We continue to be really fortunate with the weather here on Crete this summer. Temperatures have remained in the low 30’s and last week we had clouds and a couple of days when temperatures were in the late 20’s. It was bliss! At this point in time, there appear to be no signs of any forthcoming heatwaves either. Believe me when I say this is truly a blessing for me as I struggle to maintain my busy summer lifestyle when extreme heat saps all the energy out of me!
Despite this, Crete has recently had its share of some pretty scary wildfires in the Rethymnon area, where 2 firefighters and 2 helicopter pilots tragically lost their lives.
Flipflops in Seashell Mosaic on Sand – 20x20cms – best seller this summer
Rewinding back to the beginning of July – I made sure I watched the last two England matches in the World Cup at my local, Vangeli’s in Plaka and was of course, disappointed when they lost. However I’m not disappointed that the world Cup is over as I see more tourists from the UK again and indeed the consequent increase in sales of my Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings for the 2nd half of July. I actually ended up selling more than last year, with a total of 41 artworks.
Arthur & Ava in the little rocky cove at the far beach in Almyrida
I’ve just enjoyed a wonderful crazy week with my grandchildren Arthur and Ava. Zoe and Rich booked the all inclusive Kiani Beach Resort in Kalyves, mainly because of all the many facilities for young children. They arrived late on the Friday night and I spent the whole of Saturday and Sunday at the resort. Needless to say, Arthur and Ava were never out of the water and neither could or would be left to their own devices. Arthur is six and Ava is two… a right little couple of tearaways!
Ava playing in one of the pools at Kiani Beach Resort, Kalyves
I didn’t join the family on Monday as it is a selling day for me, but on Tuesday morning, Rich, Zoe and the kids came to Almyrida and we had a lovely day on the beach at the far end of Almyrida, where the little rocky cove is. The kids absolutely loved it there, splashing around and playing in the shallow waters, just as Ralph and Neve did at their ages. We had lunch at Francoise and then returned to the beach for a few more hours. We were back at my place in Plaka by 6pm, when Zoe and Rich left to enjoy a much needed break.
Dinner with Arthur & Ava on my front balcony
I gave Arthur and Ava showers, then dinner and it was after 9pm before I could finally get Ava off to sleep, even though she must’ve been exhausted without any kind of nap during the day. Arthur was in bed by 10pm and I followed soon after. Apart from Ava waking briefly at 2am, they didn’t get up until 8.30am the next day, so I guess I was lucky with that! After breakfast I set up the table to do crafts with Arthur and Ava on the back balcony overlooking the sea and which is in shade until about 3pm. I had a canvas for Arthur to make his own beach artwork and a whole heap of different seashells for Ava to mess with. They loved it and there were plenty of other toys for them to play with as I have a bag full of things I have collected over the 10 years I’ve been a Yiayia. Also, when they are at mine on the balcony, they love looking down at all Vasili’s sheep. Ava has a thing about sheep and kept singing ‘Ba Ba Black Sheep’, haha!
Arthur & Ava being creative with seashells
We had lunch on the back balcony and at around 2.30pm, Zoe and Rich arrived to take Arthur and Ava back to the hotel. I was selling again on Thursday but was able to spend most of their last day with them. They had to check out of their room by 11am despite their flight not being until 10pm that evening. So they dumped all their luggage at mine and decided to spend their last day at the beach with the rocky cove in Almyrida again. But the sea was really rough and choppy and Ava wouldn’t go near it. We had lunch and spent the afternoon using the poolside facilities of the Almyrida Beach Hotel instead.
Ava at mine, doing karaoke and singing Ba Ba Black Sheep!
They all showered and changed back at mine and then we relaxed for about an hour before their taxi to the airport arrived. Of course this week just flew by and I felt totally exhausted from my hyper, overactive grandchildren for a couple of days after they all left. Apart from the small breaks I gave them, Zoe and Rich were wiped out too and were actually looking forward to going home! Such is life with two small children who are not the easiest to handle. Yet I am missing Arthur and Ava still so much, even days after they have left.
At the beach in Almyrida… shame Arthur is pulling such a face!
My other daughter, Emma, husband Ash and my grandchildren Ralph and Neve were originally not coming to Crete this year again, because of other family commitments on Ash’s side. But whilst I was splashing about with Arthur and Ava at the resort, a text came through from Emma saying she had booked for her and the kids to come out to Crete for a week on 10th August. Ryanair were offering such cheap flights, she just couldn’t resist!
Zoe with Ava at Kiani Beach Resort
But she should have checked with me first as I am flying to the UK on 16th August for my niece, Hannah’s wedding. Emma and Ash are also going to the same wedding, but Emma thought I was travelling a couple of days later. As Ash is not able to come to Crete with them, they will all stay with me. Initially I was annoyed because it’s a lot of extra hassel and I will not be able to pick them up from the airport or indeed drop them back on the Monday morning as I will be leaving on Sunday evening.
But hey! I am super excited that they are coming to stay and I can’t wait to see my other two grandchildren Ralph, now 10 and Neve, just turned 8 years old. So it’s looking to be a really hectic August this year and I feel so lucky that all of my grandchildren will have been to Crete this summer. It’s also true that I miss my daughters Zoe and Emma often, so it’s really lovely to spend quality time with them here on Crete.
with Ava at Kiani Beach Resort, Kalyves
A week in August for Hannah and Matt’s wedding will be a true holiday for me too! I have never been back to the UK in August in the 17 years I have lived on Crete. I’ll be staying with Karen and Mike (Hannah’s parents) apart from the two nights at the wedding venue. I am super excited to be part of another big family wedding, the last of which was Zoe and Rich’s here on Crete back in 2018.
I am so lucky and I still have so much to look forward to.