Monday, February 25th 2002

The rains finally found us again on Saturday afternoon. In the course of this weekend we received 45 millimetres of rain and it is still squally today. As there is a gale warning in effect the Symi I did not run today but a big boat from Piraeus docked this afternoon, bringing with it a large crane which had some difficulty in negotiating its way around the harbour. Apparently it is here to put the remaining blocks into the water so that the harbour widening project can be completed.

Despite the blustery weather and chill wind one of the sure signs of spring has appeared on the island - a covered truck is chirping and twittering its way up and down the hill, selling baby chickens, turkeys and partridges. It is quite well organised, with tiers of cages along the sides, full of noisy chicks, all impatient to be turned loose in hen houses and runs around the islands. We ourselves bought 12 young hens and 3 cocks which we hope will keep us supplied with eggs and the odd 'one for the pot' in the course of the year. An advantage of buying one's livestock this way is that they are likely to be healthy - a gypsy selling sickly chicks is not going to be able to come back again next year as everyone will remember and no one will buy. And they are literally delivered to the door.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana
The Symi Visitor
www.SymiVisitor.com

Friday, February 22nd 2002

Another sunny day in Symi. The rain missed us again although we could see showers over Turkey and the odd cloud wrapped itself around the Vigla in the morning. Yesterday was quite windy and we were all a little surprised that the ferry went in the morning but the gusts did not amount to much. I think we've probably become a little twitchy after the extremes we experienced in the early part of the winter. Right now it is quite definitely spring and has been for some weeks but rather too soon for anyone to feel confident about it!

If we don't have rain soon there's going to be a problem as the shallow-rooted grasses and plants are starting to die back and there is never enough grazing as it is.

The last batch of Kurdish and Afghan refugees to arrive on the island were shipped off yesterday morning on the Symi I but for a few days earlier this week the police station had a distinctly exotic air and was draped with bedding and colourful clothing. Symi has many faces in the winter that may surprise those who have only been here in the summer!

Have a good weekend!

Monday, February 18th 2002

The spring-like weather continues and if we don't have rain soon, believe it or not, we'll be in drought conditions again as there has been no significant rain for several weeks. Most of the rain forecast has passed either to the north or the south of us - just a blue grey blur on the horizon.

The first glossy yellow buttercups gleam in the sun. Daisy spangled meadows drone with bees and the geraniums that survived the wet and the cold are ablaze. The cyclamens didn't do too well in the rain and I think many of the tubers must have rotted as usually they are in full bloom by now and this year there are very few to be seen.

Every night sees drenching dewfalls and in the early morning there is often low cloud over the Vigla and trails of mist in the valleys. Any washing left on the line after sunset quickly reverts to sog. Yet, within hours of the sun clearing the hilltop the ground is bone dry and the ambient humidity drops to below 50%.

There is supposed to be rain coming this way later this week. We'll see.

Friday, February 15th 2002

Today was a glum day indeed at the Symi Visitor office when we woke to the news of Tony's* death last night. The last time we spoke to him earlier in the week he was excited at the prospect of being discharged from hospital and was hot on the trail of a news story for us about the Spielberg film. A true newspaper man to the last. The island will miss the Cowboy.

Have a good weekend.

*Tony Easton, Editor of 'The Symi Visitor' newspaper

Monday, February 11th 2002

Friday, February 8th 2002

While storms lashed the rest of Europe spring continues to dominate in our corner of the Mediterranean. The seas are so calm that the special hydrofoil clinic service has been reinstated, taking medical services around the islands. Also on the medical front, there is a lecture tomorrow night by a Greek cardiologist which has been organised by the local Ladies' Association.

The plant life is making up for lost time. The almond trees have almost finished their blossom but my peach tree which doesn't normally show signs of life until March is starting to bud. Among the wild flowers, flat rosettes of lilac mandrake flowers are conspicuous among the rocks and the first pale cyclamen flowers are popping up.

Rain is forecast this weekend, but it is expected to pass to the south of Rhodes so we will be lucky if we have a shower or two. Should be perfect conditions for pricking out lettuce seedlings. I hope.

One of the local shops which stayed open for Christmas shopping has taken the plunge with Valentine's Day this year. The usual commercial stuff - red satin hearts, cuddly toys and novelty coffee mugs - but the slogans are in Greek. It will be interesting to see if the local teenagers go for it - I can't see a stampede of Chorio housewives beating a trail to the door myself, but I may be wrong! More on this next week... Another diversion for the local youngsters is a series of film shows at the Cultural Centre. From what I can make out, they all seem to be horror films. 'The Mummy' etcetera. (And you thought they just watched endless reruns of 'Zorba', 'Shirley Valentine' and 'Never on a Sunday'...)

Enjoy your weekend. More on Monday.

Monday, February 4th 2002

Another balmy day! We can't believe our luck. It hasn't rained for 10 days and a gentle haze is obscuring Turkey. The island is enjoying an early spring and the plant life is certainly making up for lost time. The spinach seems to be growing before our eyes and the peas are covered in flowers, as are the broad beans. As some of the lambs are being weaned, keeping gates and fences secure is imperative.

The nights are very clear and still. The owls are active - we hear their hoots echoing across the valley as they search the moonlit terraces for mice.

My cats have also become a lot more nocturnal, only returning just before dawn, smug and exhausted. A nerve-wracking time for mice?

Have a good week.

Friday, February 1st 2002

The barometer is still very high and we continue to enjoy early spring sunshine. Temperatures are creeping into the low twenties now although nights are chilly due to lack of cloud cover and heavy dewfalls drench the island every night. The accompanying high humidity means that any place in the shade remains wet all day. Doors and shutters are still swollen and it will be some time yet before anyone trusts the weather enough to do any external painting or varnishing.

The almond trees are in full bloom now. With a bit of luck enough pollination will take place to ensure some kind of a crop this year, unlike last year when the March heatwave following a dry winter stressed the trees so much they failed to carry any nuts at all and the same freakish conditions knocked out the olive crop.

The hawkers are out and about, selling the most extraordinary combinations of goods: onions and clay pots, cheap icons and carpets, cooking pots and work boots. I'm waiting for the plastic chairs and tables fellow as our garden furniture needs replacing... Sit here long enough and everything you could possibly need will either trundle off the ferry or turn up in a dustbin!

Have a good weekend, planning your summer holidays!