...and counting. Flying to Heraklion and spending a few days on Crete; just booked a flight from Sitia to Rhodes and back, so will be on Symi a month probably. Work is its usual messy self at this time of year: exams, reports, kids and staff who want the year to be over-we've all had enough.

So to de-stress a bit I've rented a house down by the beach in Greece. Nice rooftop pool, shops and a bar nearby and lots of good company. You must call round for a drink sometime; you can find me here.


Off to buy some furniture.

Mike x

Labels: Greece, Symi

When I started writing this blog, five years ago (if you're interested, there is a link to the archives over to the right of this page), it was with the idea of keeping visitors to our website up to date with new content. Recently I have started posting any changes and updates, such as new photo galleries on our noticeboard; there is a 'What's New' section there.

Adriana has just sent me a set of photos celebrating the publishing of the tenth anniversary edition of the 'Symi Visitor' newspaper-in colour! So I'll put them up tonight. Off for a swim now; gorgeous, warm day here in the north-west of England.

Labels: Symi Greece News

Blogs are so unfashionable, apparently.. Millions of bloggers have left their personal blogs alone, unloved and un-updated (?) in hyperspace-just like mine since last September! I really will try to do better from now on...

For new readers, I should explain that although I write the Symi Visitor website, I don't actually live on the island, although the Daily Telegraph thinks I do. We do have a house in the village though, rebuilt from a ruin, it was finished last summer. The photo at the top of this page is a 360 degree view from the roof; you can see the harbour on the far left and Pedi Bay to the right of it. We (my wife Jo and I) stayed there properly for the first time this Easter. Been quite busy over the last few weeks; took a school trip to the Costa Brava for five days which was really successful. One girl left her passport on the plane at Barcelona airport and a lad got knocked down by a car, but apart from that, no problems!

It was also my father's 80th birthday a few weeks ago; in the photo below with my son Matt and grandson Joe.

Also spent a couple of days in Rome last week. Last time I was there was thirty years ago, almost to the day, to see Liverpool win the European Cup for the first time. I threw a coin in the Trevi fountain then and it obviously worked, so I thought I'd try it again.

Seven weeks left until we go back to Symi. Got flights to Crete this year, as we love that island too and will spend a few days either side of our Symi stay there, flying up probably from Heraklion. The ferry is mind-bogglingly slow.

"Symi - I'm coming to you again - as so many times before. And still I am like a little baby before Christmas.Yes I know - when the boat rounds the last point - and I can again see, that Symi is not just a dream - but existing - I will have tears in my eyes - from happiness - and I cannot wait to see again: Yialos, Chorio, Panormitis - and Stavrós tou Polémou - all the spirit of Symi. Silence, harmony and happiness" Posted by Arne Thomsen on our chat page last week. If you're a new visitor to this site, you'll find plenty of people ready and willing to answer any questions you might have about the island there. You could also try the live chat forum; I'm usually there around ten most evenings.

Anyway, that's it for me. Early start tomorrow as I have a meeting in Chorley. Can't wait..

All the best,

Mike

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Labels: Greece, Symi