Ikaria - Agios Kirikos
06 May 2021
Jane Paulson
So a month after my last post and basically nothing has changed. We are still in the marina. Still static. Still waiting for news of when we can move. I am trying to keep my blog going but fear the last few posts have all been a bit “samey” but this is how it is here. Same s**t, different day!!!
Horror of all horrors, I have run out of patchwork fabric so am now reliant on my colouring book and pencils to keep me sane !!!!
My closest friends have all said the same thing: ‘be kind to yourself, treat yourself ‘ . This is, of course, referring to the monumental stress I have been under on the back of my Mothers death, the death of Buby the dog, a horrendously complicated trip to the UK for minor surgery, and then, to top the lot, the sudden death of my ex husband which required another horrific trip to the UK (full details of which are in my previous posts).
So. What do us girlies do to treat ourselves?. Correct. We visit the hairdresser. My hair, by now, had lost all the highlight colours that Chris the Hairdresser in Gosport puts in for me twice a year on my return home but of course that hasn't happened for god knows how long. To be perfectly honest I am losing all track of time. Suffice to say, it needed some attention.
I went to see Natalia and in my best Greek, I asked her for an appointment for highlights. To my utter surprise, she understood exactly what I was asking and booked me in for 3 days time.
On the due day I spent a couple of hours, listening to music, in a very comfy chair, with a coffee, while Natalia worked hard at making me look less haggard than when I had entered her salon. By the time I left, I felt like a million dollars. Job Done! Next stop, a shop called Beauty Full which sells a fantastic array of lotions and potions which us girlies just love. It was here I had a facial on my return from UK last November. So I treated myself to very expensive cleanser, toner and moisturiser as well as hand cream and nail polish.
Shortly after this we learned of the sad passing of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. To have almost reached 100 years old is a real achievement. To have been married to the same woman for 70 years is a megga achievement and to have spent all those years, walking 2 paces behind his wife has truly got to be admired because that could not have been easy.
On the day of his funeral, our Ensign and our Greek flag, flew together, at half mast and we watched the funeral on my tablet. My heart broke for the Queen. Sat alone. Because of bloody Covid. However, the Duke got the send off he requested. He had worked hard over 14 years to make sure it was what HE wanted and not what was expected. Good On Him.
I'm now going to introduce you to Big Chris (Christos) and Maria. Christos originates from Crete. Maria is Ikarian. They have a workshop here in Agios Kirikos where they can repair almost anything as well as make anything that involves a sewing machine. This includes anything boat related. They are seriously talented and will do their absolute best to help you in any way they can. They have done a couple of canvas repairs for us as well as making new covers for our cockpit cushions. They are a truly lovely couple. Very talented. Very sociable. Passing the workshop and putting our heads round the door just to say hello invariably ends up with them clearing a space in their workshop for us all to enjoy a coffee and gossip or, on other occasions, enjoying a full blown mezze !
They invited us for supper at their home where we enjoyed a stupendous meal of swordfish, brought in from Fourni, and various other delicious dishes all homemade by Maria. Their house is perched on the cliff top and has magnificent views across to Fourni and down to the port and marina. To wake to those views must be the absolute best way to start the day.
Maria and I share a passion for creativity: I have my patchwork and she makes the most exquisite jewellery which she sells in a small shop in Therma. I shall be treating myself to a couple of lovely pieces – after all I need to be kind to myself. Don't I ?!!
Muse for this post: You may lose the people you love. You may lose the things you have. But whatever happens, never lose yourself.