The post you are about to read was actually posted on 6th August, but the hosting company migrated my site and in the process I have been offline for several days and have lost that post.  As it was a special one (well all of them are special to me) and because luckily I keep drafts, I am re-posting it now.

It is the 6th August and we are in the midst of another dreadful heatwave here on Crete. The Greek authorities have declared it the hottest on record and wildfires have been raging all over Greece and the islands. This is putting enormous pressure on the Electricity supply and this morning we had the inevitable power cut! I am so grateful that this heatwave didn’t happen last week, when my family were over. Out of curiosity I put my fridge magnet thermometer outside on my balcony overlooking the sea, to record the temperature. It went off the scale at over 120F (over 50C) and burst the bulb!

Enjoying our meal at Elia in Almyrida

I cannot face getting into my burning hot car (despite the reflective wind screen cover), not being able to touch the steering wheel and now to make matters worse and just when I really need it – the aircon has packed up!
So I have opted to stay at home where thankfully the aircon IS working. I dread to think what my next electricity bill is going to be. In the 12 years that I have lived on Crete, I have never experienced a summer as hot as this one has been. I cannot set up my stall and sell by Almyrida beach because, with the heatwave – the lovely cooling breezes disappear altogether. I would surely melt during the 9/10 hours I am there.

At the poolside of the Almyrida Beach Hotel

On a much lighter and happier note – it goes without saying that I enjoyed the most wonderful week with Emma, Ash, Ralph and Neve. Once again I had Ralph and Neve over for tea and a stopover, whilst Emma and Ash got some valuable time alone together. I cannot find the words to express the joy I feel when I am playing and looking after Ralph and Neve. To have a whole week of playing with them in the sea and swimming pools.. and everything else we all do together – is truly a blessing in today’s pandemic circumstances.

Ralph and Neve on my balcony watching the sheep below.

Although it is now much busier with tourists in Almyrida, the Langley resort where my family were staying was barely 10 percent full, so we had their enormous pool and children’s pool to ourselves! However we spent only one day there because there were no facilities open for drinks, food or even ice-creams. Instead we spent a couple of days at the Almyrida Beach hotel poolside as it’s just perfect for kids and it’s nice to have lunch there. In my basement storeroom I have amassed a large box full of water toys like little blow up boats, little surf boards, buckets and spades, water pistols and everything you can imagine for kids to enjoy in the water.

We took a day trip out to Falasarna Beach and although we paid a staggering 30 Euros for 4 beds and 2 parasols, it was worth it. I say beds because that is what we were lying on and they were so comfortable! The turquoise sea was so clean and clear and it was completely sandy all the way in.

Because I want to make the most of the tourists that are here now, there were two days last week that I didn’t spend with my family but was selling by the beach instead. On one of these days Emma and Ash took Ralph and Neve to the big water park in Limnoupolis and reported back that it was absolutely fantastic. The kids had a whale of a time!

So we all had a really fab and wonderful week together. All the photos and videos we took reminding us of the wonderful memories we’ve made again. Emma and Ash both felt all the stress leading up to their holiday was so worth it for the fabulous time they had. I just feel overwhelmingly blessed.

Greek Urn & Plant Seashell Mosaic Painting. I sold 2 of these in July

I am so pleased that I was able to sell my artworks in July this summer, especially as this heatwave at the start of August is preventing me from setting up my stall so far this month. At least I have been lucky to sell 22 seashell mosaic paintings during the two days a week I set up in July and I am most grateful for that.
It is day 7 of this latest heatwave and I have had enough of being stuck at home with the aircon! I have managed to get a lot of work done but I feel so out of sorts not being able to sell this week. The forecast from tomorrow is much better with temperatures down to a comfortable 32/33 degrees and with hopefully accompanying breezes again.  So tomorrow I am spending the afternoon catching up with Lisa and Debbie on the beach in Kalyves.