Going back home

So the last few days, I did a little less, to take time to enjoy this lovely island while I was still here. I went up to the Dog Palace one more time, to walk the dogs, on the same path. Unfortunately the Dog Palace owner caught covid! That messed up the plans for an impromptu party with my cake of course. The rest of us all tested ourselves and we were ok. I had to drive myself in one of the trucks they use to go to the Palace, long time since I drove such a big beast. When I left the Palace, most of the dogs were asleep after their walk, so they did not see me go which is what I wanted. I have noticed they howl when we went on the other days. It’s horrible! But Rita was not to be denied, she spotted me sneaking out. I told her I would be back. I did not look back at her, I couldn’t. On the way back I picked up the guy who has his vegetable garden in Mega Livadi, I think he was a bit surprised when he opened the truck door and saw me! I managed to say a few things to him, he told me about the lack of rain, I knew where he wanted to be dropped off just before Livadi. He thanked me profusely.

I have been helping the Dog Palace owner in this time of covid, at a distance of course. She has this lovely hibiscus bush which has  bright red flowers on it. One of her house dogs has taken to picking these when they open and eating them. I knew a Retriever years ago that took to eating its owners prize roses.

I helped one of my friends move some cat food, the day before my ferry, my reward a nice coffee and savouries at Grans. I still haven’t seen the young girl who works there yet, I have nearly seen everyone else who works there. The person we delivered the cat foot too, has these amazing wooden cat houses, those cats are really pampered! These two cost two hundred euros each.

The car has been handed back, it’s been a nice drive, it was a VW Up! Car, ideal for these narrow roads. Most of these rentals are white for obvious reasons! It’s got windy, there are white horses on the choppy seas, not so bad to stop the ferries thank goodness, but I am taking the slow boat, which will be a bit smoother than the faster jet type ferries. But I  am in no rush. Even in my time here loads of places are closing. Lots of them cover the outside lights to protect them from the sea. Tables and chairs are pilled up under cover, tarpaulins cover them from the worst of the weather. Soon the fast ferries will stop and the ferry schedule will go down to a boat every other day. 

I had my last dinner on the island with a friend in her office in the port. We got a Gyro from a nearby taverna and she made us a smoothie. She organises artists who come for a period of time on the island and usually undertake a project related to the island. Here comes an apology. She had noticed I had written up my visit to the museum and my disappointment with not finding much new except a small display. Well no excuse offered, I had not really examined and read the text that was available to read on it. The point of the small display was to show the artist had gathered rocks of different types and ground them down and created colours which he then used for paintings. The display just showed some of the rocks used. So the lesson I learn was just because something doesn’t look significant, doesn’t mean it’s not worth further examination. I felt very embarrassed, I went back and took a better look and read up on the text the morning before I left.

While enjoying our food and drink, the wind was really making its present felt. The current artist visiting the island is researching the miners strike many years ago and in particular the women, whose story has not been told before. If I got my facts straight  one lady was imprisoned, I am not sure what for, but she ended up giving birth in prison. My friend drove me home and I retired to bed. The next day, the wind was still strong, I checked with the Marine Watch app and my ferry is on the move which is a good sign. I went back to the taverna with a friend before my ferry rolled in, the same one that I went to one my first night. The ferry journey was quite busy, in the shelter of Serifos I was able to sit at the front of the boat as I did years ago, it’s a lovely view. But as soon as we left the shelter of the island, it got very windy and I retreated inside.

The wind meant the journey was longer and we arrived late. I checked into my hotel and had a couple of beers outside. It was nice and cool in Athens. In the morning I had breakfast, I met one of the guys I have known since I first came to this hotel. He was genuinely pleased to see me walking about as he had seen me months ago with the cage on and not being very mobile. We had a nice chat which I  enjoyed. My taxi took me to the airport, and then my flight back to the UK. 

So what about the future? After my decision not to go back here  to live, I wasn’t sure what I might do about visiting these islands, but I still won’t be going back to live here full time again. But I will visit again and see my friends on Sifnos too. But together with this, a visit to some other islands, I have only seen a few of these islands, there are plenty more to visit. I intend to make a decent attempt to carry on with my Greek language efforts, which I can torture the Greeks with when I return.  There has been a lot of interest in how my leg is, the pin holes have been called mosquito bites, by at least one person which I  think is very apt.