Moving Day

Well Friday was moving day. Our work in Rhodes was done.
the Agean flight to Athens was supposed to depart at 12noon. Nope,
It was nearer 2 before we flew. A bit of a ball ache but we ended up with a free flight as a result.
The flight was uneventful, except i was seperated from Stan, Susan and George.
The weather deteriorated as we approached Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, opened in time forthe Olympics in 2004. It is situated 20km from Athens and easily served by the super smooth Metro. But we caught a taxi to travel to Kallithea and Georges' mums. It was chaos, but with in the hour we were there.
We only had a couple of errands to do that night. One was to find and vist Aristotelis in his Fish and Chip shop in Pireaus. He opened the shop in January, it is the first F&C shop in Athens. We got there by the metro to Pireaus station then a walk to the shop, very busy on the harbour front.
See the pics of the shop. We got a quick tour of the inside and then fed on a respectable cod and chips. We only just got there at 5 and he closes then so we didnt hang around. Bid our farewells and walked back down to the centre and caught a bus upto Georges 95 year old Grandma's house. Also in pireaus, but at the other end, near the island ferry docks. We only stopped a short while but it was good to see her again.
Back down to the train station and we nipped in to the city centre. Only one thought was on our mind. Souvlakis!! I know, we had just had fish and chips, but you cant go to Athens without eating on Souvlaki street.

54 Days to Christmas, but it came early to Rhodes

The day could definitely be split into 4 parts. The annual tidy up around the pool.Locking every thing down for the winter.
Then off to the shop again, very litle to do. Just tieing up a few ends. It was very straight and ready to go when we left...but then came another delivery. Only just in time. But this delivery had a load of important items. Made all the difference.
Stan and I nipped into the old town. Amena's had closed so we tried another cafe for 'full English' It wa crap. Sorry Amena, won't do it again.
It was a pleasant walk round, no hoards of crowds...butg, we missed the palace. next time.
A shower then back down to the shop for nibbles, drinky poos and hopefully a few sales. The till didn't stop ringing and the lights stopped on. So a successful night. Have a look at the pics
Off to Athens in the morning so early to bed. Sorry if you miss me.

Road Trip

Not at my best at 6.45

One view inside Kallithea

Feed the Cats

We set of early this morning for a little road trip. Don't forget the 6.45 swim!!
Starting in Lidl, realising we were a day early. then on to Kallithea. the last time I was there it was quite run down,

WHAT A TRANSFORMATION!

The pictures don't do it justice. In thalast picture try and count the cats. There were 28 of them, none of them mangy. Didnt care too much for the crisps though.
Then onto Lindos, via Haraki beach. It was very quiet in Lindos, but warm. Stan was impressed. Didnt go on a donkey though. It was close mind.
Then started our way back, ever minded of our reponsibillities back at the shop.
Just had time to call in at Epta Piges (7 Springs to you and me). Stan got a surprise with that one.
Very quiet. Swans and Ducks this time not cats.
Back to the shop at 2, just a few hours today. Few final tests and clearing up. nearly ready for tomorrow.
Tea especially for Stan, beef Stifado with mashed spuds. We went down to Mandraki, it was their last night. They have had 4 of them now. Sunday definitely.
Bed now, big day tomorrow.

Making Stifado for Stan
Outside kallithea
In the tunnel at 7 Springs

Tuesday - More of the same, jus ta little different.

Stan outside Amena's

When all around us people were losing their heads,
we enjoyed a nice cup of tea!

Early morning dip again then we were off. Only this time it was to Amena's English cafe in the Old Town. Full English for me.

After a quiet stroll and an ice cream it was back to the shop. More trees on the balcony and then more pipelighting work.
It was a long day. Over 9 hours. More was done in the last hour of than on most days. A big tidy up
certainly made a big difference. Tested that electrics would take all the lights being on at once. Then grabbed a quick meal at the Chicken Shop, shower and bed
(Don't believe any of this ' straight to bed' m'larky. I would wait till they all had gone to bed before getting on the computer. Otherwise you wouldn't be reading this!)

Another early dip the we cracked up the scooter and off to the supermarket. It was only then we realised the old body clock was wrong as it was only 7! they didn't open till 8 but they found the till money and served us. Then we were ready for the shop.
Stan and I were given the task of assembling a 7ft tree in kit form. D'ell! Now I know where all our plastic bottles go, they make Christmas trees out them. I wondered if a little Chinese woman ever thinks where here handy work will end up. Certainly not in a country which was at 27 degrees.

Oh and putting a bit of pipelighting to one of the nicer locations ever. Beats standing up a ladder in November in a cold Morecambe!

After a full day we went out to Felicia for pizza. Funny how I remembered the last time I went there with Susan and George we had a puncture in the Merc. Guess what? Yep, we had another puncture in the same tyre. Managed to find a garage and pump it up then finally made it to Athams bar.

Just a quiet welcome laid on...

Well, after a few hours sleep we were up and about. tradition says that you have to dive into the pool immediately you go poolside. Jeez it was cold. Everything went into hiding if you know what I mean!
I was really happy that Susan and George laid on a little parade for our arrival, very nice of them.
Then we thought we'd swing by the Christmas shop, just to see how things were getting on. Organised chaos. So much stuff!
Anna was making a beautiful job of decorating the Christmas trees and Toula was directing operations.


Back home for Roast Beef a la George and an early night.

Have you ever been anywhere stranger to find a Christmas Shop?

Hi, well the Christmas team was ferried up to Newcastle Airport on Saturday 27th October. We arrived there in p-l-e-n-t-y of time.Thanks Mum and Bill. Booked in for the flight, infact we were first to do so. No sweat with booking in. Got the isle seats. Too easy. Long wait in the departure lounge. Not much to do. Oh, saw Nial Quinn and some other players from Sunderland FC. That just about broke the boredom up. On to the plane, then we found out why it was so easy to get good seats. Only 7 passengers. Well done Bobble, guessed correctly.
The flight on the 757 was over very quickly, only had one hour of Zz's. Landed, picked our bags up in world record time for Rhodes. Susan picked us up.
First time on Rhodes for Stan, but he found it very much like Corfu, which he has been to a few times.