With the autumn fires starting in the olive groves and the storm clouds rolling in it signals three things - the end of the tourist season, the start of the olive season and the fact that we have to head back to England.
We ferry up the Adriatic on Tuesday next week, three days across Europe, two nights in the Winchelsea guest house and then we hope to be back in Middleton on the 1st November.
We headed this blog ....wonderful summer although you wouldn't think so today with the winds howling, dark skies and tropical rain it's like we're back in the UK already!! I'm sure it won't be as bad as this (we hope.)
All summer visitors been and gone and all major chores done with just a few last minute tasks to ensure all will be well in Kopsocheilades over the Corfiot winter. Our departure pretty much marks one year since we arrived out here and so much we have learnt and many new acquaintance's have been made over the last twelve months.
Mrs D penned some ramblings on the subject on an e-mail to some friends which I think, says it how it is. I attach her rambling thoughts below (after receiving copyright consent to do so first....)
"The calendar now shows October and the notes we pencilled in - oh so many weeks ago (seemingly) - 'Venice ferry' - are now in view to remind us daily that we set off for 'home' on the 27th of this month. In spite of the fact that we are still enjoying time with friends who are over here on holiday and indeed we still have one more set of visitors due to arrive next week, our thoughts are inevitably turning towards our return to England: what do we need to do to make the house secure against the winter storms, what do we need to take with us and most importantly will the old car make it! But we are also asking ourselves how we actually feel about 'going home' and we have to confess to mixed and somewhat confused feelings.
When we first arrived here almost one year ago, we definitely felt like strangers in a foreign land: we knew only our Property Agent, we had never met our Greek lawyer and we certainly didn't know any other English people here. Not only was the language unknown to us, most aspects of daily life, from shopping, to taking out the trash, presented us with a so-called 'learning curve'. But we learned, we gradually made a few friends and we steadily got used to a different way of life. We already knew what a beautiful island we were living on so further exploration over the winter months only re-enforced our delight in the place. We saw plenty of rain in winter but we also enjoyed many warm and sunny days. The first hints that we were beginning to feel a little more settled showed themselves in two ways: firstly, I quietly noticed that D's trips down to the local wood yard not only became more frequent but he no longer showed the earlier reluctance I used to see - in fact he began to come back with amusing anecdotes relating to his dealings with the locals. In essence, he was feeling more comfortable, more at ease. But secondly, when the time arrived for our planned trip home last March, we detected slight feelings of doubt and we questioned why we were in fact going back at all?
Now we are reaching the end of our first Summer here and we are about to set off for winter in England. And what a Summer we have had. We have awoken every day to constant sunshine which has enabled us to plan our days fearlessly! We have been challenged by our DIY projects, we have walked, cycled, shopped, drank ice-cold beer, spent lazy days on a variety of beaches, we haven't worn shoes, socks, long trousers or jumpers for months and we have partied with the tourists until 3am. On a more serious note, I think we also feel we have 'become localised' in that we experience a sense of familiarity, a sense of this life being the norm rather than a new experience. But the best of times have been spent with our visitors and perhaps this reflects the fundamental reason for our return: we want to see our family & friends; we want to spend time with them and exchange news.
So, at this point in time, honesty must prevail: the fat lady is not singing yet but she is waiting in the wings. We feel settled here, we really have no great desire to return to England, in fact I suspect there may be a few tears shed on my part when the day arrives; we have made new friends here and we are flattered that they have expressed disappointment at the fact of our not being here for Christmas, but friendships take years to build: we will be very happy to see our friends back home in England and I think we will always want to spend time with them no matter where we are living."
When we first arrived here almost one year ago, we definitely felt like strangers in a foreign land: we knew only our Property Agent, we had never met our Greek lawyer and we certainly didn't know any other English people here. Not only was the language unknown to us, most aspects of daily life, from shopping, to taking out the trash, presented us with a so-called 'learning curve'. But we learned, we gradually made a few friends and we steadily got used to a different way of life. We already knew what a beautiful island we were living on so further exploration over the winter months only re-enforced our delight in the place. We saw plenty of rain in winter but we also enjoyed many warm and sunny days. The first hints that we were beginning to feel a little more settled showed themselves in two ways: firstly, I quietly noticed that D's trips down to the local wood yard not only became more frequent but he no longer showed the earlier reluctance I used to see - in fact he began to come back with amusing anecdotes relating to his dealings with the locals. In essence, he was feeling more comfortable, more at ease. But secondly, when the time arrived for our planned trip home last March, we detected slight feelings of doubt and we questioned why we were in fact going back at all?
Now we are reaching the end of our first Summer here and we are about to set off for winter in England. And what a Summer we have had. We have awoken every day to constant sunshine which has enabled us to plan our days fearlessly! We have been challenged by our DIY projects, we have walked, cycled, shopped, drank ice-cold beer, spent lazy days on a variety of beaches, we haven't worn shoes, socks, long trousers or jumpers for months and we have partied with the tourists until 3am. On a more serious note, I think we also feel we have 'become localised' in that we experience a sense of familiarity, a sense of this life being the norm rather than a new experience. But the best of times have been spent with our visitors and perhaps this reflects the fundamental reason for our return: we want to see our family & friends; we want to spend time with them and exchange news.
So, at this point in time, honesty must prevail: the fat lady is not singing yet but she is waiting in the wings. We feel settled here, we really have no great desire to return to England, in fact I suspect there may be a few tears shed on my part when the day arrives; we have made new friends here and we are flattered that they have expressed disappointment at the fact of our not being here for Christmas, but friendships take years to build: we will be very happy to see our friends back home in England and I think we will always want to spend time with them no matter where we are living."
So, after such short ramblings and if you are still awake I will bid thee all farewell for now as this will probably be the last Greek episode for a while. We have our flight booked to come back out here in February 2010 and we have one or two other things planned for next year but more on those later. If from reading this you get the impression it's all doom and gloom, not so at all. We have three months in the UK and I'm sure we will fill, enjoy and use the time the best we can. Hope to see y'all soon for a pint, pork pie, fish and chips, sausages, curry oh and a catch up. . . . . . . . . . Mr & Mrs D
PICTURE INFO - Stormy seas across from Acharavi beach and an apotheki clear out burning in the garden.
