|
Post by dennisn on Aug 28, 2017 8:21:08 GMT
Title from the Yorkshire traditional ditty, "Where 'as ta bin sin Ah saw thee? - On Ilkley Moor, 'baht 'at". For the uneducated Southernersoftypantses amongst you, 'baht 'at is translated as "without a hat" and is a terminal health matter. For the uninitiated, the last verse concludes with "Then we sl all ave et thee up" (and that is spell checked), a sort of gleeful cannibalistic prophetic finale to the song.
OK, it's getting really close now, just "legs eleven" days (which crosses my mind as an appropriate comment, with my leg still in dressings!). That's to flight from Birmingham BY7534 on 8th September, due to push back at 07:10hrs, landing at Skiathos at 12:40 local 10:40 UK time.
I keep swinging from one emotion to another then back again. The predominant one is still the thought that I'm not going to be able to swim. But another now is that I just MIGHT be able to swim. Yesterday I had my dressings changed by Vera's daughter, who is a nurse on a surgical ward and she really went to town on the necrotic tissue and got it almost all off. That's what was holding up the healing process and whilst there's no way it'll be healed by the time we get to Troulos, she reckons I should try to persuade the surgery to give me enough waterproof dressings to change every day or two, thus enabling me to swim. I can hardly contain my excitement, but I must stay realistic and not get my hopes up too high.
We're nearly all packed. I say 'we', but you'll understand I don't have anything to do with it! My only contribution is to stick electrical things in - chargers and the mozzie plug which has proven to be a trusty friend over the years. We buy a bottle of glop at the supermarket up the road when we first arrive and it lasts just nicely the entire fortnight.
Vera has already written her shopping list for our first stocking up and I have decided to give my custom for the Mavrodaphne to the Patitiri Supermarket next door to Christakis Bar right from the off, instead of buying one at the first stop at the dearer price ticket.
In case you are in any doubt, I can't wait to get there.
|
|
|
Post by balddave on Aug 28, 2017 10:32:53 GMT
I think I speak for many when I say, hope healing process speeds up and you are able to dip a toe in the sea. Seems like quite a few forum members heading to Skiathos over the next couple of weeks, looking forward to reading posts as holidays progress. And Dennis, who cannot wait to get to Skiathos, we are currently browsing with the intention of booking for next May
|
|
|
Post by cariad23 on Aug 28, 2017 10:59:51 GMT
if the surgery wont give them to you buy them at the chemist if it means you can swim. or try the fishing shop for some nice maggotts ! you could always get a lilo lie back and let vera push you round in the sea lol I really hope you are able to have your daily dip, i'd be devastated if i couldnt go in the sea, i much prefer the sea to a pool.
|
|
|
Post by katet on Aug 28, 2017 12:09:36 GMT
Hopeful news, Dennis! Paul's been told not to swim, because of his ear infection ~ but that's no hardship for him as he doesn't really like it. He's more of a paddler!
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Aug 28, 2017 13:28:36 GMT
Good for Paul, hooray! It would be dreadful to call off a holiday for severe earache (I'm not being trivial, it's a damned rubbish thing to happen).
As for me, it is now too late for maggots, as Vera's daughter got rid of almost all the necrotic tissue yesterday. Just a tiny bit left, then presumably I move onto proper elastoplasts, healing things instead of glop holding things. If the surgery is unwilling to issue loads of them, I'll get the proper description and go to the pharmacy next door and order some. I mustn't get too up over it - I still have four more nurse appointments before we fly, with the last one on the day before we fly to give me supplies and instructions on how to do them. But would you believe, I'm now even beginning to worry that I shall be swimming instead of taking my iPhone to film the skittering fishes!!
Maggots are an interesting thing. I knew from my boyhood that in ancient times, witchdoctors and barbers used them in wounds, then apparently they became officially recognised in the American Civil War and used in the First World War. Proper research has shown that they actually have TWO benefits (although they are not suitable for ALL wounds). First, they eat all the bad stuff (gently, by melting it first) and secondly they excrete some sort of 'zymes' which have anti septic, anti biotic, anti germ and healing ointment properties. So you could say they eat the bad stuff and poo good stuff - We love maggots, hug a maggot! These days of course, they have to be proper medical grade maggots, not from a fishing shop - I hear there is a medical maggot factory in Wales. And as such, they are not cheap. But for the right wound, they are by far the best treatment, both best at cleaning out, they don't leave any traces of bad stuff, and best at applying really good stuff - and they do it quicker than any other method.
Next time I get incapacitated by a motorbike, I shall request maggots to help speed my capacitation.
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Aug 28, 2017 13:47:22 GMT
And Dennis, who cannot wait to get to Skiathos, we are currently browsing with the intention of booking for next May Good for you Dave, but once again we'll miss you - we're already booked for July and September next year. At least you won't be embarassed standing next to somebody with more hair than you! Of course, since we booked next year ages ago, Thomson, who are the only operator for Villa Maria, have now started flying to Skiathos from Bristol next year, our local airport 15 minutes drive away! But only on Tuesdays and we don't like flying Tuesdays.
|
|
|
Post by Tre on Aug 28, 2017 16:09:41 GMT
Fingers crossed for you Dennis 🤞🤞🤞
|
|
|
Post by yorkshiremouth on Aug 28, 2017 17:12:30 GMT
I hope the wound heals sufficiently.
If it doesn't, try to focus on all the great things about Skiathos other than going in the water.
And, if you have time, keep us up to date.
Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by balddave on Aug 28, 2017 18:00:31 GMT
Dennis you must understand,everybody (kojak except) has more hair than me Flight from Bristol on a Tuesday, would this be Thomson ,as normally there change over day. Not doing long haul next year , have big birthday/anniversary in 2019 so plenty planned for then , so may take a cheeky week in September
|
|
|
Post by kelso on Aug 28, 2017 18:03:52 GMT
I'm sure you'll listen to your head, not your heart Dennis. Disappointing though it might be not to swim, you don't want to cause any long term issues. I hope you and Vera have a great time again. Bob
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Aug 29, 2017 6:19:14 GMT
Yes, Bob, I shall be ruled by my head. That's why I came to accept the probability of not swimming this time. But on Sunday when that lot of stuff came off, it was a real ray of hope and I (silly old man) got a bit emotional thinking I might be able to have my dips. We shall see - another visit to the surgery nurses this morning and three more to come before we fly, so they'll be the deciding authority.
Dave, just because everybody except Kojak has more hair than you is no reason for us not to do baldism - there's no law against it (yet!). And yes, Bristol is Thomson from 2018, Tuesdays.
EDITED TO ADD - TEN days to go! (but not really - I don't work on the Thursday so that doesn't count. Maybe the fact that I can't work anyway means I shouldn't count ANY days and I have NO days to go?).
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 1, 2017 10:29:18 GMT
Soooo... One week from this very moment, I should be almost inside Villa Maria, with the plane landing at 12:40 local. Very annoying to watch my flight today though - it's running more than 90 minutes late, just passing Skopje and not due to land for another half hour or more. I don't mind so long as it doesn't happen to us.
Still not definite about whether I shall be able to swim. But it IS definite about being able to drink beer!
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 2, 2017 8:02:40 GMT
Well folks, it's a LOT less than a week to go now.
I'm looking for help. Where can I RELIABLY get a meat thing that has meat on it and is within the weakling capabilities of my very blunt plastic teeth? I'm fed up of having to slyly slip my bits of meat intoi a paper napkin to dispose of because it's too tough for my blunt choppers and I'm fed up of trying desperately to get some edible protein off a thing made of bone and no meat - I used to love chops, but I have yet to find a decent one in Skiathos (partly because I daren't order one that I won't be able to chew) - I want one that has loads of meat on it and that melts as soon as my plastic teeth even look at it. I can't chew it, it needs to be cooperative, not resistant. Pork or lamb. Just one other factor - I don't know anywhere, so all these exotic places everybody mentions are out - I know where most Troulos tavernas are, but I don't think you'd catch me mountaineering to Nectar and Ambrosia. I don't know a single one in town - Nikos gyros shop and Plateia sandwich shop and that's it. We did once have something at one of the places up above the old port but I don't know the name (bear left at the top of the steps and there's a whole row of them).
So... all it needs is a very meaty chop which falls off the bone as soon as I touch it and somewhere which I can find with my very limited geographical ability (it took me three years to find [but not visit] Alexandros Taverna and I don't suppose I'd find my way back there again).
Failing perfect recommendations, I shall be falling back on my favourite - spare ribs at Salt and Pepper (I'll be having those anyway, one of our nights there).
Oh, by the way, we're going on Friday, Eat yer heart out Treason's mum!!!
|
|
|
Post by balddave on Sept 2, 2017 8:55:12 GMT
From counting months,then weeks now days, very soon be hours Dennis
With regard to your search for the perfect pork chop, the best I've had in town is in the corner restaurant opposite old Port house bar,just off church square, sorry but name eludes me at the moment. Not only was meat succulent,but the portion was huge, not one for the faint hearted.
Am I right in saying your going on Friday, think you may have mentioned it 🌝✈️
|
|
|
Post by cariad23 on Sept 2, 2017 9:45:20 GMT
if you want some very tender lamb chops En Plo on the new harbour. My husband asked if any lamb chops as not on the menu, it came as a rack of lamb perfectly cooled proper cutlets not the bony shoulder chops you get in most places. But at a price 19 euros. My two front teeth are crowned and i have a problem with some meat ham causes problems!
|
|