Its been a hectic couple of weeks. I’ve been to Athens and back twice, but I’m finally back home… though just for another 3 weeks. Then I’m off again.

And to think I had promised myself that THIS winter I would stay put… but you know what they say – we make plans and the universe laughs.

So, the weather has been awful on Paros (and most of Greece for that matter) the last few days. I was lucky, I was in Athens while all hell was breaking loose on Paros.

I got back at the tail end of crazy winds and storms. In fact, I wasn’t sure the airplane would be taking off as planned, but it did. However, when we arrived at Paros airport the pilot informed us that the conditions were too dangerous to land, so we’d circle over Antiparos for 15-20 minutes to see if the wind dropped and the runway dried. Otherwise we’d be flying back to Athens!

Ugh.

Luckily, the wind dropped, the runway dried and we landed with only minor bumps and a lot of crossed fingers. Do people all over the world applaud when the plane lands? There was a lot of whooping and clapping, let me tell you.

Soon as I got home I got busy putting away all my summer/autumn clothes and bringing out winter clothes. It was about time. The day before I left for Athens, November 19, I’d been swimming with a friend. I suspected our swimming days would be over by the time I got back… I think they very well might be, though we may still have a few days of 20 degrees C to look forward to. I kept out one bathing suit, just in case.

Anyway, thought I’d touch base so as not to do another disappearing act. While away I’ve been on the phone with the container guy, the diggy-diggy guy and the crane guy trying to organise the levelling of the ground, a load of gravel to be spread where the container would go, and finally, the delivery of the container.

Its been like trying to organise a barrel full of monkeys on red cordial.

Why on earth did I think this would be a good idea?

Oh yeah… if you don’t take chances you’ll never achieve your dreams. And I dream of a studio. And workshop space. And to no longer live so close to my neighbours I can hear them flush their toilet.

z