But we were so lucky : mid a spate of stormy, blustery weather Easter Sunday was a little overcast to begin with then opened up into a glorious sunny day. The brave and optimistic assembled spit, tied the carcass, set up the ouzo-meze stand and got down to the serious work of roasting that thing and welcoming family, friends and neighbours to the table. So, after all the metaphoric dark clouds, Greeks got the Easter they deserved.
As did Akis Tsochatzopoulos, the previous Minister of Defence, who has been taken into custody pending trial for salting away millions from the state purse and backhanders from elsewhere. In pure Orwellian speak he really was the Minister of Protection.... of his own interests.May he really get exactly what he deserves.
Today we lay to rest Dimitris Mitropanos, a wonderful singer whose works will long be remembered. Kalo tou taxidi! Sadly it is exactly a year ago when we attended the funeral of Nikos Papazoglou, another singer with his own unique style, one held particularly dear in the hearts of all from Thessaloniki, his home town.
On the home-front we have news : we have acquired a new family member. may I introduce Leon(daris).
His name expresses his singular similarity with another species, though at one point it was touch and go between 'Ela" - the Greek 'come here' command- and 'Little Bugger' as his puppy teeth are razor sharp and in his enthusiasm he has caused untold damage to clothes and skin! Initially his ears cutely folded above his forehead like a big brown bow ; now he greets us in the morning with at least one ear vertical, albeit briefly. We live in hope that his natural exuberance will settle into a less dangerous expression of affection.
The weather has not settled but the atmosphere is trying to warm up whenever the cold winds abate. We have seen a stork arrive recently - they don't usually nest around here as we don't have a constant supply of water in the local stream but it would be glorious if s/he decided to stay. The first flock of swallows have arrived and fed well off our fields before heading further north. Our local swallows and martins will migrate a little later. we look forward to their arrival as they are such a joyful presence, swooping for insects and playing in the air currents, they even dive for water while I am in the pool!
And on that note this little bird is about to fly off to the Highlands. A real flying trip to attend an Oban High School Reunion- we haven't met up for many, many, many, many and a half moons so you can just imagine the excitement I feel on meeting up with pals of yore. Highlands , here I come......!
