A strange thing to say, you may think, given that I am living on a lush green island after all. But how many of us take that precious commodity for granted? I know when I’m in London, if I need … Continue reading
“Water, water, everywhere …..”
Tag Archives: swimming pool
Mikrokosmos
A few posts back (“Out with the Old, in with the Miu”) I mentioned that young, trendy and very stylish cafés and shops are beginning to appear all over Skiathos town, alongside the more traditional tavernas and souvenir/gift shops. Well … Continue reading
“When are you next passing Crete?”
If, like me, you’ve spotted these words in a classified ad. at the back of a glossy home-decorating magazine……. and if like me you became inspired by the accompanying tantalizing images of the over-large pots, or ‘pithoi’, offered for sale, you will understand my long-held desire to one day fill my own mediterranean terraces with such fine examples of grecian pottery.
Well, Crete passed by me today, in the form of a heavily laden van and a couple of ‘likely lads’, from the mainland, touting their wares through a loud megaphone. It resonated up and down the valley below and simply couldn’t be ignored.
I could barely contain my excitement but, remembering my bartering techniques acquired on a recent trip to Morocco – I felt confident I would and could remain firmly in control!
After much head shaking, ‘tut-tutting’, tooth sucking, wild gesticulating, walking away with a convincing lack of enthusiasm (or so I believed anyway!) and, most important of all, my pleading of poverty (which at this stage of the build is not entirely untrue!) a deal was eventually struck, a bargain made (I think!) and an agreement reached, that suited all concerned.
The fact that I’m now the proud owner of far more large pots than I’d allowed for and that, along with all the palm trees that somehow managed to get included in the ‘final price’, there’s every possibility that the villa looks as though it belongs in Agadir rather than Skiathos, is neither here or there!
But, I have to say, they do look absolutely fabulous sited all around the new pool……
…….. and if that means I’m back on the bread and water for the next couple of weeks – well, so be it! They’re worth every penny ….
….and there’s an added bonus; I can sleep well at night now, safe in the knowledge that a very large family of ‘poor, starving children’, an ‘ailing, long-suffering, mother’ and ‘soon-to-be-departed grandmother’, somewhere on the mainland, will all be going to bed with full bellies tonight – and, more than likely, for several months yet to come!
(Ever felt you’ve been had?)
Latest News – Building Update
Hi Everyone,
Well after 8 long weeks of camping out on a dusty (too often muddy) building site, I’ve come back to the UK for a short but much-needed break(and, at last, a HOT shower – Bliss!!). Happy to report the building/renovation works are going full steam ahead though it has been SO frustrating at times. With bad weather, general strikes and a seemingly constant stream of public & religious holidays, work hasn’t progressed as quickly as I’d hoped – but every thing’s on track and finally starting to come together.
The swimming pool is almost complete:
the house still has some way to go before it’s habitable again and unfortunately the accommodation isn’t likely to be ready in time for the first guests arriving on May 18th but there are plenty of suitable alternatives nearby, 
and the Art studio is all set (the shipment of art materials & equipment arrived on schedule and I’m only waiting for the electricity connection now) so I’m really excited about the prospect of classes finally getting underway mid- May.
