Today is Ochi Day

Today is Ochi Day and everything is perfect for the parade. The sun is shining. There is not a cloud in the picture book blue sky. A gentle breeze is riffling the flags colourful as a crayon drawing and the younger children are scampering about in their unfamiliar uniforms, worn only for special occasions such as this. The webcam is currently aimed at the War Memorial, where the wreath laying ceremony will take place later this morning. At the moment the red truck belonging to the municipality is parked in front of it as municipal workers are doing final tweaks to the sound system and Sousa marches are resonating tinnily on the town tannoy.

The high school children are now streaming down the ramp past the office, all crisply pressed shirts and ties,long pants, pleated skirts and white gloves, teachers teetering behind them in high heels and smart black dresses. One of the nice things about living here is that there is still a sense of ceremony and special occasions really are special occasions.

I went to Rhodes yesterday - the usual pilgrimage for chicken feed, fence posts and the other bits and pieces necessary to keep a small holding tidy and functioning. The ferry coming back was packed with people returning to the island for the holiday long weekend. We were half an hour late leaving Rhodes as it took so long to get all the vehicles stowed. As it is the Panormitis Festival next weekend people are already starting to arrive for that and there were all kinds of trailers and items of fairground paraphenalia to be squeezed into the hold. Our car was squeezed in so tight it was twenty minutes after we docked before we could reach the driver's door to climb in - the passenger side being flush up against a large truck. We can expect such situations for the next 10 days as the ferry first brings everything over and then, after 8 November, takes everything back.

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana
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