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Post by cariad23 on Jun 27, 2016 3:52:31 GMT
morning dennis 4.44 am here ive been awake for ages so thought id check out forums, if its 6-40 there guess your off for your swim or have yoi been already ? i've just been lying in bed mentally making lists of what to pack for next weekend, this time next week will be waking up in stoupa for the first time. Husbands hand still in a splint from severing thumb tendon, has to take it easy at least 3 more weeks. Just been thinking about suitcases do you think i should convert one to a backpack for him to carry or would he be better pulling it in his teeth, (hes still got all his own ) lol
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Post by dennisn on Jun 27, 2016 4:06:25 GMT
Monday, 6:30am.
Well Bob, us hard Yorkshiremen don't do skipping, we do forewenting. Skipping is for girls, even with the correct number of eyes. I think the only thing I missed reporting about the dentist was that you sit in his chair and on the tower thing with the water spitting thing, he has a little TV to watch. But I didn't watch it because it was just adverts for high heels, which I gave up before getting my nails done, and the volume was right down so that you could still hear the drill and screams and it was in Greek anyway and my Greek is not quite up to complete comprehension of technical stuff about high heels.
So, Sunday dawned slightly overcast and the forecast super storm seemed likely, until we went for our early morning swim. My first sea swim and I expected to be seriously challenged by the water temperature. But it's a week later than last year so I actually managed to get in without too much drama. Then a lovely swim, a chat with a foreign couple with tiny twins (18 months) and Vera saw four sets of skipping fishes. By the time I turned round, they had gone, leaving only a wide stretch of disturbed water as evidence. I did see one group, this time much closer than ever before and it's a little thrilling, providing you feel confident the chasing fish is mackerel sized, not a Great White!
We fed the goats on the way back, but had only managed to get hold of two pieces of trailing vine for them. Vera scolds the greedy ones for butting the little ones off the grub, but it doesn't make any difference - just like our politicians, the Haves get more and the Have-nots get nothing. I wonder if you've elected Boris yet?
The storm never even looked like happening and we went into town without the extra burden of our pacamacs. We were looking to buy a travel clock that is illuminated in the dark like our bedside clock at home, but all that was available was a battery one with a button to light it up - not especially useful as Vera's fingertips are a casualty of her diabetes, with so little feeling she won't be able to feel around the back for the tiny button. I bought it anyway to keep in our hand luggage as a spare to save another item for the packing list (we sometimes forget it for weekends away at home).
We navigated our way amongst the back streets (alleys) of town to find Tries Hierarches - I asked twice and each time was told "straight" with a wave of the hand. Straight? I think there must be at least a couple of metres of straight somewhere in town! Anyway along the twists and turns we eventually found Alexandros Taverna, which I haven't managed before, then Tries Hierarches and the Plateia sandwich shop. We really enjoyed renewing our acquaintance with the lad who runs it and we really enjoyed his sandwiches too. The frappe he made for Vera was so good she had another. My beer was so good I had another.
On our way to the Bourtzi, we stopped and booked for Agios Nikolaos on Thursday, Skopelos and Alonissos.
One of my nails things has come off - I shall be complaining to Stamatia when I see her.
We ate in Salt and Pepper - Kalamari for Vera, fillet Sea Bass for me and I had two glasses of Mavrodaphne. 32 Euros. One nice little touch, George came and sotto voce apologised that the table next to us had a couple of smokers. Fortunately they didn't bother us though.
I forgot to get some more tomatoes yesterday, so breakfast will just be Feta on digestive biscuits today. And so we get off to the beach for our early swim now.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 27, 2016 7:22:55 GMT
Sorry, Cariad, I didn't know you were writing at the same time this morning, I've just found your post now we're back from swimming.
Here's my expert advice for sorting out your husband.
First, yes, convert a suitcase to backpack. Second, have you seen those frontpacks the SAS and Marines have - I'm sure you should be able to get him one from the Army and Navy Stores. Third, he can carry another suitcase in his good hand/thumb. Fourth, find some sort of attachment so that he can use his bad hand/thumb for paying.
Having him pulling stuff with his teeth is a really cruel idea - I wouldn't condemn my worst enemy to no teeth (unless he was called Boris).
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Post by cariad23 on Jun 27, 2016 8:23:19 GMT
frontpack too, great idea, he doesnt need bad hand for paying ,i'll keep all the money!! Hope swim nice, i was surprised last year how many people were swimming around 6am on megali ammos beach,its lovely walking along then when the beach is so quiet,and a stroll through town when no shops open, just a few cafes full of workmen, and clubbers having a coffee before heading home.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 27, 2016 18:18:53 GMT
The swim this morning was in choppy sea, more exercise than in calm sea, so we didn't manage as many lengths. I saw a mystery swimming thing - see my separate thread for sea fauna experts to identify it. We were earlier, so the twins arrived later and the boy one was grumpy and wouldn't respond to our waves. On the way back, we tore off some sprigs of wild grapevines for the goats. This time I managed to entice the bullies away for long enough for Vera to give something to the small brown one. None of them were especially grateful for the tiny pea-sized developing grapes, so they'll just get the usual rubbish tomorrow. We were overtaken by two matching joggers wearing those armband things and both in identical kit- something about Streets are for running, in orange and black and not even his and hers.
In town, we arrived before the Plateia sandwich shop opened, so we went on down and had a sandwich and drinks in Old Port place.
Dentist was supposed to be ringing me between 12 and 1 to tell me to come in for second impressions. So he didn't, so I rang him and was told to come in at 2pm tomorrow. I shall treat it as English 2pm and hope it isn't Greek 2pm!
We ate in Sunrise Taverna, probably the most delicious lamb shanks ever. Tsatziki starter, large water and large beer, €36.50.
The temperature is not going down and forecast is 32 for the foreseeable future. So I shall continue sleeping without my clout on and on top of the sheets.
Just remembered the interesting happening yesterday. The big ferry got its anchor stuck and spent an age moving to and fro to get it free. Harbourmasters boat was hovering helpfully, but didn't actually do anything except hover!
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Post by cariad23 on Jun 29, 2016 4:49:24 GMT
How did dentist go Dennis, will we see new photo soon with dazzling smile ?
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Post by dennisn on Jun 29, 2016 8:21:47 GMT
Apologies all round for the spell of silence - yesterday's threatening storms persuaded Angela to unplug the router to avoid trashing it as happened last September when she forgot. The storms didn't properly happen - we had a shower, but nothing else - peals of thunder from far away somewhere. So no wifi since Monday night.
Dentist did pretty much exactly what he had done the previous visit, impressions, but seemed to take longer at it. Then we discussed what colour teeth and I chose slightly lighter than my current set - I thought that going home with a reverse tan, vivid white teeth might be too much for the very few people who know me.
The small ANES ferry got its anchor stuck yesterday afternoon. How strange, I've never seen that happen before and now twice in two days.
We have decided to have a day in today, to give our tired legs a rest. Just walking around town, up and down has persuaded us we are no longer actual athletes!
The swim this morning was shaded by a cloud which stubbornly stuck between us and the sun, making the walk back a chilly affair in a good breeze. Three swans seem to have taken up residence at Troulos beach, charming from a distance but just a teeny bit concerned when they swim in our direction - after all, they are taller than us when we are swimming. A young woman came to feed them (whilst at the same time videoing them on her tablet. I tried desperately to see what the food was, something a few inches long. Vera says fish, but I always thought they ate water weed and grass. After we got out, I lingered by the edge of the sea to watch what they were dipping down for. There were tiny fishes moving around, but I didn't see the swans peck them, so I don't know. I'd ask you help, but the response to my Fauna thread has been quite unfruitful so I live in hopelessness.
We've decided to try a new restaurant tonight, Jasteri, opposite Salt and Pepper. We'll sneak in to avoid S&P eyes! Last night we went to Ratatouille, Vera had the wonderful chicken souvlaki and I tried the special, beef in a sort of stew with French beans, carrots and other stuff - incredibly delicious and meat so tender I could cut it with my fork and my teeth were well pleased!
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Post by kelso on Jun 29, 2016 9:43:31 GMT
Apparently swans eat mainly aquatic plants but will also eat small fish and insects and even frogs! If you want to feed them, cracked corn is recommended according to the information I found. Goodness knows what the Greek is for cracked corn! Bob
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Post by dennisn on Jun 29, 2016 10:34:39 GMT
Well, I'll look in my dictionary, but I don't even know if it'll say the Greek for intelligent corn. Maybe I'll go look in the frog pond for something.
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Post by *Di* on Jun 29, 2016 11:02:24 GMT
I will be interested to hear what you think of Jasteri Dennis... we went last year when they were recently opened and we enjoyed it very much all round, different experiences of a couple others...
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Post by dennisn on Jun 29, 2016 18:46:53 GMT
Tag Jasteri as a success. Vera had what she said was the best ever moussaka and I had a nice chicken ala cream. Tsatsiki starter with pitta bread was excellent and the bottle of Amstel was so cold it was really cold. I had another. With Vera's small water and a frappé, total bill €34.80 (plus tip). Can't fault that. We didn't manage to sneak past S&P unnoticed - the barman boy gave me a cheery wave from across the road!
No swim tomorrow morning, have to get on the bus by 9am for our day out on Victoria's boat.
There's a mozzie in here. Why can't it just eat me where I haven't got a clout? When they buzz my ear it drives me wild.
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Post by Tre on Jun 29, 2016 23:24:20 GMT
Dennis, when are you next "visible" in town, Bourtzi? Really ought to touch base.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 30, 2016 9:42:41 GMT
We're on the boat trip to Skopelos and Alonissos today.
Bourtzi tomorrow afternoon (Friday).
Here we are lunching in the Two Floors restaurant in Skopelos and the dentist rings for me to go in at 2pm. I managed to convey to his receptionist (who speaks a little more English than I do Greek), that I'm in Skopelos. It took quite some time to resolve (and I think they thought I'm going home tomorrow) and now I'm appointed for 9am tomorrow.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 30, 2016 9:45:54 GMT
Hey Bob, heads up. Get on the Skopelos webcam and watch for me NOW. I'll wave from the entrance to the ferry part in a few minutes. I'm wearing the Google T-shirt. You don't have to wave back, but at least make the effort to be polite enough to look out.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 30, 2016 9:48:05 GMT
TAKE A SCREEN SHOT TO PROVE IT.
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