nobody got to share The Secret with me, however delightful friends dropped in for a jar and a natter. Like minded nature lovers who have a holiday home in Neapolis. They showed me more flowers that I didn't know the names of, got to try and find out what they are. They also had a picture of a bee orchid that they had come across on their wanderings, fantastic. If you are reading this maties, it was great to see you at Jane Guevara's Revolution Bar, and I'm looking forward to your return.

The Secret

I have downloaded THE SECRET and started to listen to it. One way or another I shall have my Internet connection.

ADSL or NO ADSL!

OK, so Helas on Line have canceled my order because OTE won't activate the line. (Oh dear!) I took the box back to the very nice computer man in Agios Nikoloas who told me that when I have a line with OTE he will come and connect me, and added that he didn't want any more stress with OTE and was giving up selling the service of Internet Connection.

So off I went to the OTE (that's the Government Telephone company) in the centre of Agios to ask for an internet connection with them. I really wanted to go to some sort of Ombudsman because why should OTE have the monopoly and I felt that they were refusing to activate me because I was buying from another company. Maybe that is not the case. Anyway I got absolutely no joy from OTE who told me that I couldn't have Internet in Vrahassi. Now as I am writing this on my ADSL connected line in my house in the centre of Vrahassi, and as several of my neighbours have ADSL connection I didn't really accept that one. So I shouted. I didn't really want to shout but sometimes frustration takes over. The lady in OTE shouted back. "I have worked here for year's and I know what I am talking about." she yelled. I rang David on the mobile and asked him if our line was ADSL. Yes. "I know what I have in my house," I yelled back, and asked for the name of someone higher that I could go to with my problem. I was directed to Xero Kambos (just outside Agios) where the Technical Staff have their headquarters and given a telephone number. I rang them and asked what the technical difficulty was. I was told that there was no ADSL line in Vrahassi. No, I said, taking a deep breath and explaining all that had gone before and the only reply I got was that they would investigate the problem and contact me on Monday.

Frustrating or Wot!

CLICK ON THE BANNER

From time to time I shall recommend good books to download. The Secret is a must, a fantastic read, everyone is talking about it.

Rainbow Choir at the Rex

This was Wednesday evening at the Rex Cinema in Agios Nikoloas. We joined forces with a visiting German Choir to give a concert. Our next event will be on 21st April when we shall sing in the Cave at Milatos.

Rare Find

It's Friday 13th. What can I expect of the world today? Well we're off to a galloping start. The hot water element has conked and with no sunshine yesterday that means no hot water this morning. I suppose if that's the worse thing to happen it won't be so bad. Besides I'm on a high because of things that have happened in the last few days.

My first paying guests to trek the ancient path to the Monastery were more than overjoyed with their trip. Among them was a Land Ranger (not a motor) a very knowledgeable guy from England who helped me identify a load more wild flowers. But neither one of us knew the name of this particular plant which we spotted in the undergrowth seemingly growing out of the rock. It turned out to be a rare parasitic plant called Cytinus ruber a member of the Raffelasiaceae family. Another member of this family is the Raffelasia which is the largest flower in the world and is found in the tropics. We were all very excited by the find. David Bellamy where are you?

We are the Knights that say Nee

Oh bless my little legs! Hanging out of the bar window at too many degrees to counts George began to measure out the spaces between letters across the facade of the building. And as he boldly went about his quest JA appeared in taped stencil rightly followed (or so he argued) with a V (OOPS!). George, I said (sounding like Joyce Grenfell), it's not a V it's an N. It is an N he protested. Sorry George it's not an N it's a V. It's a NEE, EN, Ne, NI. George, I patiently answered, it's a V, and I went upstairs to draw out an N. Ooops, he said, and proceeded to alter it. I went back into the office and let him get on with it. Mistake. When I went outside again the N had been written backwards or upside down, well anyway it was wrong. It's right now though but that was enough work for one day so the lettering will continue today. Now, I'm taking a few tourists across to the Monastery this morning so God knows what the wording will say when I get back. Anyway ten out of ten for effort. We can't afford a sign writer and I'm sure the end result will look very Cretan.
(sorry I haven't put quote marks in, just saving time).

I'm trying not to natter at the little man but every day he does something that I just can't keep quiet about. Like yesterday when he said, "I've got to go off for an hour, family problems." "OK, I said, "but close the bar cos I have work in the office. He did close the bar and b......d off with the key, so when customers (long awaited customers) did turn up I had to turn them away because I couldn't get into the bar. Red, Steam, Hulk look alike! Of course he got shouted at when he came back.

Nine o'clock a.m. got to ring sleeping beauty and get him out of bed.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Now, back to BritsinCret

Get yer walking gear out and prepare for a great day on 26 May. It's going to be a FUN DAY for all BritsInCrete. You can't beat trogging the ancient paths, (faldili, faldila), taking in the fresh air, looking to the clear blue skies and seeing eagles up above, looking to the hedgerows and spotting that rare wild orchid. History thrown in, monuments to visit, picnics to have. It is not a difficult walk but their are a couple of tricky bits, but that's all part of the excitement. We shall eat our packed lunch under the big tree at the monastery and return to Vrahassi for a nosh of barbecued pork chops. Now, if you don't like pork chops there will be plenty of salad and even a vegiburger.

So mark it in your diary now SATURDAY 26 MAY - 10 a.m. Vrahassi
SPECIAL BRITSINCRETE price 12 euros per person. Pay on the Day.

Please give your name to BritsInCrete so that we know the numbers. Look under General Board in the Forum. See Links opposite and just click on BritsInCrete.

Easter Sunday Fun in Vrahassi

For the first time in years the barbies were out in Vrahassi! We all had a Happy Easter (but there was a great English divide as 'them' across didn't speak to us, their loss).

Barbecue or Barbecue?

There are barbecues and there are barbecues - things were never like this in England! Redzeo Little Legs on Easter Sunday and Crocodile Dundavid on the land.

BritsinCrete

Are the Gods against me?

Now I know the course of true business never runs smooth but this is ridiculous. After waiting weeks for my internet connection in the office on the two new computers which I have had installed, and after numerous excuses, like the address form was filled out wrong with Vrahassi being written on the 'Town' line instead of the 'Village' line, and finally being told that the problem was that their was so much work in the 'Activate' office that it may be another 10 days before anything happened. I am not best pleased to receive a text message on my mobile phone this morning to inform me that as my telephone line does not work then my order with Helas Online has been canceled. Is steam coming out of my head or wot? It's Easter Saturday, sure there will be no-one to help me this weekend. I have sent a Text back to ask what is going on but don't expect a reply. Meanwhile I shall push forward with other promotions.

That's the bad news! But there is plenty of good news. How about this.

BRITSINCRETE SPONSORED WALK - SATURDAY 26 MAY to the MONASTERY OF ST GEORGE, VRAHASSI.

The wonderful, growing on-line site of BritsInCrete is to 'sponsor' a day out on Saturday 26 May and they have chosen my Monastery Walk for the event. The walk is open to everyone, you don't have to be a member of BritsInCrete but if you take a look at the site (you can get all the details from the General Section on the Forum under 'NewBoard' but here's an outline.) you will see that there is a booking link there. I am rushing for the coffee morning at the bar this morning but will let you know more later. Meanwhile check out the BritsInCrete site. Go to the forum, General Board and look down the list for New Board. OK, looking forward to seeing you on the walk if not before

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE - and don't forget we are barbecuing tomorrow afternoon.

EASTER SUNDAY BARBECUE

DON'T FORGET GREEK CLASS MEMBERS (AND FRIENDS)

WE ARE HAVING A BARBECUE ON SUNDAY IN VRAHASSI. THE PARTY WILL COMMENCE ABOUT MIDDAY AND GO ON ALL AFTERNOON. CLASS FUNDS WILL PAY FOR THE FOOD. ALL WELCOME. HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT.

JANE x

Easter Saturday Coffee Morning

First Saturday in the month event for 'Friends Meeting' Saturday 7th April.

COFFEE MORNING CUM SWAP SHOP
JANE GUEVARA'S CAFEBAR
VRAHASSI

FROM 11 A.M.

Bring and take stall, come and meet friends over coffee and cake and inspect my new bar. Looking forward to having a chat.

Jane x

In big tree

This is for Daddy, John if you are tuning in. Jack wanted to climb right to the top but no-one else was up for following him.

The flap of a butterfly's wings!

And ripples spread out across the universe! 9 a.m. and the car is gone. Not without a few choice words though. By 10 Betty Betoniera (Dizzy) was in place and the concreting began. And all day, because one car had moved parking place, the whole car parking population of Vrahassi was in turmoil. Like falling dominoes first one, then another lost their place in the square, and guess who was the last to drop of the end, most unhappy, most miserable, snappy and gesturing like like someone with 'road rage', third finger standing proud. None other than the very lady-like wife to be of my shepherd friend, HER WHO MUST BE OBEYED. She lost her place to someone who drew into the vacant lot whilst she was out shopping and threw a benny when she got back, blocking the said in so that he couldn't leave. Oh dear, she didn't take kindly to me taking a picture, but news is news!

Water into wine!

I've got this picture of a big jug of water being poured and a flow of deep red liquid splashing into the goblet instead. Why? Because George rang me and said that the white paint which had been sitting in the bar for weeks waiting for the windows to be put in so that we could decorate turns out to be ceramic red. Somebody got it wrong! So the inside of the downstairs didn't get painted yesterday. It was April Fool's day.

It was also Sunday and David had the day off (put the flag out). We all piled into the Panda and set off for the seaside. First we went to Malia where the Friends of the Animals were having a Bazzar. We bought a couple of candles for Easter, three videos and a jar of marmalade. Then we took Jack to the children's play cafe where we had a delicious cup of hot chocolate while he bounced around on the bouncy castle-type equipment. After, we found a taverna by the sea and had scrumptious chops and chips. We finished off the day by watching a Star Wars DVD at home.

Today we are going to go to Neapolis to pay a few bills. After we shall come back and cook the duck which has been waiting in my freezer for Jo and Jack to come. Meanwhile David has left George some white paint. That's his mission for the day (bless). Photo's tomorrow.

Just the problem of THE CAR now.

The lady who parks her car under our pergola has never mentioned moving it, and neither have we. We want to wait until the council have given us our papers saying that the space is truly ours before we do anything. Meanwhile we are moving out and around her. But don't you just know there's going to be trouble when the day comes.

Work on the windows

We are all so happy. The windows are almost in. George reverted to Mr Plasterer to speed up things.
Meanwhile we partied!