Skiathos 7, September 2016

Not long now, Bob. We are earlier than I predicted, so start looking in about half an hour, after we've finished our lamb chops, maybe around 10:30 your time.

Damn, I've had it on for an hour and must have missed them. Get back and do it again Dennis at 1330 your time (1130 UK)

Vera took the photo and I didn't realise I was camouflaged to blend in with the building behind me!

I also took a selfie to prove it. And you're right with the time. Woody, it's no good muttering - you were supposed to watch carefully. Now you'll have to wait and try again next July. 

Oh, sorry about the prize Bob - White is not the colour, it is white with black graphics, as you can see in the selfie. Better luck next time!

Thursday 15th September. 

As you can guess from the previous posts, no swim in the sea this morning, just off to get the bus into town. Interesting, two other couples arrived at BS18 shortly after us, but they weren't coming for the Green bus, they were getting the tour operator's bus to go on the SAME boat trip we were doing. I didn't have the cheek to ask how much they paid - the difference between us was they got a bus back from the new harbour to save them walking to the bus station, but they were dropped off at BS18. I think a couple doing the same last year said they had paid about 70 Euros. Ours cost 38, including our bus fares. 

Pleasant trip on the boat, no wicked waves this year. There was quite a reasonable breeze to give a slight chop to the sea surface, but not to rock the boat. It was good for a cooling breeze in the lower deck. 

We had lamb chops for lunch at Skopelos - after ordering I suddenly remembered my teeth aren't really up to Greek lamb chops, but too late and I had to cut them into tiny pieces. Very tasty, though. Tzatziki, beer and water, €32.70. 

After going up to the port entrance to wave to Bob on the webcams (shame on the rest of you for not looking) the Agios Nikolaos took us on to Alonissos, where we dawdled around a bit, then went for ice creams and drinks in a small place which was sufficiently old fashioned to bring us (free) iced water with the ice creams, then another with Vera's frappé. 

There were no dolphins on the return run, probably because the sea surface wasn't smooth enough. 

Back at the villa, we rushed to get wet in the pool to wash the cobwebs away, absolute bliss (if we discount the big girls blouse bit about getting in). 

Having already mealed in Skopelos, we forewent any idea of evening meal and sat on our balcony, Vera with horrible little square dry biscuits dipped in a tub of cheese salad and a cuppa tea, whilst I enjoyed Mavrodaphne and origami crisps. It doesn't get much better than this!

When Vera checked this morning, we still had 55 Euros left in our food kitty from what we took home after our June/July holiday. So with our first week at a conclusion, we are only now opening the first week's kitty to use in the second. Satisfying. 

Oh Cariad, I think that we are better not knowing what the t shirt says, particularly if he bought it from a Greek with a risky sense of humour.
I share your concern about the amount of data allowance used up. I'll probably have to switch off in a couple of days!
Bob

I didn't do a little dance because the webcams aren't that good to pick it up - when I wave, I don't wave, I stand with my arm raised for at least ten seconds for the cameras to catch up. 

The T-shirt says (roughly) Save the Mediterranean seals which are Europe's most endangered mammals and live in the National Marine Park at Alonissos and there are only about 700 left in the world. Vera bought me a new one which says Eat more feta to reduce Greek debt. 

Crisps were here all over the place except not that flavour in the supermarkets we use at Troulos. I asked the Australian girl and she said she'd get another delivery 'tomorrow' and indeed she did. I could have got them in most places in town, but I hate crisp crumbs, so didn't want to carry them on a busy bus. Not that the buses have been busy, only once. 

Little smile. Getting on the boat yesterday, you have to put your name and age on a list. I asked if I should write 76 and 363/365ths and one crew member actually understood (well, he laughed). I decided to put 77, because if I was lost at sea they probably wouldn't find me until tomorrow!

Do all you lot have small data allowances? I've no idea what mine is on my home broadband, just do whatever and never even consider it. My mobile is 2gb and I upped it from 0.5 some time ago when they hit me with an extra £6.