Progress on the new book is now up to around 17,000 words. I’m almost (but not quite) sure that it’s going to be called ‘Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Greece But Were too Embarrassed to Ask,’ with a very subtle nod in the direction of Woody Allen. You either know what I mean by that or you don’t. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter anyway.

Catchy title, eh? OK, when the cover is designed it’s going to stress just a few of those words, with the rest in a somewhat smaller font size, but I can’t think of a better way to describe what the book’s all about, which is everything there is to know about Greece. Well, I’ll qualify that, everything you’d need to know to win the specialist round about Greece in your local pub quiz, how’s that?

I’m not rushing the writing, and so can’t give you any idea about when it’s likely to come out but, now and then, when I get inspired, I put a bit of a spurt on, so I’ll get there in the end, honest. I get these mad periods when I suddenly remember a whole bunch of ‘stuff’ that I think may amuse the reader, and it’s at those times when I rush upstairs to my mancave and bash away. The book is intended, while – yes – being informative, primarily to amuse and entertain. I have vain ambitions to imitate the wit and writing style of those superb books by Ekaterina Botziou. if you haven’t read ‘Theseus & the Mother-in-Law and other Myths & Legends’ or ‘Greek Expectations: The Last Moussaka Standing’ yet, take my tip, get them and do so forthwith, right away, or if not, sooner. Be ready for people to look at you gone off though, should you be foolish enough to read them in public anywhere. Those around you are sure to think that you’ve forgotten to take your medication when they see the tears rolling down your face and that manic grin that’ll be plastered all over it.

Anyway (which, incidentally, is a word I use far too often, I know), in the meantime, I’ve decided to run a few posts of nostalgic photos from yesteryear, starting right here, as it happens:

Above: This one was taken (frighteningly) way back in 1993, a mere 31 years ago, during our first ever visit to Symi. We used to walk from the harbour area to Nymborio beach, but occasionally get the boat back at the end of the day. This was during one of those lovely leisurely chugs back to Symi harbour.

Above: Same day, same trip back, but this was just as we were about to tie up and disembark.

Above: This is the Triton, one of at least two boats with that name which operate on Rhodes doing excursions. This photo is from July 2016, because during the high season I’d have two boats under my charge. Sometimes I’d be onboard the Triton, and other times, as in this case, the Madelena. One of these days, if I live long enough, I’ll write a book about my ten years as an excursion escort.

Above: Taken in March 2020, literally days before the first Covid-19 lockdown hit us all, about thirty of us took a few vehicles up to a small plateau in the mountains above Kefalovrisi and Amiras, where we had a picnic and kicked a ball around for a few hours. The ‘road’ up to the plateau almost wrecked my car’s suspension, it was so rough in places. Those who had 4x4s were laughing, of course.

Above: taken at the Panorama café/taverna on the road from Pachi Ammos to Sitia, this was the last time we had the opportunity to spend time with my sister Jane while her hubby Martin was still alive.

Above: two photos at the same taverna. but on different occasions. It’s the wonderful Hiona on the east coast near Palaikastro, Lasithi. The one on the left (July 2020) is Yvonne with two girlfriends (we were three couples having a day out together) and the one on the right (October 2021) was with one different couple, the wife of which we knew from Rhodes many years ago, and her second hubby, who hails from up north somewhere near the town of Drama, where they actually get cold winters!

That’ll do for now folks. Don’t overdo it with the fatty food and booze, now, will you. I don’t want to lose my audience for frivolous reasons! Next post will contain a bunch more blasts from the past.

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