Having now installed the new solar panels, battery & smart controller I wanted to measure their hopefully increased effectiveness. This required (in my view) getting up pre dawn and driving down to the marina to take readings for a couple of days – mad I know.

But it did afford some great pics

I had bought Louise Nordic Walking poles for her Christmas and she was making good use of them with walks to Mytilinii or in the opposite direction down to the sea each day.

Nicolas had returned from France and the 6 nation’s rugby was on that week end so we invited him up to the house to watch it.

He arrived with gifts of pate, a bag and a bread basket Louise had previously mentioned she admired.

We had another birthday celebration with pizza & birthday cake and the rugby of course ……..

A big one this year!

A lot of presents had arrived from friends & family.

After a stressful time hunting them down in the various delivery depots and chaos that is the Samos courier system and confirming with Diane, Carol, Karen & Fiona that we had in fact received everything – the stage was set for Louise’s birthday morning.

After a champagne (Well, Proseco) breakfast all the lovely presents were opened and tried on. Of course no show without punch and Lily had to be in the midst of it all.

We then headed down to Sandi’s bar for an aperitif, the birthday girl had hot chocolate, before heading to Lakkis restaurant for lunch. We had apparently just missed Brian & Sara who had bought Louise a bottle of Champagne, (she still hasn’t opened it – as I write this blog months later!! Hrrrmmmph).

Pythagoreio & Sandi’s Bar

Lakkis Restaurant

It was a very nice day & thanks again to her sister & all her lovely pals who made it special for her x.

As a post script all the birthday cards eventually turned about two weeks later.

Out for a drive one day we stopped by Vakakis winery – it was shut but Nic Vakakis opened it up for us to see around . All of the wines have a Pythagorian geometric name. We bought a case of Tetractys the same one we had tasted in the taverna in the hills in the earlier post.

We though we might have gotten a bargain price but found out it was cheaper in a shop in Samos Town !  Lucky white heather eh? lol.