The First Week

Day 6 - Saturday 5.4.14

Sunny but quite windy today. Our apartment is lovely, we have a large bedroom, shower room, and the sitting room is well equipped with 2 easy chairs and coffee table. A TV and dining table, ample kitchen units,  cooker, fridge/freezer and washing machine. Outside we have a big balcony complete with table and chairs, beyond that we have a parking space and a fenced garden.

Balcony

Garden again

Garden

We had a busy morning unpacking and did some washing, it is a luxury having a washing machine in our apartment. No Wi-fi connected yet - Avrio lol
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Fancy a swim

There is a river at the bottom of the garden behind the fence which is fresh water running down from the hills and goes right down to the beach under the bridge on the seafront. This is where Poppy found that she can have a drink during our walk - also we can wash the salt off her after her swim.


We had a drink with Eggy in the Marvel - then he came and collected his Strimmer and darts paraphernalia we had brought over from the UK. Had dinner in the Marvel.









Day 7 - Sunday 6.4.14

Today is another milestone for me 75 days without a cigarette - well done me!
Dull, cloudy and raining this morning - we had our first visitor for coffee - bless him he brought me a couple of onions for our Pasta Bolognese tonight. Thunder and lightening this afternoon and the Wi-fi was connected so we stayed in and chilled out and caught up with the WWW and our emails.

Day 8 - Monday 7.4.14

Phil n Jen arrived at lunchtime, we sat in the lovely sunshine and had a couple of drinks with them - a nice relaxing afternoon. We met up for a meal at the Marvel and was joined by 'Eggy'. We did what we do best - put the world to rights and consumed copious amounts of alcohol.

 Day 9 - Tuesday 8.4.14

Greek wine

Exactly one year ago today Phil had his heart attacks - what a year we have had - but he has survived to tell the tale, and we are now living our dream.

We drove to Sidari to find an ATM as the one in Arillas is not up and running yet. We shopped for some essentials and have found a lovely wine we like at €4 for 1.5 litres.

Went for a long walk this afternoon and saw lots more friends - Poppy, Spiros & George at Bardis Sun, Ina and her children. Kostas & Hannah (with her lovely bump), Perry busy making the 'Nut' ready for the visitors. Saw Brenda walking her dog along the beach and we stopped for a chat but the dogs do not seem to like each other. Met Leon getting Ammos ready for the season. There is so much activity going on all you can hear are pressure washers and strimmers.


Day 10 - Wednesday 9.4.14

Present for baby Angelos

Phil and I visited Leon, Verena and took a present for baby Angelos @ their house (omg - what a magnificent view they have and I forgot to take a photo - must remember next time we go.

We had a walk along the beach with Poppy then came back for a lazy lunch and afternoon on the balcony.
What a magnificent opening night it was at Brouklis. Phil and I, t'other Phil n Jen - sat @ 'table 13' and enjoyed a wonderful meal, Cheese pies and Courgette balls, Bifteki and Chicken souvlaki then Jen and I finished off with some Orange cake - all washed down with copious amounts of Mythos (t'other Phil) and wine for the rest of us. I accidentally invented a new word - puddingasm - I don't think it needs an explanation if you have all seen the film. The place was very busy lots of locals turned up to wish Dimitris well for the new season. Another magical night in our favourite place on the planet.

Phil and I with t'other Phil being silly at Brouklis

Day 11 - Thursday 10.4.14

Last September I asked Kostas to look after a bag of 'stuff' for us, he gave it back to me today - it was like Xmas looking through it, as I could not remember what I had left. Lots of treasures.
Oh my it is so windy today, huge waves, even Poppy would not go in the water. Just a quick walk today as Phil had difficulty breathing, we escaped into Armourada for an Orange juice. It was a hive of activity in there watching the boys painting and cleaning.
This evening we drove to San Stefanos, Neil had invited us to The Three W's for a darts night, we enjoyed it, made a nice change. Then back to the Marvel for a nightcap with T'other Phil n Jen and Kostas.
Well that is the end of our first week, Arillas is very different out of season, all our local friends are very busy getting ready for the influx of 'bloody tourists', as we are here for 3 months they are classing us as locals!