Happy New Year from Taverna Agni
What a great Christmas it has been here in Corfu – our new baby, my parents over to visit and snow! Yes, for the first time since records began, it snowed on Corfu. In response we had: power cuts; the schools and roads were closed; a state of national emergency was declared and by lunchtime it had all melted! Just as well we do not have trains - imagine what the leaves would do!!
Anyway, I picked up my parents Christmas eve. They had to fly via Athens – there are no direct flights from the UK to Corfu during the winter. Christmas day was spent ‘traditionally’ at Eleni’s parents. The Greeks celebrate Christmas in a similar way to the rest of Europe – with all the pomp and ceremony. (Easter though is more important to them.) For Christmas lunch, we enjoyed a feast of roasted lamb with all
the trimmings prepared by Eleni’s mum (Aphrodite) – she was up at 4am for this. The whole family were present – even Theo with his Yorkshire girlfriend – Lynn! The day was a great success, although the traditional ‘roasted lamb’s head’ was met with horror by my parents! The highlight of the day though was the photo sessions – all the grandparents with their new granddaughter.
Boxing day was a similar extravaganza! This time Eleni’s father (Harilos) cooked on the BBQ – a huge fish - caught by him of course. It is ironical though that at this time of religious significance that we all gorge ourselves and end up sleeping for the rest of the day. With this in mind, and after two days of feasting, my parents made a pre new-year resolution; they should do some walking. I located a copy of my
walking guide map (you can download it from the website) and I was their guide! Starting at the Taverna in Agni bay and with hiking boats on; my walking map and parents in tow; we set off. It may seem strange to you, but I have only once walked the coastal path from Agni to Nissaki during my Eight (or is it Nine) years of living here. Over the years, I have sent hundreds of people down the path – ‘yes it’s just a short walk’ I would tell them ‘under a few olive trees, wild flowers, gentle paths and you’ll have no problem in
your flip-flops.’ Now, my parents are good walkers – which is just-as-well. The path was bolder strewn with deep ravines, and yes, no wonder I never saw those unsuspecting tourists I had sent down the path again! But, it was stunning. What a walk. Spring flowers, scenery like you have never seen and no people! We stopped for a breather at a nearly completed villa between Nissaki beach hotel and Kaminaki. It is owned by friends of ours - Francis and Ros. After admiring the inspirational view, my father started the quest of
looking for his own holiday villa to buy…… I’ll let you know how he progresses.
So enough of this, to the ‘baby news’. Little Aphrodite seems to change every day. She is now fully focused and greets us every morning with a smile. Most nights she is sleeping well – which may in part be due to the re-instatement of ‘normal’ milk formula. You may recall that she was allergic to dairy products and has been on an artificial type milk sludge. Well the doctor suggested that now she is older, we try
her on something more substantial. She seems to guzzle it up with no reaction. Eleni and I take turns in the feeding – I usually do the last ‘sleepy’ feed at 1am – and hopefully she then sleeps until 6am. The odd night that she has been a little ‘colicky’ I tend to stay up and with baby in arms attend to the ongoing website update. I have made great progress over the last few weeks. The new navigation system is finished, along with the Corfu travel guide – although I am still searching for some pictures of those more obscure little
resorts like Roda and Sidari! The most recent addition to the site is the online Greek lessons. Eleni is currently recording the final texts – let me know what you think as we expect you all to be fluent speakers next time you visit! Any other comments or thoughts about the site are gratefully received and inspire me to continue.
Incidentally, I am writing this just before new years eve. We have joined the grandparents at their home. The TV is bussing with news about the incoming Euro. We are watching as all the cash machines are being loaded with the new notes. Yes we have all tried to avoid the Euro introduction, but, now it is here. Father-in-law came back from the bank the other day with the new ‘Euro starter kit’. This is given out
free by the banks (paid for by you) to all their account holders and is basically a bag of the new Euro coins and a calculator. I am not too impressed with the new coins. Firstly they are all round and very similar in colour. I am told the notes are better. I like the hexagon shaped coins (the 50 pence piece for example) or the old Greek ones with the hole. Surely when starting a new currency you can break the rules and introduce something a little more inventive and easier to distinguish between. I am not sure how the Euro will
effect us at the Taverna – if at all. The occasional Italian family who would turn up – eat a huge meal and then offer to pay in Lira will now be unable to complain about the exchange rate that we give them!
Well darling people, it is nearly midnight – I can tell because the TV is raising to a crescendo and Theo is starting to load his shotgun! Wishing you all a most happy prosperous year, sorry for the spelling mistakes, (must be the wine), and looking forward to seeing you in 2002.
Nathan, Eleni and sleeping baby Aphrodite.
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With 'English' Granddad
With 'Greek' Granddad
Christmas Dinner
Aphrodite with new boyfriend "Tom Jones"
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"The original Corfu Villas celebrates 30 years"
You are now able to order the new
'GREEK ISLANDS - 2002'
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