Cretan Diary - Chapter 51

Friday 19th - Falling Apart

March 19th, 2010

We arose after 8am and I showered then dressed. I went downstairs and phoned the doctor for my test results. The receptionist said she was busy and would call me back. She did so an hour later and told me she had the results and I could go and collect them.

Jenny and I went to the surgery together and were handed the results. The indications are that I have a benign enlargement of the prostate, which can be controlled with tablets. But to obtain the tablets I must visit a urologist for an untrasound scan and other checks before he will give me a prescription. The doctor handed me a bill for 65 Euros, which was the cost of the tests. In the UK these test results would have taken a week to obtain from the NHS.

Somewhat relieved, we drove home from Vamos and called at Aspaseea's shop to buy bread and bananas.

Back home, I phoned to make the appointment. The urologist's secretary spoke excellent English and set the appointment for Wednesday. She offered Tuesday but we're hoping to go on a walk on that day.

The phone rang and it was a girl from a carrier company asking if their driver could leave an "Amazon" parcel at the supermarket.

Jenny phoned her friend about buying cheese then we walked up the hill to meet her near the cheese factory. They bought a huge chunk of bland white chesse which, apparently, is made only for Lent. The proprietor and his wife chatted to us in Greek. We understood a few words - enough to get the gist.

We walked to the friend's house, and her husband came downstairs to greet us. We drank tea/coffee and chatted before walking to Aspaseea's shop to look for mail and lend Stelios my spare LED head torch.

As we left the shop, a car pulled up and out stepped a man with a large brown box. The man held out the box and there was Jenny's name printed on the label. What lucky timing! Jenny signed for it and I carried it towards home.

We stopped at Pam's house for a brief chat on the way.

Back home, Jenny made me a sandwich and I lost a tooth filling on it! I'm falling apart!

I phoned our friend in Mathess (who has been having a lot of dental treatment) and he directed me to the dentist, Georgios, in Vamos. He warned me there was no receptionist and to simply walk in and knock on the surgery door.

I drove there and did so, on arrival, and Georgios left his patient open-mouthed while he wrote me an appointment for next Friday. "Sorree but I am fool teell then". OK, some things don't change. I drove home.

I contacted Terry, Carl and my business partners to finalise arrangements for the collection of goods next week. (Did I mention that a van is on its way to the UK and the owners offered to collect stuff and bring it back, in exchange for a contribution to fuel costs? It's not cheap but at least we are guaranteed delivery when they return in three weeks' time.)

It has been very sunny today but the outdoor temperature has not gone above 14'C. None the less, it feels like 25'C in the sunshine and I had to use the air conditioning while driving.

Jenny has been working outside, painting the wooden base of our new marble-top veranda table...

..and doing some gardening.

The connection box on our telephone pole is open to the elements. One of the two screws holding the cover has been snapped off.

So I climbed up and gave it a dose of WD-40 water-repellant, then fitted two new screws, with copious amounts of silicone grease.

Tonight is our usual quiz night. I have pre-ordered rabbit stifado. Let's see if the taverna owner remembers!

Saturday 20th - Clean Sky

March 20th, 2010

Three of us had rabbit with chips for dinner. It wasn't quite the stifado we'd expected but it was very nice and didn't make my broken tooth any worse. My tooth still doesn't hurt - thankfully! Also, the burning sensation I had at the base of my bladder during the week has largely disappeared.

We achieved a respectable score in the quiz but we didn't win. Dave and Mary, locksmiths, mentioned that they'd been called out to a burglary scene in Palailoni. Two houses owned by English people had been targeted.

Today has been glorious. The sky was completely cloudless - "katharos ooranos" (clean sky) as the locals describe it. It was cool in the shade but very warm in the sunshine.

Eleni "skyped" us to say that their friend had killed a pig and there was a portion of pork awaiting collection. We told her we'd call on our way back from Georgioupolis, later.

We walked to the shop and bought provisions, chatting briefly with Aspaseea, Jill and Paul, before heading home. We spoke to our neighbour, Chris, about yesterday's burglary in nearby Palailoni.

Then we drove to Geogioupolis, where Jenny bought two five-Euro mobile 'phone "top-up" cards, and then across the National Road to the garden centre. The assistant was very helpful and discussed plants with Jenny, in English.

Jenny bought a couple of potted plants then we headed back to Eleni's house, where we had a drink of tea and a chat.

We didn't stay for long, because we'd arranged to take a walk with our friends, so we drove back home and deposited the plants outside and the pork in the 'fridge.

Jenny made sandwiches, which we ate quickly before heading up the hill.

On the way up we met Christine walking her dog. We mentioned that Eleni's husband, Christos, would be arriving one day soon to take away our spare washing machine from behind the house. We didn't want Chris to think he was a burglar!

We reached the house of our friends in the village to find them discussing the technicalities of swimming pool water filtration systems with our friend from Mathess, who is a former Water Board employee.

We set off for our walk and discovered a flock of sheep in a small section of fenced-in woodland. Our friends commented that they had seen the shepherd bring the sheep past their house this morning.

We walked down into the valley, stopped for a short rest, then headed uphill on our circular tour, stopping frequently to photograph orchids.

Back at the house we were met by the neighbour neighbour Dave, the locksmith, who had just brought back windows for re-glazing from the burgled houses.

It's an ill wind...

We had just settled down with our drinks, when the shepherd arrived with his flock.

Our friends provided "spanakopeeta" (spinach pies) and paella as a mid-afternoon snack.

After a very pleasant afternoon spent in the sunshine, our friends left to drive back to Mathess, while Jenny and I walked to Aspaseea's shop to buy potatoes for dinner with large "lookaneeka" (village sausages) and green beans.

Geoff has just emailed to announce an organised walk for Wednesday. Unfortunately, I have my urologist appointment on that day so we won't be able to go.

Sunday 21st - Geogioupolis

March 21st, 2010

I awoke at 6:20am to see the sun had already risen. I put my towel on the bathroom rail so it would warm up for my shower when the heating came on at 7:45am. I awoke again at 9.05am and hurriedly showered before dressing and going down to check my emails.

At the junction of Seven Bends Road and the Vamos to Georgioupolis road, somebody has planted trees.

They are planted in little heaps of concrete and festooned with red-and-white ribbon.

The purpose is unknown.

At the Naos Taverna we met our friends for breakfast.

Georgia pointed out the newly-born kittens and asked us not to touch them.

The mother cat returned after a long absence and the kittens had their breakfast.

We made a brief visit to the table-top sale at "The Oasis" bar, where Christos was looking after Eleni's table and complained about the cold indoors. Then we returned to "Titos" and settled down with drinks.

More friends joined us and a lively conversation ensued.

The waiter keeps everyone supplied with drinks.

Long after noon, we finally departed and Jenny and I called at Eleni's house to pick up a few of her business cards. We met someone from England, this morning, who is looking for a house on Crete. It would be nice to direct such people towards Eleni because her service and expertise is second to none. Jenny came away with a plant for our garden.

We drove home and I worked while Jenny did some gardening. Then Jenny made me a sandwich and I had a nap till 6pm when we had dinner. Well, I had left-over sausage and potato.

We spoke to Terry in England, briefly, via "Skype".

Now I am watching recorded TV programmes and Jenny is reading.

Monday 22nd - Busy Day

March 22nd, 2010

Jenny had a letter to post so we called at the shop to buy bread and eggs then on to Vamos, where Jenny bought beef from the supermarket butcher and posted her letter at the Post Office.

We returned home through the roadworks, being held up there for a short time and then following this elderly gentleman the rest of the way at very low speed.

Having put the meat in the 'fridge, we drove down "seven bends road" to the valley, where Eleni and Christos live, for a cup of tea and an exchange of ideas about what the new supermarket in Georgioupolis should stock.

A friend of Christos arrived so we sat in the garden and chatted about surnames and the difference between them in Cyprus and Crete. We couldn't stay for long and headed back up seven bends road.

Here's the 'T' junction at the top of "seven bends road".

The junction at Likotinará.

We are planning to take a scenic walk tomorrow with our friends. Afterwards, Jenny has invited them to evening dinner. So, today, instead of Monday cleaning, she is baking.

Tuesday 23rd - Birthday

March 23rd, 2010

It's our friend's birthday so we've arranged to go on a walk together, followed by a meal in the evening. Jenny and I walked to the shop to buy bananas and stuff. I worked at the computer till 11am then we drove to our friend's house to collect her. Her husband couldn't go because he sprained his knee (again) last night.

We drove to Nippos and met our friends from Mathess there. We headed down into the valley on foot.

Here is a field where steel rods are grown. They have been planted in the soil and supported with dead twigs.

Another field of steel rods. These are already sprouting branches.

A different variety of steel rods. These are actually hollow with square cross-section and the branches are angle bar.

A field where white walking sticks are being grown for blind people.

We reached a clearing where five tracks meet at a small church. This is described in Geoff Needle's book as the 'Middle of Nowhere', so now you know where that is!

We made use of the cast concrete picnic table next to the church. Jenny hadn't brought a picnic so we shared a chocolate biscuit while Petros ate the entire contents of his rucksack.

While we sat, a man was stealing gravel from a nearby pile.

We passed his house shortly afterwards. He has animals protruding from the walls.

Eventually we reached another church, which we've visited previously when we walked from Vrises. The ladies admired lots of flowers ("luluthia").

We continued to the old Roman bridge then returned to Nippos via a different route. On the way we passed many barking dogs. One of them approached and had to be discouraged with sticks. Another, friendly dog followed us all the way to Nippos, which we reached at 3pm. We went into the taverna and had a "mezethes" snack before driving home.

On the way back we detoured to look at the "museum" field, which the garage mechanic had taken me to, while testing my car for wheel bearing noise.

The field has several man-made artifacts, including a complete car engine on stone blocks.

Christos arrived in a pickup van with a friend and they loaded our spare washing machine onto it. I lent them a sleeping bag and some old cushions to protect it on its journey. I told Christos that I would collect these later. Or I think that's what I said.

The evening meal went well and was followed by a game of "Monopoly", after Dave and I did the washing-up.

Wednesday 24th - Xaniá

March 24th, 2010

Today I have an 11:30am appointment with the urologist in Xaniá. We're leaving early to get the shopping done and return Jenny's faulty camera.

We left the car at the usual car park and asked them to wash it because it's filthy again. Then we went in search of the doctor's office at 64A M.Botsari Street. We found 64 but no 64A. Undeterred, I went into a motorbike spares shop, numbered '64', and asked the proprietor. He was very helpful and led me a few doors up the street to point out 64A to me.

Next Jenny led me up a side street, past a fire station, and I recognised the main bus station ahead. We walked round this and into our main bank where Jenny asked the girl behind the counter (Eleftheria) for some money from our account. Eleftheria had ordered a new "chip and PIN" debit card for me the last time we were here and it hadn't arrived in the post. I mentioned this to her and she told us to see Antonia ("Tonya")* across the office.

We did so and explained the problem to her. She seemed a little offhand and dour, but checked the computer anyway. It turned out that Jenny's details are on the computer with our local address but mine still have our UK address! (Carl, if a debit card turns up, please send it back.)

She made a phone call to Athens and told us that the card should arrive at our supermarket soon.

I thanked her in Greek and apologised for not being able to converse fluently in Greek, but said that we were learning, slowly. Immediately, her face lit up and she told us that in future we must speak to her in Greek and she would help us. We thanked her again and left her with a huge smile on her face.

*Interesting note about Greek names. When they are shortened, they use the last part of the name in the contraction, unlike in English . So "Antonia" becomes "Tonya", "Dimitri" becomes "Mimi", "Iosif" (Joseph) becomes "Sifi".

We walked back to the centre and saw an "ice scating" (sic) rink, with plastic ice, just outside the market entrance.

Inside the market, Jenny bought caraway seeds and nuts. The assistant didn't recognise "caraway" so I looked in my pocket dictionary and found "keemeeno". Jenny found the packet labelled "Caraway Seeds" while I was still looking up the word.

Jenny took her camera to the shop where she bought it and told the assistant that the viewfinder had gone out of focus. The assistant pointed out the tiny focus adjustment wheel. We bought a new set of batteries, thanked the assistant profusely, and left.

After more shopping, we reached the doctor's office just before 11:30am and Jenny left me in the waiting room where I waited ... and waited ... and waited. After an hour, the receptionist (a girl who spoke excellent English) told us that an emergency had occurred and there would be a half hour delay. She asked me if I wanted to wait. I saw no alternative so I replied "yes, I'll wait here" (in Greek - one of the few phrases I actually know!)

An English couple arrived and, after another half-hour, a Greek family left the surgery and the doctor invited the English couple inside. Finally, after I'd been there about three hours, I was invited to the inner sanctum, where the doctor made notes of my problem (burning sensation like cystitis) then took me into a side room where he invited me to lie on the couch.

You probably don't want to know the gory details but the examination and ultrasound scan revealed nothing wrong, apart from a slightly enlarged prostate, 'which is not unusual for a man of your age'.

He wrote me a prescription for antibiotics, anti-inflammatory pills and told me not to take aspirin. I left and phoned Jenny. It was raining. We arranged to meet at Multirama but I got lost just 50 yards from the shop. So I phoned again and told her to go inside and see if she could buy a suitable Hard Drive TV recorder, since the shop was due to close in five minutes.

As I arrived, having asked directions from a friendly young local, the lights were being extinguished. I had to phone Jenny again because I couldn't see her in the shop. She was upstairs. I ran up there and saw a shop assistant, in a back room, struggling to repack a display model. I told the man (in Greek) not to bother looking for the missing leads as I have some at home. He packed the PVR into its box, told me to download the instructions via the Internet, and directed us to the payment desk.

We left the heavy unit with the lady in the nearby car park kiosk and headed for the "Clock" café where we ordered a snack.

By the time we'd finished, the traffic had abated and so had the rain. We collected the car and used the SatNav to guide us back towards Carrefour. We bought petrol ...

... then crossed the road and parked at Lidl.

Carrefour is on the opposite side of the road, adjacent to the petrol station.

We drove home with more drizzle falling. I stopped at Kaleeves to see if the pharmacy was open. Of course it wasn't but there was a notice in the window which, I think, said that the pharmacy in Vrises would be open tomorrow (which is a public holiday, so almost nothing will be open).

Our nice clean car was muddied once more as we sploshed through the roadworks near Vamos.

We ate left-over beef stifado with local (special for Easter) cheese on baked potato. It was lovely.

I connected up the new TV recorder and downloaded the instructions. I set it up and got it partly working, although the timed recording failed. I left Jenny to play with it and she managed to make it record. It looks promising.

Later in the evening we had a lovely surprise when the faces of our friends, Rosemary and Baghat from America, appeared on the computer screen. They had figured out how to contact us via "Skype" so, once I'd sorted out some bad connections on my computer, we had a chat.

Thursday 25th - Public Holiday

March 25th, 2010

Today I have to find a pharmacy that's open. We'll try Vrises first. Eleni has asked us to call in so we'll probably do that. Watch this space...

I overslept and awoke just one minute before Dave (the locksmith) arrived to fit the new bath panel that he's made for us. I dressed, hurriedly, and went downstairs for breakfast.

We drove to Vrises and had to make a detour to avoid the "Independence Day" parade. Lots of school children in white shirts were marching round the town.

Loudspeakers on every telegraph pole were blaring military music. Cafés, tavernas and coffee shops were full of people. Most of the other shops were closed...

... apart from the Pharmacy. The pharmacist refused to sell me the antibiotics on the prescription because, she said, the doctor should have given me an additional document. She stressed that I should obtain this, quickly, because I ought to be taking the antibiotics right away. (Yeah, thanks!)

At Eleni's house, we were shown "Hermione" with four new babies!

Eleni removed one, protesting noisily and squeakily, to show us. Very pretty but - (to Jenny) - no, you can't have it!

I uploaded a web page for Eleni, then Christos provided us with a lunch of small fish with salad. Very nice! After lunch, he discovered that the female dog had escaped, despite his temporary new gate. After much searching, Christos found the dog and scolded her mercilessly.

Back home, the handyman had completed the fitting of the bath panel. It looks very professional.