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FEBRUARY
WEATHER.....
Remained very changeable over short periods of time. Temperatures
on a see-saw. There were some violent storms and squalls near the coast.
Both air and sea traffic were halted occasionally...
Current Chania
Webcam
Current Cretan Weather
Link
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Enough is usually enough, but not always...
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So there it was, an empty shell with
the washing outside, just waiting for the final run of bricks before
the roof went on. First there were enough bricks, then disaster, a
change of plan, and there were not nearly enough, and no time
to get more!.... |
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Astratigos Village Life.... Getting some.. XII
(Continued from January - Previous
click here).
At the end the last episode...
....
Our agent arrived with the bad news - the roofer, who was starting
Monday, wanted another 40cm height on the last run of bricks. I
needed a supply of extra bricks. Couldn't be done, said our beloved
agent, 'it's Friday noon, I can't get any delivered by tomorrow'.............
My despair became anger, It seemed that he was really talking yet more money, and I
was determined that he would not manage to get any..... |
Where, in the name of
all that is holy, was I to get the required height if there were not
enough bricks? It seemed an impossibility, but like a dog with a good
bone - or perhaps a bear with a sore head - I could not shake the
feeling that there was a solution right here on our building site. I
stared at the bricks, I stared at the space they had to fill, I thought
over every conversation surrounding the problem. I had a short nap, I
went back to the vicious circle - bricks, space, conversations. Bricks,
space, conversations. Round and round and round....
And there, quite suddenly, it was! The answer - right under my nose.
Like a Chinese puzzle, so obviously before my eyes that I had not been
able to see it. The answer was in a conversation with our agent. In my
last frustrated remarks to his suggestion that I should top the bricks
with a totally unacceptable thick layer of mortar! No way.
But thinking that what seemed could have only have been a mocking answer
to my frustrated, angry question, 'What am I supposed to do now'? He had
unwittingly provided the key. There it was looking back at me from the
pile of bricks! The bricks were in fact blocks. Thermal blocks. Each was
a honeycomb of cells. And there was the answer... Cut horizontally three
cells deep I had two bricks for each - three cells deep would leave the
correct mortar gap between the two bricks and the total would be the
40cm required!
Now why didn't I think of that? I was elated! Go for it! Go for it now,
not much time left, and I wasn't sure that the mortar would have set
sufficiently by Monday, but the temperature was in the late 30's early
40's, even keeping the setting mortar damp it would still set off
sufficiently with luck. But there was still a problem -
The problem of cutting 78 blocks so that there were 156! A power cutter
would have been ideal, but the disks simply were not deep enough to do
the job. It had to be the brickie's method of cutting by hand with the
chisel end of a brick hammer. Compounded by the fact that ours was the
Greek variety - hard wooden handle with no shock protection for the
user... But then, still elated at having solved the problem I got
cracking, or rather 'chopping' the 78 blocks into 156. There were only
two blocks spare if there were breakages!
Nor did my elation allow for the realities of the situation. The sheer
physical effort of moving the blocks which alone weighed more than half
a ton - each was around 11.5"x10"x6" and weighed 5.5lbs - would have
daunted. Add two layers of mortar around 40yards of a wall 17 feet or so
high - where all would have to be hauled by myself in the summer heat
and I would have been happier just going to sleep and enjoying the
nightmare. If I had thought about it I would have given up there and
then. As it was I started at the beginning - chopping the bricks to
size. Reality was a luxury I could enjoy later....Maybe.... It was
Friday afternoon....
By Saturday evening I had done it! That I was half dead physically
didn't seem to matter - emotionally I was on a high! Every one of those
bricks that I chopped had acquired a name. Every one had heard language
that I would have preferred to have been incapable of (but which I had
enjoyed immensely). Everyone had heard exactly the retribution I would
like to have visited upon the 78 unfortunate, unknowing souls who I
apparently had on my agenda. Even down to the bigger boy who had taken
my tricycle from me when I was around four years old. He had rammed it
repeatedly into a kerb until the frame snapped irreparably. There was no
money for a new one. David S, I have news for you, all is not forgotten
let alone forgiven. You can run my friend, but you can't hide!!
After all these years even I thought I had forgotten that!
I didn't calculate anything except the mortar mix ingredients from the
time I chopped the first brick. Just anointed each with pure invective -
undistilled malice!
Every hour I took a ten minute break - lying inside the old house,
exhausted on a bed with a fan on full and iced water provided by Pam.
Climbing up and down the scaffolding, hauling chopped bricks and mortar,
laying the bricks and becoming progressively more cooked by the sun. My
goodness but it was good fun! By The time the roofer arrived on the
Monday all was ready. Done.
Our agent was helping the roofer. My thoughts as he stood on the topmost
bricks were, of course, anxiety that the mortar may not have set
properly....
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Astratigos Village Life.... Getting some..
Is condensed from the book 'Pamela's House' - in current
preparation...
Continued in April... |
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In the News
Reviews...
Drug dealer...
24-year-old spotted selling hash to a 17-year-old at Iraklion
High School. Both were arrested.....
Link.
White Mountain accident...
A rescue operation was underway on Sunday 13th February to assist a
35-year-old climber who had sustained a leg injury whilst traversing the
White (Omalos) Mountains in north western Crete. Emak special operations
members and Hellenic Red Cross members were dispatched to the area....
Link to Story.
Fuel prices on Crete...
Are to be investigated as to whether petrol station owners on Crete
are working together to maintain artificially high prices. A previous
investigation, like the current one, was started by the Competition
commission in 2009, but has yet to report it's findings.
Fuel prices on Crete are among the highest in Greece.
The fuel station owners, for their part, have called upon the Government
to impose a ceiling on wholesale fuel prices....
Link to Story.
Plus, the Libyan Crisis...
The Greek Government dispatched three military Hercules transport
aircraft to Tripoli, Libya, to help evacuate it's citizens who wanted to
leave. Two modern ANEK Lines ferries - Olympic Champion and Hellenic
Spirit - also docked at Benghazi to embark not only Greek citizens, but
also other nationalities and Chinese nationals....
Link to Story.
And more than 13,000...
Chinese Nationals working in Libya were successfully evacuated to
Iraklion and Chania Crete on Greek ferries prior to being flown home by
their government...
Link to Story.
Tourism may not increase!...
But even if it does not this is good news for any bitter beer lover
who has become hooked on Greek 'Mythos' whilst on holiday here. You will
soon be able to get it there! (and in the US)...
Link to Story.
And not only that...
If European tourists spent their holidays here in Greece ensconced with
their Nova TV channel football matches, whilst their wives and
girlfriends sought to become the next Shirley Valentine by finding a
non-football-mad Greek (if there is such a thing), then get this - Nova
will possibly be coming to get you right there...
Link to Story.
But if you prefer...
Your booze and football right here in Crete - or
anywhere else in Greece then you may need to book early before the
Chinese, Indian, Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish visitors fill the
hotels, apartments and rooms with customers from these previously
visa-shy markets...
Link to Story.
And we are not kidding...
Air China for one intends to start direct flights on a daily basis to
Greece, and the runways at Chania are well able to cope with 747's - the
Russians already use it!...
Link to Story
But all may be already lost...
As Ryannair open new routes to Chania - but they will only be selling
seats from Milan and Frankfurt - not really starting points for UK
tourists or football fans. The German and Italian fans would seem to
have scored a goal...
Link to Story.
Excepting that easyjet already...
Have direct flights from London Gatwick to Iraklion, but even
they may cost English residents their Mythos beer and Nova TV football
as they start new flights direct from Edinburgh to Athens, an easy hop
to Crete...
Link to Story.
But perhaps Thomson holiday flights are...
The safest bet for getting here and back home without the financial
surprises of the cheap airlines. Have a look and listen to this story,
turn up the sound on you computer - ENJOY!...
Link to Story.
Quicklink.
Arkadi Monastery
Symbol of Freedom well worth a visit if you are holidaying on Crete.
Have a look at this story....
Arkadi Monastery.
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