As I write this it's the 19th though the day really started yesterday. Di drove us up from Trowbridge with her friend Celia who came so that Di wouldn't have to drive back alone. Not a great deal of emotion leaving Trowbridge, though I had a few quiet moments in the flat while Jane was at the dentist. The flat was empty, all our worldly belongings in various attics and spare rooms across the country. It felt so much bigger than it had been for us while we lived there and I was reminded of how exciting it had been when we first moved in. Jane said she'd felt a bit teary when we said good-bye to Dave. He and Di had become our best friends in Trowbridge and we knew that leaving on our adventure was also leaving them behind. Whatever happens we will not be living in Trowbridge again. I was my usual cool self with feelings centred more on things to come ( cold bastard ? or good defences ? ).

We had a good trip up to Heathrow and Di and Celia stayed at the airport with us from our arrival at 6.15pm ish until just gone 9.00pm. Jane cruised the "village" shops with Di and Celia trying perfumes in the body shop, Di scouring the shops in hope of inspiration for Dave's birthday. I just wanted to sleep but somehow that seemed unlikely in the bustle of the airport. When Di and Celia left Jane and I both seemed to be hit by a sense of enormity about what we were embarking on and we reassured each other that we would both be really honest about how we feel when we're away. Somehow it felt better when we were on our own. We'd said our last slightly sad farewells and for me our adventure had started right there and then. We pushed our trolley of baggage around for a while before settling on the blue, padded, but long term uncomfortable seats next to the arrivals area where we watched a tanned and tired stream of people visiting or returning to Britain after their two weeks in the sun. Jane was disappointed at the lack of many good, expressive reunions as travellers were met by waiting friends or family or those mysterious (usually) men who stand there holding signs up with names of arriving people they clearly don't know. Jane chatted to three men sitting next to us who had come down from the Peak District to collect an Italian concert pianist and his partner. They had never met either of them and spoke no Italian. The piano pair apparently spoke no English. We saw them all meet up and their non-verbal communication seemed to work well as they set off on the four hour journey back up north.

It is now 1.45am on the 19th. We tried to sleep a few hours ago just as the maintenance staff started drilling behind secret panels. The airport is weird with the quiet calm of scattered, dozing people waiting for early morning flights contrasted with the continuous gentle bustle of airport maintenance staff and cleaners tarting up the unreality for the onslaught of the thousands that will soon drift in. We don't need to check in until 4.30am. I don't think sleep will be an option for some time.

20.5.95

Sleep was not an option at all! I can't remember the last time I was awake all night but I was much younger than 37. At 4am we started to look for our check in gate and found that a small queue of people had already begun to get their boarding passes. Result! We were early enough to choose seats by the middle exit ( more leg room ) by a window in the non smoking section. We both smoke but even we can't stand the intense atmosphere of the six or so rows of seats where several fags burn continuously throughout the whole flight. I even thought I'd got away with taking my guitar on as hand luggage to avoid the potentially destructive baggage handlers of Skiathos but when we boarded the plane a hard faced, efficient, uniformed airport type woman wrapped a tag around it and sent it to the hold. Out of my hands but I feared for its safety.

The flight! Is it really worth describing? The usual discomfort. The gentle adding on of half hours to our arrival time. I have to say though that I can eat and enjoy most food no matter how junkie it is. But having talked myself out of a McDonalds breakfast at 6am it was gone 9am, having flown to Manchester airport to collect four passengers, that they served us the most disgusting aeroplane food I have ever had. Scrambled salty powder, boiled salty mushroom times two, tiny little sausage times two and some sort of greasy spud. The bread roll had cement like consistency. Amazingly we didn't eat anything else but an apple until 9pm that evening.

Skiathos airport is smaller than I remember with a mere forty foot of conveyor belt for three hundred people to retrieve their cases. A good bit of team work developed with people glimpsing their bags and calling to the front row to pull them off , quickly releasing them to the backs who shuffled them out of harms way. My guitar didn't get sent to Florida as I had feared but the case had quite a major chunk knocked out of it. The guitar itself was fine. Still in tune actually.

Greece was a bit cloudy and pleasantly warm but not high summer hot. We bussed to the harbour and took a huge ( well, bigger than all the other boats ) ferry to Skopelos then on to Alonissos. I had trouble remembering Skopelos as we watched people unload. The town looked quiet and appealing as Jane and I pieced together our memories of four years ago and chatted to other travellers as if we were Greek Island veterans....which of course we are.

The seemingly obligatory dolphins (or porpoises) showed themselves, on cue, for the tourists. I felt knackered but great to be in Greece.

On Alonissos we waited 15 mins for the bus to deliver most people to the old town before returning to take us to our room in Votsi. We were taken to the small harbour village with a Scottish family who were also staying there. Yorgos and Maria met us and seemed suitably impressed with our "yasu's" (probably not). Great room, lovely village, builders still working on a building below us. We went out and found a shop for tea, coffee and milk then had a huge meal at the only taverna open in this village this early in the season. We hit our beds by 9.30pm and realised that we had not slept, apart from unrewarding dozing, since we woke up at 6.30 in the morning on the 18th.....isn't that nearly 40 hours? We slept well until 9am today (with a loo and tea break at 6am for me). Feeling good! I told the taverna owner that I'd bring my guitar down tonight.

We had a good, holiday kind-of-a-day. We walked through pine and olive woods to find a beach (Christi Miller or something). Got a bit lost because the signs were in Greek (duh!) and ended up at a different beach which was beautifully quiet. Lots of sea urchins but that did not stop us having our first swim in the clear sea we had been dreaming of for so many months. The water had a chill to it which was new to us not having been to Greece this early in the year before.

Our Laskarina holiday rep came to do her welcome duties with us and the Scottish family (Don, Ann and Ross). We gleaned a fair bit of info about long term rented accommodation and other general costs. Janet, the rep, has lived on Alonissos with her husband for eight years. He has not returned to England in all that time.

I did my first gig in Greece tonight down at (another) Yorgos taverna. I was quite nervous. I guess its a bit like busking but to me it was quite weird to have a meal then whip out the guitar and start singing. But there was no other way so I did just that. After my first song I really enjoyed myself singing mainly my own songs. OK I didn't exactly set the place alight but I got the odd smattering of applause and it felt great just doing what I liked with no pressure to perform in any particular way. I think it made a nice atmosphere and no one asked me to do the birdie song so that was a bonus. There was only a few large groups in anyway. One woman who we later got to know as Layla, came and sat next to us and clapped after each song. We spent a long time chatting to her. She sells paintings that her husband does. They have lived on the island for three and a half years and have a four year old daughter. She was incredibly open about her past ; her ex-husband who beat her, her screen printing business and how they had sold it to come out here. Tomorrow we're going with her to another taverna where she thinks I may be able to sing. We told her of our plans to spend the summer on Skopelos but she thinks we would do better to stay here. We'll see.

The Swiss army knife that my ex work colleagues bought me for a leaving present has come in handy twice today. Jane forgot her tweezers (one-nil) and I needed a screw driver (two-nil). What a great pressy!

21.5.95

This sleep thing has gone crazy for both of us. Yesterday we had a siesta and slept for two hours. Last night we had a very broken night, very restless. It's not helped that each move I make causes the bed to creek ( in sleep and in any sort of activity!) . We had a cup of tea at seven then slept until ten.

A bit cooler today and we walked to the main town Patitiri following the coastal route which includes many steep steps, the down variety and the up. Either the maps are crap or we're daft 'cos we keep taking wrong routes. We bought fags (half the price we pay at home), fruit and veg and some pasta which I cooked later into a sort of pepper, onion, apple, stock cube, tinned tomato and pasta kind of thing. Actually it was nice and we reckon it cost us less than half what we paid for our meal last night in the taverna (which we couldn't finish). Matthew would be proud of our economies.

We got caught in the rain today!! Shock horror, though we mustn't forget it is still only May. It rained on and off all day so we spent several hours in before getting lost looking for another beach. Jane beat her way with a stick to fend off the horned vipers we were told of yesterday by the rep. Apparently some one was bitten on the bum and died. But that was twenty years ago. Jane is such an alarmist! All we saw was a hedgehog.

It's stopped raining now and we are off to have a drink with Layla who we met last night. I'm dragging my guitar up hill and down dale on the off chance of finding somewhere to sing.

(Later that same day....)

Well...much later. Infact it's nearly 2am the next morning. What an interesting evening we just had. We met Layla as planned and walked down to the next little bay, Rissoume, where we stopped for a drink. Today was Layla's name day so everyone called Elaini has a special day. She had already had a meal and drinks given to her before we met and as we walked into a taverna in Rissoume she was warmly greeted by local people. She knew them all. None of us were allowed to pay for our drinks and we were given cakes and honey balls (a bit like battery profiterolls in honey). From there we walked nearer to the main town and went to a taverna called Argo run by a man called Omar where we stayed until gone midnight. It was very quiet there but what a magnificent place. Terraces of tables all laid out on different levels, some in the open, some under cover. It was a windy evening but very pleasant with the sea breaking on the rocks down behind us. I had the guitar but it did not seem like the right time to start singing. My guitar case is my advert and Omar said as we left that next time I should play. I said I would go and see him. It seems like a good possibility.

Jane and I were ready to go but Layla suggested another drink at the harbour and showed us a way we would never have found ourselves. Layla was very drunk by this time and was telling us stories she had told us already but hey!! that's OK! We got onto religion which is clearly important to her but apart from a few bible quotes she didn't go on about it.

We walked back along the road (the right one this time) and she invited us in for coffee. She has a cute little house, well bungalow really, a lounge where she and her husband sleep, a room for their daughter, and a sort of conservatory where he does his paintings. ( Did I mention that her hubby and child are in England visiting his mum?). That's why she's enjoying going out. Her holiday she calls it. She's very philosophical and sometimes quite intense but it seems to have worked out for her and they are clearly accepted on the island. His pictures are good. Water colours of slightly unusual Greek scenes like the one of part of a kyeeki (?) or...boat, with fruit boxes stacked up - bold orange washes in the background.

We left after 1.30am. I carried my guitar all night without playing but at least I know it won't kill me to do so. Layla kept apologising for me not playing but I was quite happy to just take it all in. If people get used to seeing me with a guitar it will help in the long run.

22.5.95

Still a bit cloudy though warmer. Spoke to two neighbours who've been here a week already. They met a woman who has had rain in Portugal, snow in a desert and rain seems to follow her. Guess where she’s from .................. Wales!! Should we have a whip round and send her somewhere else?

Anyway it certainly warmed up later and we had our first proper sun-bathing day on the beach. We walked for an hour to get there - and the walk back nearly killed us it was so hot. I don't know if its the sun or the general relaxed holiday feel but we have succumbed to the predictable holiday loin tingles. Sods' law that we hit this active mood and spend most of our time trying to find ways to stop the bed creaking. Is this how the Karma Sutra began?

Maria (who owns the rooms here) brought us up a plate of honey balls tonight. We thought we were getting special treatment but apparently she does this for all guests. Very nice! I learned a line to thank her:- "Efaristo ghia dom kopo" "Thanks for your trouble". I think she got it.

Jane's working hard on the language and chatted (pidgin!) with tonight's taverna owner. She told him about my guitar and we're going up tomorrow night for a sing 'cos he's having a special mousaka night! These Greeks know how to live! I'm sort of itching to get to Skopelas and sort out our future so we know a bit more about how things will be. The plan is to have the week here then look for work and accommodation in Skopelos. Still - let's just enjoy this week first.

23.5.95

Jane said, "I hate alcohol. I don't want any more. ..ever!" 11 p.m. She also told me not to write in my diary that she got drunk 'cos everyone would know she'd let me down - I must hate her! These are the ramblings of someone who got sneaked up on by 4 Ouzos. We had a great night in Phillipe’s Taverna where I sang. Quite a lot of people there. Some Germans off a boat and a crowd who were on a course at the Homeopathic centre. I got good applause after each song which is rare in my experience. I really felt appreciated and I only did one song that wasn't my own. The Scotts (Dan, Anne and Ross) were there and Layla came too. Our neighbours came just after most people had left but I did a few more songs for them. Phillipe seemed to like it and said (through Layla) that in July and August he could afford to pay me for some nights. I took his card. I'm still not a great hustler. I should have insisted on a free meal but I felt that we hadn't arranged this so as he didn't offer I left it. I'm going to have to be a bit more business-like in future. It wasn't until we got in at 11 p.m. that Jane realised she was pissed. (very entertaining). She couldn't sleep, drink or smoke so we had to play cards to sober her up. Against all the odds she beat me 6 of 8 games - proving that skill plays little part in rummy. Eventually she fell asleep in my arms which meant I couldn't read! She slept pretty soundly then - unlike me!

Earlier we'd got a bus up to the old village and saw Layla. Her husband Steve’s paintings are really nice. Mostly pencil drawings with water colour washes depicting slightly unusual but typical Greek scenes like blue chairs or oil drums. My favourites were a large full water colour of a stack of fruit boxes or the other colour one of just chairs and a 1987 Greek menu. (much cheaper then!) Both my favourites are more than we can afford. Maybe at the end of summer?

She did sell one to a Yorkshire man, his French (Berating) wife and their two fluently bi-lingual kids. They gave us a lift home in their hire car much to Jane's delight. I was looking forward to walking on the old donkey path - though it was a bit hot!

24.5.95

Jane's a little fragile today and guess what - she doesn't remember what she said last night - like, -" if I were drunk like that she'd hate me and give me a smack .but if you smack me you'll get more than you bargained for!" (my friends know how weird this sounds…especially as I don’t drink) So we had a leisurely, but hot, stroll to town for supplies. We found Earl Grey T-bags and bought some minced beef using sign language. I saw the guy we'd met off the boat who said he had some bongos. I asked if he'd bring them to Yorgos tomorrow night. We blooped out for the rest of the day on the terrace or in the room. It's now very hot. There's a team of (apparently) Albanian workmen just below us. They're building the concrete frame of a house and eight of them spent the whole day mixing up concrete in one small mixer, hoisting to the roof where they are laying the new roof. They've stopped twice for five minutes. Apparently they can earn three times as much here as at home. I think they deserve it!

We strolled down to the little beachette by Votsi harbour and met some people who'd heard me sing last night. They asked if it were true I was to play at Yorgos tomorrow night. They amazingly said they'd heard a rumour that a bongo player would also be there! I'd only asked him this morning! This really is a small island. I cooked our second meal in using the minced beef we bought today. It was a lot like the other meal but the mince was lean and fresh and gave it some body.

25.5.95

We had a little beach all to ourselves this morning. The sea was crystal clear, calm with big flat rocks for easy access but it was full of jelly fish. It rather spoilt my swim which I abandoned very quickly on seeing the first one but it was interesting watching them. Some were almost completely transparent and looked like used condoms with mouths. Others had long purple tentacles or tails and purple spots on their backs. I think we saw a cuttle fish too, if they've got big heads and tentacley bits.

On the way back to our room a farmer gave us a lift on his tractoraki which is a small cart pulled by a small tractor-like engine, steered by big handle bars, a bit like a big lawn mower. There was just enough room for us both on the back with a pile of branches. He told us off for walking in the mid-day sun.

Loads of people turned up at Yorgos Taverna. Marty the bongo player turned up and we played almost non-stop for two and a half hours. People came and went so I didn't feel too guilty about repeating several songs, though I was pleased that my song list lasted quite a while. Marty did well but was struggling a bit 'cos I'm so used to playing on my own I do lots of on/off beat things. He reckons his other muso mates will be here soon. They do loads of covers which would be fun every now and then but I'm really Enjoying doing my own stuff and being listened to and applauded (it’s so rare to be actually listened to!!).

We met some nice people. A few who had seen me play the other night are musicians. Their dad is on the homeopathic course. The girl, Melanie, bought me and Marty a retzina, nice thought anyway (I don’t drink). Joe Roberts has had a deal with London records and is now looking for a new deal. Plays and writes soul music. Nice geezer.

Jane recognised the homeopath who'd treated her in Bradford on Avon. He didn't remember. She told him he didn't cure her! Great night - we stayed till about 1 p.m. then said goodbye to Layla and to Paul and Brenda, Joan and John from our rooms who leave tomorrow.

26.5.95

In just one week I've played three times, each night better than the last and though I've not hassled for payment I feel much more confident about getting by through singing. Marty said last night that people can make good money passing a hat round as well. I know Jane wouldn't do that but it seems a good idea to me.

We packed this morning to go to Skopelos. We're being picked up at 1 a.m. Correction ..............Our info said we were to be picked up at 1 p.m. At 11 am the man knocked on our door wondering why we weren't at the top of the lane waiting. (The Scottish family told us later we were being cursed out by him). Later he apologised for the error on their part.

We said good-bye to Maria and her mother Angelica who kissed us and gave us both flowers from the garden. We killed time in a harbour front taverna waiting for the Flying Dolphin hydrofoil to Skopelos. Layla came down from the village specially to say good-bye to us which was really nice. We will miss her and promised to keep in touch. She said she expects us back in a week.

Funnily enough she may not be that far out in her prediction. After an hour or so in Skopelos we are both feeling that the town is busier and more pacey than we'd been used to on Alonissos. Makes me giggle when you think that we've lived in London and other cities yet after the gentle pace of Alonissos, the half mile harbour town of Skopelos with its many bars, Taverna’s and little shops seems quite frantic to us.

We met with Theos after a taxi ride from town to Stafilos. We knew him from the time we spent in his apartments on Skopelos 4 years ago. It was great to see him and we were soon chatting over Greek coffee as if we'd seen him only last week. He was not that encouraging about our chances of cheap accommodation but we'll wait and talk to the Laskarina rep (Naomi) who, our neighbours here tell us, has been talking of our plans to stay so maybe she's given it some thought.

After shopping in town, having shared a taxi in with Phil and Jean next door, we taxied back (800DR) stopping at the oddly named Forest Hills restaurant. Later the owner told us he named it that because…. of the hills and the forest!!! We were the only ones there and Bobby and his wife Lillee were very friendly and spoke good English. Jane practised her increasingly good Greek words on them. We got chatting about our plans, jobs, rooms, guitars etc. Bobby seemed quite interested and talked about his upstairs room but it didn't have a kitchen. He then told us of his neighbour who had rooms who may do it cheaper for a one month let. He phoned him and he came over to discuss!

We sat in the bar. Bobby spoke in Greek to this hard faced, rustic man with farmers' hands. The man did not speak English and did not greet us. Bobby spoke to the man then to us then he translated back. The man was prepared to reduce rent on a room with kitchen on one months let for 100,000dr. for the month but it would go up in July. That's about £300. We asked Bobby to thank the man saying that we hoped to find cheaper but would get back to him. We didn't understand what they were saying but could tell that the man thought we were crazy, thinking we'd get cheaper! He also had a room in town with shared washroom and no kitchen for 70,000. Still, it's a start - not very positive but Bobby insists we go in again tomorrow to "Discuss" - I said I'd bring my guitar. I think he would like us to stick around 'cos we may be of use to him come July!

27.5.95

Not a great deal to report today. We had coffee with Theos and our neighbours; Bill and Marlene and Phil and Jean, on the terrace. A lovely bunch of people. Phil's a doctor with a dry wit and Jean is very chatty. Bill and Marlene are from Newcastle and I love Bills' directness. We laugh a lot in their company.

We had a holiday kind of day spending the morning on Velanio beach. Nude for the first time. I was always a bit shy when we were last here but it was great today. (no involuntary erections as I always feared). The sea was gorgeous too, a bit choppy with that lovely deep Velanio shelf so you can plunge in easily. Read and slept in the afternoon before the 6pm welcome speech from our rep: Naomi. She reckons we could get somewhere for 60,000dr. a month and we're going to see her tomorrow to get some ideas. She also mentioned us to a Hotel who may need some help. We were joined by the guests from Theos’ other apartments - an odd collection of people with very little spark. We did notice a Union Jack towel on one balcony ...........Oh dear.

Jane cooked another variation of our pasta special before we joined the others up at Forest Hills. Bobby had nothing to say about rooms or work. I think we were yesterdays plaything. In fact, I think he's only really interested in our custom. Still, he and Lillee his wife are very friendly. I sang a few songs which was nice. The four people there clapped (politely I think). The earth definitely hasn't moved for us yet on Skopelos.

28.5.95

Theos gave us a lift into town (about 3 miles). We found the Laskarina office in a Skopelos side street. Naomi and the woman from Gullivers Travel (great name) put some thought to our quest for accommodation. She phoned a Greek Tour operator who we went to see. She also gave us the name of the woman who owned her old apartment. Thakis, the holiday let man told us about some rooms above a supermarket near the Plane Tree square. We had a drink before going there and I nipped off to ask the "Jazz Rock Bar" about live music. In spite of their advertising posters and the appearance of the club, they don't actually do live music. (Licence problems 'cos Skopelos is such a built up town with lots of residents close by. They were very chatty but felt that apart from an occasional party gig there is not much for live singers. Oh! Still, we found the supermarket and they showed us a couple of rooms, both with shower, loo and kitchen facilities. Very good even though it was in a busy part of town. If we have it for five months it would cost 60,000dr. (about £180 per month) - pretty good actually. We then went to find Naomi’s old place. We were told to ask in the Sunrise (?) Hotel. Big place. We asked two men, one of whom appeared to be the owner. He didn't know the name we gave him but he showed us rooms he had. He lets them to hotel and seasonal workers, also for 60,000dr. The rooms were in the basement of the Hotel, smelled of damp, shared shower, no kitchen. Dump - the guy was a smooth talking shark. We said we'd get back to him.............NOT!

So we had a possible room in town. We then walked out on the Stafilos road (midday now - very hot) to talk to Crisoula (?) who manages /owns the Arkistas Hotel. Naomi had mentioned us to her and she suggested we call in about work. As we expected, she has nothing for us and is unlikely to need more staff as the season is starting very slowly. She feels that most places will be the same though she says she'll ask the four people she knows. She said that hotel staff there get a room, food and 5000dr a day (£15 ish) which would be bearable. But they work 10 hour days, every day for the season!!!! Not what we had in mind. She was extremely open and friendly and said we can use their pool anytime. She also said that money is all important to Skopelos and that though there are some nice people we should not trust anyone and that people will rip us off if they can.

She really confirmed some of our own thoughts. I think we had a different view of Skopelos when we were last here as tourists. Now, looking at possibly working here it feels like just another holiday town where you can maybe get lucky enough to get a job which you do for long hours, probably make good tips within the holiday season and then what? We came out here to escape these kinds of things not to do exactly what we always have but in a hot country. When do the guys hit the beach for Gods sake?

So today helped us decide that if we're going to Enjoy living for a few months among Greek people, without it costing us an arm and /or leg and maybe getting bits of work - in my case singing - it's going to be cheaper, nicer and probably easier on Alonissos. Se we'll thank Crisoula for her time tomorrow and Naomi later in the week. Then we'll find a room for four nights so we can spend some time with Peg and Dave then get a ferry back to Alonissos. It seems less likely that we'll get work on Skopelos 'cos basically they can't afford to take on outsiders when they have cousins, brothers etc. to help out. We hit Velanio for a swim at 6pm and had pasta surprise in our room. Played cards, killed mosquitoes etc.

29.5.95

We got up early and I certainly feel better knowing we've decided to return to Alonissos. when we left there I sort of felt we were going to miss out on something - certainly regarding the music - so it's good to know we're going back. We are now sticking more in "holiday mode". We got to Velanio by 8.30 am and had the whole beach to ourselves until 10.10 am. Lovely!

Hung out at the apartment until about 5.30pm then walked on the busy road to town calling in at the Arkistas Hotel. As we thought, Crisoula had no positive news about jobs in Hotels though she had asked some people. We told her of our plans and thanked her for her efforts. She said we could call in anytime. (Gorgeous hotel with a big pool - she was playing backgammon - I guess she really ain't that busy). Lillee at Forest Hills had cooked pastissio at our request and we went up there for a nice evening with Phil and Jean. Bobby and Lillee are really trying to get their season going and encouraged us to do a bit of Greek dancing. This wasn't too unacceptable - after all there was only us and one other couple there. Friendly as they are I feel more and more like part of L and B's business plan when we're there; always trying to get us back for another night, "Bring your guitar" means "Buy another meal and maybe your friends will too". I guess that is what it's all about ...........it just didn't feel that way on Alonissos.

Jane and I talked about Theos and both feel a bit disappointed in him. I think Jane did expect that he would have done a lot to help us. I always thought that would be unlikely but I am surprised he's had no suggestions for us. He knows everyone on the island and I think could have helped more with us finding cheap rooms. Even if he'd said that he really couldn't be any help it would be something. I guess we're surprised that he seems to fall into the new Skopolean - 'I'm making money so I'm OK' attitude. I know that's what it is all about but really Naomi and even Crisoula in a small way, have given more thought and effort to helping us than Theos, who we thought of as our friend. I guess he's just a very nice PR. man for his apartments .AND he told us off yesterday for not folding down the sun umbrella!! Perleease!!

30.5.95

My eyes have been watering the past few days - probably sun or something. I took an antihistamine last night. Woke at 7 am then slept again until 10 am. Wow! Stayed around the apartment all day. Playing a bit of guitar, writing letters home which Phil and Jean will post on Saturday, and generally just hanging out. Bill and Marlene came back from their 2 days on Alonissos having had a great time.

I cooked our chops: fried in marg with garlic and apple served with a Greek(ish) salad and bread. Lovely! We shared a taxi to town with Phil and Jean who were going for a meal and some gift shopping. Jane and I set out to find a room for four nights from Friday. Jane’s old next door neighbours, Peg & Dave, from Pontypool are coming for a 2 week holiday so we are looking forward to spending a bit of time with them. After much traipsing (we looked for somewhere near Peg and Dave's place) we settled on a little room upstairs at the back of the traditionally named 'Ecstasy Bar'. We'd seen another which was 5000dr. per night but it had no kitchen facilities, whereas the E bar has a shared kitchen and some tables and chairs on a flat roof. We wanted cheaper but didn't feel it was worth busting a gut over a 1000 dr. saving and anyway we felt that we'd probably get a real dump for less than 5000. Jane's relieved that we're sorted but unsure about being right in town. Knowing now that we're off to Alonissos next week I'm quite excited about spending a few nights in the middle of the action.

Spookily, working tables at the E bar we have found the Greek counter-part of Clive Wigley. He too looks a shifty chauvinist. Bill ("I'm vexed") and Marlene went up to Forest Hills and Bill feels they were ripped off which is funny 'cos we felt that the night before. Actually I think it's just very expensive there.

31.5.95

Up at 9 am - chatted, hit the beach, came back, read book. Hey! today was just like a holiday! The three couples on our terrace (and us) had a barbi tonight. No one had done one before so I (being me) took over the lighting and maintenance of the barbi which wasn't bad at all. OK it took an hour and a half to cook the souvlaki but they were very nice. Phil did a nice tzatziki, Jane did a salad, everyone contributed bits and pieces and we had a very civilised evening.