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Post by kelso on Sept 15, 2021 15:26:04 GMT
Another thought occurred Dennis. It might be worth posting your experience on the Tui Facebook page. As you know, these companies do not like to be publicly shamed, so that might be the quickest way of getting action.
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Post by cariad23 on Sept 15, 2021 18:17:01 GMT
i think you need to investigate whwn you get home, why vera keeps falling. Maybe a referral to balance clinic, im sure her daughter can advise
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Post by dennisn on Sept 15, 2021 18:29:15 GMT
Thanks Cariad - we are already on that pathway back home.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Sept 16, 2021 8:24:02 GMT
Apparently, if you tweet about it…on Twitter…they’ll be all over it.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 16, 2021 17:14:44 GMT
Unfortunately (I lie when saying that!) I don’t have Twitter.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 16, 2021 18:30:14 GMT
I know Angela will go above and beyond to help.❤️ Never a truer word, Di. A ground floor room fell vacant and she moved us yesterday, larger room for 3 persons. She and the cleaner did almost every bit of the carrying too, above and beyond doesn’t cover it and we all know it, don’t we. So Wednesday was a day of moving. At night, we wheelchaired to Vareli restaurant. I did my back in pushing the wheelchair up the ramp out of Villa Maria, then the beautiful flat road outside turned out to be uphill all the way to Vareli. Coming back was great until I reached the ramp, down which Vera and wheelchair dragged me at almost terminal velocity! Vera hated the wheelchair, not being in control of her movement was unpleasant. And it’s not very clean! So it’s going back tomorrow and hasn’t been used since yesterday’s single outing.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 16, 2021 18:49:39 GMT
Thursday 16th September. A gentle day. We set off at 11am in the Jimny after I discovered the reason why it wouldn’t set off - I had turned on the ignition to let the blower clear a bit of heat, but didn’t operate the starter (yes, 22 years I’ve been a professional white van man). Drove very slowly so as not to bump Vera, along the road past Dog Shelter and on to mountain tracks to Ligaries for lunch. We were passed by numerous intrepid quadders, motor bikers and optimistic cars, which was fine - when doing this sort of driving I don’t want somebody on my rear bumper. Stopped occasionally for piccies and got there about noon - about six kilometres in an hour, I didn’t get out of second gear after we left the tarmac at the dog shelter. Most importantly, Vera said she never suffered a bumping pain. Two helpings of bread, a Greek salad, two non alcoholic Fix beers (for me) and a tonic and a frappe for Vera, 23 Euros before tip.
Another gentle hour back and we went out to the pool for two beers and two iced teas and a swim for me. Still big girl’s blouse, but it had to be done!
I drove us round the corner to park in Salt and Pepper’s car park (field) and crossed the road to eat in Jasteri. Beer and tonic, Sea Bass filet and lamb in plum sauce (again - couldn’t resist another of these). 39 Euros plus tip.
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Post by balddave on Sept 16, 2021 18:57:03 GMT
Seems Angela has been a great help to you, typical of Skiathos, just a shame TUI couldn’t offer more assistance. Glad that your able to get out and about and are making the best of the situation.
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Post by kelso on Sept 16, 2021 19:03:38 GMT
Here’s hoping that, in spite of your travails, you manage to have a great birthday tomorrow. If you let us know what time you are going to the Bourtzi you could do a “Skopelos wave” from beside the mariners monument so that we can watch you on the webcam and raise a glass to you and Vera! 😉 Bob
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Post by cariad23 on Sept 16, 2021 19:05:33 GMT
Thats good youve been able to get out and about.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 18, 2021 6:00:49 GMT
So the birthday dawned and I opened the cards we brought. The first one is from Vera and I laughed so much it was ages before I got round to any other envelopes. Risking offending both you and the app censor it goes ….. WITH OLD AGE COMES NEW SKILLS… YOU CAN , COUGH, SNEEZE AND PISS YOURSELF ALL TOGETHER! I still do one of them every time I see the card! OK, so we eventually got mobile to find a flat battery again. This time the man asked if I had done anything and I was fortunate to be absolutely telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when I denied everything. So after jump leads he said he’d change the battery later that day. Then he said if we’re going into town, take it to the town office and they’ll do it. But as I drove past, he was on the phone and signalled me to stop and said there’s nobody in the office so he’d do it here after all. I was approaching the ferry dock and stopped to get Vera and the Zimmer out, when a car stopped and a man asked how long I was stopping there (yellow lines, taxi only, go to jail and do not pass GO) and I (wearing my Mr Grumpy t-shirt) pointed at the zimmer, prepared to put my command of Greek to the test. But he said that’s fine I’m from the office (invisibly visible immediately opposite where I had stopped by coincidence), just leave it there and I’ll change the battery and you can collect it from here when you are done. So off we went. it took 45 minutes for Vera to get to Nikos taverna on Papadiamantis, where he was naturally completely accommodating. Two gyros, beer and frappe, then a mission to get to the toilet. A foreign woman gave me a look as I came out of the ladies! Then up the road to the Chinese lady’s shop for bangles, scents and a dress, then up the road to the feet fish shop to book an appointment for nails on Wednesday. Another 45 minutes back to the Jimny shop was extended by a couple of Magnums - not a long delay, as under a blazing sun, a Magnum melts from the bottom faster than you can eat it from the top - I got a big dribble on my foot from a previous one and that’s a too far down to lick off. Back at Villa Maria we urgently needed super cold beer, but first I had to trek back into town to get rid of the wheelchair, so it was some time before I got the beer. I had, however, earned a brownie point by popping into the big supermarket opposite the hospital and got some grapefruits. Vera had decided to give thanks to the kind people who rushed to her aid when she fell, so she put money behind the pool bar for drinks for them. I had no idea who they were because I’m useless at observation and even worse with peoples identities, but Angela knew them and is seeing to it that they get free drinks on Vera and is reporting back on them all. After beer, we got Vera into the pool where the water is getting back to warmth (but still girl’s blouse) and with support from the water, she happily swam up and down. A nice (young(ish) strong man helped me get her safely out and she was very happy. We Zimmered to Ratatouille for our evening meal. Anybody who knows the setup will understand how slowly when I say it took 15 minutes to get there. Tsatsiki and pitta starter followed by mixed grill for two, which is enough for at least three, so I secretly took advantage of the presence of three small cats who were starving enough to help me out. Try as I might, I cannot recall the cost, but under 40 Euros. Vera’s granddaughter FaceTimed us as we zimmered back in the dark, so she had to talk to hidden people.
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Post by cariad23 on Sept 18, 2021 10:33:11 GMT
gentle swimming will help with mobility as no stress on the joints, hydrotherapy. i love grapefruit, are you or vera on statins? i don,t know if you are aware you are not supposed to eat grapefruit if you are. The odd one is probably fine but not regulary Glad the pool is warming im a big wuss hate cold water, some pools never seem to get warm depends if its in the sun and depth i suppose. The one at theodora was lovely. i even found the sea in india abit chilly. skiathos has the warmest sea of any greek island i think, samos was freezing and lesbos not much better. A thought could you have a gyros or pizza delivered one night for dinner to save the walk
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Post by dennisn on Sept 18, 2021 14:30:39 GMT
Yes, gentle swimming is great. As for statins, I’ve been put on them this year, but Vera has been on them for decades. And she’s had half a grapefruit every morning for decades, and has known about statins/grapefruits for years. Personally, I don’t eat sour things so I’m safe. Oh and a couple of days ago when we stayed in at night, Vera made do with a few biscuits, whilst I had a delivery takeaway pizza and it was horrible, I only ate half of it. And it took ages to deliver too! But thank you for the kind advice.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 18, 2021 18:58:03 GMT
Saturday 18th September. Leisured arising and breakfast. Destination the Monastery, we circled round by Xanemos which was completely empty. On the way, we noticed a incoming plane landing the wrong way round, so we could stop for a while at the end of the runway to observe. So, onwards for the monastery but when wegot there, we found too many steps for Vera to negotiate so we settled for a few photos. As we left, a passing man suddenly turned back and greeted us. He was the shopkeeper of the coop supermarket at bus stop 18 who always welcomed us warmly. Sadly his place is closed and probably for good. I asked why and my Greek was only up to assuming it was lack of customers, so sad.
just in passing, as we drove round the airport and Xanemos, I told Vera the Tennis Club is somewhere here. But we never saw it, only the football stadium, so it will remain a place of legend still. There is also a brand new big supermarket there, only opened a couple of days ago and already busy.
From the monastery we moved on to Platanos again, this time sharing a Greek salad which was probably our tastiest, served accompanied by a sachet of oil and one of vinegar. I had three bottles of Mythos Free - non alcoholic and only 330ml bottles, freezing cold and very welcome. After a frappe, Vera had an iced lemon tea, which came as black tea in a tall glass with ice and a lump of lemon, perhaps not as good as the tinned one! The toilets are interesting, no sign for gents and ladies, except for a small plaque with raised figures of a seated lady and a standing gentleman with his bit obviously aimed at a toilet! The glass doors (!!!) are frosted enough to obscure fine details whilst eliminating the need for Occupied signs.
Back to Villa Maria for beer and swim in the pool. Vera can get in with help and enjoys the freedom of water support. Helping means I have to descend the steps first, big girl’s blouse fashion, pretending to love it.
We had planned on eating at Sunrise, driving there, but I’d had too much alcohol for driving so we’ll do that tomorrow, and went to Vareli instead. Tsatsiki, then Kleftiko for Vera and I had exohiko, which is very like Kleftiko, but in filo pastry instead of foil. 40 Euros with drinks and tip.
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Post by Woody (Admin) on Sept 18, 2021 21:23:07 GMT
The Tennis club is somewhere near the fire station. If I remember, take the road along the harbour towards the windmill and turn left. Or, turning right towards the harbour from the ring road, take the first left, its down near the car park past the fire station.
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