Whats happenin'

[Dupnica]

Thanks for that, I'll make sure I check every day.
Pleased to hear you got home safely Jackie and Andy,you made good time you must be exhausted. Have a great Winter,look forward to hearing from you.

[Dupnica]

Sorry, had a senior moment then meant to say Pete and Jackie. How did Bod enjoy the journey?

[BarbaraG]

Wow, don't envy you that journey Hippopots, but how nice it must be to see the sunshine after the miserable damp UK weather! Looking forward to your updates next year to carry us through till the summer.

[cambridge]

Wow, Hippopots, I on the other hand do envy your journey.

You must be a bit more hardcore than us though because your journey sounds like only a two sleeps journey, where as we managed to spin it out to a 5 sleeper trip!

One day when I get a moment I will post the full story of our trip down and back to Corfu this year. It was a real adventure and we wouldn't have missed it for the world. Even getting the car trashed by a red Suzuki jeep whilst it was parked up in SS didn't take the shine off the experience. The car yes, but the experience no.

[Dupnica]

 Yes we're still waiting Cambridge!!

[rilo57]

 Yes cambridge,its still high on my want to do list so any info would be very welcome.Hope your recent trip went well?

[hippopots]

Yep Cambridge, we are hardcore (read crazy!!), as we do one night taking in turns to drive taking naps in the van, then the 2nd night on the boat. By doing it this way we don't have to worry about finding a hotel thats dog friendly, and we also drive through Italy overnight, when its quiet! The first time we came we hit Milan at 5pm.....bad idea! Also, with a van full of stock, I do get a little paranoid about leaving it parked up overnight.

So today we woke up to a slightly overcast, breezy, but very mild day.
We had planned to take Bod to the beach this afternoon, but could see the waves crashing on the shore in Arillas, and figured there may not be a very large beach at the moment, and once the rain started this afternoon, we put the plan on hold!

But we did go to San Stef this afternoon, to unload all our stock.
As you can imagine it was very quiet, and the wind was getting up, causing the couple of flags that Spiros bikes left up to flap violently. Nice to see San Stefanos supermarket open on their reduced winter hours, as its very handy for locals to not have to travel far to pick up a few provisions.
And also saw Nikos from Athens Bar, who was busy doing a bit of maintenence.
Atrip to the beach will hopefully happen soon, but tonight its raining and thundering, so possibly not tomorrow.

[cabmufc]

Hi Jackie.Great that you are back "home" again and cant wait for your weekly? updates through the next 3 months.It will keep us all going until countdown starts properly again next March!!..Looking forward to seeing again you next July xx

[dibully]

Glad you made it back safely Jackie

[hippopots]

Well, the storm whipped up as promised on Monday night, bringing with it thunder and lightening. Tuesday was wet and thundery all day, but yesterday we woke up to lovely clear blue sky, and temperatures similar to a British summers day. 
As the afternoon progressed the clouds came in over the Diapontia Islands, and the thunder and rain returned.
We went to San Stef last night, for a few games of darts at 3 W's. There were also a few locals having a drink in El Greco, as these are the 2 bars open in the winter.
Took Bod for a late night walk before going home, and it never fails to amaze me how quiet it is here in winter....we can happily walk down the middle of the road and see no-one!

[hippopots]

Well, the thunderstorms of last Wednesday lasted on and off until Monday morning! But all has been calm for the last few days, and the weather has taken a great turn for the better, with sun shine all day yesterday, and a sunny, but slightly overcast day today.

Popped down to San Stef this morning, and had a lovely walk along the beach. The stream has taken a dramatic turn to the lest, with it emptying into the sea in front of 'Waves'...not actually seen it head in that direction before!

The storms of last week has washed up some seaweed, but once again past Havana, the beach is seaweed free, and pretty wide, with the sea gently lapping at the shore.

Walking along past the path up to Romaza, we were amazed to see goats clinging to the side of the cliff! Fortunately Bod didn't spot them and try and give chase.....

Abit of maintenence going on at Athina Hotel, and some work happening at Mango Bar, and the building next to Delfino Blu...will be interesting to see if that will be all done by this year, as the pool area there has been unfinished for a while.

[hippopots]

Wow, 14th December, and today we have been walking round in T shirts and sunglasses! An absolutely glorious day 

However, despite the sunshine, Christmas is coming!

A trip to San Stef this afternoon saw a lovely decorated Christmas tree at San Stef supermarket, and a snowman and santa guarding the door of 3 W's!

It's our first Corfu Christmas this year, and I wasn't sure how much in the way of Christmas lights would be displayed.....I love seeing places all lit up, and was thinking I might miss that this year. But a trip to Roda last night saw us passing numerous properties on the way all decked out with festive lights. And so pretty they all look too! 

[hippopots]

Another gorgeous sunny day here again....has been sunny for about a week now!

Popped to San Stef to give Bod a nice run on the beach. The stream has moved back more towards its usual direction now, and is just about narrow enough in one place to leap across without getting wet feet!

Walking past Olympia it was interesting to see building work going on....it looks like they are creating a nice new seating area out the front, by moving the folding glass doors further back. Should make a nice place to watch the world go by in the summer.

Aside from seeing Nikos working outside Athens Bar, bumping into Lesley in San Stef supermarket (beats battling around Tesco any day!), and seeing Glenn and Maria from Aquarius passing by in the car, all is quiet and peaceful.

[Dupnica]

 Hope you enjoy your first Christmas in Corfu and best wishes to all forum members.

[hippopots]

Well, our first Corfu Christmas has been lovely. We spent Christmas Eve afternoon with friends and aquaintances, sat outside a friends house in Afionas, overlooking the village and sea. The weather was absolutely amazing, we were all in T shirts and sunglasses! Christmas Day was slightly overcast, but we did still manage to take Bod for a walk on the beach, although we did only get as far as Arillas, rather than San Stef.
Boxing Day became cooler and cloudier, then from then on the weather went downhill rapidly, with thunder, lightening, high winds, and rain lashing down! We woke on Sunday AM to the news of the ferry that had caught fire en route to Italy, and was about 45 miles off the coast of San Stef. Watching the waves crashing against the rocks, and with the wind whistling around the house, we followed the story on line and on TV. The fear the passengers, crew, and rescueers must have been feeling is hard to imagine.

And now we have dry, but very cold weather, with the possibility of snow forecast for tomorrow....what a difference a week can make!!