Pesado in Spannish apparently means pain in the arse.

This is Pesado one of the most voiciferous and affectionate cats I have met.

He has adopted Nicolas’s boat and installs himself there every night for a kip. Pytha doesn’t seem to mind too much.

We have been tasked with feeding him every now and again when Nicolas goes home.

Well as I arrive back in Greece Louise heads off for Scotland, the Cotswolds and London respectively.

From previous blogs you will know she has been having increasing discomfort with her back.

Joni, our sailing friend from Samos, has offered to put her up and had introduce her to Casper Aylott her Harley Street spinal surgeon who after an initial telephone consultation recommended spinal injections to see if they would alleviate her symptoms and constant pain.

Diane had agreed to accompany Louise and they both stayed at Joni’s lovely cottage for a few days before heading up to London for some sightseeing and of course the op. the following day.

Joni’s cottage & local pub & great hospitality

The AbFab girls do London

On the day of the procedure Louise was contacted by the airline to advise someone on the plane had tested positive for covid and she was advised to get a test!

Luckily she was negative.

Harley Street

The operation went as planned and they both flew back to Scotland that evening.

Back in the boutique hotel EK – Harry happy to see his auntie

The culinary standards do seem a bit different to those to in Greece.

Chinese in London , Curry in Scotland ………

Meantime in Greece

However I didn’t suffer too badly as you can see.

and the surroundings and companay were none to shabby either

I had a couple of busy weeks back home where I found the house in a reasonable state of repair given the time away and the fact I suppose that tenants will never look after the property like you would. I had a little painting and repairs to do. The garden on the other hand was overgrown and needed major surgery as did the shed which had rotted. My pal Billy provided one of his guys who re-roofed and re-floored the shed and cut back the bigger tress at the back whilst I got stuck into the rest of the garden including power washing the stonework and decking – two flatbed truck loads of garden waste were taken away.

Before

After

Diane had kindly lent me her car for the duration with coincided with COP 26 at the Exibition Centre, the traffic was a nightmare getting back to the boutique hotel EK each evening.

I did meet two of the prospective tenants whilst on my restoration project – an Israeli woman & a Chinese guy  – both relocating, but with two kids each- they were not going to be longterm . Diane & I also caught a brief glimpse in passing of a third, a single mad cat lady with a handicapped cat. We initially went for her, which caused ructions, me having mistakenly giving the Israeli the impression the house was hers to move into, LOL. Anyhow the mad cat lady (a psychologist) proved herself in need of one of her fellow professionals in the end. She had numerous outrageous demands amongst which were a minute querying of all the contract details, that the shed, newly renovated and tidied out, should have all tools removed -as she preferred her own, and as the house was advertised unfurnished the TV stand left for tenant convenience should also be dumped. In the end the both the agents and us decided SHE should be dumped! Meeeeow.

Diane came over one afternoon to help with replacing the curtains that had been damaged with condensation from the windows

  

All repairs completed & new lamps and curtains it was ready for the next tenants, whoever they turn out to be?

Restoration over it was time to return to Greece. I had a quick visit to Spencer Street – our old flat and caught up with Tony my  pal from those days, who still lives there.

Don’t know if Im getting out of touch or what? but I thought the prices at Heathrow were crazy for a beer & a snack !