Tunnels, toys & winter tasks.

When we took the house we initially thought it was going to be great for Lily. After a period of familiarisation we had planned to let her out, like we do at the boat. However in the 1st week we found two dead cats on the road, which is surprising as it is very quiet with almost no traffic. In addition there is family of local cats that see this as their territory so there might’ve been ” Oi ! this is my patch” confrontations.

It’s a big house so we decided to just keep her in. Probably not fair but at least she is safe and she can resort to her born free lifestyle when we return to the boat. It could well be she does a Nellie the elephant and packs her trunk, in protest.

As a result of her internment we try to keep her entertained, it’s usually us that’s entertained though.

Yes we are losing it!

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We have used the boat cushions to build dens and Louise bought her a tunnel, but in the end it’s the cardboard box that wins the day.

Pine cone collection to start the wood burner. Of course I picked up ones that a cat had sprayed so now we have a bag of pissy pine cones.

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The gate also blew down in the strong winds and was replaced with a metal one so demolition man used it as firewood.

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Health & safety was “Oot the windae” when the wood delivery man turns his hand to pruning the olive trees with me holding up the ladder freestyle for him. Only in Greece.

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Evil Kinevil off to the marina to collect his illegal ensign Jim sent him.

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Its not all work and no play.

Saturday is ouzo meze day,  including the birds y’know.

As a result of the “new” law the Greeks should go outside for a puff of their cigarettes , some actually do, and when this table did for 5 minutes , the wee bird helped himself  to their lunch.

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Blustery day for a walk

We are quite in quite a countrified location up a hill with views down to Mytilene about 5kms away. There are forestry commision type roads near us and as part of Louise’s keep fat regime she runs these most days. To be fair she’s having issues with her back and is trying everything to alleviate the problem.

Today she talked me into accompanying her , walking that is.

Being this far north means we can get cold winds from the north east, blowing a hoolie out of Turkey across the sea. Today was one of them.

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The local gang came out to see us off

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Olive collection time, the nets are spread.

There is a small satelite refugee camp down towards the airport. It is nothing like the one at Moria, thankfully.  We believe this one was built to seperate the warring factions.

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This spaceage dome is part of it.

Eventually you arrive down at the sea shore, today it was hard to stand, hope the boats OK .

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Mytilini and the harbour in the distance

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The return leg back up the hill, there are some nice houses around. here.

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Fidel & Arris, the owners parent’s dogs welcoming us back and the gates temporarily tied up with mooring warps against the wind.

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Louise stretching and imploring the gods for a lottery win.

Lift out Mytilini

Monday 2nd of December was lift out day.

Louise was watching Lily as it was her 1st day in the apartment, so it was a single handed job. Everything went smoothly however.

That said the crane gave the back stay a good “nudge” on occasion – that’ll be why Dimitris wanted it loosened off!

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Camira hadn’t been out the water since Kalamata in 2017 so was well due a spell out the water and some TLC. The keel was well rusted but other than that not too bad at all.

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Once she was chocked up in her cradle and power washed, the usual round of winterization started and the fabled spreadsheet was updated that night with a “to do list” of maintenance, lol.

Moving in day

Sunday was official moving in day to the apartment, Thanassis (the scooter hire man) had arranged a car for us for a couple of hours.

I had been doing a shuttle run the week prior with sails, cushions and other stuff. It’s amazing what you can carry on a scooter (but only in Greece!!) Marina had also kindly given us use the cellar which runs the length of the house

The actual move in  therfore wasn’t too arduous, although Lily decided she wanted to explore the car and escaped her carry bag on the way up.

Its strange being in a house after all this time on board the boat but I’m definitely not complaining.

Some have settled in straight away.

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Don’t let the pictures fool you – Mrs M has done didly squat of the blog this year !

The apartment has great views over the Aegean to Turkey, so we are well placed to see the war when it starts, lol.

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We have bought a stock of firewood so no doubt I’ll try to burn the place down.

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Nice, I do look like Jock the coalman after I’ve finished however