Do You Want Granny? Take her, I am going to throw her out!

In the very back streets of Ano Korakiana which must be one of the prettiest villages in north central Corfu, spread along the south-facing mountain slope basking in the sunshine, Sarah and I were being shown an old house for sale. Upstairs, living in a kind of third-world squalor, is an old lady whose daughter is keen to sell the house so that she can afford to move her somewhere more, well, habitable.

Downstairs, in a treasure-chest of a cellar, amongst discarded window-frames, wine bottles, ceramic plant pots and the like, all decorated with swathes of thick spider-webs, the daughter of the house pulled out an old wooden frame to show us. Much battered, with cracked glass and covered in thick dust, the touched-up, photographed face of an old lady stared out at us. "Look, look" enthused our vendor. "Do you want Granny? Take her, I am going to throw her out. I need to tidy everything in here and I am only keeping the pots and a few bits and pieces for our new house." Noticing our slight embarrassment, she continued, "Don't worry, she's not MY Granny, we found her when we bought the house."

"Granny" was bundled into a large black bin bag conveniently lying close by and is now awaiting some t.l.c. and a new elevated position somewhere in my house!
Susan

I saw it

On Friday evening, as our sons' visit to Corfu was nearing its close, we went en-famille to one of those favourite neighbourhood tavernas that Corfu so excels at providing. The sort of taverna where four people can eat their fill of grilled meat, salad, chips and retsina and still have change from 40 euros. In this particular case we chose "Strapunto" at the upper end of Kato Korakiana and we had just settled into our chairs when across the sky, slightly to my left, sailed - heading landwards - a large .......... well, here started my problem. What exactly HAD I seen?

It looked like a comet or a shooting star but it was far too large and far too low in the sky. It was also slightly greeny/blue with a bright yellow "tail". Since the whole sighting was over in a few seconds there was no time for me to say more than "Ooh, what was that?" and only one of our party had a slight glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. Thank goodness he did, because I can't describe the disbelief of the others, and I won't attempt to explain the "crazy woman" gestures aimed in my direction!

I drew it on the paper tablecloth and tried to estimate its size, but as it appeared just over a hillside and disappeared behind some trees it really was difficult to quantify. In the end the conversation moved on and I dismissed the incident from my mind thinking only that maybe someone had been having a party nearby and that it was some sort of flare or impressive firework.

BUT ...the following day, answering a "Susanna, come quickly", I joined the others around the TV where there was a whole panel discussion about the "Sighting"! Nobody, as yet, seems certain what it was, but it seems to have been some sort of space debris, either natural or man-made, and it was seen in various parts of Greece, though the Mayor of the Kato Korakiana area was on the programme describing his own experience, so our particular location was obviously a good view point.

Vindication! Son with the rudest reaction at the time is now remorseful (a bit) and saying "I wish I'd seen it. Why did I pick the only chair that was facing the wrong way?"

I'm off to check the latest News programme to see if there is any more information!
Susan

This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm

First cicada!

Always a milestone in my calendar, yesterday we heard our first cicada (14th June) as opposed to last year when it was on 18th June. In 2007 it was earlier (10th), 2006 on 17th and in 2005 not until 28th June.
Susan

Dog disasters

We always used to have Labradors, usually two, to keep each other company. Then we didn't have a dog at all. Then we got the current monster (previously renowned for demolishing a 500 euro note).

I have always thought that he needed company and that this might stop him being so destructive, but husband always said one monster was enough thank you. However someone said the other day that they knew of a labrador needing a home, due to illness in the family of his current owners. To my surprise, husband told me to go and look at him. So I did, and fell in love. A 90% black labrador, with a white bib, in need of lots of love and attention.

A few days later I went and picked him up. Note, him. And of course that was the recipe for disaster. Two 'hims' vying for sovereignty added up to non-stop major fighting, with the poor little (by comparison) lab, mainly being the victim.

Since he also made the cardinal error of mistaking my husband for an intruder, he of course added to his sins, so husband, not being what you might call tolerant, insisted he be returned - a failed experiment.

I am still so upset. He is lovely - he sat in the car quietly, he came when I called him and he was thrilled to bits everyone time someone spoke to him or stroked him. He still needs a loving home, so if anyone has room in their house, garden and heart for a real sweetie - just get in touch with us!
Diana