Last Post of 2023.

 

As this is the last post of the year, let’s focus on positive topics in what has become a really bleak mid-winter here: harrowing reports of fatalities accidental and deliberate, illness, aggression. We need a break in more ways than one.

I’d like to share two of our little Christmas corners.

 One is our reading nook brightened up by a candle-design cloth and crystal tree.

                                                              

The other is our hearth, as yet unlit, but Hogmanay will see it ablaze. In the meantime, these seasonal poinsettias bring chromatic warmth.

                                                        

We enjoy going away for Christmas, but not to venture too far lest bad weather prevails. We returned to a place we had enjoyed last year – a hotel in Leptokargia, near Katerini.

 This year sadly for the Reveillant they had decided to forego the silver service and went for a buffet instead. This definitely lowered the tone of the meal. ☹ Silver service generally offers a reduced range of selected foods, delivered fresh to the table.  This time the turkey had got cold, one had to jostle for access to the serving tables and – worst of all – most of the sweets were cream-based so, after the scrum to cram plates to the fullest, they had been reduced to a sludgy mess – not appealing. I went instead for the traditional melomacarona sweet, steeped in honey. I adore them so this was no hardship.                                                         

Here I am sitting- in short sleeves even - in front of the hotel with the glorious Mount Olympos in the background.                                                        

We decided to drive up a little closer to it. I’m proud to say that Z has scaled its slopes and reached the summit where the final phase is a fairly sheer climb. :o

 We walked down to the Enipeas river that flows from the seat of the gods. Z can confirm that that water was ice-cold.

                                          

In contrast, the atmosphere of 16oC despite being at a fair altitude. The town of Litochoro we were visiting is 293 meters/ 961 feet above sea level.

                                      

Z, as ever, always seems to find cute animals to cater for. This local doggie wagged his tail every morning to greet this kind man who brought him breakfast treats.

                                         

And then it was time to be homeward bound. In Greece Santa does not come on December 25^th but comes in the guise of Sant Basil – same coca cola outfit !! – on December 31^st as he celebrates his name day on January 1^st. We leave our presents to be opened until then.

                                              

 We had just finished organizing how we were going to celebrate the New Year and were getting down to planning the menu. BUT Z then had to phone round our six guests to cancel – he had just tested positive for Covid! Fortunately, his symptoms are not too severe but it does seem our trip to Leptokrgia came with an unexpected value-added component!

Have a Happy Hogmanay and may 2024 smile on all of us!