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MARCH
WEATHER ...
Improved rapidly over the month. There were some very cold, very wet and a
smaller number of very, very stormy days. But by the end of the month you
could well be forgiven for believing that spring is here and summer just
around the corner.....
Latest
Crete Weather Link.
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Thoughts of Summer....
Think
about it.. ©
CTurvey@Cretanvista
Another
picture from the lens of Colin Turvey.. This is a magnificent shot of a very
common event here on Crete, a Hummingbird hawkmoth extracting pollen..
Click picture to enlarge.
Astratigos
Village Life....(continued
from last month).... Link
So there I was... Sporting my best and brand new (well, only hours old!)
paralysed right arm and leg, adamantly refusing to go to hospital. When our friends
had to leave I continued to refuse. No way was this going to beat me!
After a couple more hours shuffling around like a wayward supertanker in heavy
seas - regularly bumping my right knee on our furniture - whilst desperately
seeking some fine control of my direction, I finally had to admit that my own
treatment did not work. The bumps hurt! A good sign... My problem was strictly
motor (movement) all sensation seemed intact - I finally agreed to go to the
Hospital.
My Cretan cousin Adonis and his English wife Chris arrived to do the honours.
Their 'Ka' - ala Ford - was parked on the steep slope in the narrow lane
outside. Getting my six foot 16 stone frame into it was a bit like canning
beans! Being after dark on a Saturday evening close to Easter helped - some
passing male neighbours shouted their greetings in a manner that showed true
Cretan appreciation of my obviously good celebration!
They couldn't be blamed, my directional instability and an almost complete
lack of a braking system must have resembled at least ten pints... At least my
sense of humour had not deserted me - it really was funny. The best drunk act
in the village and not a drop to thank for it. Legless on an empty
tank...
At the hospital Adonis stopped by the security gate got his directions. I was
into the Emergency department before I really had time to think about
rebellion again. I was on an examination table with equal alacrity - well, a
sort of hobble/hop from wheelchair to table slowed things just a fraction...
Well! Here I was again. Made it back at last. 37 years in English hospitals - a few short
years in the sunshine of retirement - and back to hospital... But this time I
was on the other side of the fence - in another country. It felt the
same, like coming home. But I did not want to be here. Whilst I appreciated necessity
I did not intend to remain!
The examining physician's first name was Nectarios. His examination was
careful, thorough and reassuring - but I had been there before! I wanted
out! But there seemed a small problem... 'Another BP monitor' Nectarios called
out 'this one is broken'.... The new one was apparently no better. When I
attempted asked my blood pressure readings from him he became reluctant. All
he would mutter was 'more than 213' or did he say '230' - I had to
assume the rest as he would not tell me the diastolic (lower BP)
reading. He was much more interested in re-testing my eye reflexes.
'Follow my pen' he said moving it horizontally across my face. (Very modern -
in my day it was a finger). His next remark rang a very clear bell at the back
of my mind. 'You can't, can you'?....
I just had. At least three times right to left, left to right. And
again. And again. I had followed the damn pen, but this obviously concerned
and clearly competent medic was saying that I hadn't... each time... I was
becoming a little anxious. Drugs were given..
The neurologist arrived about 15 minutes later. She repeated the full
neurological examination Nectarios had already done. Then she said 'Follow my
finger with your eyes'. I was not happy. I didn't want this. I
wanted home. 'I want to go home when you finish' I said. 'Follow my finger'
said the good doctor, apparently not hearing. I did. I know that I did.
Left to right, right to left. I was very much afraid that she would repeat
'You can't, can you'? But instead she said to Nectarios - 'No problem -
watch'. We did it again. I watched their faces. Nectarios seemed
perplexed.... 'But you couldn't, could you'? he appealed to
me.. 'No' I reassured, 'No I couldn't'...
In my own mind I had passed the test the first time - I had followed
the pen wielded by Nectarios. But I also had enough personal experience to
understand that what I thought I saw when he had conducted the test was not
what had actually happened.
The Neurologist took my BP again. 'It's coming down' she said to Nectarios - 'that's why his eye reflex has
returned'. Manna from heaven! I was
recovering! 'I would like to go home now, I proffered'.... 'I
don't think that will be possible' was the neurologists reply. With that, she
left...
To be continued next month.... |
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In the News... Reviews..
Crete expands at a pace...
Three major developers put their faith and money into separate Cretan
holiday developments. Hotels, holiday villages, golf courses, et al.. Minoan
Group at Cava Sidero; Iktinos Technical & Tourist at Faneromenia Bay near
Sitea; and Foitiadis Group at Agia Galini. Hundreds of houses, thousands of
beds.... Link
to Story.
Samaria Gorge re-opens soon too..
The longest gorge in Europe, 18 Km of absolutely superb (but
demanding) Cretan countryside is due to open for the tourist season following
recent safety checks..
Link
to Story.
But while the countryside expands ....
So does the Mediterranean. Crete is one of the areas of Greece said to be
losing it's coastline at the rate of 1- 1.5 metres every
year.
ink
to Story.
The sea threatens houses and hotels...
Current beaches will eventually end up in the sea - for every 10cm the sea
rises in moves inland 1 metre. the predicted 1 metre rise in sea levels will
mean that the sea will eventually be 100metres further inland... Winter storms
sometimes already push storm surge of the sea 500 metre inland...
Link
to Story.
Warning of need to act now...
Before the sea invades buildings - houses and hotels - even airports, and
contaminates clear water supplies. On Crete some of this is said to be already
happening....
Link
to Story.
Restoring beaches takes years.
But it buys time, is known to work when properly planned and implemented.
The moral seems to be - don't live too near the coastline near sea
level. Link
to Story.
Greece loses a dear friend..
WWII British S.A.S warrior Lord Jellicoe's funeral took place on March 5th
at the Tidicombe Estate in Wiltshire. Greece was represented by the Greek
Ambassador to London and a tribute from a Greek comrade-in-arms, Jason
Mavrikis, was read out by Lord Jellicoe's son.
Link
to Story.
Link
to second Story.
Patrick Leigh Fermor honoured...
Greek President Karolos Papoulias bestowed The Order of the Phoenix on
Patrick Leigh Fermor in the Greek New Year Honours. The news story does not
emphasize his WWII Crete especially (although perhaps his role in the Kidnap
of the German commander on Crete - General Kreipe is more than enough). Well remembered
in the village of Anogia here on Crete.
Link
to Story.
Remembered in Anogia because..
Anogia was almost obliterated from the face of Crete during WWII on the
orders of the German Kommandant, General H Müller, one of the principal
reasons given being the kidnap of General Kreipe...
Link
to Story.
Which could explain the weapons...
Cretans are renowned, even among Greeks generally, for their love of guns.
There have been many efforts to change this culture. All, so far, have
failed...
Link
to story.
But people are injured and killed...
The not irregular and often quite open and widespread use of firearms has
a serious downside...
Link
to story.
And effects of gun crime severe ...
Death, severe and permanent injury, the effects on families - and the
perpetrators themselves spend a lifetime in jail. There are only losses.
Link
to story.
But Crete continues it's love affair...
But then bearing arms has enabled Crete to survive in the past - which may
go some way to explaining the gun culture. The police, however, do not seem to
agree.
Link
to story.
________________________
NEW GUIDE PUBLISHED
Carol
Palioudaki's book
'Living in Crete'
(A gold
mine of information)
is available now
Out Now - Get it at
www.livingincrete.net
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