.Mark's hair was long and going really blonde so he looked like Brad Pitt (Dream on! - I really just wanted to put a photo of Brad Pitt on my blog!)
We spotted a local hairdresser while out and about but didn't have the courage to try it. Fortunately for us, just recently, we happened to bump into a couple that we know in a coffee shop. She mentioned that she had been to the very same hairdresser, but not had a good experience. The hairdresser having finished cutting her hair had said that "It will look better in a week"!!!!
So that one was off the list. She recommended one in the village just a bit further round the coastline which we went to. Lovely small modern salon and the young couple were really nice. Job done - hairdresser found.
We have had some issues with the post. The postman had just got to know where we live and then all of a sudden he was gone. It looked like his contract wasn't renewed. We had to pick our post up at the local post office. No problem.
I've been there a few times already and it's a sloooooow.........process. You have to be prepared to wait a whiiiiiiiiile..........to pick up your post, while it's 28 degrees outside and 27 degrees inside.
So, I called in to the post office to pick up a birthday present. It's probably been there for weeks now. There was a queue, not surprisingly, as the post office man now has to do the job of the postman as well. After waiting half an hour, the queue hadn't gone down and I noticed that post office man had mysteriously disappeared into the back room. Fifteen minutes later, he still hadn't reappeared! Had he gone for his lunch without telling anyone? I could tell from the locals' faces and the language that they weren't too happy either.
I decided to call it a day and walk out. I mentioned to Mark who was waiting outside that post office man could have had a heart attack in the back room for all we know. So we went for an ice cream and sat at the harbour watching the world go by, as we do now.
The post office man was OK you'll be pleased to hear. Although the post office was closed, we could see him at his desk when we returned an hour later - but where had he been and what had he been doing?
We returned the next day and he did exactly the same thing - vanished into a back room as the post office filled up with people, only to come out fifteen minutes later with just TWO - yes TWO, letters for someone! Fortunately we stayed the course and I got my birthday present from my friend Deb - yippee! Customised flip-flops with sunflowers on them to go with "Sunflower Villa" and the sunflower plants which we are currently growing. I'll be turning into Van Gogh next.
Flip and flop
The flip flops will come in very handy (or feety) on our dog walks along the beach. The dog walks along the beach are lovely. We arrive early in the morning so as it's not too hot for the boys. Bobby, the Jack Russell, decided to do a bit of beach combing the other day and picked up a fish. It looked hard as nails and like it had been around the oceans a few times, but we couldn't get it off him without losing a finger or two and he eventually ate it, head and all -Yuk.
The look in the eyes that says "Don't even try -I am not giving this up no matter what!"
Bobby has also taken to pine cone chasing and lizard hunting. These hobbies replace the ball. He finds a new pine cone at the start of every walk, carries it around, chases it when it's thrown, and likes to chew it at the end of the walk. (It has to be soaked in his bowl of water first though) We've noticed his teeth are really clean because of this, so I think I need to patent this idea quickly or just gather up all the pine cones and sell them on eBay!
I have just undertaken my fifth horse riding lesson at the Bavarian Horse riding stables, here near Sami on Kefalonia. It's a fantastic place to learn and very picturesque. The treks into the mountains are amazing. I've yet to go the beach on a horse but I'm sure it won't be long now.
Bavarian horse riding stables in Kefalonia
All I can say, is that it's a lot harder than it looks. All those years watching Bonanza, The High Chaparral, The Virginian and Alias Smith and Jones (Oooh - Pete Duel) hasn't helped at all. When I'm walking or trotting the horse my teacher says at every lesson - "Sharon - YOU ARE THE BOSS". After an hours lesson, my dismount is basically falling off the horse. Then it's a John Wayne walk back to the camper van.
I love it though.
We've been doing a lot of snorkelling recently, trying different coves and rocky places. The water is such a vivid turquoise blue, clear and warm that you can swim for hours, unlike the North Sea back in the UK where it takes your breath away as soon as you put your toe in it. So many different kinds of fish of different sizes and colours.
My new hobby (as if I need another one!) is yacht spotting - to the extent of downloading an App so that I instantly know which yachts are nearby. Then I can google their names to find out that they DON'T belong to Brad Pitt! Not that I'm stalking Brad Pitt here you understand. Being serious though - it is actually really interesting to find out who the owners are, what the yachts are like inside, the accessories they have such as helicopters, jet skis and submarines (YES - some have submarines on them!)
A yacht moored nearby just recently (Luna) had bullet proof glass, anti-missile systems and bomb proof doors - amazing! It used to belong to Roman Abramovich until he sold it to his friend in 2014.The days go by so quickly here. Thats not what I bargained for. What with walking dogs, swimming, horse riding, watercolour painting, gardening, and fishing (Mark likes his fishing) we are worn out. So much for retirement! Not that I'm complaining at all. At least we can do these things knowing it will be a sunny day today, tomorrow and the next day and the day after that...... you get the picture.
After all the exercise a good night's sleep is needed. However - night time here is full of noise. There's a Scops owl about very close. It makes a "piu" sound which is quite regular and continuous. The only thing I can liken it to and which I instantly thought of when I heard it, is a submarine sonar ping as in "Voyage to the bottom of the sea". Oldies reading this will know exactly what I mean.
There are, of course, the cicadas incessantly chirping away, but Greece just wouldn't be the same without them.
There are also five donkeys close to us. I'm sure the other night they must have been rehearsing for a rendition of Riverdance!
Life on Mars............ so different to our previous life. This is life on Kefalonia.
