Suddenly Summer is Over

Pedi Bay on 3 November - and not a single yacht to be seen in the anchorage.  Suddenly summer is over.

Nature, however, is waking up again after the long summer drought.  Wild clematis making the transition from a bunch of dead brown twigs to bright shiny green leaves and white bell-shaped flowers.

Artist in residence on the Kali Strata - Danish colourist, Jyette Loehr's studio.

Not much to see at my favourite vantage point - those are gulets that have been impounded for people trafficking.

Candy colours on the Kali Strata.  If you look carefully, you will see that there is a child's windmill just to the left of the front door.

Snoozing among the plant pots by St John's church, Yialos.

Empty pavements, closed shops and a few late yachts tied up on the far side - the summer season is over.

When the tourist shops close one sees the buildings in far more detail.

After a summer of hard work and long hours, many of the locals now have the leisure to go fishing.

Those green blobs in the bird cages aren't parakeets - they are lettuce leaves for the resident budgies to nibble on.

It is a dazzlingly bright sunny day on Symi and there is nary a tourist to be seen.  The temperature is about 21 degrees centigrade with a slight chill to the breeze which is blowing from the north.  Those of us who walk everywhere or live on the sunny side are still in single layers of clothing but those who use motorbikes or live on the steep north facing slopes are muffled up like the Michelin man.   As the days grow shorter and the sun puts in only a brief appearance over the hilltops and mountains, many places remain in deep shadow and have long lost their reserve of summer's heat.  By half past three in the afternoon much of the Pedi Valley is in shadow and by 4 p.m. it is time to close the doors and put on a sweater.  The cats have all puffed out in their winter coats and many of the local men have given up shaving until the spring.

The long range forecast remains indecisive and the Panormitis Festival may be in torrential rain, bright sunshine, a howling gale or balmy breezes depending on the weather site and what time it is updated. We will have to do what we usually do - take it as it comes!

I am now only in the office for a few hours a week, on Mondays and Fridays, to write this blog. The rest of the time I shall be indulging in pastimes pastoral.  It is time to plough the fields and plant onions, carrots, beetroot and broad beans.

Have a good week.

Regards,
Adriana