Friday Shoot Out, Texture.

This is solid rock formations on the beach near us

My door knocker

A neighbours door.

Dooby, dooby, Dubai!!

Ok, I know, I visited Dubai in May..
You can imagine how many photograghs I took, 100s....
I've tried to make a blog of it but it just didn't work, I couldn't choose!
So, I've taken the easy way out.
The first collage is mainly in and around Dubai. There's some photos of the ski slope!! and the ice skating rink inside one of the malls.
It's so hot over there, one just doesn't wander around like I'm so used to, I felt like a fish out of water sometimes. We did go to the beach and swimming was out of this world, it was so warm.Unfortuneately, it is illegal to take photos on the beach.
We had some fabulous meals out, one at the Buddha Bar, very swish..
Another activity not to be missed if you ever go to Dubai is a 'Dubai Brunch'.. it started at 12.30 and we finally crawled out dragging our heavy stomaches with us after 3.00. We met friends of Bethan's and had views to die for from the 30th floor.

Then the one above is of 2 trips we did, one was on the Big Red Bus, well recommended, to see the souks and waterside.
My friend Liz and I also went dune dumping, the desert was amazing, I loved it, I had a henna tattoo, and we ventured off on a camel.
I think I'll gradually drop more photos into different posts, I wanted to get these out and to thank Bethan xx and Liz and Kev xx
I had a wonderful time
It felt like a completely different world.

Naughty Blogger!

I'm so so sorry, It was very rude of me, I forgot to post photographs of the lovely giveaways that have been winging their way to me in the last week or 2.
So, to Elizabeth Creates, who sent me the set of beautifully photograghed cards and that little bird, he happily sways in the breeze, though he looks as if he's talking to the wall now.. thank you.
to Soulbrush, for my South Africa tea towel, thank you.
and lastly, to Frieda Oxenham, who sent me my first ATC, it's gorgeous, all that work on such a tiny piece!!

Now, look, above, can you see the tree is laden with pomegranites and it right next to my back door!! I'll be keeping a very close, beady eye on them....... mind you, none of my neighbours seem terribly interested in them..

This, this little beauty is my absolute favourite at the moment.
I bought this when I lived on the boat and it was going dizzy growing around a wire hoop.
So, a few weeks ago, yes, only a matter of weeks, we gently unwound it and helped it up this trellis. Do you think it's happy? I think it's truly, truly estatic...it's running along.

And the perfume in the evening is exquisite!!
Sorry, for anyone who doesn't recognise it...stephanotis

A Quick Visit.

I'm still here, just!
Firstly, I've designed, made and posted the invitations to the wedding of Bethan and Matt.
We are now getting a steady flow of replies.

Then, I spent a week sleeping away from home with this stunning view from my bedroom. This is early morning, just as the sun was rising and I was going to swim in the pool. Just before you all get the wrong idea, no, I wasn't on holiday..I was working!! Ha, ha! What a life, hmm??

Here's Dewi, he came running in with this dangling from his jaws!!
The neighbour was plucking a cockeral and gave Dewi this to chew on. The puppy is having teething problems at the moment and at one time last week barely had a tooth in his mouth, so he's enjoying sucking this to bits.

Last, this gorgeous flower is the caper. It's rampant in the countryside. I've picked a jar full of the buds and pickled them. It's the first time I've done this so I'll let you know how they turn out.
It's rather warm now so I'm walking at 6.30 am. Dewi and I now do about 7 to 7.50kms and get back just in time to say bye to Geoff as he heads off for the day.
I've not blogged for a while but I've been popping in to see what's going on...
Take care.

A Walk to Remember (my Mate)

I was pleasantly surprised when I took the car in to be serviced this week.
The young chap asked if I wanted a lift somewhere, rather than sit in the garage for 2 hours.
So he dropped me at Almyros Beach. This was a favourite of Jose and mine when we lived on the boat. We'd walk to this beach on a 'pedestian only' path every day, then Jose would run up and down the beach while I threw sticks and beachcombed. Of course, it's covered in sun beds and umbrellas in the summer months but we'd be up extra early and sneek on at 6.30 am. before all the sun worshippers arrived.
That's Aghios Nickolaos in the distance and you can see the masts of the yachts if you enlarge the photo. I felt rather sad as I walked along, still expecting to see the little white mutt come running up to me. But the view is stunning and I love walking by the sea.
Looking back to where I'd started.
There's a beautiful cove along the way, a little stony for some but that means less people!
This taverna is new, wasn't here when we walked along here!

Looking over a fence I noticed this cockerel eating last nights left-overs from a cafe.

Now, talk about secluded! these 2 have found a lovely little spot, you can find these gorgeous spots if you have a dinghy. Maddie!!

These chaps must have been extremely important!! Fantastic views from the dead centre of Ag Nik!!
Bit too hot for Crazy Golf.
Well, we're nearly there now. This is Ammos Beach, one of the town's beach's, it's lovely and clean, close to loads of cafes, taverna and amenities. This is where I used to swim when I lived in the marina as it's next door.
I used to swim around that break-water.
I'll leave you now, time for a cold drink before I do some shopping and pick up the car.
Hope you visit again soon!

Friday Shoot Out

Things beginning with M
That's the subject for the 'Friday Shoot Out'
So, first photo, above, is My Mountain Village (but also, for the eagle eyed amongst you, there's a M in them there mountains!!)
Second, above, Manifold. This is the contraption that all the water pipes from the main supply start from to water everyone's vegetable plots. Each has a water meter and a lock.
Next is Marble, this is embedded in our front door. It's a very old hand-made marble and glows when the sun shines through it. The shadows are the grape vine outside.
Lastly, this is Maria, with her sisters, chatting in the courtyard.

Flying By

I can't believe how time is flying by...
I've got photos from Dubai that I've still not downloaded.
We've done some hill walking recently behind our village so I've got some lovely views to show you...
Can you guess what the first photo above is?? Yes, of course, they are carob pods. They'll turn brown soon. I heard them described as 'donkey's chocolate'.

This is my attempt at a typical Cretan recipe...it's hortopita, a wild greens pie! I found the recipe on Organically Cooked
Maria lives in Crete, but on the opposite side from me, in Hania.
A neighbour gave my a huge carrier bag of vlita, which is a wild green that grows here, it's very nutritious and grows everywhere. I added fennel, mint, oregano, onion and misithra (a cheese that's similar to ricotta) The pastry is filo and I threw some seeds on top. Very easy and it tastes divine. I made 2... one is in the freezer but I don't think it will be there long.

More food, gosh, what's up with me?? Must be hungry..
This is an example of the mezedes you would get at Nikos's when you order a jug of wine. There's dolmades, fava, pork in tomato, mixed vegetables, garlic toast and a salad, most of this is from produce that has been grown by Nikos's father. Imagine, a couple of jugs, with this amount of food each time, then you have greek salad, souvlaki, chips.... The bill for this feast, including a couple of rakis and fruit, for 4 is approx. 26 euros. Not bad!!

Need abit of a sit down in the shade now.
Believe it or not, this is our equivelent of the garden shed, ha ha!! There's still some oranges at the top of that tree.
Can you see my hammock chair? Well, you need a snooze after all the weeding and watering.

Local Transport

The temperature yesterday was in the 30's,(85f+) rather hot and sticky.
But this dear neighbour is still covered head to toe in warm black woolies, including Nora Batty stockings/socks gathering in folds around her ankles. The donkey, carrying fodder back to it's home.

Although if she was a man... she'd probably be driving around in one of these delightful vehicles. They are all the rage here, you're absolutely nobody if you don't have one, dahling!! This one is seen being driven around Houmeriakos every day. Notice the stone in front of the front wheel, just in case!!

They're very helpful for getting up some of the steep hills, but not so good at cornering.

This is very smart, just look at the awning! Yes, I know it's a rotivator with a trailer on the back, but I want one!! They are like hen's teeth to get hold of.

The End of a Beautiful Day

Time, as usual is flying by...
This is the afternoon of the last post.
Sadly, my camera battery died whilst I was taking all the photographs up at Katharo, so these were taken with my phone camera. Hence they are not as clear.

We walked beside the sea, taking in the gentle lapping of the waves and the crystal clear sea.
We're so lucky to live on such a diverse island, all those wonderful flowers and such a vista in the morning.
Then a quick drive down to the coast and just look....

Yes, that is Geoff on his hands and knees, he spied 2 parrot fish lying on the tiny jetty. Whether the fisherman forgot them or what, but it did seem such a shame they'd been left. There was no one around. No, we didn't take them.
Finally, we had a much needed swim here, from this tiny cove, not another soul around, it was delightful.
Dewi had his first ever swim too, took to it like a duck to water....so to speak!!
Well, no, of course not!!...you didn't really expect photos of me... with my swimming costume on, did you???