Thursday, October 9
I was not happy when the alarm went off at 0500 but then, I never am. Wash, dress and wake Daddy, kettle on, tea and toast. At 0600, I phoned Moira who sounded as if she had just woken up. (She had!) At 0620, the taxi arrived with Moira, Louise and Paul, we piled in and off to the airport, arriving at 0655. At the British Midland check-in desk, the mention of "assistance" raised not an eyebrow, we were told to sit in a reserved area and a wheelchair duly appeared, but not before Louise and Paul had gone off shopping. We managed to find them en route and proceeded through security to the gate. When the flight was called (families with children and those needing assistance first), the wheelchair man reappeared and we were soon aboard an Airbus A320 (accommodating up to 156 passengers). [I noticed later that British Airways A320s accommodate up to 150 passengers, one row fewer.]
The 0805 flight left the gate at 0801 and the ground at 0813, and climbed quickly into cloud. Breakfast sounded good, bacon and tomato or an omelette, but it turned out to be rather plastic wrapped in a sort of hamburger roll. The cloud had cleared before we were stacked for about ten minutes over Amersham so there was something to see while we waited. Touched down at 0918, reached the gate at Terminal 1 at 0923 and were off (last) at 0938. A new wheelchair man had us down to the inter-terminal bus in six minutes, ten minutes (including waiting time) on the bus to Terminal 4 where another wheelchair man had us to the designated waiting area in short order.
I ventured forth to buy some whisky and got a bit confused with the alternative pricing - as far as I could see there was a price either for travellers within the EU or for those going further afield but nothing giving both prices. I started looking at Glenlivets priced within the EU and took one from the shelf above without noticing those prices were for export. The lady at the till was very understanding when I baulked at the extra £12 and escorted me back to select another one.
In the fullness of time, a buggy appeared to take Daddy to the gate with Moira accompanying him on the vehicle. We were advised that the shortest route on foot was through the toilets, and so it proved. There was limited seating adjacent to the gate, we occupied almost half of it. Other persons appeared and took the other seats but were evicted when the staff arrived to start proceedings. Except for Eileen who had appeared during this interval clutching a toothbrush. Her flight from Edinburgh was half an hour late and there was a doubt that her luggage would make the connection. After a bit longer, the flight was called and we were escorted aboard a Boeing 767 (accommodating up to 252 passengers).
The 1150 flight left the gate at 1207 and the ground at 1231. The captain announced that although we were a bit late, favourable winds should mean a timely arrival at Athens.
I was sitting next to an American lady on her way to join her sister for a tour of the Greek Islands. When she realised I was with the party in the row behind, she offered to swap seats with someone but I explained that we had already considered our options and the present arrangement was as good as it could get.
After setting our watches forward two hours, we touched down at Athens at 1729, the plane reached the gate at 1735 and we were last off at 1751. We were met by a man with reasonable English and a wheelchair who fast-tracked us through immigration control and down to the baggage hall. Five bags from Glasgow appeared quickly; when there was a lull, the wheelchair man informed us that the baggage usually appeared in two tranches and there was a further flow but still no bag from Edinburgh (or Manchester). Eileen (and the Manchester passengers) went off to fill in forms and then we were escorted out to the arrivals hall.
There was no-one holding up a sign for Reynolds but we discharged the wheelchair man and Moira phoned Brian's mobile to learn that two cars were stuck in traffic. Moira and Eileen fetched some tea and we had barely finished that when we were summoned over the public address system. The cars had arrived, we went out and at 1850 set off on new motorways around Athens and up the road north and east to Chalkis, arriving about 2000.
The others continued to Gordon and Lisa's flat to meet the Karkantelidis while Brian, Paul and I took the luggage into the Lucy Hotel and distributed it around the rooms before walking over to the flat to join the party. A pleasant evening was had by all.
Friday, October 10
At about 0600, something was rattling in the suite, not in my room. So I got up and listened and located the source as Daddy's window.. He was sound asleep so I decided that it was the wind rattling the shutter and to let well alone. I went back to bed.
Breakfast was a reasonable spread, not what passes for a "continental" breakfast in the UK, but a selection of cereals, fruit, fruit juice, tinned fruit salad, stewed fruit, platters of cheese and cold meat, an assortment of bread (plus a toaster) and rolls, jugs of coffee, moderately warm water and tea bags. Help yourself.
There was a shower and after it had dried up, I went out for a walk with Louise and Paul, south along the shore
As the sun sank behind the hills (about 1830), Daddy and I repaired to the balcony and sat, smoking, quietly contemplating the evening. There was significantly more traffic crossing to the island than leaving, mostly private cars. We had just made tea when Brian came in to announce an imminent departure to dine so we negotiated a fifteen minute delay and still were first at the door. Brian and Eileen went off the check out a moussaka restaurant while Mary chatted to some of Gordon's friends. The verdict on the moussaka restaurant was – too small, while a nearby fish restaurant offered insufficient alternatives so we went to an Italian, Il Posto where the menu offered umpteen varieties of pasta with umpteen varieties of sauces., plus a small selection of Greek dishes. I had salmon ravioli in cream with a large piece of Louise's pizza Marguerita, Daddy, Eileen and Moira had moussaka. All very pleasant.
Daddy and I left before the sweets (and the bill!) and returned to the hotel. We were on the balcony smoking when I noticed a yacht getting rather close to the bridge, and then realised that there was no bridge! The yacht went through the gap then a tug, coaster, floating gin palace and another yacht came the other way. The bridge deck reappeared (in two halves) from underneath the roadway then lifted into position. The barriers opened and traffic flowed again, including a fire engine with flashing lights. I thought the bridge had opened about 2220 and was closed again at 2245. [Later observation of the opening process took longer than I had thought, it probably opened about 2210.]
Brian came in to collect a bag and we all retired.
Saturday, October 11
Church bells rang just before 0730, it was light outside, a large moon was sitting above the shoulder of Chtypas so I got up and took a photograph. I took another after I had dressed, when the sunlight had reached the hill top. Jamming a piece of paper in the light switch did not work (there is a magnet in the key fob) so I left Daddy in darkness and went out for half an hour to take photos of the "other" (mainland) shore of the Evripos channel. I was back in time for tea before breakfast. I didn't notice any rush-hour traffic leaving the island.
During breakfast, Eileen said Auntie Lena had said that the Dunnes were originally comfortable in Antrim but had to get out in Cromwellian times and start afresh in Tipperary.
Eileen wanted to check train times (in case of need on Monday) so Moira, Louise and I went with her and observed the departure of the 1300 to Athens, a 2-car DMU, probably about 30 years old. We then walked down the "other" shore past the fishing wharf to where the strait widened, they turned back to so the shopping while I continued to the next corner, took some photos and then ambled back taking more photos as I came.
There was a large turnout for afternoon tea in our suite before we dressed for the wedding. At 1730, we asked the hotel receptionist to call two taxis for us, at 1732, they were there. Moira had a map to show her driver, I showed our's Eileen's invitation and pointed to the church name – that worked very well, he shouted something to the other driver and off we went. Ten minutes later, we were there, a very good performance considering the traffic. There seemed to be a picnic in progress in the church but they were just finishing and gradually dispersed while our crowd gathered outside the church. Black seems to be fashionable in Chalkis at the moment.
Towards the hour, the groom arrived with some car horn tooting as he approached the church. Shortly after the hour, the bride arrived, the tooting apparently having started when she left the house. Regardless of previous "You have to sit in ..." statements, we were swamped in the stampede into the church behind the bride and groom. We ended up standing near the back but just off centre, reasonably well placed but since everyone else was standing, all we could see was the backs of heads (including the bride and groom) and the head and shoulders of the celebrant and his assistant. As with Fiona's Hindu wedding, we will have to wait for the film to see what happened. Whatever it was, the service went at a fair pace and was over in 20 minutes but it took a further half an hour for the congregation to file out congratulating the bride and groom, their respective parents and a selection of bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The bride and groom went off to visit Lisa's grandparents (who were too fragile to attend the ceremony), sundry guests dispersed to cars and the rump piled into a coach to head north a few miles up the coast road to the reception venue.
Sunday, October 12
Sunday Evening (Late) 22:30 - Shortly before the road closed, a fire engine and a police car came along. The police car stopped short of the warning lights and the fire engine crossed, lights flashing, but in no particular hurry. When the lights came on, the policeman jumped from his car and stopped the westbound traffic. I assume something similar happened at the other side as eastbound traffic gradually dried up too. A bridge operator opened a hatch in the ground, descended a ladder, closed the hatch and switched on some lights below and the gates began to roll out across the road. Pedestrians started to run, a last scooter accelerated from the other side and no-one got caught.
Rumbles from below and most of the bridge handrail slowly folded down onto the pavements. More rumbles and the bridge deck slowly sank about 18". Yet more rumbles and the bridge deck began to withdraw smoothly under the roadway, coming to rest clear of the waterway.
Two yachts went south, a tug and two yachts came north and the reverse operation commenced. The first few feet of the deck runout seemed a bit jumpy but once it got going, it ran smoothly. The two halves met, rose to road level, the guard rails swung up into place and the gates began to retract. At the Island end, pedestrians began to push through the gates risking life and limb against the scooters and motorbikes which led the rush from the other side. The policeman got into his car and led the traffic from the island. The whole operation had taken just over half an hour. I met Louise and Paul outside the hotel and we all returned to our respective rooms.
Monday, October 13
Breakfast at 9:00, with Eileen and Moira. Paul arrived about 9:45 but was still too tired to eat. Eileen went off to take her cases downstairs, we went back upstairs. For the first time, our room has not been done while we were at breakfast. I went upstairs to get the adaptor for Daddy's shaver, taking the key, and the chambermaid was about to go in, but beat a retreat when I appeared. We went down to see off Eileen, Gordon had appeared to see off some of his friends, some doubt was thrown on our plans for the near future. Eileen went off with Dimitri (who agreed to return at the same time tomorrow with a friend), Louise and Paul went off shopping in the direction of Lisa's flat and we returned upstairs to await developments. When Moira returned with her hair done, some shopping and her ankles plastered in plasters, we decided that Daddy would not go to Lisa's, he would stay at the hotel. Moira would go, pick up Louise and Paul and go on to Michaeli's, and I would go for a walk leaving Daddy on his own.
So I went for a walk, east through the middle of town and south to the city limits and the church. My "canal" was non-existent. There was an 18" drain into the sea with a 4" pipe inside it, but nothing on the inland side of the road. So I lit my pipe and walked north up the ring road, stopping to photograph the roman version of the Castlecary Arches. Then I got a bit confused, thinking I was at the junction where I should bear right when I was actually 100 yds further on at the junction where I should have borne left. So I had a pleasant stroll on the quiet inland road north. After a bit there was a hill in the way so I veered left towards the coast and after a bit, came within sight of the cost road, cut down a lane and was soon deafened by the din. I ambled south again, I am sure the oncoming traffic was giving me extra room, sometimes as much as six inches. Round a bend, gap in the traffic (both ways), cross the road, down the hill and onto the beach. The traffic noise was still bad but at a removal of 15 yds, bearable.
As I went back towards town, cutting the corner near the lighthouse, I realised I was but one street from Kireos but did not try to see who would be in the flat. I went back to the far marina, to inspect Mr K's boat Lisa/Fortina, fourth from the end, very nice. While I was noting the Cyrillic symbols, I realised two locals were eyeing me suspiciously. As I walked down the pier, they walked towards me, one passing and heading for the end boat, the other stopped and stared at me. So I explained what I was doing and he was quite happy. His daughters owning the boat berthed next to Mr K's. He said Mr K was a very good fisherman.
Back to the hotel for a shower, tea (Mary appeared just as I filled the kettle) and some to-ing and fro-ing, we went back to Il Ponso for dinner. Daddy had moussaka again, I had chicken & tomato sauce casserole (from the Greek section) with melted cheese. We stayed for sweets, Daddy had vanilla ice cream with, he asked for raspberry sauce, they had none so, strawberry sauce. I had something Royale which was a knickerbocker glory without any glory. By the time we had walked back to the hotel, the floating gin palace noticed earlier in the day lying where the pilot boat usually was, (probably the same one as came north on Friday night) was heading towards the bridge, which was open. Nothing came north. We waited until the traffic was flowing once again before retiring, Daddy to bed, myself to the balcony with pipe.
Tuesday, October 14
The moon is much higher in the sky than it was at the same time on Saturday. Up and showered by eight, Daddy was up shortly afterwards. Packing under control, down for breakfast. Moira and Paul appeared and then Louise. I went to check that the hotel took credit cards (albeit a bit late) and for the first time realised the vast array of credit card stickers either side of the front door. So, finished the packing, paid the bill and outside with Mary, Brian, Gordon, Mick, Helen, Louise. Moira appeared, having done my shopping, and I began to worry whether Paul & Louise would appear on time. They did, so I began to worry if Dimitri had forgotten. He hadn't and off we went about half past eleven, arriving at the airport before five past twelve.
Although there was nothing about check-in on the board, Paul noticed activity at the desk and we were able to check in. By half past 12, we were at the gate, having rushed past bureaucrats, shops and, more importantly, smoking area. Paul, Moira and Louise escaped back behind the security cordon and brought us some tea and the time passed surprisingly quickly until the flight was called at five to two. No one came to usher us through but a gentleman let us into the queue before him and we were amongst the first aboard. The aircraft was a Boeing 757-200 - capacity 180 pax - fairly full.
The 1425 flight left the gate at 1427 and was airborne at 1437. When the pre-prandial drinks came round, my desire for a non-lager beer caused a bit of confusion (I do not consider London Pride to be a "flat" beer) before they failed to find anything other than Grolsch which foamed considerably. However, a few minutes later, one of the stewardesses passed and dropped off a London Pride which she had obtained from Club Class. The meal was some sort of pasta with chicken and there was no milk for the tea. (Paul thought a small container was milk but it turned out to be evaporated milk, presumably for the sweet.) When the stewardess came round with the post-prandial refreshments, I threatened to drink red wine but the stewardess "remembered" that she was wheeling a different trolley and found another London Pride.
We were not stacked on the way in to Heathrow, passed south of London and turning over Windsor to land from the west. We hit the ground at 1603 (having gained 2 hours in transit), reached the terminal at 1620 and that's when the problems started. Disembarkation was by a flight of stairs so a bus with an elevating platform was summonsed to offload Daddy and three other "assistance" passengers. There was only eight seats on this vehicle so we had to split up, Moira, Louise and Paul going by the conventional route. I went with Daddy, ten minutes to the terminal where we waited five minutes for a special bus with four passenger seats and room for a wheelchair to take us to take us, and a couple en route to Manchester, to Terminal 1.
After a short wait, a wheelchair appeared and took the other couple, I assume their flight was before ours. Ten minutes later, another wheelchair appeared and we were on our way, but only as far as the Flight Connections centre. There we were dumped at 1715, we were now British Midland's problem and the girl at the desk was none too pleased. After a bit, I enquired whether we might make our own way to the gate but apparently it was some distance away so I explained the need for a smoke and we were directed to a designated smoking area on the floor below where we stayed for twenty minutes. Back at the desk, a wheelchair appeared but it was for another traveller. Ten minutes later, I went to point out that it was now getting close to our flight time and a wheelchair appeared. We'd only been waiting an hour and ten minutes.
Five minutes later we were at the British Midland lounge where Moira, Louise and Paul were becoming quite concerned. For most of their wait, the desk there had no idea where we might be, it was only after a shift change that the new girl thought we might be stuck at the Flight Connections centre waiting for a wheelchair.
The incoming plane was late and our flight was not yet allocated a gate (though the wheelchair man had other sources and said it would be Gate 2 (adjacent to the lounge)). Apparently there had been a delay earlier in the day (possibly due to low-flying geese) with the knock-on effect still continuing. It was announced that the flight would be 20-30 minutes late and we were escorted to the gate about seven o'clock where we found an Airbus A320. The 1910 flight left the gate at 1925 but we were a long way from the business end of the runway; when we got there, there was a queue of half a dozen planes waiting to go so we were not airborne until 1950. When the trolley came round, Daddy had tea and a cheese and tomato sandwich while I had Heineken and chicken and salad. I did ask for a non-lager beer but there was none.
The plane started to descend at the border and we approached Glasgow Airport from the south west with the lights of Paisley on the starboard side. Touchdown was at 2040 and we reached the gate at 2045. It seemed to take a long time for the wheelchair to arrive, even the plane lights were switched off, but it was only ten minutes and five minutes later, we were at baggage reclaim where Karen was waiting with her car and a taxi in the vicinity. We turned our attention to the carrousel — five bags had gone in at Athens, only four came out at Glasgow. Paul's was missing. Karen went off to get the car, Moira went off to bang heads together and Daddy, Louise and I went outside to wait for the car. Louise went back inside, Daddy and I waited, then Moira ran up to say that Karen's car was blocked in in the car park and that we should take the taxi. Paul and Louise were hauled out of the taxi, the luggage was swapped and off we went and were home at 2145. I went next door to let Mrs Campbell know that we were home and to collect the outside door key and then I put the kettle on.
Moira phoned later to say that they had got the car out and were now safely home.
Wednesday, October 15
Why am I eating an orange for breakfast?
[ Back To The Top ] [ Contents ]