We have been very lucky not to have experienced any further serious heatwaves since I last wrote in this blog. I know other parts of Europe and particularly Spain, have suffered with very high temperatures during August. For the most part though, I have been comfortable on my selling days at the edge of Almyrida beach and this is all due to the constant breezes coming off the sea.
Seagulls In Seashell Mosaic Collage Painting – sold yesterday from my beach stall
Currently, we are experiencing several days of cloudy unsettled weather. It is very humid but not sunny and thick dark clouds threaten thunderstorms that never materialize to clear the air. Again Crete has been lucky to miss the worst of the current storm Daniel raging across central Greece, which has hit the island of Skiathos very badly too, leaving many stranded holidaymakers. But I also do feel sorry for the tourists that are here on Crete this week while the weather is so unsettled, especially visitors from the UK who have left just as a heatwave has arrived, finally bringing some semblance of a ‘late summer’ to the wet and miserable UK.
However this unsettled weather is good news for me as I’ve gained more customers from people who were walking around the village yesterday instead of spending their day on the beach.
Love Seahorses in Seashell Mosaic Painting sold from my beach stall in August
August has been a busy month for producing my Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings and attempting to keep up with demand. August is always busy work-wise and I am happy to report good sales again as I sold 40 original artworks in July and a total of 57 original artworks in August. I do get a lot of repeat business and it is always lovely to welcome back regular visitors to Almyrida. Some visitors like Rickard and his family came back for another holiday after 10 years and Rickard even left a lovely comment on this blog all those years ago! Yesterday I welcome another family who visited Almyrida 4 years ago.
Lisa and I have been continuing our relaxing Sundays while Debbie has been in the UK. A few weeks ago I needed to collect more pebbles for my fast and now best-selling cat designs. So we went to Georgioupoli for a change and enjoyed a lovely day and a nice lunch on the huge and beautiful beach there. We’ve spent quite a few Sundays in Almyrida, our Norwegian friend Solveig who was here for a couple of weeks, joining us for a day on the beach and last Sunday, because the weather was starting to turn, we had a long and leisurely lunch at Atlantis taverna in Almyrida.
With Lisa & Solveig – our long and leisurely lunch last Sunday at Atlantis in Almyrida
Later that night we all went to Ross and Matt’s gig at Stella’s Meze Bar in Kalyves. They are a talented acoustic duo called The Blue Orchids and play regularly in the UK. They are a refreshing alternative to the many rock bands here. As they are not permanent residents here, we only get the pleasure of their performances once or twice during the summer.
At Ross & Matt’s gig in Kalyves
There have been lots of live music gigs, as is par for the course in summertime. Earlier this week, as part of the culture season at The Old Olive Mill in Kalyves, I went to a ‘Bombay Night of music and dance entertainment with traditional Indian food served. Last night there was a big charity event held at my local, Vangeli’s in Plaka which was in aid of raising money for difibrillators for all the surrounding villages. Paul has previously raised money for difrillators now stationed in Plaka and Almyrida. I packed up my stall early to enjoy the evening which consisted of two local bands supplying the live music and a raffle for which I had donated a Baby Turtles Seashell Mosaic. September also looks set to be a busy month for both work and social events and I say… bring it on!