Summer in Aegina -- all summer that is :-)

This is an Image of Aegina Island harbour, and for those that know Lynda and me , know that this place in the Saronic islands of Greece had been a second home for us for around 30 years and that we have had a house up the hill from the harbour for around 25 of those years.

However , this is the first time Lynda and I have been in a position to be able to stay here for 3 months at a stretch--- and this is added to the month at Easter and the same at Xmas, so the dream of living in Aegina for the larger part of the year, is still alive and well.

Add to this that not only have we spent the majority of the time we have owned the greek house-- forever know as Kardia, yeah ok so work it out--- doesn't sound so good from Frank Sinatra if he sang " I left my Kardia, in San Francisco", but it kind of fits for Lynda and me in Greece--- bringing it up from a real wrecker to what it is today and that is a 200 year old Greek house that still captures the character of what it should look like while still being very practical with enough Modernity to make it work well for every day living, and we love it.

Just like that--the shape of a Kardia---get it?

 

Now , there have always been those that have the opinion that we were raving looney's, quite mad to spend our hard earned buying a place in a country that wasn't even in an EU controlled country to boot, and to the point that nowadays, we get far more "Aint you Lucky" or similar remarks.

 

 

This view isn't luck--Lynda and I created this roof terrace where was not even any access, and it was hard work.

 

 

 

The point is that , yes , we took a bit of a gamble, back in the late eighties, but you know what, it gave Lynda and I a bit of Purpose to Life, something that we were continuing to be able plan the next bit of the restoration--- This place was a real wrecker when we bought it, dark and gloomy, with wallpaper that it looked like came from the set designers of Dracula, and probably as old as the original.

Plus it allowed us to bring all the children over for much more family holidays that could last a lot longer than back home.

 

It also allowed us to get to know people that we had met when we first came to stay like these below--

 

So this is Mr & Mrs Mastrellis, of whom , Elaine lived with us in London when doing her studies in the UK and of whom I was best man at their wedding of which I am very proud, here in Greece, with all the tradition that goes with that. The complete family of the Antonios, the Klellis, and the Papadakis, I will touch on in the future, suffice to say that they have allowed us to become in some way an extended part of their family in Aegina and we are always amazed at how great that feels.

 

This by the way is the very wonderful head of the Antonios in Aegina- Katerina Antonio.

 

 

There is also a bit of needing to have got to the stage where you are financially sound enough to be able to do this , with a very understanding Boss, if you plan to carry on working in any way--- I have reached the age where I could walk away from work legally but you know that doesn't suit us right now , so we are happy that Peter Greenhalgh , my CEO, has wanted me to stay , even on a basis where i get to take this kind of time off--bearing in mind that it is 2014 and i can communicate daily on any issues if necessary--and just in case people are wondering , i do not get paid for all those extended holiday--- but for us right now it is the perfect arrangement, especially as we believe that the time is right to start to see and learn a little more of Greece .

 

It has also allowed us to get to know not only many wonderful Greek people, but also many Ex - Pats that mean a great deal to Lynda and I.

 

The wonderful Mike & Janet James, Damitra and David Sleddon and the beautiful Constantina just to mention a few.

 

I was looking for photos for the likes of Georgina, Sylvia, Sue etc but cant find at the minute so witll make up for that later.

Ok so found these---

 

Georgina with Kostas Pertunia

And with Peter Pan-- No actually Achelleous

 

Then there were a whole bunch of other wonderful folk but look, Before I Go On, I wont have time for everyone in this post so for those I miss------SORRY.

Mr. Giannis Papadachis looking very handsome---

The beautiful Anjie Lynne and my Lynda

 The equally beautiful Gerry and his lovely Angela

Like sisters they are Ann and Lynda -- and of course Rod and Ann and their Gemma are regular visitors to the house in Greece over the years--

 

Yeah Ha! and Happy Trails.

 

And this , motley crew doing a reunion after 25 years--- like an old rock group who should know better but this is Yannis , Achelleous, Jimmy and yours truly--where have those years gone.

 

Then there are the things we have seen while here such as this-- what a sunset from a beautiful restuarant in Anganitisa

 

 

Two beautiful people at the same location--

 

My Lottery Boat just for a bit of fun anyway

 

Memories of J & Lynsey at Vagia Beach

 

Cant have memories from anywhere without some kind of reference to the mighty Blues and a beer with my boy--

 

Especially with some chelseas reminders over the head of a manc

 

 

And for those who cant work out the sign it's "Don't Mess With the Chef"

Great lunch in the Fish market with my boss--

 

Putting this on of my daughter as I have yet to get one of her and her friends since they have been here--proper partying --got in at 6 this morning

 

We miss this bunch very much -- but who knows if we are gonna see the out here anytime soon but we live in hope--

 

Nice photo of JJ , Lynsey & Kathy

 

 

Good one at random of Rod and Ann

 

Hopefully this little thing above will finally be here on the island with us---Lynda has christened it "Super Frankie"-- but jezus Christ, you cannot understand how many forms that we had to fill out --actually there were 11-- which is incredible when you have the money and just wanna drive away with it.

 

So as we haven't taken a really nice photo so far this summer I thought I would pick this one which I like very much.

 

So look , these are just ramblings of a madman--

 

 ---who just happens to be an Englishman abroad who is loving it here in Greece with my wife,  friends and some of the family .

 

I am here for the whole summer so plan to write a few more blogs in that time so don't fret, don't get jittery or paranoid--I will be back ,promise. :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Birthday Girls finally gets to Open the Card

Well I didn't know did I , that my brain was having a day off on Monday , when I preceded to hand Lynda her birthday card only to be told that it was 2 days early.

I got confused didn't I, woke up in a sweat, thinking " where's the damned Card"--- I guess that the only saving grace is that it wasn't late.

Ah well.

So this week has been a mixture of more hard graft and relaxing on the sea.

The list has been worked some more --glossing all the doors in the lounge and kitchen, fixing the taps in the kitchen, fixing toilet roll holders---that kind of thing.

We were shattered but starving so wandered down to Dromaki restaurant and was pleased to see Lia Campbell who is over for a few days from Geordie land.

By the way this is the sky everyday this week.

  On Tuesday we paid the deposit on the car in Greece and thing that we have the order sorted so can hopefully look forward to some interesting drives in the summer---going to go see if we can find some Scottish speaking Spartans.

  While we were filling our tums on Monday night the Chelsea youth team won the FA Youth Cup __ brilliant.

 

So yesterday was Mrs A's birthday and we ended with a trip out on the Lady J in the afternoon-- wonderful people our Mike and Janet.

 

Did I tell you that this is the sky every day this week.

Mrs A much braver than me but warmer in the shallows

 Just in the background is one of the Male Peacocks on Moni Island in full bloom.

 There is the Lady J, both the boat and the Lady.

 

Just in case I forget but this is the view from my chair in our Avli every day this week

 

Last night we had a quiet dinner for 6 and a drink in Avli which was really a nice not too rowdy finish to Lyndas day.

 

Today we went to the Hotel Klonas Anna to see Anna and her beautiful daughters Martina and Maria and now with the 2 grandchildren Anna and new arrival Georgino.

 

Here is their hotel on the left--her brothers on the right.

 

This has so many wonderful memories for us there---watching these children grow up and then having Jonathon and Lynseys wedding reception here it is very special to us and this family made it so.

 

We are so lucky to include this family as friends here in Aegina.

 

So that's it gotta go, because the amazing Dina is creating tonight and so will need to get cracking to get there in time to be fed and watered.

 

Only one full day left and then it is home on Saturday :-(

The List gets Shorter Every Day

So here's the thing.

I don't care who you are , when you own a house and you have a Wife ( Girlfriend , Partner etc) you have a List.

There is always a list--just that some are bigger than others--like a lot of things in life -- and the winner is the one with the shortest/ smallest list not biggest.

Doesn't matter how close you think you are clearing the list completely , someone ( or even you ) will find something else to put down , that needs fixing.

Take me for example-- so we have this amazing place in Greece-- it isn't a villa, just a small town house that we have basically restored since we first bought it some 28 years ago --

So this is our courtyard where I am writing this Blog from at this moment ---and just to rub things in below is the view when I tilt my head skywards---

 

It is so nice this morning that I photographed it twice .    :-)

 

So we painted just about anything that did not move downstairs--we not all the rooms but things like the Lounge that was about 3 to 4 years since last painted and certainly had not had everything taken out of there.

 

The problem comes of course where yesterday was the gloss painting on the doors yesterday where when you finish one side of the door , the other looks yellowy and so of course you paint the other side and the rest of that room look in desperate need of attention.

 

Which of course brings me nicely back to the point that there is always a list---there is now for example, the main bedroom and the kitchen to be painted as well as the hallway side of the doors.

 

I had a list of 2 jobs to do today --- one was that the cold tap in the kitchen was not letting any water by and the bathroom door lock had jammed---Result is , that the door lock now works and the water gushed out of the Cold tap--job done, and that before 9am this morning.

 

Since my last post , Lynda and I have had some great times, including actually dipping our toes in the water---ok so a bit more than that but definitely not for too long. The day was spectacular but it was one of those "had to be done " moments, but that actually took your breath away.

 This expression is one of sheer pain , it's that cold

 Not so bad once your in---

 Mike being very brave --

 Ok, so it is freezing---

 65 year old fella, who still feels he has to do the Matcho thing, -- truth is that the cold just hits you all over that much quicker---

 Got that far with that dive--not too shabby---

 catching some rays while I am about it--

 Janet getting things ready for drinks--

 Views of the Pelloponesse outside the bay we were in --

 This came in and became a neighbour for a while---huge mast and boat about 50 foot

 Sharing some very hard biscuits with some of the residents

 

Someone must have spread the word that there was a party.

 

We also had a great  day Sunday with Lunch with good friends in Marathona.

 Dave, Dimitra, Mike and Janet, the lovely Konstandina (Dina), and me with the boss doing the photographer bit.

 I thought it was this big but Dimitra clearly had other ideas---

 Very ward in the sun and the first airing of the new titfer-- titfer tat = Hat.

 Mrs A having a bit of wind--

 Fresh grilled sardines, meatballs, salads and fries and washed down with a delicate little Aspro Cressie--( white wine)

 

Young David before his trip to north Greece with the ladies --.

 

So yesterday was a busy day and last night we went to Aleeki and Nico's restaurant and saw the lovely Lia Campbell--part greek part Geordie lass but very pretty young lady before meandering  down the front to meet up with Georgina and Sylvia, great way to round off a great day.

 

Right now to sort out the deposit and spec the Car so that it is ready for the summer---Happy Days.

 

Oh, and just seen a job that also needs doing so lets add that to the LIST.