Transformation

Sandra outside in her nighty doing a bit of computing!

It makes a real difference being in the new house in Vournikas, we really feel at home here.  Sandra has been getting used to  baking and cooking with the Arga type cooker which is very different to a conventional cooker, but the food is just as good as ever!  It's much warmer in this house although we have had a small fire on an evening it's not really necessary.  It makes us smile to think of the old house at Assos with the "thermansi" blasting away in the corner burning more oil than would run the car for a week and producing more black smoke than heat.  We would sit huddled near the heater with the side facing it being very warm but the side facing away being very cold, me visualizing Euros going through the roof.  This place is well insulated so even though it's a much bigger lounge/kitchen it's an even temperature all around.  The other thing is it's considerably warmer here on Lefkas than it is up in the mountain and at this time of year up at Assos there seems to be always cloud surrounding the village thus it's a very damp atmosphere.

Garden

Garden

We have spent much of this week bringing the garden back into shape.  It was originally laid out with minimal maintenance in mind but things were a tad overgrown.  Some things have been put in the wrong place as they are choking each other but will have to wait until Tree & Mike get here to see what they think, whilst many of the creeping plants were many feet over the stone covered walking area.  Anyway most of this has been completed now and the garden looks a real picture as you may be able to tell from the pictures.

The gathering at Lefkas Marina

 Sandra and I went out for a meal at an Italian restaurant in Nidre on Sunday night, we thought we would have something a little different to what we had been eating recently  and very nice it was too.  We even saw a couple of people who we hadn't seen for some considerable time so that was nice also.  Of course we had to be home for 10 o'clock for the X-factor!

Today, Thursday, we have been to a pontoon party on the marina at Lefkas.  This is just really a social get together for the people who are on the island for the winter as a way of introducing people to each other or re-establishing with old acquaintances, a bit of take along some food and drink for a communal table, what we used to call an American supper back in our caravanning days.  Very enjoyable afternoon and met some new people also arranged for Christmas Lunch, thanks  to Linda and Debs and thanks to Debbie and Jez for inviting us today.