Well, I'm not Sir Francis Drake, but when in England, as they say.

Yesterday I spent the morning learning how to play bowls at a lovely club in South London. It is more complicated than it looks, and there are lots of rules. There is also a dress code, gray trousers and white shirt, with special flat shoes so as not to scuff the green. It is all very 'proper'. But I seemed to fit in very well with the other ladies, and we had a good laugh. I went along with my grandson's other grandma and her friend, the power of three had nothing in it.

Earlier in the week, as I arrived back in London from a trip up north to see the other half of my family, I found myself at the base of the tallest building in London, (and probably Europe), The Shard, it was very Jack and the Beanstalk, towering right up into the clouds.

Today, Sunday, we all had a leisurely morning, then, not to be done out of my daily exercise, Jo and I took Jack (or it might have been, Jo and Jack took me) ten pin bowling. Grandma lost, mainly because the move from bowling green to bowling alley seemed to affect my delivery, I think I'll stick to the green, but it was fun.

The weather, wherever I have been for the past three weeks, has been very good, sunny, warm with only the occasional shower. In London, there is a constant sound of the coming and going of planes in the sky, and traffic on the roads, with a shuttle of trains every now and then. Worsborough Dale was quieter, but every now and then a police helicopter went overhead.

Well that's my news for today, I am going to watch the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games tonight, and enjoy a sit with Jo and Jack.

I wish you all a pleasant evening, and lots of fun in the week ahead.

Bye for now,
Love Jane x

Ancestry Hunting in Yorkshire

Hello Blogwatchers,

I am sorry for my absence, but have been rather busy enjoying myself with my family. Plus the fact that I have only just been able to get on line, not having a super phone, an i-pad, laptop or any other internet connection. But now all that has changed since my son has just opened a Laptop Repair Centre, and I was his first customer. I feel almost a complete woman! The next thing is to find a job. It is not too easy to do that as a) I shall draw my old age pension in November, and b) there are not so many jobs around Beckenham, where I am living. What a bummer! But I have located the local music center, and come September I hope to get involved with what I can there.

I am enjoying being in England, and the weather has been lovely. OK it is cooler than Crete, but hey, that is not such a bad thing during August, is it?

Yesterday I did a bit of Ancestry hunting in Monk Breton, a little village near to where my son lives in Yorkshire. My mother was born there and I went to trace my roots. Her name was Brenda Royston and she was born in 1925. My great auntie Dorothy (nee Clarke) was my nannie's sister, and she married a man called Jim Richardson. His father, I was told was once the Mayor of Barnsley, so you can understand how surprised I was, when walking around the churchyard in Monk Breton, I found the grave of a Alderman, Thomas William Richardson, born in 1888, who was Mayor of Barnsley in 1943-44. Was this my great aunt's father in law? I am now encouraged in my quest to find a little family history, and see if I can locate any more distant relatives.

So, you see I am keeping quite busy. Tomorrow I am going to Manchester to visit my sister, and I will return to London on Wednesday. Hopefully, I will be able to afford another trip north before too long, to visit friends. And, if you are reading this, gang, I will  send you an e-mail later.

How wonderful it is to have children who love you, feed you, and sort you out with a lap top!

So, have a good Sunday everyone, I don't have a camera yet but working on it, so photos later.
Love and best wishes to all,
Jane x

London Olympics

Well, family, friends, and blog watchers,


 I hope you are all enjoying a wonderfully mad summer. I am! Last week I took a cheapy flight out of Heraklion, away from the intense heat, and back to rainy England. I bought an official Olympic games badge, and am all set to join a 'flame passing through' party on Monday. I have my flag, and I am going to wave it; might even buy a tee-shirt too. I am staying close to Crystal Palace, where the track and other facilities are being used as practice areas, it is just a short walk down the road.

I have lots of things on my 'to do' list. I suppose I could have applied for a job with G4 but I doubt they would have processed me in time. I am enjoying being with family, and it is wonderful to be able to understand word for word, news at ten. In short I am having a great time.

I don't have a camera yet, I left mine with David, but I won't be long without one, and I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

If you are reading this, gang in Yorkshire, I have tried ringing you, I'll keep trying as my English number is new.

I wrote a poem yesterday called, Overweight - my first English adventure poem. It begins:
Give me a break! What? My bag is overweight?

I expect to have lots to write about over the next few weeks. I am missing Valentino, and I am missing David, sooooooooo much. Thank goodness for Skype.

So, I'll blog again soon. Take care all, love Jane x


POEM - OVERWEIGHT

Give me a break! What? My bag is overweight?
But it's full of essentials, personal sentimentals,
A wooden flute from Kathmandu,
Hand carved pipes, a didgeridoo,
The two-stringed gourd? It was a gift from Lou,
And the tom-tom I swapped for a pair of shoes,

What do you mean? The ice-crushing machine?
Of course it is essential,though not so sentimental,
I have to have my daily tot
Of creme-de-menthe, it means a lot,
It calms my nerves and stops me getting hot,
And anyway, much better than pot!

Ah! The Shaman stones with holes, they're not just rocks,
They're definitely essential; I'm very sentimental
When I wash them in the moonlight,
Slip through their portal into night,
Dance with the stars; hold hands with the light,
Swirl with vestal virgins in their springtime rite.

Look, there's nothing in my bag that I don't need,
I only packed essential, you see I'm very sentimental
When it comes to things I possess
Candles, Krypton, my cocktail dress,
I simply can't make it weigh any less,
Just tell me how much, and I'll pay the excess.

Jane Sharp 2012

Cretan Donkeys in Kritsa

It's all in the mind! We never doubted for one minute that we could accomplish our task. And it is okay to sleep afterwards! What a brilliant 1st of the month. Kalo Mina everyone!

And now I have to practice cello. Our archaeologist neighbours have moved into the cottage next door for a month while they excavate on the top of Anavlohos, so I'll get a few scales done while they are out. At least it is not quite so hot today, with a few whispy clouds travelling over the top of the mountain in the cooling breeze. It is a perfect July morning, I have a new set of red flower heads on the geraniums, the dogs are sleeping in the garden, and the kittens that live in the woodpile are basquing in the sunshine.

I hope you are having a good day, and if you have anything heavy to carry, go carefully, keep smiling, and sleep well.

Love Jane x

The Odd Poets of Crete, Agios Nikolaos June 2012

Odd Poets, Musicians and Dancers, Entertain in Agios Nikolaos.

Founders of the Odd Poets of Crete, Jan and Jane.

My poem The Old Cafeneion Chair, brought a few smiles!

Kyria Maria, who is in charge of the Cultural Committee of Agios Nikolaos, and Kiria Paroula of the Lycium of Greek Women, opened the event.

I played Chariots of Fire on the keyboard, suitably wired for sound, together with Caroline on the flute.

That went down well, then I changed hats and became Jane the Poet again!

I had strong competition, Ola read one of her favourite poems, in Polish.

Barbara read in Russian

Ania read in Polish, and Natalia in French (Sorry I don't have a picture of Natalia)

Then we had a little sing along with Jean and Brian

Followed by fabulous Greek music and dancing

The ladies were accompanied by Dimitris Thrapsaniotis.

A few Mandinathas (Greek poems) from Dimitri Kyriakakis.

A rendering of a part of Homer's Games of Reconcilliation) by Gavin and Daniel.

And local poet Gill, read her poems, The Flower, and Experts, in English.

And in between it all The Emerald Trio played a little Irish music.

Then we all relaxed and enjoyed one last dance before the sun went down.

                                           

                                                                  What a splendid evening it was, my debut in the limelight at Agios Nikolaos. Wow! Where to next? Oh and I forgot to mention that the Mayor of Agios Nikolaos was in the audience too. V.I.P's no less!

Jane's Motivational Video - Be Nice!

Do you know, that small bunch of flowers, handed to me as a kind gesture, had a most profound effect. All it takes to make someone's day is to be nice. A smile, a few words of genuine interest and a little gift that begs no return of favour, just the satisfaction of giving. Some people find it difficult to be nice, I bet if they tried it they would be so much happier. Try it next time you feel the urge to say something nasty about someone, think nice and feel better for it. You know what they say, "If you look for the worst in someone you will surely find it." So look for the good, you will find that too.

So, the New Democrats won the election! How will effect my life? We shall see. A loaf of bread is still one euro, a tin of Heinz beans is 1.40 in the supermarket in Neapolis, sugar is 1.09 e for a kilo bag, let's watch those three things. (Of course sugar is only 1.05 e at Liddle supermarket but the petrol from Vrahassi to there and back has to be taken into account) Petrol, by the way is more or less 1.900 a litre and 30 e doesn't quite half fill the tank in my car.

Tomorrow David and I shall attend the funeral of Steve who used to live near Sissi. I haven't seen the notices yet so I don't have a time. If you are on Facebook and want to find out, then as soon as I know I shall post it.

Thursday is coming round quickly, and I have not practiced my scales this week. Maybe tonight. Next is dog walking, then my 7 minute workout, and then, (hallelujah) it will be tea time.

Have a nice time being nice!
Love Jane x