Monday, January 02, 2006
First post of 2006
Almost two months since I last posted here; scandalous really but will try to make up for it now.
So, working backwards, here's what's new. I was on the way to the match on Saturday when I started to get texts from friends asking if I knew anything about a fire at school; I didn't, went to the game and thought no more of it. Rang Jo on the way back who had just heard a report on the local news and that one wing of the building had been badly damaged. Don't know why, but I just knew that it would turn out to have been the Modern Languages Department and sure enough it was. Haven't been in to assess the damage yet but I know we have lost three classrooms, many thousands of pounds worth of equipment and resources including brand-new interactive whiteboards, not to mention childrens' coursework and exercise books. It could have been much worse; if the wind had been blowing the other way apparently, the whole building would have gone up in smoke. But at least nobody was hurt, the insurance will cover the losses eventually and the exam boards will be understanding about the lost coursework.
Spent Christmas in Amsterdam; I've always wanted to get away and do something different so Christmas morning saw us at the Van Gogh museum and very pleasant it was too. Public transport was all up and running over the holiday period and we spent a great couple of days just exploring and relaxing. Photo is me enjoying a glass of gluhwein on Dam square. Three weeks earlier I had been doing the same thing-this time in Bruges as we took 42 children from school on our annual trip to the Christmas market there.
Spent the weekend before Christmas over in Scarborough seeing the family; stayed in a very cosy B&B right on the beach. Got caught in the first significant snowfall of the year and nearly had to stop on the Whitby road on the way there.
Back to the website; if you are a new visitor then it's worth knowing that the following pages are regularly updated: Adriana's Latest News (updated twice a week) together with her Greek recipes. The webcam image is updated daily, or several times daily. The readers' photos gallery, currently up to 41 pages, is updated whenever someone sends me some pictures! The chat page is a lively forum for all sorts of topics, not just Symi related. Otherwise it is a quiet time as far as new content is concerned, mirroring life on the island. As the tempo picks up leading to the start of this year's season, so I will be busy updating accommodation details etc.
Anyway, that's another year gone and looking back down to the bottom of this page I can only repeat my hope that all my family and friends have a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year-and the all the visitors to this site as well of course!
Photo on the right is of our grandson Joe.
All the best,
Mike x
So, working backwards, here's what's new. I was on the way to the match on Saturday when I started to get texts from friends asking if I knew anything about a fire at school; I didn't, went to the game and thought no more of it. Rang Jo on the way back who had just heard a report on the local news and that one wing of the building had been badly damaged. Don't know why, but I just knew that it would turn out to have been the Modern Languages Department and sure enough it was. Haven't been in to assess the damage yet but I know we have lost three classrooms, many thousands of pounds worth of equipment and resources including brand-new interactive whiteboards, not to mention childrens' coursework and exercise books. It could have been much worse; if the wind had been blowing the other way apparently, the whole building would have gone up in smoke. But at least nobody was hurt, the insurance will cover the losses eventually and the exam boards will be understanding about the lost coursework.
Spent Christmas in Amsterdam; I've always wanted to get away and do something different so Christmas morning saw us at the Van Gogh museum and very pleasant it was too. Public transport was all up and running over the holiday period and we spent a great couple of days just exploring and relaxing. Photo is me enjoying a glass of gluhwein on Dam square. Three weeks earlier I had been doing the same thing-this time in Bruges as we took 42 children from school on our annual trip to the Christmas market there.Spent the weekend before Christmas over in Scarborough seeing the family; stayed in a very cosy B&B right on the beach. Got caught in the first significant snowfall of the year and nearly had to stop on the Whitby road on the way there.
Back to the website; if you are a new visitor then it's worth knowing that the following pages are regularly updated: Adriana's Latest News (updated twice a week) together with her Greek recipes. The webcam image is updated daily, or several times daily. The readers' photos gallery, currently up to 41 pages, is updated whenever someone sends me some pictures! The chat page is a lively forum for all sorts of topics, not just Symi related. Otherwise it is a quiet time as far as new content is concerned, mirroring life on the island. As the tempo picks up leading to the start of this year's season, so I will be busy updating accommodation details etc.
Anyway, that's another year gone and looking back down to the bottom of this page I can only repeat my hope that all my family and friends have a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year-and the all the visitors to this site as well of course! Photo on the right is of our grandson Joe.
All the best,
Mike x
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
