A Sign Of Life

Yes, I'm here, truly. I feel really bad for not having written anything for such a long time, but hey, that's life. I've been toying with the idea of quitting this blog for the last little while. It's been five years and sometimes I run out of things to say.

We are home from Greece, in fact have been home almost a month now. I'm still sick, I can't seem to shake a cold I've had for over a month now and the weather doesn't help. I'm also having issues with the hip. I've seen the ortho surgeon and he arranged an immediate bone scan and blood work. He want to eliminate the bad stuff like an infection in the joint or an actually appliance failure. I find I can't bear wait on the leg, especially in the mornings. I'm of course hoping that its now of the above and may just bursitis. I really truly cannot take another surgery. I'll find out next week.

On the knitting front, a beautiful cardigan that I'd been knitting off an on in Greece was finally almost finished. I was just about to sew it together when a little light bulb went off and I decided to just stitch it lightly. It was too big. It would have fit two of me. So it got frogged (for non knitters that means ripping it apart) and now I have consigned the yarn back to the stash. I can't look at it anymore, at least for a while.

I've also had a major computer failure on my favourite little laptop. None of the files are retrievable even though once in a while I try to turn it on in the hope that just once it will work allowing me to get some of the data. No such luck, it has really rolled over died.

I bought a new machine a few days ago that I'm not totally happy with. I'm having problems with the keyboard and touch pad and getting used to Windows 7 after XP is creating this old brain to fry at times.

I've signed up for a course on spinning with a spindle one night a week. I need to get out of the house for more than physiotherapy and grocery shopping, I'm becoming a boring person.

I've been following very closely the controversy in the U.S. with the TSA and how they are groping all passengers wanting to get on airplanes. The one video that stuck with me was of a 3 year old child screaming "don't touch me". Has this all gone too far?



When I get down in the dumps, I just look at the photos from Greece and remember how beautiful it all was...

Island Hopping

Last week we spent a few days on the island of Mykonos. The weather couldn't have been better and my sweeties son thoroughly enjoyed himself. The eye candy on that island is amazing for a young man and I don't mean the old buildings. He discovered Paradise Beach and from then on it was party time for him.

After a bit of a disaster finding a room the first night, we lucked out with this little gem on day two. I won't even tell you about the first room, other than to say it was disgusting. Having just come from a 6 hour ferry trip and feeling the beginning of a migraine Steve rented the first room he found just to get me to a bed. There is a lesson there for me, always trust the Lonely Planet. The very first listing for budget hotels was the Hotel Philippi in Hora. It is described as a "charming place with wonderful garden ambiance that smacks of more exotic locations" and I wish we'd found it the first night because it was true. Even though the rooms were on the small side, they were clean and bright and for 65 Euros a night fairly decent. The owners were super charming and went out of their way to make our stay pleasant. I loved sitting outside at night watching the stars and listening to soft Greek music in the background. Altogether a charming spot and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.





On Saturday my friend from Germany arrives for one week and we plan on leaving Tuesday for Paros another island of which I've read good reviews. Not so much a party island as Mykonos, a little more quiet for older people. Since we will be traveling alone without the benefit of Steve to help us with the language it should be a blast. I will make sure I have my Lonely Planet with me to help find a hotel.

We will have to be a bit low key though, Germans are not liked much here in Greece at the moment. I've now been told by three (fairly intelligent I thought) people that we Germans are cannibals. Amazing how many people fall for internet hoaxes, kind of sucks...

Today we are heading off to the Peloponnese and the seaside town of Pylos for a couple of days before my friend arrives. Should be fun...

I'm Dying - From The Heat

Yes, yes I know... most people would envy me being here in sunny Greece. The truth of the matter is, I am not good in the heat. I tend to want to stay in a cool air conditioned room and never move until after 7 at night when it does cool off a bit.

So here's what we've been up to. We bought a bed. Finally, after three years of sleeping on cots and an air bed we have the real thing. A nice king size bed with a memory foam mattress that comes in two pieces. That means when either of us turns around or gets up at night the other won't be disturbed. Real cool...



We also bought patio furniture, no more putting our coffee cups on cardboard boxes. We're stepping up in the world.



We've been out to dinner at a wonderful seaside taverna and pigged out on seafood. It was Sophia's birthday.





And then there was the sunset...

We're Here

So we have safely arrived in Athens and it's hot...man is it ever hot. I suppose that most people would envy me being here but the truth is that I do not tolerate heat very well. Most of the summer in T-dot was exceedingly hot as well and I rarely left my air conditioned house.

The trip was fairly uneventful in that nothing bad happened. The plane left late but arrived on time. We travelled with a charter company but in their first class section and I was expecting the seats to be a little larger than they actually were. On the other hand there was much more legroom and the seats did recline much further than in economy. The service was first class, the food amazing, there were real dishes and real cutlery and drinks were served freely in real glasses. There were two attendants for 20 passengers and they spent the night checking if we needed anything. The blankets we were given left blue fuzz all over my white pants and my steward went out of his way to give me his own defuzzer to clean myself up. I had a look at their economy section and I would never travel with this airline in economy. I also had a look at their foot trays and they were not impressive. Since this was a treat only because of my new hip it was probably a one time deal unless I win the lottery.

Overall if I had to rate this Air Transat I'd give them an 8 out of 10 but only for club class. On the other hand I'm told they are a cheap way to get to Europe and lots of students and young families on board.

I will update as I can. My lovely neighbour is sharing her mobile internet stick with me but I don't want to take advantage.