Normally both Louise & I polish Camira and it is a tiring job but due to Louise’s shoulder injuries it’s just not possible for her to accomplish some tasks even though she wants to, especially polishing!

Well this year we met up with Javier, a Spanish hombre, who was working on Nicolas’s boat replacing the calking on the deck . We met earlier in the year at Kleanthis’ yard as we had money left by Nicolas to give to him.

By chance he was also polishing the hull of the boat  Grey Hippo, immediately behind us in Samos Marina, and what a job he was making! The guy is a perfectionist and extremely hard working. So we thought why not ask for a price to polish Camira.

Last year, the first time we had not done it ourselves, we were left a bit disappointed but we knew Javier would be excellent. On getting the price it was understandably expensive at 1,500 euros. He was also training Dimitri in the marina and, unselfishly trying to help, he suggested we could cut a deal for about half if we paid Dimitri direct but this would still incur a hefty 20% uplift for the marina!

In the end after seriously considering it, we politely declined and I decided to challenge myself to try to emulate at least in part the finish achieved by Javier. I was up for the challenge but not overly optimistic I would be anywhere near as good. I borrowed Nicolas’ rotary sander & I had my drill which I bought polishing adapters for and an expensive 3M cutting & polishing product from Nectarios.

Off we go  …………

I think I spent two complete days on the hull a one more with the help of Louise on the topsides. We think she looked brilliant when we had finished and all it cost was 66 euros and a bit of effort.

We got some admiring glances and comments from passersby and the pinnacle complement was that Javier himself thought it was fantastic.

I did manage to catch my electric drill in Lily’s netting, shorted the cables and nearly knocked myself out with the drill battering me on the noggin!

Well pleased though & even looking forward to next year’s attempt – although I will have to replace the now defunct electric drill with a battery one !

Final result & sneaky comparison to Grey Hippo

Not bad for a 40 year old boat?

Dave & Ian came for a mini break arriving Friday morning and leaving Sunday afternoon.

Day one (Friday) having picked them up at the airport we had breakfast at the house where Louise opened her birthday presents before we went into Samos town for coffees. Afterwards a circular tour of the island via Marathocampos, where we had lunch in the mountain village, and then back to the house.

Day two (Saturday) started with breakfast in the garden and chilled until mid day, down to Pythagorio for lunch, then back to the house to just catch up on (even more) news.

Day three (Sunday) spent in the garden with Dave & Louise braving the pool before heading back to the airport for their flight back to Blighty.

A lovely visit that ended all too soon.

At the beginning of April I flew out to Malta for a few days to see Billy’s new boat and lend a hand on his 1^st outing with ropes etc.

What a beauty she is.

Fiddler’s Dream is just a “fill in boat “until his brand new bigger Marlaud ordered but not yet built is commisioned & launched in America.

I had not seen him for some time and Jayne his wife for even longer so it was great to meet up with them again.

He had the original captain flown out to help with the inaugural voyage and basically explain all the electronic wizardry & iron out any remaining issues.

So in all there were four of us on board for the 1^st outing and it went like clockwork.

I unfortunately could only stay for 5 days as we had Dave & Iain coming for a visit to Samos.

We managed to fit in a visit to the local sights and a few lovely restaurants near the marina.

It was great to catch up & the plan is to meet up somewhere later who knows possibly in Greece?

I flew up to Lemnos for my winter check up with Dr Vassillis Kalivas & happy to say all clear again.

Lemnos looks & feels so different in the winter. Still beautiful though.

I always enjoy an ouzo meze in our local summer taverna by the harbour.

 and this year followed later by a pizza and a free glass of wine courtesy of the owner of Nautilas Taverna who loves Scotch Whisky

That hotel bed was soooo confortable slept like a log – no doubt the wine and ouzo helped

Louise had a mug made up printed for Vagellis her physio which she gave him on her last visit to Karlovassi in February .

One of her shoulders is a lot better but the other still giving a lot of pain, we will need to be very careful about what she can now do and not – especially when we set off.

I had driven down to Pythagorio to get a couple  of Gyros’ for our tea, one Sunday night but unfortunately however for some reason it was shut!

To strains of reggae music in my ears I drove back up the road empty handed  – well not quite.

I did manage to get these stunning evening views.

As part of my get fat challenge I was encouraged to join in the winter walks that formed part of Louise’s keep fit & mobile regime.

What follows is a collage of yomps through Mytilinii, to Yiannis house, ( that we wanted to rent for  a year but he hasn’t finished Yet !) and Vathi (Samos Town).

The latter proving my favourite for the visit to the wood fired Napoli Pizzeria at the end, lol

Yiannis house just outside Mytilinii across the valley from us

Mytilinii

Vathi (Samos town)

Caught in an absolutely crazy downpour in Pythagorio & half an hour later back at the house you would never have guessed anything had happened

4th November 2023.

 A still warm & beautiful sunny day’s drive to Ormos, Marathocampos.

10^th November 2023

Dani, Stella & Nicolas and us having lunch at Paleokastro before they went home to Switzerland & France respectively for the winter

18^th November 2023

Saturday lunch at a new find in Pythagorio

1^st December 2023

Wild swimming in the pool as part of Louise’s cold water regime

12^th December 2023

The start of a twice weekly visit to a physiotherapist in Karlovassi for Louise’s shoulders. I would go for a wander & coffee.

21^st December 2023

33^rd Wedding anniversary bouquet

25^th December 2023

Christmas obviously, with the cat enjoying her present wrappings more than the presents. Louise had luxury spa day treatments to look forward to and I got kitted out in some well needed kit

31^st December 2023

As has seemed to become the custom we went a drive to Posidonio and this year back for a wander around Samos town.

Posidonio

Samos Town

and so ends 2023 …………..

Today, Sunday 29^th October found us back in Ireon for lunch at Nektarios’ Taverna.

Unknown to us this was the last day of the season and Nektarios was taking a month’s break before opening again for the winter, sometime before Xmas, but then only at weekends.

What started out quietly descended into Greek chaotic enjoyment – plate smashing, bottle smashing and table dancing.

All of which we were required to join in with.

Look at that Lobster

and then it started …………….

Nektarios himself

It was a great laugh and we have been invited back next year for the same closing extravaganza, lol