1.7.95 (Sat) July already. Has the season started?

July is here already. It’s still quite cloudy this morning and there were puddles on the road down to Jane’s beach. The power is off all over the village and I’m told it will be that way until 2.30pm though how they can be so precise I’m not sure. I’m off to Phillipe’s to sing soon. What a rock’n’roll life I’m leading.(Later) Not so rock’n’roll! I think I played 3 songs all day. Phillipe and his staff served about 6 meals this lunch time and they were all to Greek people who have not been known to be over enthusiastic about my music. Andy and Alice bought up my earnings from last night. 4,000 dr excluding photocopying that Andy shelled out to make the posters. The deal had been 21,000dr and drinks for the band but the bastards charged us for an estimated 9 beers at an extortionate 500dr a beer (they buy it in for about 100dr a bottle). Andy seems to have seen the light and says that he thinks if we just turn up at selected tavernas, even 2 or 3 a night, and just busk we could make that sort of money with no strings attached (no pun intended) to any particular venue. We just need a good bottler (street performer speak for "give us some money, we do this for a living..."). Also we do have the promise of a PA system whenever we need one, in exchange for one hours guitar tuition each time we borrow it. So we could theoretically do a gig anywhere, for a set fee (up front preferably). I certainly go along with the busking idea. I hit the beach about 5pm. This really is a lovely time of day. The bulk of the tourist masses have gone and like today, there’s just a handful of long termers like Emma and her baby Mary. Emma’s seems nice. She’s English and is married to Yannis who owns Astrofengia, one of the villages more expensive tavernas. Then there’s Francine who lives with Arcemedes. They are usually there with his sons swimming, windsurfing, speed boating and generally living the beach bum life. Monty and Claudette who arrived recently. He’s English and she’s sort of Anglo French. They came to see us play last night. She apparently used to be a band manager and he is a head hunter in the banking world. It’s all very friendly and civilised on the beach, chatting and laughing, enjoying the less severe afternoon sun. I haven’t used sun tan lotion for ages mainly ‘cos I tend not to venture in to direct sunlight until late in the day.We called in to see Francine and Arcemedes who had left the beach before us. We needed to borrow a saw so that I could do a few odd jobs. We stopped for a drink and a chat. Across the valley we had a perfect view of the house that Laskarina Janet and her husband are building. We went to try and ring Matthew from Phillipe’s phone but he was out again. So we sat and had a drink with Steve who was on the evening shift selling his paintings at Phillipe’s. ( I think Steve has forgotten that he owes us 2,000dr. Oh dear. I hate these potentially embarrassing situations). Then we had an evening together! Just the two of us. A rare thing in recent days. We ate, played cards etc.2.7.95 (Sunday)I had a DIY kind of a day. This was quite an achievement when all I had to help me was a borrowed saw and my trusty Swiss army knife. My first job was to make a safer wedge to hold the terrace door open so that Jane has less chance of hurting herself. Our terrace is littered with a few things that we have been unable to move, including an old door. It’s been half ripped apart by some one before us and some of its boards are being used as shelves in our house so I did not feel too destructive when I ripped off another plank to cut to size for a door wedge. The borrowed saw was of the Greek variety which has a curved blade and teeth which are sharpened the other way from saw teeth in UK (this information will only be mildly interesting to a select few…like most of the diary then.) so it took a bit of getting used to. Of course it would have been even more productive if it had been sharpened ......at all. Still, I achieved an unsophisticated but effective door wedge. My next job was to address Jane’s nervousness of the big, traditional Greek fire place. She’s always had a bit of a thing about it as she imagines that snakes may sneak down the chimney and eat us in our sleep. So drawing on all my Blue Peter years I used the raw materials available and created a pretty cool looking fire guard. Just three planks knocked together with some mosquito wire stretched over the face of it. It sounds simple but it took me ages. It covers the opening to the old oven so we should sleep easy at night. On a roll of creativity I then ripped off another plank from the old door, without the aid of a crow bar, to get materials to make a photo board. Just three boards cut roughly to the same size, braced across the back with another board, with only my knife’s screw driver attachment to help, finished off by stretching my old yellow vest over the front (well I never did like that vest). I pinned on a few photos to give it status and hung it on the wall. Clause the Danish lad, who is very philosophical and thoughtful, came around for an hour. I took it as a compliment cos he told me before that he doesn’t like seeing the same people all the time.

I took Skilos to town and put in petrol and air then went to Jane’s beach on the bottom road. Its coastal and not as steep, but what a rough road, really uneven and gravely. We chatted to two Norwegians before heading off for Votsi to see Kevin and Sue. We had a blissful hot shower then went out to Homer for food, Layla, Jenny and later Steve joined us. Later we got onto the main purpose of the evening which was for Kevin and Sue to teach us the play cribbage. Kevin had written out the rules for us and Layla and Steve and he’d used old bits of wood to make a score board and score pegs. These guys are so resourceful. We played for over an hour as they taught us the intricacies of the game which I began to get the hang of by the end.

On the way home our back light would not even come on and ½ mile from Chora the front light packed in. It was gone 1.00am and very dark. One day we’ll have an uneventful journey on Skilos I crawled us back, holding our tiny torch in front of us.

3.7.95 (Monday)

We were both knackered this morning. I did some shopping, checked the mail. There are big bags of mail in the Post Office but no new ones on the counter. Grrrr !!! There appears to be no real system of sorting. Still! It’ll get done some time. I washed clothes, swept a bit and read. If it wasn’t that we need more money. I could get quite used to this way of life. If I were in UK I know I’d be bored but here its OK. The island, especially the village, is still very quiet. They talk of the boom to come but its so hard to imagine as every taverna is empty but for a few people. I wanted to sleep but I just couldn’t. I went to the beach at 6.00pm (late for me). Arcamedes’ son broke two front teeth while slipping off the windsurfer but the dentist here can fix it. I had to rehearse at 8.00pm so we had tea straight away (cold meat, salad and rice!) then we both went to Phillipe cos Jane range Matthew (he was in this time). The tape I’d given Steve was apparently faulty and on his Walkman it sounded horrible, slowing down a lot. I gave him another but it was fine on Andy’s system so it must be the Walkman. I had a little panic that I was giving out faulty tapes. We spent the evening discussing plans (yawn) and thinking of new songs to do (yawn). After Marty went, we went through CD’s and Andy said he will chart some Police and Talking Heads stuff that we reckon we could do. Marty may do a job at Astrofengia in the evenings which may mean Andy and I busking without him. The PA system were told we can borrow, turns out to be a guitar amp. Still, better then nothing.

4.7.95

Shopping again. Still no new mail on the counter. Bumped into Layla and Jenny who bought me a lemonade, then Kevin and Sue joined us. Kevin showed me some nice photos of the two of us playing guitars on our terrace so I went and ordered 3 prints at 100dr each. Saw Clause who wants to borrow our Skilos one evening. I said to wait till we fix the lights.

I heard a voice calling in the lanes outside our house this pm. "Tim, Tim". It was Marty looking for me. Quaint really, just walk up through the village and call out. He said we have an audition at the groovily named Disco Rocks tonight at 9.00pm. I got tea together then went to spend a few hours with Jane. We ate then, she came with me to Andy and Alice’s. We loaded the car then set off to Disco Rocks for 9.00pm. No one there, but it was open so we piled in and set up. Great place. High perimeter fences with bars and seating surrounding an outdoor arena with a central, circular stone dancefloor. Again, surprisingly good lights, though Marty discovered a dodgy cable and spent 45 mins with the owner, repairing it. We had the borrowed amp with us and had rustled up some mic stands (one being an old lamp stand) Jane and Alice said we sounded great and even from where I was it sounded good and gave us the edge we needed. Long discussions ensued about our material. As usual the owners suggested various rock songs that would be completely unmanageable. We said that this is what we do and that rock fans like it. Anyway, we got the gig for Sunday at 20,000dr (£60ish) with renegotiating if it goes OK. We won’t start till 1.00am!!! So now we need more songs. All this work better pay off !!!!

7.7.95

Oh dear, I’ve missed a few days ! On Wednesday I played at Phillipe’s. At one point there was just me, Layla, Wendy and Carr and Phillipe said ‘give us a song’ (in Greek of course - Wendy translated) I played and they all clapped and cheered. Kevin and Sue came up and we did some songs. Kevin has written a song called "a moped called Skilos the dog" Its very Good and he really captures the finer points about our trusty steed. Me and Kevin and Sue went to A and A’s so I could work on chords for Police songs off the CD. At 5.00pm we came up to the house and I started doing the spag bol for tea. I got Jane at 7.00pm and we spent the evening with Kevin and Sue. What a really lovely couple they are. So easy to be with. While I picked up Jane, Sue used a wire coat hanger and some mozzy wire to make us a brilliant little toaster that goes on the gas flame and heats up making nice even toast. These outbackers eh?? (Hell I’m getting way behind with this).

8.7.95

OK I’ve lost a few days. So What !! I’ve spent most of my week learning new songs for the band and rehearsing. I’ve been shopping, of course, which is quite a social aspect of my day. On Thursday night Jane and I went into town to try and get Homer (Marty’s boss who sold us Skilos) to get the lights working. Jane was funny - giving him a hard time. He reckoned that for the price we paid we shouldn’t expect it to be perfect. Jane said that he should realise how dangerous it is to have no lights and its the least we can expect. She even complained about our two punctures which of course wasn’t his fault. She was great. And it worked cos the next day he (we think) sorted it. Darren’s old boss, Vassilis, finally got as a key for the bike, no charge, amazing. So we can turn Skilos on and off in a more suitable way that doesn’t makes us look as if we’re stealing it.

We had a long letter from Mary, Monty and Jackie which was great. Sue Midgeley got the Keynsham Managers post - fantastic. Yesterday we had post from the Shipps including a letter from the Belgian girls who bought tapes off me in June. Really nice letter of thanks and a photo of me, Marty and Kevin at Phillipe’s.

We popped down to say goodbye to Curtis, Chris and Harry the Ozzies who are off to Egypt. Nice people Jane met on the beach. Then we had a drink with Monty and Claudette. Monty goes home tomorrow but will be back in a month.  

Looks like we’ve got neighbours opposite. Right now they seem quite loud (French) though in fairness they are moving in today. Tranquillity dashed. I later worked out that our neighbours will be French but the noise was just the cleaners ! I went with Andy and Marty to put up some more posters for our gig. Its been really cloudy all day so I went to Jane’s beach at 5.00pm in case she was on an early finish. She was tamping mad, cos one of her bosses had moaned about her to another, who, of course had told her. She went and fronted him out. It was a petty observation that she’d not seen a woman struggling with a sun shade for 10 minutes. She said that she does a good job and that if he has complaints to make them to her. Of course he backtracked and said its not a problem.

I had a rare night off from rehearsing so we went to Phillipe’s for a drink. It was almost cold and the wind was blowing. Carr has packed it in at Phillipe’s cos she’s sick of being treated badly. We sat with Susannah and Thomas, a German couple Jane got to know from the beach. They have a little boy, called Lucas so we sat on their terrace for hours, just chatting about travel, relationships, babies etc. They’re a lovely couple. As usual we met them too late. They go on Monday.

We just had a really windy night. When the wind gets up it whistles down the little alleys of the old town cos its so high up. I even felt a bit cold!

I went to Phillipe’s at noon even though the wind was howling up through his remarkable view. Luckily a table full of Greeks left as I arrive ( I have this effect) so I set up and played with no local input (or heckle). Kevin and Sue came and I reckon we definitely pulled people in. I sold one tape and got another 1000dr in tips, so I bought Kevin a beer. I would describe it as a ‘promising’ session and we really enjoyed it. I then went home and slept from 3.30pm - 5.30ish. training for tonight’s late gig. Collected Jane then rehearsed. Andy has constructed a brilliant mic stand for voice and guitar, from old postcard stands and metal tubes he got from the dump. If we play tonight the way we just rehearsed we’ll wing it ……….dum, dum dum dum !!. p>

I met Jane who was at Phillipe’s having a drink with Thomas, Susannah and Lucas. Home for a shower and shave before the gig. I’m not nervous tonight, which is odd, cos we’ve just added six songs we don’t really know. I must be getting back to my usual blasé self. Jeez - I am knackered, its bloody late to start playing. I hope its worth it!

Well the 6000dr was nice but for me that’s really as ‘fun’ as it got. When we arrived at 12.45am (The club owners were pissed off that we we’re that late but we still started before 1.00am) we could see from the car park that the place wasn’t throbbing with people. In fact there were 10 people - this swelled to about 35-40 by the time we started, most of these being people we know. They’re great to come and support us. It costs 1500dr to get in and you get a free drink. After that every drink is 1000dr (£3) or multiples of 1000. Its so unfair (and they just won’t do it every time) to expect our friends to pay this just to see us when we could do it for free in a taverna somewhere. I broke 2 strings in the first 3 songs. Actually it went down quite well but I couldn’t say we’re great come and see us. Now if we were in a smaller, more intimate setting where pressure to ‘perform’ is off, I know we’d be OK. If (by same quirk of fate) they want us to do it again for the same money…. but I said I don’t think this is our medium. Kevin and Sue came and Darren introduced his 18yr old Greek girlfriend who could probably be described by a tabloid journo as ‘sex on a stick’. Actually she was very nice and the pair of them have that ‘new love’ sick grin on their faces. We gave Kevin and Sue a lift to Votsi then had a cup of tea at A & A’s and got home at 5.00am. Jane woke up and I made a cup of tea before eventually sleeping till about 10.15am.

On the way to take Jane to the beach we called in to say goodbye to Susanna. Thomas and Lucas were out so she could clean before they leave today. She said that Thomas had said the evening we had with them was one of the nicest because, even though we speak different languages (their English is excellent) and come from different places, we still think the same way and have similar ideas about life in general. I know Jane will keep in touch with Susannah and we have the open offer to visit them in Germany. Nice people.

I did some laundry washing and then it absolutely pissed down with rain, so I read for ½ hour before going to A & A at 1.30pm. the Paraport guy was there and he said he’s happy for us to sing there some evenings. No pay but we can pass around a hat. We just need to wait for enough punters to get here on their holidays now. Its been a very cloudy, rainy windy day, so I hit the beach at 4.20pm and sure enough, no-one was on it. Jane and I had a coffee with the two Brits who were taking some post home for us. At 5.00pm, Jane took an early finish. With some rare time on our hands, we went to Votsi, to see Kevin and Sue who we guessed would be in cos of the weather. We were right and we ended up staying for tea, using eggs Jane had been given by the wife of one of her bosses, to make an omelette. I think Kevin & Sue have decided take us up on our offer to come and sleep on our floor for a week when they have to leave their room on the 16^th. We encouraged them to cos we get on so well and it’ll be fun and it’ll save them a weeks rent. It was getting dark, but the time we left, so Skilos’ new lights were to be tested. What a result!!! They worked all the way home. I did as Homer had said and kept low revs, so he struggled a bit on the hills but this was our first uneventful night time trip - well we did have to switch to reserve petrol tank, but at least we knew we had to this time.

11.7.95

What a windy night. Howling through our open windows. We both woke up about 5.00am and I read for a bit before sleeping till 10.10am. Delivered Jane to earn an honest crust, then went shopping. I wish I’d had my camera in town cos a pick up truck had spilled ½ dozen crates of lemonade on the busiest corner of Patitiri. Quite a spectacle. No Post !! No fax!!. The nice man in the Post Office even looked for a parcel for me. Didn’t see anyone I know!!! A rare thing these days in Town. (We call Patitiri, town though it is barely bigger than the village). So, again my day has been buggered by a plan that didn’t come off. I sorted my guitar case which has become full of lyrics and crap. I read, prepared tea, smashed a full jar of Alice’s jam on the floor, (shame! Lovely jam too, made from the local plums), cleaned it up then went to the beach. Its getting busy down there now, back to back almost, by remote Greek Island standards anyway. I was chatting to people Jane had met from Croydon. Before I knew it, it was 7.10pm and we should’ve gone. We had a quick tea and skilossed down to Votsi. Its Jenny’s 5^th birthday. Kevin and Sue were there and Matthew and Tannith who are Laskarinaing it at Marias. Good fun evening. Steve turned up about 10.00pm and later he remembered that he owes us 2000dr. Skilos did the return journey with no upsets. Good Skilos.

12.7.95 (Wed)

Kevin came up and we played together at Phillipe’s till 3.00pm…… and didn’t make a penny. Very annoying cos there were people about. They must’ve assumed we were paid help (or thought we were crap!) Bugger! I hope the sign that Steve is doing for me makes a difference. Layla and Steve suggest I have a little sign advertising my tapes and pointing out my busking status. There was a bit of a cerfuffle when I arrived cos Yorgo’s young Alsatian dog, which is tied up in his yard, attacked Wendy and ripped her skirt, aswell as scaring the s**t out of her. Kevin broke his sandal on the way up so I Skilossed him home. He was impressed by Skilos’s performance and was saying ‘go Skilos’ Sue had been sleeping and we woke her on our return. We had some crackers and tea then I took an early trip to Jane’s beach. Four people got stung by jelly fish while I was there!! That’s almost a jelly fish epidemic.

We had a drink at Phillipe’s on the way home with young Robert, Steve and Wendy then Annetta and Analeena (German mum and daughter) joined us. Annetta’s nice. I can see her struggling with her English but let’s face it you don’t see us struggling with German! Jane is doing well with her Greek words but I am useless. We had tea and talked about money!! I reckon if, by August, singing doesn’t pay, I’ll have to try and find a job. I’m also going to start hitting other resorts like Votsi and Rissoume next week. Its also time to start doing evenings round here so I’ll try Phillipe’s on Friday but do it more buskerish ie, turn up at 9.00am and play for ½ hour, break and do more if it feels right or just move on, if I’m not moved on.

13.7.95

It is possible to get my guitar (less case) in my rucksack so that makes travelling a bit easier. After taking Jane, I popped down to see Alice and Andy to see if we were still going to the dump today. I saw Kevin and Sue at Phillipe’s before popping to town for supplies (and Andy’s paper, Sue’s ryvita and mail possibilities for all). That is the culture here. If you see mail for people you know it is only polite to collect for them and deliver it. It is very civilised and relies on a good portion of trust….which seems to exist.

Introducing Jane on writing: due to my damaged thumb more of which later. Therefor this section is dictated by me but written by Jane, (like anyone cares) HOORAH!! Had a letter off Math and a fax off Cathy. Its going to cost £52 to courier my tapes, which is too much. We’ll have to think of other options. Got back up to Phillipe’s within the hour and at 12.30pm we were sitting with Andy and Alice drinking tea and eating freshly baked apricot muffins. Alice surely gets the hostess of the island award. Five of us set off in the car following Marty’s vague directions to another dump supposedly near Steni Valla - we didn’t find it but it was nice to see that end of the island. After a trek around the island we eventually hit the dump and what a great place it is. Though the smell is disgusting. We set off exploring (its like Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’) and searching contraband. The dump was in a steep valley and we had to climb down loose rubbish and rocks. Andy tied a rope that he found around a big rock which was helpful until, I pulled it too hard bringing the rock tumbling towards me. I sacrificed the chair I was carrying, choosing instead, to save myself, which is when and how I bruised my thumb. We came away with a car load of junk, including a wicker basket, plastic veg racks, cricket bat, barbie stuff. By the time we got back to Andy and Alice’s we were hot, knackered and stinking. Went to the beach. Francine did some stuff on my thumb, which hurts. Jane had sold a tape to two yanks, Pat and Shaun, which we dropped off this evening and stayed for a chat. They were nice people. Met with the Votsi group who were having a farewell meal for M and T at Paraport - home by 10.30pm.

14.7.95

My thumb has swollen up a bit and still hurts, though its not as tender as last night, I stayed in all day. I did some well needed cleaning downstairs and washed some clothes but tried to rest my thumb as we’re playing tonight at Paraport. Kevin and Sue were having a drink at the taverna at the top of the village by the time I got home with Jane, so I left her with them while I went home to get tea ready. We had the jolly sort of meal we’re now used to, enjoying in their company. Kevin wrote out a sign for us to display tonight. "We do this for love but love don’t pay the bills" and "thank you for your donation". Andy and Alice arrived just after 9.00pm though Alice went back for Andy’s guitar strap. Not an insignificant task as the walk from their place up to ours is a steep and sweaty journey. We played and we went down well and definitely pulled people in. It was a fun evening and some people came who missed us so should come again to future sessions. This is more the kind of gig I had in mind. We came back here and chatted and laughed till 1.00am.

15.7.95

We woke up early so both went to town by 9.35am. A first since Jane started working. We did a bit of shopping and had a coffee on the front before getting Jane to her beach (loads of people call it Jane’s beach). On the way down to Andy and Alice’s I asked the big guy with the beard at the taverna on top if he’d mind us singing outside his bar one night. He said "No". I guessed he had not fully understood what I was talking about so I reiterated my request pointing out that we did not want any payment just the opportunity to sing. His response was clear. "Be sure -No" !! I was sure! Alice reckons he may not understand me but I think his mind was made up. Me and Andy and Alice went to town and set up to sing on the harbour at 12.40ish. A bit of a dead loss but I did sell a tape to the waitress who looks like Bette Midler and she said we could go back in the evening. Gig on Tuesday!! We consider such tenuous arrangements to be a carved in stone gig now.

Saw Marty this morning. He was taking his bongos out of Andy’s saying that two Greek guys have turned up with guitars and we don’t want to play gigs anyway do we! That’s not quite what we agreed but I think I see his line of thought.

I popped in to Phillipe’s to see Layla. I think we’re still on for a Barbie tomorrow and I think we’re doing the salad! Its nearly clear to me!!

Jane and I went straight to Votsi from the beach at 7.00pm (via a herb picking run in the lanes near Mackey’s Club where we found loads of wild herbs though I can’t remember what they were called). Kevin and Sue cooked us a nice meal (sort of chilli mince meat slop army food and salad - Kevin’s description) We both had good hot showers, a luxury we can really appreciate as we have to boil any hot water we need to use and even then it’s just in a bowl. I got my first nasty bite from some tiny critter which looked more like a flea than a mozzy. Bastard got me good!

16.7.95

I nipped into town to get petrol so we wouldn’t run out (to reserve) again. Kevin and Sue got a lift up with their gear from Votsi with Maria’s dad. We managed to carry all their bags up to 162 (the number of our house) in one go raising a few eyebrows on the way. I’m sure all the Greeks now think we’re sub-letting our place.

Kevin and Sue stashed their belongings in our house and we went to get bed stuff from Andy and Alice where we had a cuppa (of course. Tradition is now well established that any visit to A & A’s is accompanied by at least a cup of tea).p>

Kevin and Sue prepared tea while I went to get Jane. Its really nice having them here. We never run out of stuff to talk about. Kevin had promised Steve he’d go and play backgammon with him at Phillipe’s so the rest of us went to Francine and Arcamedes’ for a drink. They lent us some pieces of foam for Kevin and Sue to sleep on. We all went down to Phillipe’s to have a drink and make phone calls. I rung my mum, who was fine. Apparently she’s written to us. Everyone’s OK at home. We also phoned Cathy who Jane had a good chat to. Jane said later that it made her quite sad, as she missed her family, though she said that doesn’t mean she wants to go back yet.

Its was funny cos Jane was spouting off at our table, in Phillipe’s, about how much she wanted to work shorter hours when 2 beers were delivered to us. We look round to see they’d been sent over from Yanis …….one of her bosses.

We were out quite late for us and stayed up till about 1.00am (as you do when that ‘feels like camping when we were kids’ think kicks in).

We all woke up about 8.30ish. Sue hadn’t slept too well cos it was so quiet! But at least they were comfortable (they said). After taking Jane to work Sue came with me on Skilos to go shopping and so she could get their ferry tickets. We went to Votsi to get meat (best butcher) and had to wait for lamp chops (on the wall they have an advert for lamp chops!) to defrost so went for a drink at Dimitri’s.

Anyway, when we got home Janis had delivered 2 letters and a package for us Yippee!! Letters from Shipps and Rhoda and loads of tea bags from Sarah (of course I opened them with Jane on the beach later). The Shipps mentioned that Ian is looking for somewhere to live and we wondered if he’d thought of our flat. I phoned Di at 7.00pm to suggest it. They hadn’t thought it either but said they’d speak to Ian about it.

Kevin and Sue had prepared some grub and we got the barbie going on the terrace (sorry! Did I say terrace? I mean our roof. It is the roof of the cisterna and is perfect for sitting out in the evening as it has a solid stone floor. It echo’s a bit as it is hollow and half full of water). Good stuff and a lovely evening. At 11.00pm we all went down to Eli’s party. She is Yanik’s (nice Yanik’s) girlfriend and runs the Antique Shop. Lots of people we know were at the party and there was loads of food which Jane ploughed into despite the earlier barbie. We don’t eat much you know. Me and Andy started to sing (we were asked to). It was good fun and people listened and clapped. To me though the highlight was Kevin’s cameo 4 songs starting with Skilos the Moped’. Everyone knows our moped cos it really is the dog of the island. The only bike to struggle up the last steep bit into the village. When there’s two of us on board it often doesn’t quite make it and one person has to walk the last bit. So the song was understood by most and went down well. I played along with him (so did Marty). Kevin was great and went down really well. We left at 1.45ish and Kevin and Sue (who followed 30mins later) said that another crowd arrived so the party probably kicked in then.

My thumb still hurts!!

18.7.95

Housework day for me. Kevin and Sue took Skilos to town. Steve had picked up a letter for us from Pete and Kath.

I blame Sue and Kevin for me not writing here for a few days, cos we’ve just been sooooo busy. I’m even having trouble writing now cos I have such a short span of attention. I’ll just get down that yesterday we had letter from Doug and Bette, Matthew and a tape and guitar strings and a Kleenex 20p voucher off Bob Pearce.

21.7.95

I didn’t do well here yesterday, but right now Jane is having a siesta. (2pm? Not at work? - yes there’s lots to tell over the past few days!) Sue and Kevin are reading in the house so I’m on the terrace (in the shade) writing this. So far my thumb’s a little better.

This has been a really enjoyable week, mixed with interest and excitement from Jane’s job. On Tuesday evening we all (Kevin and Sue, Andy and Alice and me and Jane) went down to Patitiri to busk at the taverna on the harbour. Not very productive. We can’t really sing on the main street cos they all get a bit funny about it but the tables, where we were near, catered mainly for Greek families who don’t generally seem to appreciate me and Andy. Plus we competed with three noisy children to my left and the incoming and outgoings of several hydrofoils. We had a nice evening though. Claudette turned up and was taking us to meet the "Dennis Pub" guys with a view to playing there. On the way we talked to another taverna owner who gave us all a drink. So we stayed there and chatted to Darren who has walked out of Nappo Pizza place (apparently he said he was going to ring his daughter and never went back). He’s done some freelance mechanicing and was supposedly working at this taverna, though he didn’t leave his seat while we were there, and is being pursued by a boat owner to work on boat motors. Claudette took Andy and I to meet the Pub Dennis guys who were into the idea of us singing there but have huge competition from next door so it would not work as they’d just drown us out with louder music.

On Wednesday Andy and I went to see Elias at Paraport who is happy for us to sing there any time. He didn’t understand why we even asked him! What a refreshing approach to our music. So we play there on Sunday night. With our plans and Andy’s commitments, Sunday is our next gig, which is great cos with Kevin and Sue are only here till Saturday and we want to just holiday.

Meanwhile on Jane’s beach …..she’s probably got details in her diary but basically her miserable boss, Homer, went too far this week and had a major go at her about pathetic things on the beach in front of everyone. Basically it seems he was shouting at her and criticising where she had positioned a sun lounger…I mean!! At the end of the day Jane told him she was leaving and she’s dead right. We didn’t come here for her to feel bad at work for 3000dr a day. She agreed to do two more days to give him time to find a replacement which leaves her in a more positive light! The upset and excitement its caused though! People on the beach don’t know why she’s taken it for so long. What he doesn’t seem to understand is that anyone else doing the job would definitely be bumping up their wages by taking a cut of the money. Not Jane! He does not realise that he had the most hones and hard working person he is ever going to get.

Homer wife Macky was crying, Jane’s been getting drinks and ice-creams sent out to her and apparently Homer and Phillipe had a big fight (I guess they mean a row) and on Thursday Phillipe told Jane that he would be her boss and she would get 10,000dr a month more and shorter hours, 12 noon - 6.30pm. I was amazed they even came up with this. Jane still said no which she had to do for her own self respect. She’s done nearly 6 weeks there and it is clear that the power struggle between the three taverna’s means that nothing will change. Anyway, she deserves some time off. I keep saying that we can afford to live off my redundancy money.

Sue cooked us a gorgeous meat balti dinner from their new cook book on Wednesday and Kevin and Sue took us out for a thank you meal (for letting them stay) last night. We took a boat across the bay to the Faros taverna.