Now that all the Christmassy trinkets, tinsel and twinkly lights been stored away for another year, the very, very last of the pine needles have been swept away (hopefully!) and space has (miraculously!) been found to accommodate even more paraphernalia (why do we accumulate so much STUFF!),  ’normal’ Life can resume.

I say ‘normal’ but if, like me, you’ve started the year with the very best of intentions (don’t you just hate New Year resolutions?) Life probably doesn’t feel anything like ‘normal’ right now!

First on my list? To rediscover the body I had at 19 (it must be in there somewhere!)

(yes, hard to imagine I know, but that really was me!)

I must lose at least two stone before summer when I know I’m going to have to expose a bit more flesh than the gap between ankle and legging (which is, presently, all that I dare reveal!):

I’ve made a good start; I finally off-loaded – and BANNED from the house – all wickedly fattening and tempting goodies:

AND (I must be mad) I’ve committed to weekly Zumba classes (great deal from Groupon!). My body is already aching all over and my head’s swimming –  and that’s just from signing up! (Or is it from lack of sugar? I could murder a sticky bun right now –  I’m starving!)….

Next on the list? To finish all the things I started in 2011 (as if!) …

1) The Book I’m writing, for one, the novel. Then there’s the children’s book which I’m also illustrating and the poetry anthology (almost done!), the family history (needs more research) the collection of short stories (précis and précis again!)…the blogs, the websites…. the travel pieces….

(Dream on, Yvonne…..)

2) There are 3 painting commissions to complete and the series of Middle Eastern paintings I started last November with a view to exhibiting end Jan:

(Although….come to think of it, April’s probably a better month – or maybe July.. September even!)

3) There’s the decorating of the house –  and this time without changing my mind about the paint colour, half way round a room! (Although, to be fair, we did buy the new sofas ‘after’ we started – and I didn’t have the brilliant Dulux App on my Iphone then which identifies any paint colour you take a photo of while you’re out and about)

4) The Big Annual Clear-out of the Closets (now that one, I’d almost completed till the ‘children’ moved back home, Grandpa moved in and very generous Santa visited and… well, OK, yes, I may have ventured out to one or two January sales)

(image from an excellent blog on de-cluttering: Wild Ruffle,com)

and it’s true what they say, you know: wire coat hangers really do reproduce in wardrobes overnight!

5) Then the dreaded DIY: fixing all the niggly things that need attention and we’ve learned to live with (or ignore): The beeping smoke alarms (no batteries?), the noisy boiler, the leak in the roof, the loose stair spindle, the sticky drawers, the missing cupboard handles, the broken bathroom tiles and the ceiling spots that are too high to reach……etc etc….

The list goes on. It’s endless but It’s all got to be done – and that’s the problem!

Setting goals is all well and good but they have to be realistic, achievable ones ….and Life does have a habit of getting in the way: businesses don’t run themselves, bills have to be paid, meals have to be shopped-for and cooked, laundry done, letters written, relatives visited and friendships nurtured – and that’s before leisure, hobbies or having fun (don’t even get me started on attending to emails, Facebook or Twitter!)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving up just yet – but all this pressure, at the darkest, most miserable time of year when all I REALLY want to do is blob on the sofa, watch mindless drivel on the box:

stuff my face with comfort food and day-dream about the sunny climes staring up at me from the piles of holiday brochures (OMG, must clear under the coffee table too!)- well, it’s no wonder even the best of intentions are doomed to fail!

Remembering that old maxim:

‘I’m not a failure because I didn’t make it - I’m a success because I tried!’

I’ll certainly give it my all, my very, very best shot, I PROMISE!

But right now, just today, surely ONE teeny, weeny, WEENY bite of sticky bun won’t hurt……

Will it?

‘Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true’.

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

‘A ship in harbour is safe – but that’s not what ships are for!’

‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover………’  – Mark Twain

It is also a very apt title for this Christmas post because, wherever YOU are in the world,  tonight ‘Painting Skiathos’ is thinking of you, all its loyal supporters, followers and friends, old and new, and sending a very special thank you, for yet another amazing year!

Tonight, back home in London once again, the festive preparations are all but complete; cards have been posted, the house decorated:

pies and cakes baked & iced:

gifts wrapped and ready under the tree. The house is aglow with candles and twinkling fairy lights:

and is filled with the comforting aromas of, pine, oranges and cinnamon.

Most important of all, loved ones are safely returned, tucked-in, and all under one roof once again…while those no longer with us, along with absent friends in far places, are held close; very much in our thoughts and hearts……and I know I have so much to be thankful for.

So all that remains, is for me to wish everyone a very festive holiday season and a ‘Happy,  Prosperous, and above all, Peaceful, New Year!’

From the bright lights of London’s West End:

‘St Christopher’s Place’ (off Oxford St.) in pen ink & wash

Merry Christmas Everyone!

‘Wherever you are’……….

Waving Skiathos a fond farewell for another year, I took to the ominously darkening skies (very delayed, in a gale force wind!) and, following a brief overnight stay night in Athens, finally touched down at Heathrow 48 hours later, totally exhausted but happy to be home once again.

Barely unpacked, I just had time to visit at an exhibition of paintings by the late Skiathos artist, Richard Buchanan-Dunlop, in Covent Garden:

where my father and I were delighted to meet his two charming daughters, finally!

Then before I could catch my breath, I found myself, once again boarding a plane and taking off into the blue. This time bound for Beirut. Arriving in the early hours, oblivious to my surroundings during the half-hour drive through the bright lights of the city, on our way up to our home in the mountains, I headed straight for bed and some much-needed sleep.

In the first light of dawn, the panoramic view from our balcony:

which stretches from the snow topped mountains of Lebanon on our left, over of Beirut city below us:

and far out to sea on our right, greeted us each morning and it is truly a breathtaking sight to behold! To sit each morning sipping rich dark arabic coffee and watch the ever-changing vista was a wonderful way to start each day…..

and with a view impossible to tire of, it was tempting to stay put and watch the constantly changing light, unpredictable weather conditions and dramatic cloud formations, till long after the spectacular sunsets:

gave way to the sparkling lights of a city that never sleeps under a blood-red crescent moon:

But there was precious little time to sit and ponder as, 750m below us, an exciting city in a land filled with ancient and modern landmarks, beckoned.

Lebanon is a relatively new country which only gained its independence in 1943 following a mandate that was granted by the League of Nations, to France, for its protection, in 1920. This stretch of the eastern mediterranean, throughout it’s complicated and turbulent history, has been conquered and occupied, in turn, by a succession of powerful ancient civilisations including the Romans, the Ancient Greeks, the Ottoman Turks and the Arabs. It was first home to the Canaanites, known as the Phoenicians to the Greeks, who were notable merchants and colonisers of the eastern mediterranean from the 3rd till the end of the 1st millennium B.C. The Phoenicians exported cedar and pinewood, fine linen, clothes dyed with the famous Tyrian purple (made from the sea mollusc murex), wine, salt, dried fish, gold and metal works and they developed an alphabet script of 22 letters which was used in Byblos as early as the 15th century B.C.

This method of writing, later adopted by the Greeks, is the ancestor of the Latin alphabet.

The richness and diversity of Lebanon’s cultural heritage is reflected in its architecture, its customs, its cuisine and its present day population; a melange of, eastern and western cultures, languages and religions. Christians (Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Greek catholic, Maronite) Moslems, Druze and Jews, despite the recent 25 year civil war (which all but ravaged one of the most beautiful cities in the world)

continue to live side by side, wary perhaps and weary of war certainly but steadfastly resilient, defiant, nationalistic, proud, tolerant and undefeated.  Readily shifting between tongues (french, arabic and english) They are investing and rebuilding their city: old shell-shot, bullet-ridden buildings:

make way for state of the art glass and steel towers:

at a rate comparable only with the Gulf states!

In the midst of it all,  life goes on, regardless:

Fortunate as they are to be able to swim in the warm waters of the Med. in the morning and ski up in cedars, on the snow-capped mountains, in the afternoon, they continue to enjoy a life-style second to none – and the Lebanese certainly know how to live!

When not following the age-old national pastime of trading, bartering, wheeling and dealing, they’re mostly to be found in their cars, riding the rapidly growing network of super highways (think fair-ground bumper cars gone mad!) shopping in the chic-est of international designer boutiques and fabulous malls, dressed to the nines.

In the in bustling street markets, food is seasonal, plentiful and always beautifully displayed:

Family and community ties remain strong and much of their day revolves around socialising and the all important business of food. Lebanese cuisine, hospitality and generosity are unsurpassed! Come nightfall, the party continues as the fashionable restaurants, cafes, clubs, bars and all night raves (for the young ones anyway!), rock the brightly lit city till dawn and the first call to prayer.

Every meal is a big deal in Lebanon and our days began with a visit to a local street vendor to collect our favourite breakfast fare: hot ‘menaqeesh’ or oven-baked pitta bread, made from at least 2 flours; wheat and corn:

It’s topped with ‘zaatar’ (lashings of fresh olive oil, pungent dried thyme and toasted sesame seeds)

or oozing with melted cheese and ‘baked’ on a traditional cone-shaped hot plate.

Then, suitably sated, we set off to see the sights.

Our first stop was at the Jeita Grotto, currently short-listed and hoping to be acknowledged as one of the 7 Wonders of the Natural World:

In a lush green valley, a short cable-car ride took us to the mouth of the first grotto and into another world; a vast network of beautifully lit caves, of cathedral-like proportions and underground rivers .

Once our eyes adjusted to the light, incredibly beautiful, awe-inspiring sights drew us further and further along the dripping wet walkways and suspended bridges, as we climbed deeper and deeper inside the mountain range. High cliffs and ravines, entirely composed (since prehistoric times and still forming!) of stalagmites and stalactites, makes for a surreal landscape (moonscape, even) that is quite simply breathtaking!

Back out in the fresh air, a short train ride took us to the second (lower) grotto, where we boarded small boats and glided silently and serenely through the crystal clear turquoise waters of a network of natural underground lakes and rivers:

What an experience! A wonder of the natural world? Most definitely! They’ve got my vote (and if you’d like to vote too, please visit: www.N7W.com)

Witnessing such jaw-dropping beauty in wet, almost sub-zero temperatures is hungry work! Thankfully it was soon time for lunch. Wherever you go in Lebanon, whether up in the mountains, in the heart of the city or next to the sea, tables groan with a ‘mezze’ that can comprise over 150 small dishes of mouth-watering delicacies such as tabbouleh (parsley, mint tomato and cracked wheat salad):

stuffed vine leaves:

dips, such as m’tabbal (aubergine with tahini) and hommos:

a huge assortment of tiny cheese, spinach or meat pies:

platters of pickles, fresh herbs and crudities:

many varieties of cheese, natural or fried:

and that’s just for starters! Once cleared away, the main courses follow, anything from grills, stews and roasts such as this one of lamb, served on a bed of rice, toasted almonds and pine nuts:

If lunching by the sea, fresh fish and all manner of seafood will be on the menu, including Sultan Ibrahim (red mullet):

and crab:

It can all be washed down with copious amounts of Arak (a local favourite, not unlike ouzo) or a fine local wine from the vineyards of Kefraya, Ksara and Chateau Moussar, amongst others (which are presently enjoying a world-wide following) and just when you think you can’t manage another mouthful, out come the desserts! These too are incredibly delicious!
The choice is endless. The textures, flavours and aromas, delicate and exotic, sweetened as they are by orange blossom or rose-water syrups. They’re sprinkled with spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon and cloves and topped with chopped nuts; almonds, walnuts and pistachios. They can be light and creamy as in muhallabiah, a delicate, milk pudding:

or rich like Aishta (a type of clotted cream)

which is served alone (or wrapped in a light filo pastry or pancake) drizzled with honey and garnished with pistachios and pine nuts or quince preserves:

Then there are the cakes! These come in the shape of small baklava (layers of filo filled with nuts) crumbly pastries (ma’ammoul) filled with nuts or dates or towering gateaux, oozing with either fruit, chocolate, custard, sweet cheese or cream (and yes, sometimes all five!) Finally (well almost!) creamy ice creams, flavoured with mastic and exotic fruit sorbet clear the palate.

If you can stand up at this point, you may be invited to transfer to second table where literally a mountain of fresh and exotics fruits, all beautifully presented, awaits.
After this final course, tiny cups of hot, thick Arabic coffee or glasses of hot sweet tea (often with fresh mint) are served.

With lunch over, the desire to sleep is all-consuming so a short siesta is usually the order of the day. Upon waking more hot sweet coffee (and unless you have a will of iron, cakes too) helps you find the energy for the next item on the to do list – usually a visit to relatives – before exploring the city and ( hardly surprisingly) a very light dinner, before heading for bed.

I had the chance to meet up with a very dear friend and one time neighbour from my days in Saudi Arabia – over 30 years ago! Helena, a women of great talent, skill and creativity and to whom I owe so much……..

Another highlight of our stay involved a 3 hour journey up and over the majestic Lebanon mountain range which separates the port towns and coastal plains from the fertile Bekaa valley, once known as the ‘Granary of Rome’.

We were on our way to visit the fabulous ruins of the City of the Sun, ‘Heliopolis’, as it was known in ancient times, or ‘Baalbek’ as it is known today, a World Heritage, UNESCO site, built on the highest point of the Bekaa valley, 1000m above sea level and on the road to Damascus:

Once we arrived it was hard to believe we almost had the whole place to ourselves!

Apart from the odd camel, that is:

and a few street vendors selling, the usual souvenirs; gaudy belly dancing costumes and ‘genuine’ Roman and Greek coins!

It was even harder to believe that barely 15 kilometres away, just over the border in Syria, there was fighting and bloodshed…….

Our excellent guide, Mohammad, shared his wide knowledge and recounted in-depth the history of the fabulous ruins that lay before us:

He told of how the first sanctuary was built on this site and dedicated to the semitic god, Baal Haddad, by the early religious, pagan cults. Baalbek was then conquered by Alexander the Great and after his death, was ruled by the Ptolemites (301 B.C) during which time Baal, the Sun god was identified with Zeus and the city was called Heliopolis (the name it kept for the following thousand years). Around 200 BC the Seleucids, under Antiochus the Great, took possession until the Roman General Pompey occupied the city in 64B.C and the Romanization of the area began with the construction, in the 1st century, of the Cyclopean wall to make the huge podium, followed with the Temple of Jupiter:

The Great Courtyard of the Altars:

The Propylaea:

the Hexagonal Courtyard:

the Temple of Bacchus:

(where I spotted graffiti on the walls dated 1872!):

 and the Temple of Venus:

 The Temple of Mercury was constructed on the nearby Sheikh Abdullah hill.

There followed a succession of Roman emperors who set out to construct, at Baalbek, the greatest temple complex ever conceived, a feat of monumental architecture which had no rival in the Roman world. Julius Caesar established a colony here named after his daughter Julia and in 36 B.C. Marc Anthony gave Baalbek and the rest of the Bekaa to Cleopatra as a gift.

In in 440 A.D the Greeks arrived and the Byzantine era at Baalbek began when Theodosius restored Christianity and built a basilica in the Great courtyard, dedicated to St. Peter, by tearing down the temple of Jupiter and re-using the stones.

 and 2 great earthquakes, in 526 and 551 A.D completed the devastation:

The acropolis was then freely used as a quarry for ready-cut stones but fortunately the construction was so gigantic that it withstood any pillage and many stones lie today, just where they fell:

Of the many hundreds of statues that once adorned the niches and pediments of the temples, few remain on site. Many were destroyed or carried off by invading rulers and in the 18th and 19th centuries, many were removed to the museums of Europe. The few that remain can be found in the museum:

Next came the Arabs in 636 A.D when, under the reign of Caliph Omar el Khattab, general Abu Ubeida Ibn el-Jarrah invaded the city. They transformed the acropolis into a huge fortress to house their garrisons and dug a deep moat around it. This was done with the least regard for the classical buildings but ultimately contributed to their preservation by protecting the temples from further plundering. Successively Baalbek passed under the rule of the Omayyads, the Abbasids of Baghdad in 751 A.D., the Fatimids of Egypt in 969 AD, the Seljuks in 1100 A.D the Ayoubite Kurds of Saladin in 1175, the Crusaders of Tripoli, under the leadership of Raymond St. Gilles in 1176 and then recaptured by the Arabs. In the 13th century the city was devastated by the Mongols and in the 14th century fell into the hands of the of the Memluks of Egypt. The Ottoman Turks occupied it in 1516 and held it until the end of World War 1.

Since Baalbek was brought out of oblivion by the detailed descriptions and romantic etchings and watercolours of intrepid Victorian European travellers, it has become an important destination for tourists. The annual cultural open-air festival (at its peak in the ’60′s when world-famous artists; singers, musicians and stars of ballet and opera performed there) has, since the end of the civil war, been revived.

Whew! Did you follow all that? Well there’s plenty more but I think you’ll have got the general idea by now, of just how important Baalbek was – and continues to be. It’s certainly a unique, interesting and stunningly beautiful destination –  well worth a visit!

Hopefully, a tour can soon, once again, include a trip over the border into Syria, to  the fascinating souks of Damascus – renowned for their beautiful cabinetry work with inlaid mother of pearl – it is somewhere I have always longed to visit……

Meanwhile, a trip to the oasis town of Zahleh, for lunch, on the way home is a must!

A series of riverside restaurants, cut deep into a ravine, offer the dusty traveller not only food second to none in quality (and quantity!) but a chance to sample their famous nougat – great slabs of the soft chewy sweet dotted with pistachios, rolled into lengths (the thickness of my arm!) and wrapped in a coating of either apricot preserve, nuts and sugar or rose petals – Delicious!

Our last port of call was the ancient sea port of Byblos:

The world’s oldest continuously inhabited city with its ancient fortress:

and natural harbour lined with colourful fishing boats and seafood restaurants:

Beautiful stone architecture:

and old souk:

Lebanon and in particular, Byblos, has a timeless quality where one instantly feels a tangible connection to the countless generations who have lived and worked here since time immemorial. It’s a humbling experience to know our time here is so transitory. People will, as they have done for centuries, come and go and yet these ancient stones remain….
It’s a place where time somehow stands still…..

and there’s a sense of security in the knowledge that even after we’re all long gone, mankind will find a way to survive, regardless of colour or creed……

With still so much to see; the majestic cedars, the palace of Beiteddine, the ancient ports of Tyre and Sidon, to name just a few, it was hard to leave behind this beautiful country and head for home – but family and work commitments beckoned.

Besides, I honestly don’t think my waistline could have coped with another day! Nope, it’s definitely bread and water for the next few weeks now…….as Christmas will too soon be upon us – and not only the goose is getting fat!!

For further reading and clarity on Lebanon’s political situation, particularly the conflicts that sparked the civil war, I can highly recommend David Gilmour’s excellent book: ‘Lebanon: The fractured Country’, which is available at Amazon

I always feel a bit sad when yet another season comes to a close and, as usual, pretty (but always pleasantly!) exhausted too – but this year, given the current economic crisis and political climate, life on this beautiful island has taken a turn that I’m not altogether comfortable with at the moment. There have been, as always, good and bad times but understandably perhaps, although quite unprecedented, rather more of the latter this year, unfortunately.

But, like a rock on the shore, I’ve clung on resolutely to the hope that my (and other artist’s) cultural, creative and ecological endeavours here on the island, might, if only in a small way, make a difference by raising people’s awareness and spirits and, hopefully, bring some respite and diversion during these gloomy, hard times. One has to feed the soul as well as the belly! To be honest though, this year it’s too often felt like an uphill struggle and, well even futile at times… Perhaps it’s just tiredness talking…. but right now I feel the time has come to address that and make some decisions – but more on that later…….

First, my final review of the year:

The last of my guests this summer included the lovely Deirdre from London, whose irrepressible sunny disposition, boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm did much to lift my own spirits during some of my more challenging moments.

Already an accomplished artist and draughtsman, she was nevertheless keen to put into practise anything new I could teach her and, as a result, produced some really wonderful work which included fine, detailed sketches and drawings:

numerous vibrant water colours:

and a couple of large canvasses in acrylics, painted en plein air while battling with the elements:

One, a seascape, on a very blustery day at Kastro:

And a harbour scene, which was initially painted in situ outdoors but, because of a sudden downpour, had to be continued back at the studio:

Thankfully the rain and thunderstorms left as suddenly as they’d arrived so the following day, we could still take to the sea on board the Calypso and enjoy a round the island boat trip as planned.

We visited the beautiful, unspoiled beaches of Lalaria:

and Kastro:

and our day ended with a visit to Tsougria island –  but not before enjoying a delicious seafood lunch in the tiny pretty harbour of Kati Georgi, on Pelion, over on the mainland ( less than 2 miles away).

We were accompanied by my dear friends Judith and Alex, who’d arrived from Texas, keen to visit Skiathos as soon as they could as they’d been unable to attend my daughter’s wedding on the island last summer. During their stay they celebrated their anniversary and I presented them with a small caricature I’d painted of them, as a memento:

Also on our trip was Gina, a good friend for many years, particularly to my mother,  and long-term resident of Skiathos:

Other outings included a trip to Evangelistria Monastery, Kechrya, Mandraki Elias beach and everyone’s favourite taverna, ‘Olive Land’, high in the hills above Katsarou, with its fabulous food and breathtaking panoramic views:

Dinners at home were taken on the terrace, by candlelight making the most of the last of the balmy evenings,  with good friends, putting the world to rights fuelled by plenty of traditional home-cooked dishes such as Shrimp Giouvetsi and Imam Bayildi and copious amounts of wine!

Over the course of several evenings we visited favourite restaurants both close by, such as Infinity Blue and Mesostrato and in Skiathos town: the ouzeria, Kabourelia, on the waterfront and Taverna Alexandros in the narrow back streets, with its authentic atmosphere, live bouzouki music and generous welcoming hospitality:

We also took in a couple of exhibitions: an art exhibition showing works of several Skiathos artists (including yours truly)

coverage of which appeared, in a lighter moment, as a news item on Astra, one of the national television channels

On the Bourtzi, we visited a collaborative photography exhibition, where I met up with dear friend and fellow artist, Chrissy Marie from England:

and together we admired the work of several Skiathos photographers, including Nick Karvounis:

Chrissy, and her partner Andy, had visited me earlier in the week and presented me with 2 amazing portraits of my pets:

‘Percy’

and ‘Piccolina’

Chrissy is an amazing artist, incredibly talented and she’s captured them so perfectly – I was simply blown away! Thank you so much again, dear friends! Your generous, thoughtful gifts were a ray of pure sunshine on a gloomy day –  I’ll treasure them always!

Earlier still, I took another short trip to the mainland, Volos this time:

Here, graffiti as in all Greek cities and towns, blatantly covers almost every available surface, particularly in the back streets. As everywhere, it’s not just an often skilfully executed art form but a cry, a demand to be heard, from those without a voice……

Greece is under enormous pressure economically and financially right now and the effects of its new tough austerity measures are already filtering down to those who can least afford them; the levying of additional taxes on just about everything tangible, chased up relentlessly by civil servants (who are clearly, in turn, under pressure with new quotas to meet) and the ever-tightening noose of the banks demanding  repayment of the loans extended too easily to an already over-extended population who’d survived for too long solely on credit; robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Well the day of reckoning has arrived. All these measures combined, have created a climate of panic and despair for the common, hardworking man who feels utter desperation, in some cases, now that his back is firmly against the wall and there’s nowhere to run to or hide.

While such drastic measures are understandable to a degree, beneath a cool, nationalistic and proud exterior, resentment simmers so it’s hardly surprising that tempers flare at all too regular intervals these days. The transformation, the sudden irrational behaviour of old and once trusted friends; their increasingly angry, unprovoked confrontations (not to mention some seriously questionable business practises!) leaves a bitter taste of disappointment and not a little disillusionment in those who find themselves helplessly in the firing line…..Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess, but even so, nothing exposes the true character and integrity of a man more than watching how he conducts himself in the face of adversity…..

Hopefully, it’s a temporary sign of the times, things will settle down and common sense and civility will resume. God forbid it’s a taste of even worse things still to come, for, in such a climate, any dreams of a peaceful existence, in a law-abiding and just society, become entirely untenable! The result will be either a massacre or a mass exodus – of citizens and visitors alike (myself included!) to more conducive climes (a process already begun by many of the university graduates in Athens who, regretfully, can see no future for themselves in their beloved homeland).

In the words of William J. H. Boetcker, 1916 (though often attributed to Lincoln):

“You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.”

There was so much evidence of misery and anger on every corner that I found it all very depressing but at the risk of sounding flippant, at such times the simplest of pleasures can do much to lighten one’s mood, superficially at least. Like most women, my reaction was to indulge in a bit of retail therapy and when I stumbled upon a simple, inexpensive aluminium tray, it cheered me up no end! it is so basic and practical in its design, I just love it! It now takes pride of place in my kitchen:

Being creative, every day is an adventure on Skiathos as I never know what’ll turn up! One day I received a call from a yoga teacher visiting from London. She was running a retreat at the Mandraki Village hotel, in Koukounaries and wanted some photos taken for her new website.  So off I went, armed with camera and extra batteries etc. and I spent the most delightful morning snapping away as her charming group went through the motions on the lush green lawns between the palm trees, with only the sound of birdsong and the soothing splashes from a water fountain. For a short while inner calm, peace and utter tranquility reigned……A welcome respite from a hectic schedule, Thank you Katerina!

Back home at the studio, Despina’s icon painting class was in full swing with Sam, who was visiting from New Zealand and making her way around Europe for 6 weeks, taking a variety of decorative art courses along the way:

and when I returned, under Despina’s expert guidance, she had just completed her first beautiful icon:

Now, once again the island is becoming quiet, with the last few tourists soaking up the very last of the summer sun as the shop keepers begin rolling down their shutters for the last time this year, in preparation for the return, for so many of them, to the mainland. I’ve mentioned it before but it’s amazing how the whole island quite literally shuts up shop at the end of the summer season.

In a few weeks Skiathos will once again resemble a ghost town. I can’t help feeling what a missed opportunity it is, for the islanders that remain, to generate much-needed income –  especially at this time when every penny clearly counts.

Skiathos has so much to offer out of season that would delight, ramblers, bird-watchers and plantsmen alike, to name but a few. There’s plethora of migrating bird species that pass through here on their way to and from warmer climes. Botanists and botanical artists from around the world would take huge delight in discovering, identifying and recording (and protecting) the many indigenous flora and fauna that have evolved in this, for the most part untouched for centuries, micro-climate.

Species of Insects peculiar to this island alone, abound!

Yet, until Skiathites themselves recognise and value the true treasures they have to offer and put an infrastructure in place to support and accommodate these out of season visitors, as well as those in search of summer sand and sun, such valuable visitors simply will not come………I’ve discussed this often with numerous Skiathites who share my passion for this subject and work tirelessly, voluntarily to preserve Skiathos’ natural treasures. But our views only fall on the deaf ears of those with the power to instigate change. ‘There is no money’ is a feeble excuse because it just perpetuates a vicious circle –  and only adds to our frustration……So, sadly nothing is ever done about it. Hopefully one day someone in a position to make a difference, will see the light…..

I’m now looking forward to a couple of weeks peace and quiet and the opportunity to paint myself, with 2 commissions to complete before I too, pack up and head for home. Before then, I can take time out to enjoy the island’s natural beauty as autumn sets in, and I welcome some solitude, with only my animals for company. Lately a family of chickens, complete with fluffy offspring, have also joined the menagerie! Timid at first, they’re getting bolder by the minute and, fearlessly ignoring the dog and cats, come right up to the house. I filmed them scratching their way around the base of the figs trees outside the back door yesterday but the file’s too big to upload here, so here’s a photo instead:

 I’ve had the privilege of meeting some wonderful and extraordinarily talented people this year and enjoyed visits from some very dear friends. Now I have many happy memories to keep me going through the cold winter months ahead because, all in all, despite any difficulties, it has been another remarkable and ultimately fulfilling year.

That said, I feel the time has come for me to take a break….Next year I’ve decided to travel in search of new horizons and inspiration in order to not only develop myself as an artist and write too, but in so doing, armed with a fresh perspective on life as a whole, hopefully, I’ll return as a better teacher, with much more to offer as well!

So please note:

PAINTING SKIATHOS IS TAKING A SABBATICAL AND WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY BOOKINGS FOR ART COURSES IN 2012, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE 

I will, however, continue to keep you posted and update this blog from time to time with my new adventures….wherever they may lead me…. and I’ll be popping back to Skiathos from time to time  in between  - so watch this space!

Have a good winter everyone!

There are times when life throws you a curve ball.

It can come straight out of left-field without warning and you know nothing of it, till it smacks you on the head and leaves you wondering what on earth hit you…..

Or, it’s clearly in your line of vision, you see it coming and you may, or may not, have enough time to prepare and decide what to do. Either way, choice is limited; you can either face it head on, brace yourself for the inevitable impact and hope and pray you’ll come out on top – or at least still standing:

Or you can duck – in the hope of avoiding it altogether:

Or you can just cut your losses and run – like hell!

Well, If you can imagine yourself standing centre-field and not one but ten of these beauties start coming at you fast and furious, all at once…. you’ll begin to have some idea of how my life has been this past month and a half. I won’t bore you with all the details, the most important point is that: Hey! I’m still here and NOT drowning but waving (just!) – a bit battered and bruised perhaps and certainly in need of lots of R&R! But, I’m here nonetheless; more resilient and optimistic than ever.  In fact, I’m all fired up and ready to go, even better-equipped to face whatever next might be heading my way…..so BRING IT ON!

(No, no! I’m kidding! – enough is enough, thank you very much!)

Like I said, I won’t bore you with any details of some of the more frustrating and tedious aspects of Greek island life but, putting humour to one side for a moment, one of those curve balls, more than all the others put together, deserves more than just a passing mention; the loss, recently, of my dearest, darling Mother.

Mere words cannot possibly do justice to the wonderful, beautiful person she was, inside and out, or can even begin to describe the roller coaster of emotions and the deep sense of loss I’m experiencing –  so I won’t even attempt to find any.

Instead, feeling as I do, closer to my mother amongst nature, especially in her beloved garden, more than anywhere else,  I’ll simply share with you a poem I’ve found that goes some way to expressing how weighed down my heavy heart is right now:

‘Haworth’

By Carole Ann Duffy:

I’m here now where you were

The summer’s grass under my palms is your hair.

Your taste is the living air.

I lie on my back. Two juggling butterflies are your smile.

The heathery breath of the moor’s simply your smell.

Your name sounds on the coded sound of the bell.

I’ll go nowhere you’ve not.

The bleached dip in a creature’s bone’s your throat.

That high lark, whatever it was you thought.

And this ridged stone’s your hand in mine,

and the curve of the turning earth your spine,

and the swooning bees besotted with flowers your tune…

I get up and walk.

The dozing hillside is your dreaming head.

The cobblestones are every word you said,

The grave I kneel beside, only your bed.

R.I.P

Yvonne Magdalena Katharina

1923 – 2011

The kindness, support and outpouring of sympathy we’ve received has been simply overwhelming and has helped me and my family enormously through this difficult time. Thank you so much, everyone!

———————————————————————————————-

Despite personal anguish, and with precious little time or space to grieve, Life had to somehow go on and commitments had to be met so, upon returning to the island, the summer season resumed. First, there was an exhibition, held jointly with my friend Despina Mitselou, in honour of the 100 year anniversary of the death of the famous Greek prose writer, Alexandros Papadiamantis. We showed our new works at the ‘Little Gallery’ in Skiathos Town:

before, once again painting guests and visitors began arriving from all quarters.

Earlier in the summer, Pam & Christiana from South Africa had spent a day painting with me in the garden:

with some excellent results!

and new friendships were firmly forgedCaroline arrived from England for a week’s course with me:

and she too created some wonderful work. Then, together with Tanja, all the way from Toronto, Canada and accompanied by her mother, she enjoyed Despina’s icon painting classes and they both showed amazing skill!

 We shared day trips up into the hills, sight-seeing:

and enjoying delicious lunches al fresco; ‘Olive Land’ in Katsarou with its fine cuisine, friendly hosts, George and (another) Despina and its fabulous panoramic views, was a firm favouriteWe also managed an outing to Kastro in the north of the island:

Where we met the taverna’s newest resident:

Kastro Beach’s colourful re-vamp this year inspired me to finally finish an oil painting I’d begun some time ago:

On a visit to fellow (American) artist Lauren Cook’s fabulous hillside home and studio:

as well as some wonderful hospitality, guests were treated to an evening of open air ‘performance art’, given by some of her visiting guests; young dancers, all the way from her home in Maryland VA in the USA, who had choreographed a moving, musical interpretation of her latest series of paintings:

And later in Skiathos Town, in the open air theatre of the Bourtzi Cultural centre we enjoyed another evening of brilliant performances given by talented local dancers, singers and musicians; a wonderfully entertaining benefit concert, now an annual event, in aid of the island’s Cat and Dog shelters, was organised and directed by my friend Vasilis Koralis.

I think I’ve already mentioned the two new additions to the family in the shape of two tiny kittens that someone had abandoned and dropped over my garden wall:

Well, sadly the little white one with the eye patch (whose name we changed from Pax to Pandemonium because of the havoc she caused) is no more. She was such a character, the fearless leader of the two, who’d developed the annoying (and frankly painful!) habit of propelling herself several feet up into the air and clinging on to the nearest receptacle (usually my back, right between the shoulder blades!) with her razor-sharp claws. Well unfortunately, in my absence, she flung herself one giant leap too far; right off the garden wall into the path of an on-coming taxi and was killed outright. Her little brother still seems lost without her although Piccolina has become more accepting of him and can actually pass him by now without dishing out one of her customary vicious whacks:

July 27th is St. Fanourios’ (the patron saint of lost things in Greece) Day:

Every year, the evening before, a traditional ceremony is held at the church dedicated to his name; Aghios Fanourious. It is a beautiful church situated above the acropolis, on a commanding hilltop position, overlooking the whole of Skiathos Town and harbour below:

My friend Sam who lives in the neighbourhood,  kindly invited me along to learn about, and join in, the celebration in which each member of the local community bakes a special cake or ‘pitta’, called a ‘Fanouropitta’, for the occasion:

It must be made to a strictly adhered-to recipe, consisting of 7 or 9 ingredients including flour, soda, olive oil, nuts (walnuts) sultanas, cloves, cinnamon, orange juice (and zest) and sugar – but no eggs. Some add a honey liqueur or ouzo but with or without, It’s delicious! It is similar to a heavily spiced but light sponge cake and is offered firstly to the church (to be distributed amongst the poor) with prayers and wishes:

and then to the gathered congregation of friends and neighbours seated outside:

Sam, as well as her own cake, had thoughtfully baked one for me to take along too –  and I was honoured to be able take part in this age-old tradition, to pray for my own recent losses, make my wishes and share my offering with new friends and some old familiar faces.

Susan, another artist, also from South Africa, arrived soon after, eager to learn new painting techniques and hone her existing skills:

She enjoyed working in the studio and her kind, effervescent personality provided me with some much-needed support, as she witnessed the difficulties I was facing first-hand. but most of all, she seemed to really enjoy painting ‘en plein air’ in the seclusion of the olive grove:With only a few more weeks of this season still to go and some final guests yet to arrive, the weather shows no sign of changing just yet. Temperatures outside continue to soar and inside, air-conditioners are still going full blast. We’ve had the occasional hint of a thunderstorm but no sign yet of the much-needed rain….So the island, rather like myself,  I fear, is looking dried-up and dusty and very, very tired…..

The figs, very late this year, drop off the trees the instant they ripen and, in complete contrast to last year’s bumper harvest, there’s not a single olive in sight but that’s no cause for concern. It’s all part of the natural cycle. When I look at the gnarled old olive trees and think of how many years (hundreds in some cases!) they’ve been witness to change, to the wars waged, won and lost, to the generations that have come and gone, enduring a constant battering by the elements, withstanding both good and bad times, well,  I’m in awe that they continue to stand sentinel over this ancient land and remain so resilient.

Seeing them stand proud and upright (well, almost!) and beautiful, with their roots ever more deeply entrenched, regardless, sets a fine example of victory over adversity and it helps me, in noting a parallel with my own situation here, to keep a sense of perspective. Any problems I may have suddenly pale in significance, by comparison. Peace and above all Hope reign once more…..

So, yes, ‘It’s an ill wind…….’ as they say in Scotland and indeed:

“If Life gives you lemons……just make lemonade!”

RED

Without wishing to re-hash any of my last 2 posts (they were penned when I definitely saw red!) suffice it to say, thankfully, that the unfortunate bikers incident is now a distant memory – tempers (if not temperatures!) have cooled, and life on Skiathos is back to normal again.

Classes got underway with new visitors: Katy from London who as a novice painter can feel rightly proud of her fabulous achievements; a vibrant still life after only a couple of days:

and, by the end of her week:

A beautiful painting! :

Katy was joined by Sarah Penrose:

an established artist from Bristol who came on retreat, having recently re-read Homer’s ‘Odyssey’, in search of new inspiration and direction in her work.

As chance would have it, she found her muse in the classically featured Katy herself (who is of Greek Cypriot origin). She happily sat for the first sketches of Sarah’s ‘Penelope’:

I look forward to seeing the end results!

WHITE
I can think of nowhere other than the Greek islands (with the exception of the Caribbean perhaps) where the exquisite quality of light produces such a pure, stark, brilliant white. All the more intense and pristine, against the backdrop of blue and turquoise of the Aegean sea, the whitewashed village houses, hilltop churches, gleaming yachts in the harbour, and gulls soaring high overhead all seem to glow with an almost unearthly iridescence:

As an artist, such intensity is something I feel constantly challenged to try to capture with, so far, little success; bouncing off the white, all other colours have an unparalleled depth and I’ve yet to discover a tube of paint that can equal the vibrancy of Bougainvillea bracts in sunlight or the contrast of the Scots pines against the red oxide earth.  Many British artists are drawn to work at St Ives, in Cornwall, claiming the light there to be exceptional, so a popular English TV series ‘Coast’ conducted an experiment, repeated all over the UK, to establish if there was any scientific basis for their claims. The final results concluded that the light at St Ives was indeed exceptional and ‘comparable to only one other place in the world – Greece’.

BLUE

Along with white, blue is synonymous with Greece. Every shade imaginable, from the deepest indigo to the palest teal – and every hue in between –  surrounds us here, not only in the water but on doors, shutters, fishing boats, taverna chairs, and of course on the Greek flag. It’s even the colour of the glass charms said to ward off the ‘evil eye’.

(Blue or green-eyed people were suspected to be more likely to wish ill on another – hence the expression of jealousy; ‘the green-eyed monster’). It’s a cooling colour, said to ward off flies, and if painted on interior walls, gives an illusion of infinite space (great for pokey rooms!). I know from painting that adding a blue glaze over a portion of landscape will make it  immediately retreat into the far distance as the eye cannot discern colour far away. The simple rule is: the closer the object the more colourful and more defined it should be.

RED WHITE & BLUE;

are the colours of the Union Jack which flew high in Skiathos in June. Chosen as a host town, prior to the ‘Special Olympics’ in Athens, Skiathos was honoured to host Team GB and I found that being one of the 38 volunteers was an incredibly humbling and enriching experience. From the moment we welcomed all 250 of the team at the port:

and we wined, dined and entertained them with a full week’s programme:

the island was awash with red white and blue:

The white was also provided by the pristine uniforms of both the port authority:

and Skiathos’ own Philharmonic Orchestra:

I felt particularly proud that prints of my predominately red blue and white ‘Skiathos Harbour’ painting were offered to our guests as a memento of their stay with us:

Waving them farewell and wishing them luck,

as they departed for the Athens Games, there was hardly a dry eye to be seen…..

All in all it was a wonderful, memorable week!Blue, like all colours, is also associated with an emotion. In this case, with sadness and feeling glum, feelings that I certainly experienced as I headed home for a second opinion after the doctor here offered a bleak prognosis on my neck injury (following a couple of falls back in March). I was limited to using the computer to no more than 4 minutes at a time (another reason for my delay in writing this) and going white with fear was my initial reaction as nerves have been damaged. But all is not as hopeless as I was first lead to believe, thankfully. I still have to return to London for more tests in a week or so but I’m determined to remain positive and to face whatever the future holds, head on!

Before I left I had to complete some paintings for an exhibition, held at the Bourtzi Cultural Centre in honour of the 100th year anniversary of the death of Greece’s foremost prose writer, Alexandros Papadiamantis. I found inspiration in three of his short stories: ‘Demons of the cove’, ‘The Seal’s Dirge’ and ‘Fortune from America’ all of which featured children but 2 of whom, sadly, met a rather tragic fate!

In my absence, Australian artist Jackie Sherwood, arrived for a second year, on retreat and in between house-sitting (Thank you Jackie!) my ever-growing menagerie (have I mentioned the tiny kittens that were dumped over my wall and have become a permanent fixture?)

she managed to complete an impressive body of exciting new work.

I noticed how her colour palette has changed from her usual soft ‘Provençal’ colours of ochre, sienna, lavender and sage to – ‘red white and blue’ and bought this one for my collection:

Speaking of Provence, while I was away I also had a family wedding to attend near St.Tropez. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to get away with my family in the height of summer, for a change. I soaked up the sights all along the Riviera, from the sophistication Monte Carlo:

with its elegant casinoimpressive palace (still bedecked in flowers a week after the royal wedding) and a marina packed with some of the most expensive yachts in the world!

Following the coastal road through tunnels:

to Villefranche:

and Nice:

We passed several famous landmarks and spotted some fabulous art on the way:

We continued heading south, all the way down to the rustic charm and simplicity of historic hilltop villages like Ramatuelle in the Var region:

with its narrow cobbled streets and picture postcard charm.

and it’s surrounding vineyards in open sweeping countryside:

The wedding itself was held in the simple all-white Port Grimaud church, situated on an island amid a network of small canals – a small Venice – surrounded by brightly painted houses with a boat moored outside every door.

A visit to St. Tropez, was a chance to ‘celebrity’ and ‘yacht’ watch from one of the many crowded cafes:

And all along colourful port, bunting of yet again red, white and blue!

and some intriguing sculptures:

Plenty of Designer shops too:

(but I never got past the gate!) and elegant homes too:

For me the highlight was stumbling upon the market in the backstreets. No-one does markets like the French! The choice of wares and produce is a veritable feast for all the senses!

Relaxing afterwards in total tranquility at our fabulous spa hotel a few miles away, nestled among the cypress trees,  breathing salt sea air mingled with the heady scent of lavender, just staring out to sea, bathed as we were in a sea of ‘white’, provided the perfect contrast
after all the vibrant colours:

 Until the dawn that is, when the red sky would bathe our view with a warm rosy light:

and as the day began, the sea would gradually turn into the fabulous blue that gave the Cote D’Azure it’s name.

Back in Skiathos now, the heat has certainly turned up a few notches and with new guests arriving and much of the summer still to go, there will be undoutedly be more tales to tell.
But for now, yes, the ‘red white and blue’ of the Tricolour, the Union Jack and the Greek flag, all in the space of two weeks and from all perspectives, appears to have been a very fitting title after all….

Well, now that the island is beginning to calm down after the onslaught of the last few days, I feel it is only right that I should try to redress the balance somewhat, as there are always two sides to every story.

Now, being able, at last, to think more clearly (and being better informed) I have to admit that perhaps I was a bit rash in my initial judgment of a situation which, well, quite frankly, took many of us by surprise.

It would appear that the biker’s presence has, after all, generated a huge (and in some part welcome) experience and income for the island. The majority of bikers weren’t camping on Asselinos Beach at all, but filling the hotels, restaurants, cafes, bar and clubs to capacity and it seems a great many islanders have enjoyed and greatly benefited from the last few days.

Most importantly, I’ve been informed, the majority (the genuine members of the Bikers’ Association) behaved in a perfectly civilised and orderly fashion throughout their stay. The trouble, as I mentioned in my original post, was  caused by an unruly minority of hangers-on; non-members of the association, who arrived unexpected, uninvited and hell-bent on making trouble.

The organisation of the event, by the Municipality, wasn’t actually as lacking as it first appeared; extra police (although perhaps seriously under-estimated) had been brought over from the mainland and a full medical unit was on permanent standby – which, given the fact that there were no serious accidents,  is ultimately testament to the provisions made, prior to the event.

It has to be acknowledged that Skiathos is a paradise holiday destination for all sorts of people,  from all walks of life, with all sorts of interests and, perhaps most importantly, for all ages too and, as such, everyone has the right to visit and enjoy all it has to offer –  and feel welcome here. Many of the younger generation feel this festival injected much-needed ‘life’ and unparalleled excitement into an otherwise increasingly sleepy island and although I, from a purely personal view-point, still cannot help thinking that the Skiathos I know and love, is not the ideal place to host such an event, I have to concede not everyone is of the same opinion…

It’s been difficult to take a stance on this because although it was, after all, only an inconvenience to some of us, for 4 days out of 365…….For others; the disgruntled tourists who left vowing never to return and establishments (especially those situated along the main road) who lost custom (and are unlikely to receive any compensation) it has been nothing short of a nightmare. Only long-term, once all the facts are revealed and the extent of any damage assessed, will the wisdom in allowing such an event to take place in the first place, be known.

The municipality, undoubtedly, have the hard and unenviable task of trying to accommodate, and live up to, everyone’s expectations of this beautiful island. So, while It seems likely that the biker’s festival will become an annual event,  rather than dread it, I feel both optimistic and confident that, from lessons learnt this first time, better provision will be made in the future, thereby, hopefully, ensuring a better experience all round, for everyone involved, visitors and residents alike…..

and finally, most important of all, Skiathos will continue to be able to say, proudly and rightly so, that  ’It really does offer something for everyone‘……….

Why? Because some bright spark in the higher echelons of Skiathos local government had the ‘brilliant’ idea of allowing the 3,000 strong (and growing!) Greek Biker’s Association to hold their annual 4-day get-together on this popular, ‘peaceful’ tourist island. Yup, Skiathos, the one with only 12 kilometers of (very narrow and winding) tarmac-ed road!!

The nightmare began 2 days ago when the most impressive, sleek, shiny (and expensive!) examples of metal I’ve ever seen, roared out of the ferry holds on to the sleepy unsuspecting port of Skiathos. Then followed the 24 hr relentless screech of revving, souped-up engines and the smell of burning rubber from dare-devil stunts at every hair-pin bend,  forcing beach-goers (couples, families with young children, the elderly, animals and all other local traffic) to dive for safety into the narrow grassy verges, fleeing in terror for their lives, ever since. Living on the main road as I do, I’ve had a ring-side seat watching droves of intimidating bikers, often 4-5 abreast, in groups of 10 – 15, roar up and down, in constant procession, between the town and Aselinos beach (where they’re camping, so no great income being generated there, apart from petrol sales I suppose). With nowhere to go, they just stream past my house, shaking it to the foundations day and night.

The mayhem down at the port continues and is unprecedented! It has been in total chaos since Thursday, impassable with bikers arriving, day and night and parking up en masse, clogging any access and beyond the control of the port authorities. Understandably, tempers have flared – there are even reports of violence and a knifing incident.

And guess what? Barely a police presence in sight!

I’ve spent the best part of this year attending local committee meetings on a variety of subjects – everything from ‘green issues’, ‘health  and education improvement’ and endless discussion on possible ‘cultural events’ to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Skiathos’ greatest claim to fame, the esteemed Greek prose writer Alexandros Papdiamantis (a bit late now that the year is upon us!) At each one, all proposals have been thwarted with the simple words ‘THERE IS NO MONEY’!

So Skiathitis are being forced, instead to dig deep into their own (mostly empty) private pockets or gain local business sponsorship, in order to attract and extract the much-needed euro from an already ever-dwindling stream of summer visitors. Now they are angry – very angry – and who can blame them?

If properly policed, this weekend could have generated enough cash in fines alone from the blatant flouting of road traffic laws (speeding, not wearing helmets, noise pollution and littering etc not to mention ‘disturbing the peace’ and threatening behaviour!) to fund all of those issues put together – and then some! – at least there would have been some compensation, if not justification, for the intrusion.

Sadly, this whole fiasco has instead provided yet another opportunity for Skiathos to shoot itself in the foot! Tourists, lured here by false claims of ‘peace and tranquility’ are furious (who can blame them after spending a small fortune just to get here this year) and demanding to be re-housed as far from the road as possible, returning car hire vehicles early, and most disturbing of all, unlikely ever to return…….

Before I’m labelled a ‘grumpy old woman’ I must stress I have absolutely nothing against bikers per se and I appreciate its the hangers-on (and probably the minority) who are the trouble makers, hell bent on spoiling it for the rest –  but I strongly feel there is a time and a place for such an event – and, quite simply,  Skiathos, at the height of the tourist season, is just not it!  But, it’s the lack of proper organisation and policing that I (and many others here) mainly object to.

Ok, rant over……now…where did I put the Nurofen……..

Yes, I’ve been in the wars again…Why is it, that falling down as an adult (and no, I know what you’re thinking but I was quite sober on both occasions, I assure you!) makes one feel so foolish?

Both times I picked myself up, checked for any broken bones and, feeling only a bit shaken up and bruised (well my ego at least) but otherwise OK, and in no pain, I continued on my way. It was only when my fingers and toes started to become increasingly numb that I became concerned enough to visit a orthodpaedist, several weeks later. He insisted I have some X-rays done and the results were, well,  not very encouraging – long-term, that is……Seems I should have been in a surgical neck brace for at least 8 weeks and, without it, I’ve done irreversible damage. Now, hearing that was a reason to feel really foolish! Neck injuries (i.e. whiplash) don’t always mean pain apparently – especially when nerve roots are trapped –  and should always be checked out immediately – but hey, who knew?

Now on a diet of physio’ and vitamin B, I’ve decided to head home soon as I’m anxious for a second opinion. Meanwhile, I’m limited to being on the computer no than 4 minutes at a time and, worse of all, I’m banned from all activity that involves the head looking down (which includes just about everything I do; drawing painting, writing, reading, gardening etc!) They are all strictly no go! Not much fun now that the season’s in full swing and the calendar is full from now till September not only with classes but an Exhibition looming (for the memorial celebrations of Papadiamantis) and the Special Olympic team arriving at the end of the month. But I’m determined to remain positive and, for the time being, just carry on as best I can….So if this post reads a bit disjointed (ouch! ‘scuse the pun!) it’s probably because I have to keep stopping and getting up. (I tell you, a bonus better be rapid weight loss, with all this extra activity ……)

After weeks of weather that couldn’t seem to make it’s mind up, no one on the island was really ready when the first tourists arrived. There was a mad rush of activity to get walls painted, grass cut, shelves stacked and rooms aired and ready  in between the intermittent downpours before  the sun eventually came out (hopefully, now,  to stay!). My first guests arrived and classes began while I still had so much still to do at Villa Nicara! Given the circumstances I could be nothing other than be totally relaxed about everything and now, by doing just as much as I can each day, it’s amazing how things have a way of falling into place all by themselves. No more rushing around like crazy for me! A friend suggested I ask myself WHY I fell in the first place? What lesson need to be learned?”

Well I guess I know the answer now…It’s time to stop always racing against time and trying to meet self-imposed deadlines. It’s time to fully embrace island life, slow down and just ‘Live in the moment’  which is something I always readily preach –  but seldom manage to live-by myself……..I guess I also have to finally admit I’m not 17 anymore (really? when did that happen?!!) and start taking things a bit easy – which, actually, is not going to be very easy for me at all!

“If the Creator had a purpose in equipping us with a neck, he surely meant us to stick it out” ~ Arthur Koestler 1905 – 1938

Enough with this doom and gloom! Time for some happier thoughts:

With so much rainfall and many short spells of sunshine over the past few months we’ve had the most glorious spring ever!  Roses, in particular, have been absolutely spectacular this year! Vibrant colours and blooms of up to 10 inches across are a common sight:

More exotic blooms are flourishing too:

These stunning scarlet Alliums were spotted at Evangelistria Monastery:

Up in the hills, the meadows and olive groves have been a riot of colour. Carpets of daisies, poppies, white and pink cystus:

and the Skiathos wild bluebells have been a breathtaking sight to behold:

Thank Goodness for photography! Unable to get it all down on canvas yet, at least clicking away with head up is permitted……so I’ve been capturing it all with my camera, for painting at a later date. Not the same I know but better than nothing….

My camera’s become quite a constant companion lately. I was hired for a wedding shoot – a complete departure from my usual subject matter but I loved every single minute of it. My task was made all the easier by having such a charming and happy bride and groom and their delightful families and friends, many of whom had travelled from across the world and had instantly fallen in love with the island! Here are some of my favourite shots of the day:

My own first guests included my dear friend May from Saudi Arabia:

(eagle eyed ‘Skiathos Info Bulletin Board regulars will spot Al Okle & his wife Lyn, Townboy and Skiathian seated at the table behind)

and Nikki, a talented artist, a ‘plein air’ painter, from Austin Texas (see her work at: http://nikiparas.com/). She  visited with a view to bringing a painting group next year and I had the pleasure of her charming company for a few days, while I showed her around the island:

On her return home, she made a wonderful video of her experience here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n95vOyWxSvc&feature=email

One of the things I really love about my ‘work’ is that I get the opportunity to meet such lovely people!

Phil, a  regular reader of my blog is a fellow artist I’d often communicated with but never met. (http://www.meltemiart.com/page6.htm) He and his wife just happened to be passing through Skiathos (en route to Skopelos for a holiday) and we arranged to meet up. Making new friends, sharing a glass of wine and putting the world to rights with  like-minded souls was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Thank you so much for suggesting it, Paul! It was a real pleasure to meet you both and I look forward to your next visit.

Another surprise was a lady, on holiday, who popped in to see the studio the other day. After a brief chat we discovered we had not only attended the same primary school, at the same time, in Bahrain, many, many moons ago but our fathers had worked in the same office together there, at RAF Muhurraq, and we had many friends and childhood experiences in common. What a small world! It was wonderful to meet you Jackie! The memories just keep flooding back……..
Another of my painting holiday guests was  the delightful Lisa from London who completed both an impressive still life in water-colour:

and a beautiful icon in her first week – her first paintings for 14 years!

Fantastic! Well Done Lisa!

And through it all I had the pleasure of welcoming my father back to his beloved Skiathos for a short break. Here he is arriving at the airport armed, as usual, with a beautiful bunch of roses for me – as always, the perfect Gentleman!:

Thank you Dad!

Together with Lisa we took a day-trip on board the Aghios Nicholas to the neighbouring islands of Skopelos and Alonnissos, passing the famous ‘Mamma Mia! church on the way:

and enjoying the colourful change of scenery.

Exploring the narrow back streets of Skopelos Town, munching on juicy apricots as I went, I came across a wonderful craftsman, Babis Kohili, in his workshop:

A skilled carpenter, he was in the process of carving a beautiful icon panel for a local church:

following his intricate and detailed plan:

I look forward to returning later in the year to see it finished and in situ!

Just one of many events, visitors and adventures to look forward to this year –  all being well that is…….

Have a good summer everyone! Kalo Kalokairi!