The Eighth Week

Day 54 - Friday 23.5.14

We were late up today as we didn't go to bed until 4am.

We drove to Sidari for lunch. Our friends Andy and Fiona own the beach bar Seamonkeys, it is a beautiful location and Poppy went for a swim - I wished I had put my cossie on as the water looked so inviting. Andy has said that we can park the campervan on their grass next to the bar one night and stay over - sounds like a plan!











Phil was delighted to find a Pukka Steak and Kidney pie on the menu. Not traditional Greek food, but he has not had one for three months.








We came back to the Marvel to say goodbye to Kes, Kath, Paul, Tracey and Arthur as they are all leaving tonight. Lynne and Gary arrived and we had a lovely chat with them. 21.1 deg at 9pm. Early night tonight!

Day 55 - Saturday 24.5.14

I took Poppy to the beach for a swim, booked a table for the Greek night tonight and said goodbye to Anne Byrne who is going home today. We went to the Marvel for lunch and to welcome Gill and Nigel who arrived this afternoon. Today has been hot and sunny, after a cloudy start.

 Tonight we went to the Marina for the Greek night with Gill and Nigel. We saw our friends, Wendy, Stuart, Janis, Charlotte, Darrell and Izzy there too.
















 The dancing was fantastic and tonight was Telis son's first night of dancing in public - he is a star in the making and I am sure he will be as good a dancer as his father before too long.

 I had Garlic prawns.












Gill and I Doing what we do best!









We called at the Nut on the way up and had a lovely chat with Joan and John. Then back to the Marvel to say goodnight to Ann, John, Gill, Nigel and Kostas. It was 20deg at 9pm.

Day 56 - Sunday 25.5.14

It was 20deg at 9am. We went over to the Marvel for a late breakfast so Phil would be there to watch the Monaco Grand Prix. Our friends (who we met in Italy) messaged us to say they were coming to see us. Terry stayed with Phil to watch the Grand Prix and Loretta and I walked to the beach with Poppy. She loved throwing the stick into the sea for Poppy. Then we went over to the Pool Bar for 4 o'clock drinks.
We all went to Brouklis Taverna tonight the fellers had Spit Roast Lamb as Terry has been wanting this since April. I had Pumpkin pie and Loretta had a lovely white fish with a lemon sauce. We were so busy chatting we forgot to take photos.     21 deg at 9pm.

Day 57 - Monday 26.5.14

Still 21 deg at 9am. We took Lynne and Gary to Sidari with us and went for lunch to Seamonkeys again.

Andy had just got back from Athens, where he had been for the Greek open darts championship and he and his partner won the Doubles. Here he is with his trophy.









Lynne and Gary went off walking, Poppy had a swim and then we came back to Arillas after buying some flowers. We went to the 4 o'clock club and Poppy had another swim. More friends Peter and Tracey arrived today.

 Our friends Joy and Cliff arrive tonight, it was their second wedding anniversary yesterday and Cliff had asked me to get some roses for her, for when they arrive.













Two more friends Karen and Ian arrived today - on their 30th Wedding anniversary. Karen loves writing in the sand so we did this for them. It took several attempts as Poppy kept walking over it - you can just see her paw prints, bottom right, I think she wanted to sign it!






This evening we said goodbye to our lovely neighbours Ann and John, then we walked down to have a drink with Karen and Ian to toast their anniversary. Then back to the Marvel to wait for Joy and Cliff. It was lovely to see them as we had not seen them since last summer when they came to stay with us in Grimsby for a weekend.

Day 58 - Tuesday 27.5.14

Gorgeous sunshine today 20 deg at 9am. Today is our friend Gary's 60th birthday! He wanted to keep it hush hush and no one to know. Well with a wife like Lynne and friends like us - that was never going to happen. We had a normal day, walking and swimming for Poppy, chatting and vino for us.

Then we went to the Marvel for Gary's surprise party!

Kostas arranged for Gary's cake - it had a naked lady on it! He loved it as you can see,

We went to the Coconut after the Party as there was a live band on.











 Gary had a flashing 60 badge but was too embarrassed to wear it so I wore it for him. I was quite flattered really as people thought it was my 60th - I wish!














Our lovely friends Lynne and Gary












We danced the night away!










Day 59 - Wednesday 28.5.14

20 deg at 9am. Lovely and sunny today.


 We went down to the beach Poppy had a swim and play with Gill.









Then we went for lunch and another Quiz at Sharon's pool bar. This week they raised over 100
euros for the Animal charity.












It was a good turnout. The Quizmaster was Dave Smith again, he did an excellent job - even if he was pedantic!





Tonight Phil and I went to Armourada for a friendly Darts knock out. I did rather well even if I do say it myself. I think they were all impressed - I got through to the final, might be because I had a good partner in Pete. While we were there I had the most amazing Moussaka, it is the best one I have ever tasted.

Day 60 Thursday 29.5.14 

'Today the 29th of May there will be this year’s first  festival in Arillas.
It takes place near the local Church and old school of Arillas village which is about one and a half km from the beach on the way to Magoulades on the main road.
The local church is dedicated to the The Ascension of Jesus, which was when the resurrected Jesus was taken up to heaven in his resurrected body, (Acts 1:9-11) in the presence of eleven of his Apostles, occurring 40 days after the resurrection.
The church on Analipsi "Ανάληψη" (Ascension) was build during the 50’s by the volunteer help and donations of the people of Arillas. Since then, we established the Arillas Analipseos Festival which is always on a Thursday 39 days after the Greek Easter Sunday.
The event starts at about 20:00  until late in the night.
 The Festival is organized by non profitable organizations based in Arillas those who are responsible for the Wine Festival in September and the Music festival in July or August. The Arillas Folklore dancing club is consisted by over 60 members from the ages of 5 to 60 years old . Every time they dance you can experience these different traditional Greek dances performed by this mixture of ages all with the same pride, something that we do not see any more in many countries.
The music from the Traditional  Live Band is combined with some BBQ with souvlakis , wine and loads of our Local Corfu Beer from our unique Microbrewery'. This information was taken from www.arillas.com.

19 deg at 9am. This morning Joy and Cliff came to visit us for a coffee and we decided to go to Akrotari for lunch - unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse and it started raining while we were there so no photos were taken. It continued to rain for the rest of the afternoon. This evening Cliff and Joy invited us to join them for dinner - another perfect Arillas evening! Rounded off by having drinks with Gill and Nigel too. The rain continued quite heavily and Kostas told me the Festival was cancelled.

This was some Sand Art on Arillas beach today. Someone has lots of patience.



The end of our eighth week - time is flying by so fast now!