How Much????

A relatively quiet day planned for today as we are being taken out by our lovely neighbours as a thank-you for keeping an eye on their property whilst they are away and also in celebration of John's birthday.

That being the case John wanted to take a walk into the village and check the post and check in on Les.  We were a little later leaving than we had wanted so it was pretty hot when we set off.  Currently the trees around us are laden with figs - we had been given some lovely honey figs last night as part of the meze so John was checking out where the best ones are located.  He doesn't like figs but I do and it reminded me that we haven't had anyone round this year that likes them baked - this is normally something I do as a quick and easy pudding, baked with cinnamon and honey and a small slice of fetta stuffed into a split on the top.

They were working on the road today - this time they are up near Simon and Melanie's house.  I am so glad that Georgia and her family from South Africa are not here this summer as periodically they would be trapped in their lovely home.  These small roads and fragile old buildings don't look strong enough to withstand the ravages of the diggers - in fact a couple have fallen down where, in their infinite wisdom, they have insisted on knocking out a massive hole in readiness to house one of the new electricity meters.

Parts of the project are nearing completion but you wonder why they didn't finish Phase A in its entirety before embarking on Phase B as there is now disruption just about everywhere in the centre of the village.  It is all supposed to be complete by the end of October apparently and this includes some slippage for bad weather and Covid-19 but there is no way that is going to happen.  I know the jury is out on the finished article but we think it will be infinitely better than the roads previously.

We took a circuitous route home and took a walk down a side road we had not been down before.  We were interested to see whether (a) we could find a short cut back to our house and (b) were interested to see what houses and buildings were lurking down there.  In fact there were several lovely villas that we had not realised were there and there was also the remains of an old village house that had clearly seen better days.  We were within a stone's throw of our estate but sadly there was no cut through.

As I said we were being taken out this evening for a special meal.  Lakis, Argy and Kia had chosen to take us out for a special fish supper and had chosen Periyiali down in Latchi.

Initially we had suggested Santa Barbara when they first asked us, we like it there and we know they like it there but apparently Argy's brother Andros had been to Periyiali recently and so they thought this would make a nice change particularly when they realised that both John and I like fish - Argy had thought John didn't - not sure why because in some ways he is more adventurous than I am when it comes to sampling something new.

I knew that as the evening went on I would forget about getting photographs and the sun would set and it would be poor light so I did them as soon as I arrived - it always amuses John that I do so when we don't have any food or even a drink in front of us hence him posing with his wineglass and serviette!!!

It was a beautiful evening down on the coast, balmy warm and we were on the verandah right by the sea - absolute bliss and a million miles away from all the stresses and strains of Covid-19 restrictions being imposed elsewhere.  There were a few people dining but everything was well laid out so you didn't have to worry about social distancing and the staff were all wearing masks (just as well as I believe previously this establishment received a fine for someone not wearing their mask correctly).

We had a fabulous meal.  Salad and dips which included a smokey aubergine dip and pickled octopus along with tahini and taramasolata, garlic pitta bread and toasted village bread, halloumi, baby calamari and grilled octopus and some little red snapper and then this magnificent beast of a fish which was apparently Orfos or Rofos (I believe this is some sort of Dusky Grouper).  Lakis had chosen this and it was really really delicious but John and I didn't realise that this delicacy weighed in at 2 Kilos and sold at around 70 euros a kilo - you do the math!!!!!  We were absolutely gobsmacked by their generosity but we have told them that this was to be the last time - in the future we will chose somewhere and go halves.