CHEAPER ELECTRICITY OFF PEAK!

As from today the electricity you use between 2 - 5 p.m. and between 2 - 8 a.m. will be charged at a lower tariff. How the electricity board can monitor this I have no idea, but I shall be putting my washing machine on during those hours from now on.

Halloween in Vrahassi 200

With going to England I almost forgot to pay a bill which I owe to the council. David rushed down to Vrahassi to pay it, but their computors were out of action. He has zoomed of to Agios Nikolaos to pay it there.

Meanwhile I have been at home thinking how I can celebrate Halloween tonight. I have got some spooky music and we could have a weird and wonderful, candlelit dinner. but hey! there's nothing new about that. Maybe I'll just put on the witches outfit and see what happens! It used to work!

REALITY JANE'S GET FIT FOR FOGIES!

Right! I have decided to take myself in hand and try to get fit, or at least fitter. This is the sort of thing I shall be doing - under supervision of course. I thought by sharing the experience it might encourage me to keep to my plan. The poor quality of the video is due to the dimmed light in our living room, it is a little kinder though. My first little workout was yesterday, so I shall be attempting another tomorrow. Bet you can't wait to see the next video.

As to my diet, it won't be anything fancy. I shall eat porridge for breakfast, a sandwich, or something on toast for lunch and whatever is in the pot for tea. In other words I shall cut down but not cut out. I WILL try to cut out alcohol Monday to Friday, and I will drink lots of water all the time.

You are allowed to laugh!
By the way, Yannis' cafeneo is still open, and so is Platanos. A neighbour passed by yesterday looking for her goat, it had done a runner, and David has begun to gather wood for the winter. That's life in Vrahassi for you.

To friends in Yorkshire - I have read the stories you sent with me, an e-mail will be on its way soon. Did you see how wonderful I looked at Jo's graduation?
To Eric on the boat - are you coming to Crete next year? Not fit? Join me in the 7minute workout.
Love to everyone,
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Jane x

BACK FROM ENGLAND

Hello, I am back from England, motivated and ready to go. Our new phrase of the day is 'Just Do It'. Seeing our daughter graduate from Greenwich University was the most thrilling experience. She pushed all her boundaries to obtain her degree, what an achievement. The one thing that she told me was that she had learned that there is no such thing as bringing up children, the thing IS, parents should bring up adults. It is one to think about isn't it? Nobody told me that as I was struggling to do the right thing whilst bringing up my children, but I was always aware that I wanted them to be self confident, independent and thoughtful human beings. Well done Jo!

For the other 90 pictures that we took on that day please see my Face Book album.

So, now that David and I are back home, what next? First I have to thank all those people who looked after us so well in England. You know who you are. It was a hectic trip, full of train travel and shopping, but in between we sat with friends and family, enjoyed the warmth of people we love, soaking in all the love they gave to us. Leaving them so far behind was not easy and opened a terrible wound in my emotions. But knowing that they are after all only a few hours away, does help. We all have our own lives and choices. David and I have chosen to live in Crete because this is where we are most happy. I do however wish that we could afford to visit the kids more often than once a blue moon.

And that brings me to the 'what next' question again. Well, of course there is Valentino, my cello, but, good as I might be in the three years that I have studied, I'm certainly not ready to go solo. Remember the 1.90 euro that my friend and I made at our last busk effort. I would love Tears from the Sun to be in every bookshop in Crete for the next season, but unless I find a distributor, that looks unlikely. Work in Crete for a 60 year old Enlgish woman is pushing it a bit at the moment and there is no such thing as 'Benefit' here. So, I have decided to do something very positive and improve my health. At least I can be healthy on a warm rock, if not wealthy!

I am decidedly fat, don't walk very far because I've a ligament problem in my foot, and love chocolate - it's not a very good start, is it? Anyway I have found this 7 minute workout programme on the internet, well David found it really, and what is good for the goose, as they say...

And in between the 7 minute workout, which is only 3 times a week, I shall be keeping house, doing my Greek homework, trying to master Valentino ready for a splendid Christmas Busk, and recording for posterity my success at finding a strong, healthy, enjoyable life, free of pain.

A sort of 'before' picture! Just DO IT!

I hope you will join me on my journey, maybe even encourage me a little. Then next time I am in England I will not be hobbling around, looking longingly at people with sticks and crutches, and wondering how to highjack an abandoned zimmer frame.

I'll be back very soon, with news of how the workout is going, plus whatever else is happening in the world outside my front door in Vrahassi (and beyond).

Love Jane x

Xania with Jane and Tears from the Sun

Our very brief trip to Xania a few weeks ago. It's a bit of a different day to today, when I am in the middle of tidying up our front garden, up to my neck in compost. Still it is time to get out garden furniture out and the umbrella up. I do believe that the countdown has started to my birthday celebrations, and as tonight is the solstice, then a spot of dancing naked around our geraniums might be a good idea.

I had a lovely lunch in Sissi, yesterday, with my friend Jayne. It was lovely to be able to sit by the sea, relaxe and catch up on the latest. I was sorry to hear that June of Geoff and June, is poorly and that Joe of Gail and Joe Printing, had had a heart bypass operation. Get well soon, both of you!

I am off to Zumba dancing class this afternoon, then a quick visit to the supermarket, cello practice tonight, and that's my day. Have a good one yourselves!

Love Jane x

MY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE IS FOR SALE

http://www.cretanresidences.com/site15/index.php?option=com_estateagent&act=object&task=showEO&id=492&lang=en

Yes, David and I have decided to put our house on the market. It was not an easy decision. We have put a lot of love into restoring this old Cretan house to make it a modern, functional home. I love my bathroom with its double bath, I love my bedroom with its beams and gothic window., I love my wonderful living room with the old, stone arch, I love the view of the mountains, I love my neighbours - but it is time to move on. We are not ready to retire and another adventure calls.

We will look first in Vrahassi for our next home. We love Vrahassi, the climate is the best in Crete, the proximity to the sea, the convenience of being only 45 minutes away from the airport, and to be able to look out of my window and see twelve, fourteen Griffon Vultures circling on a thermal, is just something else.

We will continue to improve our large, outside areas, where we hope to have many barbecues during the summer. If you buy our house, maybe you will invite us to your barbecue! So, take a look at the details of our lovely home by clicking the link above. Very soon, most of the big agencies will have our house on their sites, so wherever you look, you will find us.

Do tell all your friends and acquaintances; they may be looking for a life in the sunshine!

In case you would like any further information please contact the agent; or if you prefere, get in touch with me: 0030 6945 872472

And now I'm off out to Sissi by the sea, where a bookshop has requested more of my books, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey. If you have not read it yet do look on Amazon, where you can now download it as a Kindle e-book for very little money.

Love to all, peace and light,
Jane x