Paxos News

OUR FIRST WINTER

Everyone said that we would find the winter a difficult period, a real test. 'It's wet, cold and there's nothing to do'. So, preparing with that in mind we bought games like monopoly, we made sure that we had a DVD player, sorted out our broken video and made sure that our Sky Sports subscription was paid for the winter ahead! Ok, we're ready! Throw the winter at us and we'll see if we make it!

We are still saying the same! There are two springs here in Greece it seems, one in March and April and another in October and November and this year the weather in both has been wonderful. So then we got to December and the temperatures dropped slightly, but most days were sunny and as warm as a British summer nearly - perfect. Most days we were repeating ourselves by saying 'What a wonderful day!'

If we want to be critical we had three days in December when there was some rain (not a lot though) and more importantly to a small island the winds picked up and gales blew which meant that the hydrofoil didn't run and even one of the ferries didn't come over, but it was only three days and then the large Theodora ferry boat came with supplies.

So far then, so good.

We've done a lot in the garden and the house so far this winter and have plenty planned for next spring. Out in the garden we've had our olive and almond trees trimmed. This was the big job - we have 11 olive trees and 8 almonds and they were massive and hadn't been trimmed for a long time, so we had a couple of Albanian lads come and do it for us and then another couple cut them up to the right size for us to use in our log burner this winter and probably the next too! From being rather a dark garden we now have plenty of light and air and the light now gets to the house too, so its a great improvement and we shouldn't go cold this winter either. It also meant we now have a 'slight' sea view from our spare bedroom, so we can charge friends and family now!

As for the family, we're all well.

Natasha (the baby) is loving life here and gets well fussed by the Greeks (which includes gifts of biscuits from the bakers, chocolates from the supermarkets and eggs and oil from friends - she's very useful!). She goes around waving to everyone from her little pushchair and is know by name by everyone - whilst we are simply Natasha's Mum or Dad - she's walking now and is jabbering in a version of Greek and English!

Dawn went back to the UK in November, as at her age Paxos would be too quiet in the winter. She's now staying with her aunt and working in Bournemouth.

Christine's had another birthday and is settling well - so everything is fine, and it'll soon be May again and the start of another season!

Chris Griffiths