PREVIEW MY BOOK - COMING SOON!

Ooooo I'm all excited! Seeing the book in a bookstore after all the hard work brings tears indeed. It will be available on Amazon and in your local bookstore very soon. For a quick preview take a look at Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey.

Now I've got to set about a organizing a launch party, book signing venues, press releases. It's all good fun, and in between I can get on with book number two.

Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey will be available from Amazon Books and Barns and Noble throught the internet. Waterstones will be stocking it as well as other bookstores. If you would like to pre-order a copy then ask your bookstore for ISBN: 9781449073978. I would estimate that it will be available next week.

I hope you will enjoy my book. Jane x

NO NEED TO WRITE TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Hoorah! I took my parcel to another post office, where it miraculously weighed less than in Neapolis post office. There was no question of its contents, no request for me to open it. I won't be going to Neapolis post office with any further postal requirements (my little protest). I don't think that my family will receive their Easter gift on time, but at least it is on the way.

EASTER SERVICE TIMES - VRAHASSI

Here are all the times of the church services in Vrahassi, over Easter. They are all held at the big church - Agia Sophia. Kalo Paska to all.

If you can't read the picture, click on it and it will enlarge.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN TO PLAY!

What a jolly little gathering we had on Sunday. A sort of 'lawn party' without the lawn. Strings, piano, flute, poetry - it all happens in Kasteli (well it did on Sunday).

BLOODY GREEK POSTAL SYSTEM!

The world is upside down! I can't go to orchestra practice because my car was smashed, my street is blocked with a fallen down building - a bit more of Vrahassi tumbling down, and when I went to the Post Office in Neapolis with a parcel for my grandchildren, they wouldn't accept it for posting unless I opened it and showed them what was inside. Now I really object to this. I didn't open the parcel. I will send it with a courier first. This is Europe, I was sending the parcel to England. I declared what was inside, I don't want to say here, it is a surprise for my family. It sickens me though, now it will be Monday before I get it off (if then) and it may not reach my family for Easter. Greece needs reforms - I think I'll send a message to the Prime Minister! Though with this postal system he may never recieve it!

RED PALM WEEVIL IN VRAHASSI!

Members of the organisation, Flowers of Crete, met in Vrahassi yesterday to inspect a palm tree which is infested with the Red Palm Weevil. Mr Dimitri Kiriakakis, spotted the beasties and has done his best to irradicate the eggs. The hope is that it has not spread to the wonderful trees in the graveyard. These tees must be saved but as our organisation has no money, we are desperate for a solution. If there is anyone out therewho can help us, please get in touch with me as soon as you can. We need to set feramone traps to capture the weevils. It all costs money.

It is deffinitely chilly in Vrahassi today. Rain clouds gathered yesterday but it didn't rain, and today is the same. Though I must say I didn't see much of the weather yesterday as I was down in Sissi, at the office of my insurance company (which doubles as Serviceland), waiting for a guy to come from Ierapetra to photograph my car. It's proper poorly after a motor wellied it broadside on, in Neapolis, on Monday. I was just on my way for the dress rehearsal of a little concert that I'm in (with Valentino), on Sunday, when this car pulls out straight into me. Just one of those things, I suppose!

CHARITY CONCERT IN RETHYMNON

What a splendid venue for my first concert with the Philharmonic of Rethymnon. The Mosque in the centre of the old town is a magnificent building with excellent accoustics. We played to a capacity audience. I enjoyed every minute, reaping the rewards of many hours of practice.

After the hard work, came a couple of hours relaxation in a very lively eaty-place. We didn't get home until 3 a.m. Vrahassi was quiet, but Yannis's place was lit up. On closer inspection, Yannis was asleep over his new laptop.

And today it is b....y cold in Vrahassi!

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT IN RETHYMNON

DON'T MISS THE RETHYMNON PHILHARMNONIC ORCHESTRA

A CONCERT IS TO BE HELD IN THE MOSQUE, THE OLD TOWN, RETHYMNON,

ON WEDNESDAY 17th MARCH

AT 9.00 p.m.

And I am playing cello! (Don't let that put you off though!)

THE BEST ICECREAM IN RETHYMNON!

I know it is only Wednesday, but I am aready thinking about my trip to Rethymnon on Friday, and the treat of the week - freshly made Italian icecream from the Cremeria Vienna. Meet Yorgos, the proprietor of this new cafe-bar. He may get the chance to introduce me to his special waffles, this week! And, despite all those yummy flavours made with fresh milk and fresh fruit, my diet is going well. I WILL GET INTO THOSE JEANS!

MEANWHILE LIFE IN VRAHASSI GOES ON

The only thing is, we are a bit 'cut off' at the moment, because the road which we usually use, to get from our house to the centre of Vrahassi, is temporarily closed due to the building work that is going on on the new house by the church. The only road out is the very top road (picture No 2 with David) and, as you can see, it is not the best route, and last night was totally blocked at the other end by a parked pickup truck. Hopefully the inconvenience will not be for too long.

WE'VE JOINED THE 'ARTY' SET

Music, poetry, art - it's been a good week! Last Wednesday we were guests at the poetry awards evening held by the Khronicles at Kokini Xani, and last night we went to the opening night of and art exhibition at Anopolis. All very enjoyable!

OUT WITH THE OLD!

New thick, black electricity cable is being hoisted all across Vrahassi.

...And that is why our electricity is being cut off every day until the work has been completed.

Luckily we have electricity in the evenings, but during the day our camping stove has been very useful.

Please note the very clear, blue sky. It's been a gorgeous day today.

Oh, what I couldn't do with a better zoom!