Whilst in the marina we met up with Brian, Sara, Joni & Bruce yet again. They had not managed to get away. Brian & Sara’s boat had a leaking stern gland when launched and required re-lifting and a new shaft installed! Bruce had managed to cut through his hydraulic pipes and was searching Samos for someone with the experience to fix it. They were going to be around for another wee bit yet.

This of course now necessitated a further “leaving do”

So we all headed off to Kokkari in their respective cars for an afternoon at the beach and a spicy pizza.

Kokari Day Out

Louise had her 2^nd Pfizer jab and I visited the Doctor to have a check over as I had been having dizzy spells. She arranged blood tests and an MRI in Samos town. It turns out I do have a brain; they found it, and thankfully nothing amiss. My bloods came back and other than the bad cholesterol and my BP being a little high, I was given a clean bill of health. Louise was most perturbed especially that my liver tests came back in very good shape, but she was actually there when the Doctor told me! lol.

During this period they started to dissuade boats from anchoring in Pythagorio bay in an attempt to force people into the harbour quay where there had been a silent take over by a private company during the winter and had doubled and more the charges with no facilities. We were advised by the harbour master that the Port Police had decreed it, but when I visited them they let me stay to go for my tests. The next day we headed back up to Posidonio to wait for Diane arriving on the 5^th July

We had extended our stay in the house & car rental until the 3^rd June to make it easier for Louise to get her first Pfizer jab in Samos Town. We then had to be back here again on the 29^th for her second one (and, as it turned out various other medical clinics!) Diane had also “Taylored” her trip to coincide with that and was flying out to Samos on the 5^th July for 10 days all expenses paid luxury cruise on Camira, lol. This was our present to her for her 60^th birthday.

Upshot of all this meant we had 3 weeks for a mini cruise around the familiar haunts of the Dodecanese so we won’t be overloading you with pictures of places you will have already seen in abundance in earlier posts rather it will (hopefully) be more people oriented this time around , well we’ll see…….

Just before we set off a few reminders of the winter, in Another Day in Paradise:

Who could forget the “New Commitments” rendition of Mustang Sally now immortalized on Facebook?

The overflowing pool – just to prove it does rain in Greece sometimes

and Christos our handyman/ gardener (the grey men! lol)

Meanwhile down at the marina, Schrumpy (Smurf in German) aka Brian and me having a beer in the cafe after he had grinded down his rusty keel.

and Joni happy with our old Mediterranean Almanac for their cruise to Italy,

She can’t wait to visit Italy, Bruce we think is not so keen, but they have to go to pay VAT on their boat and it would be much cheaper than Greece they believe. We have warned them of the prices!

Anyhow the 4^th June saw us heading off on a massive passage to Posidonio at the east end of Samos 7 miles or so away. We planned to stay a few days, turned out to be four. Having renewed the fridge thermostat over the winter with the pukka and very expensive proper one, I thought I had solved the problems with the batteries not being charged fully by our solar panels, but alas no, so a bit of further investigation was required and a lot of head scratching by me.

Posidonio is a lovely wee bay with a couple of tavernas, a cafe and a mini market (not opening this year though).

We met up one evening with Neil and his new girlfriend Ushie. He has a house nearby and his boat has a mooring in the bay. Neil had introduced us to his accountant for all the residency / tax shenanigans. I am envious of the house and the boat mooring – just seems perfect to me, day sailing / mini cruises then back for a beer in the taverna and up the road to your house & swimming pool. Ah well you can’t have everything eh?

G&T’s on board. Look at that grumpy face….. well take yer pick,lol.

Brian, Sara, Joni and Bruce also visited by car one afternoon for what was meant to be a farewell get together, but in the end I think we must’ve had about 5 or 6 more!

8th June we headed back to Pythagorio, to stock up and took the opportunity to visit Daphnes’ restaurant, which was now open. We met up again with Sara & Brian for another farewell drink!

The next day we headed off for Marathrokampos (2) at the west end of Samos, intending to visit Fournoi and Ikaria , all places we hadn’t visited before, but was not to be , after two hours battling into the wind we gave up and turned south for Agathanisi (3), we were well reefed down and it was a lumpy beam reach and a very windy entrance into Agathanisi were we anchored off the little beach in the village and went ashore to George’s Taverna. The weather was far too hot to cook on the boat.

George’s – Agathanisi

During the following two weeks or so saw us revisiting Arki town, Lily was noisily excited at getting ashore!

Model boats in Arki I think the purple one is meant to be refugees !

Then Lipsi – anchored again in Katsadia bay

We mentioned in an earlier blog Nicolas had lots of visitors planned this year. We did however bump into him in Lipsi and invited him and his guests Jessica & Innes (mother & daughter) over for a few drinks,  ended up they had dinner and stayed till late. We think he has not been feeding them, lol ! as they thoroughly enjoyed Louise’s aperitifs. Turns out Jessica is a hairdresser and she cut Louise’s hair on the beach in Posidonio, very good it was too.

Innes & Jessica on Camira

Finally we headed to Patmos before our planned return to Samos for various clinics!

I see from the log book we had a good sail back, which is almost normally the case on this passage.

I still hadn’t solved our charging issue which meant some motor sailing and running the engine at anchor, a pain for us and everyone else. We had a night in the bay followed by the marina met up with Kleanthis by accident , a friend and engineer and he “suggested” again  I renew the wiring. I’m sure a few Malaka’s were bandied about. Lily was let out at night and wouldn’t come back until Louise tracked her down using her bleeper!

However everything else on the boat seemed to be ok for Diane’s trip ………………..

I have visited the Port Police to retrieve the boat documents that will allow us to set forth sailing, and thanks to information from our English friends Paul & Lorraine back in the UK it’s now seems we will not actually need a transit log, but that has yet to distil down to the local authorities so I imagine still some fun and games ahead.

I am about to contact my GP back home to see if there is anything she can do to log my 2^nd Greek jab on the UK system so that I can get the mobile app proving I have had both, it’s a long shot but worth a try. Travelling between islands will require this or taking a test each time, which would be a complete pain .

Nicolas set off in recently so we had a few last suppers He was keen to show us BBQ duck, a first for us but it was very good.

A lunch at Mytilini, a great find near the house but only open at the week ends just now

and a final meet up at Limonias at the western end of the island. He had sailed there on his first outing and we had taken the car.

This year he has a lot of “GM’s” coming out , which, in French, means paying guests, well half guests , friends of friends – and June, July and August is bunged for him , and his sister will be out in September. No doubt our paths will cross at some point as we are sailing roughly the same areas. September may well see us meeting up to visit Chios but everything is fluid and we are hoping Diane can come out for a spell as well so the plan is no plan.

We have now paid our final marina fees, we have the house & the car until the 3^rd of June, when Louise gets her 1^st jab and then we are off for 3 weeks until we have to return to Samos for her 2^nd one. After that we are truly free until November.

Ready to go (on a diet !)

So this, (You will all be glad to know, especially Fiona!) is the last blog 0f season 2020-21.

Here’s to a safe and more normal year for all of us next year.

Cheers for now G&L xx

The Greek Coastguard managed to run one of their boats aground at the entrance to the marina. It nearly sunk but managed to be pumped out until a large barge arrived from Athens to lift it for repairs. Red faces somewhere methinks

The poor sailors and a dog where on the deck overnight and for another 48 hours .

As previously posted I returned to Scotland for my 1st covid jab at the end of March. This was the menu plan at the boutique hotel EK, courtesy of my sister in law , fabulous, but I bust the zip on my jeans at London Heathrow on my return, lol

10 days sitting on my bum quarantined watching TV and eating & drinking diet must start soon……ish

This is Joni & Bruce and their lovely big boat that they bought in Turkey & have spent 5 years doing up.

and also pics of lunch and Easter at Marcos cafe at the marina.

Christos the gardener at the rental accommodation very kindly brought us free range eggs from his chickens, some painted red for Easter and some baking from his wife.

The red ones are hard boiled and what you do is bash them against one another to crack the shells signifying the rolling away of the stone story in the Bible.

How thoughtful is that ?

Saturday the 1st of May saw us at Samos Town hospital. Louise had woken very unwell sweating, being sick and feeling faint. At 07;00 at the hospital they checked her for covid before allowing admittance. She was given a sedative, X,ray, CT scan ECG and bloods. All came back fine . They think possibly a panic attack ….. but that is not Louise so who knows ? Anyhow all OK now.

Kalo Mina means happy month , the Greeks wish each other this on the 1st of every month , ours is off to a good start , lol

Views from the hospital across the bay as I waited outside and the return in her Jammies to the house.

The following week was my turn for the medics, my 2nd jab at Karlovassi 36 kms away in the NW of the island, this is just a pic of the day, I remember was taken to send to Friends of Camira on Whats App as it was raining in Scotland.

And a drink in Pythagorio one evening

You can see from the size of the gin she recovers quite well!

This year despite having the house and very relaxing surroundings, the winter was one of constant admin challenges. For some reason the Gremlins were on double time, nothing went to plan.

Louise’s Temporary Greek Residency Application:

1. Greek biometric residency application started via immigration police.

2. AMKA, a basic health certificate, was required for (1) above.

3. Health Insurance policy was required for (2) above.

4. Greek Tax Number was required for (3) above.

5. Full paperwork & copies finally submitted to police.

6. Fingerprints taken.

Success – 5 year residency approved

7. Residency then requires an annual tax return to be submitted.

8. Tax return requires a visit to an accountant.

9. Above (8) requires firstly a visit to the Tax office for a TAXISnet , yet another tax number distinct from (4).

10. Above (9) then requires a return visit to the accountant to be registered on tax system.

11. A further visit to accountant in May to actually submit the return but advised tax system not open yet, helpfully takes the info I have prepared  & will submit for us and advise when done.

12. Final visit to the accountant planned for mid June to pay his fee.

Successful in that (we believe) nil tax payable in Greece.

Gordon’s Final Salary Scheme Pension:

1. All required paperwork submitted on line & acknowledged way back in Sept 2020.

2. Further letter received from them in Feb 2021 advising no paperwork apparently submitted?

3. Re-submitted all lost paperwork again. Advised all OK, again!

4. Lumps sum due to be paid in April & pension will start May 2021.

5. April comes & goes – No lump sum, loads of phone calls.

6. Eventually lump sum paid after having to contact CEO.

7. May – monthly pension doesn’t start more phone calls.

8. Apologies “we missed payroll because of late submission”, caused by us losing the first one, lol. It’s a pantomime.

9. Now awaiting double payment in June……….

Louise’s Pension Scheme:

1. Numerous phone calls to determine options.

2. PensionWise 40 minute phone call one night.

3. Deferred decision until heads no longer sore, next year maybe.

Santander:

1. Closed old, as in money used up now, bank accounts.

2. Transferred ISA’s to Virgin……effin admin nightmare! You’d think we were money launderers for the Medellin drugs cartel.

Brexit, Boat, VAT and Transit Logs:

Would take a dissertation to explain and still some elements unresolved, thanks Cameron & Boris, to be continued

Covid Jabs:

1. Good news – Louise gets hers in Greece, the first 3^rd June, second 25th June.

2. At this time I couldn’t get mine in Greece so headed back to Scotland as my first appointment was due.

3. 6 flights, 3 hotels 5 Covid PCR tests, 10 days quarantine in boutique hotel EK, and 1st Astra Zeneca jab. Roll up cost >£2k, plus drove my sister in law mad, lol

4. On return temporary AMKA issued to me by Greece, I can now get 2^nd vaccine in Greece, which I now have done.

5. Explain to medics this is 2^nd jab / 1^st in Scotland. All fine medically.

6. However I won’t get required auto vaccination passport for travelling as 1st in Scotland & 2^nd in Greece, 2 different systems Aaaaargh!

Rental house challenges;

1. As previously advised Roland rat & family in roof void.

2. WIFI connection failed needed telephone engineer to reconnect external carry wiring.

3. Boiler broke down took over a month to replace in the coldest period.

4. At same time electrical water heater failed – no hot water.

5. When replaced I’m convinced the shower is live when switched on, so imperative to switch water heater off at fuses before having shower. Louise keeps forgetting! Note to self check life insurance policy.

6. Pool overflowing threatened to flood into house until I fathomed drain pump.

7. Toilet blocked and effluent pit needed emptying once a month, just don’t ask, lol.

Mail redirection Scotland

The Royal mail are failing abysmally with our postal redirection. Louise has phoned to complain at least 5 times possibly more . They say they will sort, but they don’t.

Louise’s sister has handed in SAE to the tenants as a stop gap to get mail sent to her.

Eventually RM sort it out and without us asking refund our redirection charge for the year in full.

Finally (so far)

I have sent my UK passport back to Liverpool for replacement.

Looks like there will be issues with that because I am in Greece and they want me to send in my Irish one as well, which I can’t because I need it here!

It could be I will need this for Brexit/ Boat issues so time out on this one at the moment ….watch this space .

All that said it’s been great having the house and the car to enable all the required trips and with a fair wind we will have cracked most of them to allow us to continue sailing for the medium term at least.

Hopefully that last statement is not a kiss of death

and we have actaully relaxed as well,lol

There was some exceptionally bad weather a week ago with flash floods on Samos. It even made the BBC news.

Our pool was overflowing and threatening to come in the “conservatory “until I figured out the pump out situation.

Unfortunately the same floods washed away most of the Samos Cat Sanctuary, the cats, being cats kept themselves safe but the place had been decimated.

Our sailing friends Bob & Andrea were in Samos last winter, she’s a cat lover & had volunteered all last winter at the sanctuary. She put up a post on face book for help and we obliged.

It was a hard day’s work but worth it

We later donated Lily’s collapsible tunnel that she had lost interest in.

Mike the santuary owner said it had gone down well with the sanctuary cats though.

Now whenever we were down working at the boat and we asked Sara & Brian if they fancied a beer , it was never refused.

Today however Louise, Sara , Brian , Florian & his maw did this lot in!

 

I, on the other hand was well behaved  ……. and I have it in black and white to boot to prove it !

In an effort to start getting fit Louise was part of the marina hill walking gang. Brian & I succesfully managed to give it  body swerve, lol.

Now Louise traditionally would do “Dry January” but somehow don’t think this year was a success looking at the photos.

To be fair though they did cover some ground

A week later we were back down the marina again , this time on Tutela, Sara & Brian’s boat.

They had offered for us to stay as the curfew was 10 pm, but we prefered to get back up the road to our own beds. It was a shame we missed the actual bells but the champagne was opened early and Sara’s curry dishes were fab.

Happy New Year everyone

After opening our presents A Catherine Zoraida bracelet to match the earrings for Louise and a Taylor GS Mini guitar & a bottle of rum for me.

   

We headed down to the marina, we had been invited down to Bruce & Joni’s boat for Christmas morning drinks, along with other boaties.