NEVER ON A SUNDAY!

And never before for years can I remember a day that I have spent in bed. Yes, in bed. Boy was I sick and I can only imagine that it was sheer exhaustion, that and disappointment at the fact that my first 'Live Music' night was ruined by the fact that the band never turned up. I know George and I pulled out the stops and entertained people with Greek Dancing but it was not a good way to start our season of 'Live Music' nights. In fact, I never want to do another so I have to break it to George that if he wants to organize a music night he is on his own. I think I am too old to be running about serving, cooking and cleaning up till 3 a.m. Many thanks to my helpers Vanessa and little George without whom I think I would not have got through the night. Ah well, we tried! The two musicians who let us down were, KOSTAS and AURELIO (Angel) though now they have a string of bad names attached to them, and I believe they perform in Xersonissos. If they ever show up in this village they will not get a very warm welcome, I had all on to stop George getting on his scooter and heading off to try and find them. He would have done something that might have put him in prison for sure. We have had no word from them and their phone is always switched off.

And... at the same time that something bad happened something good came along. A couple appeared in my office asking if I would take them on a walk. They turned out to be such good company and a joy to be with. What is more they took George and I out for lunch today and my faith in fellow man was restored. If you are reading this Linda and Peter, hope you are home safely. Take care and God bless (old habits die hard).

So, into the future... THURSDAYS: From now on there will be two Greek classes a week. One on a Thursday and one on a Friday. The classes will be tailored to those who come so don't worry if you are just a beginner or are more advanced. And, if you wish, then come to both and improve that bit quicker. Same time each day, 2 - 4 p.m.

It is warm in Vrahassi at the moment 5 p.m. Monday and very quiet, lots of people at the beach I suspect. I have a walk booked for Wednesday so should anyone wish to join me, give me a call and I will book you in.

David has started work on our old house today - whoopee! I have been taking lessons on how to be a good site manager which basically involves a lot of shouting and screaming and rude words (I really don't think David would respond very well to that) anyway just in case it comes to it I have been making a list of choice expressions to yell at the workers, all in Yorkshire speak of course, Hey whitey, does t' know what a shuvel's for? Put thee back into it lad, as ta niver herd o' elbow grease? Call that floor level? If a jobs worth doing it's worth doing reet. Oh yes, I think I'll get the hang of site managering or right. "What d' ye mean it's 3 o'clock, I want that wall built NOW!

I'm off to practice, byeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

HIGH NOON!

It was about 3.30 yesterday afternoon. I was sitting quietly under the pergola in front of the bar, when I heard two shots from a gun. Now this is Vrahassi and we are not strangers to hearing gun fire, but I did think that it was strange in the middle of the afternoon. Three police cars passed shortly after so I had the idea that something was 'up'.

As I write the television cameras are across at Lefteris' obviously interviewing the locals about what happened. From what I have found out myself, a man who killed someone in Heraklion last year had escaped from the prison and caught a taxi to Vrahassi. Maybe he had friends here who he hoped would hide him (I think he was from Milo Potamus - sheep country). Anyway the police caught up with him in the area of our local shop and when he made a run for it the policeman shot twice into the air as a warning. Vanessa, who lives almost across the road from where the action was tells me that the prisoner went down and the police handcuffed him.

That is all I know but I am sure the story will be on the TV tonight.

I'm just off to Neapolis. Bye for now.
Jane x

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE!

I have been meaning to write this for a week now but never got on with it. Thank you to George and the Council labourer who have cleared a good part of the old path which leads out of the village towards the Monastery of St George. And 'Thank you' to the Council for providing the labourer.

Also the work that the Council are doing to provide a sewerage pipe at the top end of the village is coming along well and means that our old house will be connected to the mains.

ANGER!

I am sorry if I upset anyone here but I am angry. There was a funeral in the village today and afterwards all the cafebars served drinks. I was told that these drinks would be paid for by the family of the deceased. Unfortunately no-one turned up to pay me and once again I am left out of pocket and I am angry. Am I so white that I am invisible? If this was an oversight then maybe whoever is responsible for payment will turn up. Only one very kind customer gave me 5 euro towards the drinks because she knew that all the funeral party had left the village. The good news is that George was paid for his drinks.

GAV'S BIRTHDAY

Cheers Gav!

RHAMU l

Here he is my new chariot 'Rhamu'. Pretty neat eh? The only problem is that due to the haulage strike petrol is scarce and I dare hardly go anywhere. I did manage to get some yesterday at the BP garage on the Elounda road just out of Ag Nik but had to queue for it. Vrahassi is very quiet at the moment because people are just not making unnecessary journeys, it is not too good for business but it is giving me chance to catch up with the filing and things like that.

COURT APPEARANCE XANIA!

Littlelegs together with a handfull of villagers scooted off to Xania at the crack of dawn this morning to appear at court. (And he is just back, no prison sentence). More tomorrow.

LATE EASTER PICTURES!

... and it was a HAPPY EASTER!

SIEZE THE ΔΕΥ (DAY)!

YES! GOT IT! After weeks of going from this office to that office to another office and back to this office then on to the electric board and back to that office then back to the electric board and back to the electric board... Today I took possession of the electricity box for the old house which David is going to renovate. Now I have to contact the electrician and give the box to him then go back to the electric board office and sign a contract so that they can instruct their man to switch me on - GREAT!

And believe you me, right at this very minute I could do with someone to 'switch me on'. I have just spent 2 hours doing something that I said that I would never do. I have been stuffing vine leaves, 160 to be precise and I don't think I shall be doing it again in a hurry. Does anyone realize when they eat dolmadas that some person, somewhere, has laboured over every little vine leaf. I really think it is a job for more than one person, I hate to say this but thank goodness I didn't have any customers this afternoon I would not have had time to serve them.

I promise a few pictures tomorrow got to go now and make sure the pan is simmering.

And I made a wicked chocolate cake this morning.

Anyway just to let you know that the Chelsea match will be showing on Sunday AND the Manchester one so come and join us, 5 p.m.

HOT NEWS!!!!!!! SATURDAY 24 May will be our first music night of the summer and we are kicking off with a JAZZ/BLUES cum a bit of LATIN AND ROCK and a bit of Greek too. The musicians are called KOSTAS AND ANGELO and they will be entertaining us in George's Bar from 9 p.m. Put it in your diary and get your dancing shoes out.

Talk later - Jane x

KALO MINA!

First of all, I'm so sorry that I have not been able to write the blog for a few days. First it was Easter, then May Day and in between I have been to almost every office in Neapolis and Ag Nik for certain papers that were neaded to complete the sale of our house. Well, now all is in order and we should sign the house away next week. In the mean time David and I have been looking at other property and land which we may consider to buy. Funds are not gynormous but we have our pension to think about and would like to retire before too long. So I am afraid my mind has not been on the 'Blog'.

The summer has not quite arrived but we now have lovely warm days and not so cool evenings which is good for trade under the pergola. Old friends continue to arrive in the village to enjoy their holiday homes and all the cafebars have livened up a little. As I write Cretan music is jingling out of George's place and thrumbling out of mine giving the street a bit of a 'fiesta' feel to it.

I was up early this morning to make a fresh batch of scones and a chocolate cake, then, when Lydia was here I went with David to choose the floor tiles for our friend's house. We had lunch at the 'shack' at the archaeological beach at Malia and then got back just in time to meet Lydia's friends who have come over for a short holiday. (Lunch by the way was 'stifado' and chips and was scrumptious).

Now, I do have several photo's to post but am afraid there is no time just now so please log in another time to see what we were up to on Easter Sunday.