Our Skopelos Christmas
Well it’s that time of year when you get a special dispensation to stuff yourself full of food and sweets, or is that just my idea of Christmas? I’ve never been one to go the whole hog with the big meal and Christmas pud – I’m not big on tradition. Apart from the fact that the weather has been better than it would be in England (although that has changed in the last few days), the fact that this is our first Skopelos Christmas hasn’t really seen us doing anything differently.
Junior finished school last week and the final day saw her school play being performed. She was very excited about this and had been practising her poem and Christmas songs for weeks. Dressed in a light blue smock decorated with olives, (she was ‘November’ – don’t ask!), she really enjoyed the performance although she pretended that she was feeling a bit nervous about being on stage in front of all the parents. This was blatantly untrue as the child is a born performer (I prefer the term performer to show off!) who told me the other day she’d like a twin sister, not because she wanted someone to play with, but because she wanted to see what she looked like from behind! I think it’ll be easier to get her a 360 degree mirror.
The following day was glorious and we sat outside the house having a drink with our sunglasses on, marvelling at the fact that it was the middle of December yet didn’t feel like it. Here’s a picture of the little Dot looking minuscule on the garden wall with an impressive backdrop.
The good weather was not to last and come Monday, cometh the wind. I’m not just talking a blustery gale, I’m talking lift you off your feet kind of a wind. Although the house faces the sea it seems to offer some form of protection from the worst of the elements so although we recognised it was windy (!) it wasn’t until we walked up the steps that we got the full force of the weather. Sean, being a tad heavier than I am, managed to retain his balance, whereas I had to grab hold of the walls to remain standing. Although it was exhilarating, it was also rather frightening and not something I would wish to repeat. On returning to the house I didn’t think I’d be able to make it down the steps and whilst Sean carried junior I had to grab hold of his coat to remain upright. Needless to say there were no boats that day! It’s still windy at the moment and the ferry is using Agnondas to dock in as it is a lot calmer than Skopelos port. Here’s the view from the garden wall on Monday.
I think we’ll have to scrap the idea of a picnic on the beach tomorrow and change it to a picnic in the house and a walk on the beach instead! Whatever you’re doing, and wherever you are, Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year from me, Sean, Junior and the animals.
