Greece is burning

We sit in then relative safety of the island, watching the agony of the country in flames on Greek TV. It is impossible to express the horror of what is happening as we see a nightmare unravelling in dramatic TV film footage throughout the day. Even shopping channels have stopped Perhaps the catastrophe can be best understood by a mobile phone call to a TV station which simply said “Help us, we are burning…..” . Huge flames engulf the countryside and plumes of smoke ominously mark the rapid spread of the fires. Villages surrounded with flame, no escape, mothers found dead clutching their children, distress on the faces of the people, the hopelessness of the old, homes burn - black and charred, dead animals are strewn around like litter, firefighters working desperately against all odds. Fires the length and breadth of this beautiful country.

It truly is a Greek tragedy, with so many people dying. It is hard not to be emotionally drawn into the hopelessness of the situation. Two haunting images shown on television remain in my mind’s eye, a firefighter climbing to the top of a church to ring the bell as a warning to villagers and another of a priest standing in front of the flames holding out a wooden cross asking for God’s help. I hope that I will also forget some of the others.

Maybe the winds that drive the flames will die down today. It is hard to believe that it has not been organised somehow, otherwise why are there not big fires throughout the islands?

Black Saturday - Greece in flames

Black Saturday - Greece in flames

As a relatively newcomer to Greece, the horrific events of frightening fires over the last two days have come as a dreadful shock. Fires rage out of control throughout the country, the fire services are overwhelmed and this afternoon the official death toll exceeded 50, including 11 firefighters and a number of children. The reports on television are graphic and the nightmare of people being caught unable to escape the flames, is impossible to comprehend. It is a truly tragic day for everyone in Greece.

On Friday, we saw smoke coming from the mountains around Lakki, only 12 kilometers away, but fortunately, it was dealt with quickly. Maybe living on an island surrounded by the sea which allows aeroplanes and helicopters to easily collect water is lucky. If there is a fire fanned by a strong north wind, it would be impossible to escape the village as the White Mountains allow no retreat South. Food for thought.

Maybe the UK could answer the Greek governments plea for help?

Fire and wobbles

Fire and Wobbles

Fire is a great concern to everyone and although the village is away from the forests, we are surrounded by olives groves. The sound of helicopters flying overhead with large buckets of water slung below the fuselage, makes the heart sink and we rush out to see what direction they are flying. When we were in Souda, we could see the yellow fire planes scooping up water from the bay to drop on the fires in the South. Seeing smoke in the mountains is a real worry

We felt our first “wobble” yesterday. Having my siesta, I suddenly became aware of the day bed slightly moving – our first experience of a tiny earth tremor

Rufus in Crete

It’s a dog’s life in Crete …or Rufus and other creatures.

Rufus, Buffy and Tigger have all adjusted to their new lives here on the island. They have come through the heatwaves unscathed, and in the cooler weather enjoy life to the full.

Rufus has come to terms with the sheep in the field next door, but now has other interests. The local cats wander into the garden, not having been told that dogs chase cats, so they simply stand firm, despite frantic barking. He has a new friend in the Max, next door’s young dog, who is on a chain in the garden. Max can leap and hang on to the top of a wall and if Rufus stands on tiptop, they can touch noses. Last week, Rufus gave max his rawhide “chewy” by shoving it through the wire fencing topping the wall.

Wildlife is a different matter. I have mentioned the run-ins with “Spikey Norman”, our resident hedgehog, which result in Rufus coming off worse with the odd bloody nose. However, we now have two “pondiki”, brown and white mice (do I smell a rat?), living in the olive trees which come out at sunset. They drive Rufus mad as they leap from branch to branch with him chasing up and down after them. Yesterday, we have an unusual visitor, a shrew, but fortunately it got behind the flowerpots before Rufus could get it.

What next for the little guy…..who for some reason we nickname “Mr Pooh”

Village commemoration

Yesterday, there was a commemoration service for those 130 men , women and children of the village who were suffocated by the Turks whilst hiding in a cave nearby in 1821. Just a small local event, no, the ceremony appeared on Greek TV! Long memories.

Oh...... and totally unconnected, the hunting season officially starts today. Bang, Bang (better keep Rufus, Buffy and Tigger hidden)

Rufus and the hammock

End of Term Report

Four months on - So what makes Cretan life interesting – and different living in a foreign country?

The sky is blue and the sun shines on the mountains every morning
Watching the sunrise and sunset.
The night sky is always clear and there are thousands of stars (remember Joni Mitchell’s Matala song?).
Filling the house with the sound of Cretan music on radio.
Walking to the village Kafenion for the bread and pick up the post each morning.
Children of all ages playing carefree in the street till late into the evening.
Sheep in the garden or the next door field - to the delight of Rufus and Buffy.
The cicadas making incredible noise outside.
Strange things flying around and small creatures scurrying around - lizards in the garden, scorpions in the bath and a praying mantis watching you eat your evening meal.
Eating (and drinking) on the roof terrace almost every evening in the cool – as everyone does, often accompanied by the gentle sound of gunfire.
Sweeping up the buckshot from the terrace the following morning.
Jam and cake making and BBQ cooking.
Buying from the "tiri-man (cheese)" and other passing pickups selling all you ever need.
Local Cretan evenings at the local taverna (not for the tourists) – wild dancing and plaintive songs long into the early hours.
Attending the baptism of the local priest’s baby in one of the seven village churches high up in the hills.
Travelling to Thessoloniki for our first Greek wedding - wonderful.
Greek TV - and not a mention of the USA or Bush on the news, international news is largely Turkey and Italy, possibly a mention of the UK and France. Strictly news about Greece, local and national, from wild fires, deaths on the roads to new sets of traffic lights and school plays.
Hiding from the recent heatwave in air-conditioned rooms, sleep in the afternoon, eat late in the evening and retire to bed when all the chores are done (I have not worn a watch since arriving here).
Slowly becoming acquainted with more and more local people. Everyone seems to have time to pass the time of day or talk, cars stop in the middle of the road so the driver can talk to a passing friend. Every evening our neighbours do their "volta" or walk through the village to see neighbours and no doubt gossip about the strange English couple.
The running battle between Rufus and our resident hedgehog.
Driving – Greek-style.
Struggling with the Greek language.

What do we miss – nothing except Fish and Chips and a good Indian restaurant!….. and family and friends, of course.

New photos to follow.