Tuesday, December 29, 2009

USE YOUR CORRECT POSTAL ADDRESS - OR ELSE!

THIS IS OUR CORRECT ADDRESS PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO WRITE:
P.O.B. 10 - BOX 1 ON THE ENVELOPE

As kindly informed by the Postman on one of my Christmas Cards:
CORRECT YOUR ADDRESS OR YOUR MAIL WILL SEND BACK

If you have one of the boxes in Vrahassi then make sure that everyone knows your correct P.O.B. number. I suppose that goes for English and Greek people.

Monday, December 28, 2009

JANE'S BOXING DAY IN VRAHASSI!

After a morning of food preparation David and I popped along to join the others for a drop of mulled wine and Christmas buiscuits at the house of Vanessa and Simon. Then it was back home to put the finishing touches to my Pavlova. Our guests arrived and it was food all the way to bedtime! Two days' later and I have just recovered. Now I'm all set for whooping it up on New Year's Eve.









Friday, December 25, 2009

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY BLOG READERS

DAVID AND I WISH ALL OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE IN THE NEW YEAR.

CHRISTMAS DAY SWIM - MALIA

There were more people on the shore than in the sea I have to admit but the sun was shining and we all had fun followed by hot chocolate and Metaxa, mince pies and Christmas cake. Then it was back to Vrahassi for Christmas Dinner. We all went our separate ways but tomorrow is another day and we'll all be together again for a bit of Boxing Day revelry.














O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL - JOYFUL IN MALIA

WE SWAM AND WE SANG! A GREAT CHRISTMAS MORNING AT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL BEACH IN MALIA.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

CHRISTMAS EVE IN VRAHASSI

Santa's Grotto was never like this! Everyone wanted to sit on Santa's knee! And if they didn't then Santa just had to take prisoners. We had a brilliant Christmas Eve with lots of laughs, hope you did too.























































































































Tuesday, December 22, 2009

CHRISTMAS CAKE AND MINCE PIES IN VRAHASSI

That's me in the throws of my last bit of baking before Christmas. I've marzipaned and iced the cake, I've made loads of mince pies, buscuits, a sponge for the trifle, a fruit pie and a flan. Tomorrow I'm off to buy my meat and veggies. Then I shall pour myself a warming glass of sherry, put the Christmas music on and start to enjoy Christmas 2009. It is the first Christmas in our new house in Vrahassi. If you are in the neighbourhood do call in for a drop of mulled wine on Christmas Eve.
I am going to relax infront of the TV now with the film 'Dancing Feet' (on Star). It's just started and my feet are already tapping!

To family and friends, if you are reading this, I hope all your preparations for Christmas are well underway and that you all have a WONDERFUL FESTIVE HOLIDAY.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

SANTA'S GROTTO IN VRAHASSI

... and while David made a few home improvements Maria and Emmanuella helped me to make the house look 'Christmassy'. Now it is time to sit back, relax and have a glass of sherry. "Γιεα μας!"














Monday, December 14, 2009

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

Christmas is coming... The centre of Vrahassi is beginning to look very festive, Neapolis is decorating the streets and Agios Nikoloas is 'lit up'. I have made my Christmas cake and the baubles are waiting to go on my tree as I write. I'm going to a party tomorrow night to start off the run up to Christmas. I have had my photo taken for the book and that has gone off to America to the publisher. Gillian and I played Christmas carols (violin and cello) at the Bazaar on Friday and that was followed up by a visit to the 'Rainbow Choir' carol concert at the Rex in Ag Nik on Saturday night. We enjoyed that very much and I have to say that I think they were better than last year and I am sure they must have worked very hard to reach such a standard. After the concert there was a candlelight vigil by the sea to send our positive thoughts to the World Leaders who are meeting to discuss the problems of Climate Change. Tomorrow I have to have my regular blood tests for my Thyroid (no big deal) and then I can party all the way to Christmas. I hope you are able to do the same!


Friday, December 4, 2009

WINDOW SHOPPING IN RETHYMNON

This picture was taken in Rethymnon last week. There were all sorts of other interesting shops too. Rethymnon is definitely on my list for a 'Christmas Shopping' trip.

Now you may be wondering what I have been up to for the past week. Well, I have certainly not been idle. Every spare minute (that is when I have not been doing domestic things) I have been finishing off the manuscript of the book that I have written in order to get it ready for the printers. 70,000 words take some checking. Anyway by Monday I hope to have wrapped it up and sent to the publisher. SO WATCH THIS SPACE FOR JANE'S FIRST NOVEL. Of course I will let you know the minute that it is available on Amazon or at your local bookshop, and I will be organizing book signing venues. I estimate that the book will come out about March time so you have plenty of time to save up to buy your copy (and it will be paperback so we are not talking megga bucks!)
So, you can tell, I have been a little preoccupied lately. I hope to be out and about next week to find out what is happening in the Village. Certainly there is no sign of Christmas in Vrahassi, YET.
THE RAINBOW CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT - Sat. 12th Dec 7 p.m. The Rex Cinema at Agios Nik.
CHRISTMAS FAYRE - Friday 11th Dec. at Cindy's Bar in Agios Nik. 4 - 7 p.m. for all your home made produce. Home made mince pies 6 for 2.50.
So, wherever you live, have a good December, 'tis the Season to be Jolly, fa,la,la,la,laa, la,la... la, la...

Saturday, November 28, 2009

FIRST ENGLISH BUTCHER IN CRETE

JON'S ENGLISH BUTCHER TEL: 28250 22070 or 6974597234
FIRST ENGLISH BUTCHER ON CRETE


ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!










Saturday, November 21, 2009

VRAHASSI IN NOVEMBER

Snapshots of my neighbours in Vrahassi. Look at the clear blue November skies. It is ideal weather for the farmers to start clearing their grounds ready for the olive harvest. Goats, chickens, vegetable and flower gardens are usually the domain of the women while the men are out in the olive groves. Gun shots can be heard in the early evening, it is the hunting season and camourflage-clad stalkers are on the mountain with their shotguns waiting for poor Mr Rabbit to pop up out of the grass, or else frightened game birds to take flight. And meanwhile in the cafeneo (where NO SMOKING signs take pride of place) the clientelle sit and debate in a haze of smoke waiting for the weather forecast.




Thursday, November 19, 2009

JANE AND VALENTINO ONE YEAR ON.

David took a video of me playing cello yesterday but it won't download. I'll try later.

Monday, November 16, 2009

ART BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT!


If at first you don't succeed...
You just have to keep trying till you do!
Vrahassi Papa - canvas drying as we speak. Who will be next?

Art lesson tomorrow, I can't wait!

Friday, November 13, 2009

INFORMATION ABOUT THE RED PALM WEEVEL

This is a very serious matter, the Palm Forest at Vai is threated. For further info please look in 'Google' for 'the Red Palm Weevel'. Julia Jones sent a message to the members of Help Save the Cretan Palm! --------------------
Subject: Info in Greek - please pass it on:
Ο κρητικός Φοίνικας εκπέμπει σήμα SOS… Βρισκόμαστε στη δυσάρεστη θέση να ενημερώσουμε τα μέλη και τους υποστηρικτές μας ότι, την προηγούμενη εβδομάδα, η Rosemary βρήκε ένα νεκρό αρσενικό δείγμα του καταστρεπτικού κόκκινου ρυγχωτού κανθάρου φοινικών στην πλατεία της Ελούντας. Αυτό το έντομο είναι μια απειλή στα ενδημικά κρητικά δάση φοινικών σε Βάι και Πρέβελη και πρέπει να καταβληθεί κάθε προσπάθεια που θα καταφέρει να σταματήσει την καταστρεπτική του μανία. Έχει βρεθεί και στον Άγιο Νικόλαο αλλά και κατά μήκος της ακτής μεταξύ Ηρακλείου και Μιλάτου, όπου πολλά μολυσμένα δέντρα έχουν ήδη ξεραθεί. Όλες οι αρμόδιες αρχές έχουν ενημερωθεί και θα σας ενημερώνουμε για το ποια μέτρα λαμβάνονται ώστε να ελέγξουν αυτήν την απειλή. Στο μεταξύ, τοποθετούμε μια φωτογραφία αυτού του ρυγχωτού κανθάρου. Εάν βρίσκετε αυτό το έντομο, παρακαλούμε να το καταστρέψτε και να κρατήστε τα υπολείμματα. Παρακαλούμε επίσης να το φωτογραφίστε και να μας στείλετε τις λεπτομέρειες στην παρακάτω ηλεκτρονική διεύθυνση www.flowersofcrete. info, έτσι ώστε να μπορούμε να ενημερώσουμε τις αρμόδιες αρχές. Τα δέντρα που έχουν επηρεαστεί σοβαρά πρέπει άμεσα να καταστραφούν. Όσον αφορά τα υπόλοιπα δέντρα στην περιοχή μπορούν να ψεκαστούν και έτσι οι παγίδες φερορμονών θα μπορούν να συλλάβουν τους ρυγχωτούς κανθάρους. Όπως μπορείτε να δείτε είναι ένα μεγάλο έντομο με ισχυρά φτερά που του δίνουν την δυνατότητα να διανύει αποστάσεις. Η Rosemary και εγώ ήρθαμε σε επαφή με την Κάλλια Πεδιαδίτη στο ΜΑΙΧ - το Μεσογειακό Αγρονομικό Ινστιτούτο Χανίων – η οποία έχει κάνει μια περιεκτική μελέτη πάνω στον κρητικό φοίνικα, παίρνοντας έτσι συμβουλές για τους τρόπους που ο σύλλογός μας «Flowers of Crete » μπορεί να βοηθήσει ώστε να διαδώσει τις απαιτούμενες πληροφορίες. Το τοπικό συμβούλιο της Ελούντας είναι επίσης ενημερωμένο γύρω από αυτήν την κατάσταση και θα ληφθούν μέτρα για την αντιμετώπισή της.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

FIRE ON ANAVLOHOS!


It looked pretty bad but it didn't spread very far. The old windmills were not affected. I thought for a minute that someone else was having a bonfire night a couple of days after the event, but no it was just a bit of land clearing.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

BONFIRE NIGHT IN VRAHASSI!

How about this then, a proper bonfire night in Vrahassi, complete with 'Guy Fawkes', hot potatoes, sausages and burgers. It coincided with Sky's birthday party so there was lots of cake too. A jolly little evening at the Sharp residence!