We’re currently experiencing what I can only call a series of ‘glad to be alive’ days. Every morning currently, we wake up to bright blue skies, almost non-existent winds and a temperature of around 20ºC at dawn. By 9.00am it’s climbed to 24º and by 1.00pm it’s knocking on the door of 30. Put simply, these are wonderful days, perfect weather conditions for breathing in the atmosphere, the ambience of simply being alive.

Each day when we wake up we throw all the windows and doors in the house open to allow the outside in. It’s actually a little warm for the time of year, but when it comes to sheer appreciation for and enjoyment of life, you can’t beat it. OK, so the rains are sorely needed now for the farmers, even for our garden, but that still doesn’t take away from the fact that all we need to wear each day is a pair of shorts and a vest top. Have I droned on enough about it, do you think?

We ‘re still taking our iced coffees on the beach twice a week and still swimming in the warm sea. The sea temperature currently is around 25.5ºC, so it’s just perfect for immersing oneself and wallowing in the sheer sensual pleasure of feeling that warm water caressing your skin. In our upper garden at the house too, we have had the unexpected pleasure of a self-seeded courgette plant hanging down the wall and we’ve already harvested a few samples of its delicious produce…

It’s quite ironic really, since when we tried to grow some courgettes ourselves back on Rhodes it all went well for a while, in that the flowers bloomed and the fruit began to swell. But as soon as the baby courgettes began to get to a half-decent size, they all turned brown and rotted, every one. I’d done all the research too, and had the distinct impression that they’re among the easiest of vegetables to grow. You can’t over-water them, it said. You virtually can’t fail, it said. I did though (takes a sardonic bow). It’s one of the reasons (the other is that we get given so much veg anyway, plus it’s dirt cheap in the local stores in Ierapetra too) why when we began to plan the garden here we decided to keep it decorative. And then nature goes and gives us a massive accidental courgette plant that’s producing beautiful fruit. Sometimes you just can’t win, except when you do, if you see what I mean.

As I said in a previous post (in fact, it was probably the last one, I get so confused these days) I’ve backed up a little on photos owing to the triple post I wrote about our neighbours tragic story following the massive fires on Rhodes. So, here we go again with another batch from the last couple of weeks…

This little fella (above), a collared dove, was sitting on that post as we first glimpsed him (or her; since collared doves are among the few birds whose sexes are difficult to tell apart, bit like the modern youth of today when you come to think of it) and as we approached, and fully expected him to take flight, he decided to stay where he was. Probably a bit of a poser who loves to have his photo taken. I was happy to oblige.

Above: We dropped in to see our friend Marika, a mere 87 years young, at her house in Meseleri a couple of weeks back. The two puddytats on the chair are apparently siblings. You wouldn’t think so to look at them, would you? She says they’re inseparable. All together now, “Aaaaaaaah, bless!”

Below: Here is a collection of shots from the beach taken this past week or two. It’s a virtual impossibility to be there at the moment and not snap away…

I still have about 20 more recent photos in my ‘Facebook or Blog’ folder on the Mac, so I’ll post some more next time. Anyway, I’m off to the upper garden now to see if there are any more courgettes (zucchini for you good people across the pond, of course). Keep safe.

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