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APRIL
WEATHER ...
Cold at night - a couple of Grey days with a little rain but on the whole
lovely sunny very warm days, sometimes hot, with the flowers in full bloom
everywhere. Latest
Crete Weather Link.
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VISITORS LIKE IT HERE!
200406001xo.jpg
Copyright:Cretanvista
Photograph: Judith Bermingham
(Rt) (Huddersfield) wife of the builder of Pamela's House here in Astratigos,
visited recently with her close friend Dee Turley from St Annes - near
Blackpool, UK. Smile!...
A Village
Life... "A lot of gas...canister"...
Our shiny, squeaky clean and absolutely unused gas fire sat in the middle
of our living area smiling at me. 'Go on' it seemed to say, 'get a move
on - I'll keep the place warm'...
We had just conveyed the latest version of what I had always considered a
potentially lethal device from a store in Kastelli. We had gone to the
store, with our neighbour Anna, on the promise of a good discount from her
'cousin'. Intending to buy a standard gas fire. Beware of Greeks bearing
gifts! The cousin had other ideas.
'This', he said, as we surveyed the standard (cheaper) unit, 'will kill you
while you sleep'. Better than whilst I am awake I thought, somewhat
uncharitably perhaps, whilst waiting for his next move. 'This' says he
turning to a space age cube with no pottery elements to burn the gas, 'is
completely safe'. It needs no 'solines' (chimney pipe) so you also keep all the
heat!' I was not really convinced, as our 'cousin' resembled Paul
Daniels - and I kept getting a mental image of a mad magician with a chain
saw. Will the lady still be in one piece after he has cut her in half I
wondered...
Well, not being a sissy, I had taken the bait. The wondrous, all automatic,
set the dials and push the red button catalytic heater was now mine.
It sat smiling at me -
'go on, get a move on, push the red button...' I did. Nothing....
'Did you fit the gas' asked my wife, 'it is a GAS fire'...
I had forgotten! But now I remembered - and remembered also that we only
had one gas bottle. That was connected to the cooker. A straight
choice - food or keep warm! I elected for both and went to our local
village gas outlet, Petros, for a second bottle. 'Where is the empty?' he
asked. Well, I didn't have one did I.... 'I can't give you a new
bottle without an empty, you will have to buy one' he said. I think..
(Greek is difficult).. As it turned out I certainly didn't understand at all.
After
much discussion about half empty being the same (or not) as half full
Petros gave up. 'Here' he said 'take a new bottle and bring me a
replacement. Just pay me for the gas.' Good. Done...
As it turned out I really was as confused as I thought I was... Think about it
- I want a
new gas bottle. I try to buy one from Petros - who tells me that because
I don't have one he can't sell me one, but gives me one on payment for the gas
and tells me to buy another (presumably from elsewhere) and to give him that!
Why worry, just do it... An hour
later I was warm; fed; and still fairly confused...
The heater said 'click', 'Bumphhh' and 'hiss' when I switched it on and
pushed the red button. There was no visible flame to warm your heart (or
toes) or toast your bread with. Just a dull orange glow, although it did
give out enough heat to stop teeth chattering. Just - from 18inches...
Next day we bought the 'missing' gas bottle and delivered it to Petros.
A bit like coals to Newcastle I thought, but didn't want to even try that in
Greek. 'How much is that' I asked. '8.000 drachmae' he replied,
'you just pay for the gas'. But I must pay for the bottle you gave me I
protested. 'You have' he said. 'No' I argued, 'I only paid you for
the gas - the bottle has a deposit and I must pay that too!'
The twinkle in Petro's eyes were dancing. His mouth curved
slightly. His face creased in barely perceptible smile at the vision before
him. This supposedly highly sophisticated Englishman obviously did not even
reach, let alone pass, kindergarten level... But a Cretan would not
insult a friend and cause loss of face. I know that now. At the
time I was adamant - no favours! 'And Pam wants three kilos of
flour too'...
Out came a plastic bag, his grocers scoop swished in and out of the flour sack
and he placed the bag on his ancient scales. And now I had him - I knew that
he had only a one kilo weight... No way could he weigh 3 kilos! Well,
not without the 500gm bag of salt, five potatoes, three cans of tinned sardines
and the bottle of beer that he added... Inwardly I was
smirking. 'Gotcha, gotcha gotcha!......' I almost ran home
with the flour. Zeroed the scales. Placed the bag on our English, electronic
scales, ELECTRONIC scales - accurate to a gram... And bingo - 3.000
grams... But I asked for 3 Kilos!....Er.. |
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In the News Reviews...
Chania Priest Murder - three confess..
Three youths who confessed to the murder of a Greek Orthodox priest are
facing charges of 'intentional manslaughter and robbery' and the wrath of the
victims
family...
Link
to Story.
Crete - baby sale leads to five arrests..
Bulgarian women arrested - one for agreeing to sell her baby and her sister allegedly
for the same offence.
Link
to Story.
Pantheon or Phoenix...O.A.
Last month's news story of the same title may not, after all, have a happy
ending. Greece is now facing the European Court because of it's alleged
illegal support of Olympic Airways. Survival in any form now would seem
to need a miracle...
Link
to Story.
But they still have the best pilots...
Our Greek travel agent rightly bemoans the plight of Olympic Airways and
always repeats her belief that Olympic has the best pilots. Maybe she is
absolutely right..
Link
to Story.
CCTV Surveillance not for Cretan youth..
Youths demonstrate in Chania against the use of CCTV surveillance
cameras..
Link
to story.
Wild West is not dead... But jail awaits..
Last months 'Wild West is not dead' story (Link)
has further developments - the bullion van driver and guard have both
been
arrested!
Link
to story.
Vrahasi, Crete wins 'independence'...
If you have ever wondered why no one has ever managed to subdue Crete -
read this before you
try!
Link
to story.
And illegal building might cost...
But maybe only if you don't pay your fines or appear at court. Age
is no defence....
Link
to story.
Iraklion Art collection on show in Athens. Ancient works from the
Metaxas collection at the Iraklion (Crete) Archeological Museum on show at the
Athens Athenais Cultural Center until December..
Link
to story.
Cretan Farmers suspect retailers...
Of illegal price manipulation as tomato prices rocket in
Greece. Link
to story.
Rakis; Tspouro; Tsikouthia...
What's in a name? After a glass or two of the local Greek 40% plus
firewater it will all be Greek to you - but Greece wants to claim the name at the
EEC... Link
to story.
But Greece still prefers Scotch to ouzo..
Gordon Brown, the British Chancellor of the exchequer (a Scot himself) must be
eating his heart
out..
Link
to story.
Eurovision song contest is imminent!!..
Only just in time with the news - will Greece win again? We do,
sincerely, hope so. But if not well, we are the hosts - and we did win last
year!.... Hurry... Hurry..
Link
to story.
And if you enjoy Google-ing....
This fantastic search engine has, along with the Google Mars project
highlighted here last month, also has Google Earth - look down your chimney
(almost) from
space satellite. Absolutely astounding, but you do need broadband
internet and to download the program.
A computer more than 4 years old is probably no
use, but have a look anyway - and be prepared to be amazed!
Link
to Google Earth.
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The Cretanvista Review of
Carol Palioudaki's
'Cool Guide to
Living in Crete'
(A gold mine of information)
is, like the book, available now.
Out Now - Get it
at www.livingincrete.net
Or visit www.coolpublications.co.uk
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