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FEBRUARY
WEATHER ...
Improved rapidly over the month. There were some very cold, very wet and a
smaller number of very, very stormy days. But by the end of the month you
could well be forgiven for believing that spring is here and summer just
around the corner.....
Latest
Crete Weather Link.
_____________________________
Promises Broken....
Narcissus
Revealed.. ©
Burgess@Cretanvista
In
February 2004 (archive) we published a slightly
larger version of the above image - and promised to publish the associated
tale in 'Short Stories'. The tale now starts below - only 3 years
late!!!
Astratigos
Village Life...
For a village without modern amenities - no shops, schools, tavernas
(clubs or pubs!) or even that Cretan classic, the Kafenion, things certainly
have a way of happening here....
Today was my turn - and it was not to be a very happy one, which was
unusual. I almost invariably awaken in a good mood - often even laughing
and telling the world my latest joke, or holding an inane conversation with my
'other' self in the name of 'entertainment'. This morning it was the blankets
which triggered my grins and giggles as I welcomed a new day...
I was cocooned within my very cosy and warm blankets, remembering a very
enjoyable previous evening - dinner with friends - but really had to get
moving. And that was just the problem, although I didn't realize it
right then. The grins and giggles were to be short lived, even though
they started well....
My 'cocoon' wouldn't open! 'Well' I thought, smiling to myself 'at least it's
warm'. I strained a bit harder at the covers wrapped around me. 'Damn
things' I thought - '27 years old' (my self-allotted age) 'and you can't even
get the bed covers off!' I started laughing at the incongruity of it - I
could see the news headlines - "A fully grown Englishman had to be
rescued this morning by police and fire services after becoming trapped in bed following a dinner party
the previous evening in Astratigos, Crete....." I laughed and
laughed, waking my wife - but the cocoon wouldn't let go...
'Get me out of here' I pleaded, still laughing, 'these damn covers are
attacking me!' Pam pulled the offending covers away. Which was the
moment I stopped laughing. I was still stuck... I suppressed a fleeting twinge
of genuine fear - something completely alien to my nature, and began to take
stock. A lifetime in the English NHS trying to help others should have taught
me something. It had. The fear returned - I was only 62 and until this
morning.... Well, until this morning I had had few problems in life... Had
I?...
Well, not quite. A couple of weeks previously, not too long after two airline
flights - UK Athens/ Athens Crete - I had curiously developed 'a touch
of sciatica' and had taken analgesics a couple of times when it had disturbed
my sleep. Last week I had walked 'just like John Wayne' one morning when
I got up but it had worn off after a few days - hadn't it?... Hadn't
it?....
My pennies were dropping like a Las Vegas fruit machine having multiple
jackpots... Hadn't it?.. No, it hadn't - and, I thought, fear returning as I
cursed my own stupidity in not recognizing (or was it perhaps denying) my own
signs and symptoms, maybe now it wasn't going to... Maybe not ever, which from
where I was lying, might be a very long time from the age of 62 years. I had
been a complete fool. Totally incompetent. Had I taken action earlier - the
dull ache in my calf, the increasing 'sciatic' pain and playing John Wayne should
have surely been enough - this situation may never have occurred. Probably
wouldn't have. Had been, perhaps, avoidable. Whatever, it was here now.
It was a stroke. The only question was which type... Damage to the blood supply to a
part of my brain had left me with two paralyzed limbs - one arm, one leg...
Was it over, or still developing?....
'Push me up' I demanded, more angry (with myself, with fate) than afraid,
'push me up'. Pam did. She got me downstairs. Got me to the settee.
Pleaded with me to let her call someone, to go to hospital, anything.... I
refused all - I didn't need anyone to tell me what I knew already, what I had
sometimes taught others about in a different life. What I had seen. What I had
touched.... And, in the final analysis, what had now touched me!
I was so angry with the unfairness of it that I rejected even the suggestion
of assistance. I would overcome it myself!
After several hours of shuffling about trying to make - willing - my body to
get itself together my guardian angel (yes, I do believe that I have one)
stepped in. She pushed me over in the toilet!! And held me down in spite
of all my efforts to escape!
'Fine friend you are - get me up' I demanded silently. There was no remiss.
She had decided. Pam telephoned. Our dinner guests from last night
returned. I was hauled unceremoniously off the floor and returned to the
lounge. Still refusing to go to hospital.
To be continued next month.... |
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In the News ....
Cyprus court jails Briton...
A 15 year prison sentence was handed down by a court in Larnaca to
Briton Julian Harrington - who changed his initial 'Not guilty' plea to
'guilty' - to the manslaughter of 17 year old Cypriot Christos Papiris in a
hit and run incident in August 2006...
Two other Britons in Harrington's car at the time were acquitted.
Link
to Story.
Hospital Waste triggers health warning..
The disposal of state hospital waste in areas of Greece, including
parts of Crete, is a health hazard says Greek Ombudsman.
Link
to Story.
Cretan woman reports assault ....
It seems that age does not guarantee personal security against rape.
Link
to Story.
And EEC survey says Greeks fear Crime...
EEC Crime and Safety Survey shows a comparatively safe Greece but that in
some respects Greeks fear crime.
Link
to Story.
But being a Policeman isn't easy...
Officers are not immune to criticism, arrest and charges arising from their
jobs...
Link
to Story.
Labeling people might help...
To ensure that you don't miss your 'plane; are not a terrorist; have
simply got lost or inadvertently gone to sleep waiting. Get tagged!
Link
to Story.
Or perhaps a return to the past...
An exhibition at the Historical Museum of Crete (Iraklion) by the Society
of Cretan Historical Studies looks at Cretan Urban Life 1898 - 1940. Plus an
associated conference - March 30/31st.
Link
to Story.
Although golf, it seems will reign..
Not least in Hersonissos, Crete - though where the all necessary water for
upkeep will come from is as yet unclear. Maybe plastic
grass?
Link
to Story.
At least with waterless grass ...
As probable water shortages loom because of increasing demand, lack of
storage facilities and de-salination plants.
Link
to story.
While in Iraklion school canteens...
27 of them anyway, have been reported as selling unsuitable or banned food
items...
Link
to story.
But tourism will hopefully grow...
Along with prosperity, if the Greek 'Tourism Charter' unveiled by Premier
Costas Karamanlis provides opportunity and investor
security..
Link
to story.
Maybe ease personal stress...
Caused mainly by financial worries...
Link
to story.
Increase job satisfaction.....
Among the EEC's hardest workers - remember the high speed Olympic
preparations?
Link
to story.
Reducing financial inequalities...
Which are among the highest in the EEC right
now.
Link
to story.
Although, on a much lighter note...
An increased feeling of security and satisfaction might help stop attempted
cheating, some of which could be dangerous to life and
limb....
Link
to story.
Whereas a spark could put out the lights!
That big pit in my garden might save the fuel bills, or, so to speak, blow
them up!
Link
to story.
But now that Mr Blair is not 'going'..
Perhaps we can get back to the subject of the (Elgin) Parthenon Marbles.
Even if the 'Scottish Connection' is not at first obvious, at least put the
return of the marbles before the pigeons.....
Link
to story.
________________________
NEW GUIDE PUBLISHED
Carol
Palioudaki's book
'Living in Crete'
(A gold
mine of information)
is available now
Out Now - Get it at
www.livingincrete.net
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