Saturday, April 23, 2011

THE FUN OF EASTER!

JANE'S HOLY WEEK

I don't think my Holy Week has been quite the same as my Greek neighbours'. I have not been to church, I have not baked lots of Easter treats in anticipation of visiting family and friends, and I have definitely not been fasting. The only thing I can think of that I and hundreds of other women throughout Greece will have had in common this week, is a visit to the supermarket. I went on Thursday and it was obvious that quite a few people had been to the shop before me. The shelves were in desperate need of a restock. So what have I been up to this week. Well, I certainly have not been lazing in the sunshine. With temperatures well down it has been far from warm in Vrahassi. In fact my wellies have come in very handy due to the heavy rain we had at the beginning of the week. David even went out to chop more wood for our fire, it was so cold. But in a way I didn't mind the cold because I was busy with my second novel while David beavered away on the laptop preparing Tears from the Sun to be published as a Kindle e-book.

Et voila! If you look on Amazon for Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey, you will now find that you are able to buy my book at a much lower price, and download it onto your i-pod, or Kindle reader. I'm very excited about it.

Our little quartet is beginning to play quite well. Cello practice always has to be squeezed in at some time during the day.

We had a lovely meal out with our friends Ian and Diana. I have to say, I was the only one brave enough to try the snails.

Zumba class nearly finished me off on Friday evening, but it's great and I'm feeling fitter already. We did not see the procession of Christ's coffin being taken around the village, but my neighbour told me today that they had a new 'Taphos' this year. I am sure that can only be a good thing for the village. We did hear a few bangers going off about nine o'clock. I was still getting over the shock of having to pay 92 cents for a bag of sugar. Hey Ho!

And yesterday (Saturday) and today, with a few but not too many easter bangs sounding off in the village, David and I have been painting inside the house. We still haven't finished, but by tomorrow lunch time we hope to be all spick and span and back to normal. Things didn't quite go as smooth as we wanted today. First of all the puppies ran through the house and Percy (paintpaws) ran straight through the roller tray of white paint. Then I took the two pups with me to get more paint supplies, which in itself was a disaster. Before we had got down the mountain one of them had woopsied in the back of the car, and before we got home again, little Phoebe was sick (as a dog) all over my gear stick. It was a good job that I had gone prepared with plenty of paper towel. Back at the ranch I began to paint again and the nut fell out of my paint roller. The roller dropped, thud, to the tiles below leaving another splodge of paint to clean up. We still haven't found the nut, and can only imagine that the fairies have carried it away.

Now, all the dogs are asleep, our electric blanket is on and we are enjoying a glass of wine before bed. I wish you all a Very Happy Easter! Jane x



Monday, April 11, 2011

JANE AT MAGS ZUMBA CLASS

Videos posted by fans of Zumba Mags Crete: 10 April 2011 20:07 (Front row in the pink)

JANE AT MAGS ZUMBA CLASS

Videos posted by fans of Zumba Mags Crete: 10 April 2011 20:07 It has been a difficult start to 2011 for me, but as you can see, I'm shaping up for summer. Here I am (front line in the pink) shaking it all about and having a great time. A one hour session costs 5 euro. The next class is on Friday at 5.30 p.m. Contact Mags if you want to join in.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

NO ELECTRICITY - NO PROBLEM!

This was last Sunday, no electricity due to new cables being laid in the next village. I didn't know anything about it. Not the council's fault, as David says on the video, it was the electricity board. Anyway, thanks to our wonderful wood burning fire, we tucked in to stuffed mushrooms, stiffado, creamed potatoes, carrots, and a rich chocolate pudding. Nothing to it. Today, David and I were entertained by our Greek friends. A much easier morning, and a delicious lunch! Now I am in the middle of watching Bruce Willis in Tears of the Sun. It is absolutely nothing like my book Tears from the Sun. The earthquake on Friday shook a few houses in Vrahassi. I was outside at the time and felt it under my feet. It was 6 on the R scale and out to sea between Crete and Karpathos. The heavy rain yesterday and through the night beat into our front door and straight through it. We have now decided that our traditional wooden door will have to go. It looks good, but changes shape with the weather. A bit like me really! I am going to Margaret's Zumba class on Thursday afternoon to try to shape up for summer. The best thing about today is that it is Mothering Sunday, Mother's Day, whatever, and I got to talk to my children and grandchildren in England. Skype is a wonderful thing! I hope you had as good a Mothering Sunday as we did. Love and peace to all, Jane x