September: Singalongs, So-Longs and Sunbed Rage!

Greyrocks returned from Chania to find that the influx of "usual suspects" had begun, and within a couple of days there was a full complement of "Saga-louts!" always ready to spend an early September evening (and early morning) doing what it does so well:- laughing and drinking at Cosmogonia or marking a birthday, anniversary or last night with an event elsewhere!

Hazy recall of the evening!

One such YiaYiaGaGa Club special event was organised by our French friends - Les Kandonites -  in celebration of their ruby wedding anniversary. An over-full minibus transported us to their favourite beach-side taverna in Gramenon, where a feast based on pilafi (goat and chicken) had been prepared.  Alain had set up his keyboard, and after his songs there were numbers by Chris and Jann, who specialise in reconstructed popular numbers. These included this time the round "Frère Jacques" with new words appropriate to the party! Charlie and Rainer also played guitar and sang. All good fun, and much enhanced by the generous supply  of real French claret! We drank that dry with many of the party instead on boxed Cretan white, the quantity of which amazed!

Just a couple of nights later we celebrated Ju's birthday at Cosmo with Catherine on the laptop supplying music requested for dancing. Towards the end Ruth performed her infamous "Clean Up Woman" and "Respect" acts. More amazement, and a headache!

A further "jolly" took many of us up the mountain to Azogires for their first Village Fair. Greyrocks has previously described this tiny,  remote, historic and "alternative"  hamlet 13 km from Paleo. (Try a search within the blog). We had not been there last season and in this period there had been household changes for Lucky, the placing of several commemorative plaques throughout and Gail Wareham has moved her art studio to opposite the Alpha.

Greyrocks took up a taxi ahead of the opening and the slamming of the door knocked over the whole stack of carefully-stacked cans. But no prize! We went for a walk hoping to find the waterfall and Andy Millar's grave. In the latter we failed! Azogires claims to be a very devout place:- 99 priests for example! It has a lot of chapels and we climbed to the wrong one - and needed a visit to the Alpha kafenion!

We had hoped for a real donkey!

There was a very good turnout. Ruth thought she had a winning strategy for the Donkey competition. but made a fool of herself, as indeed she did in the interminable darts tournament:- a hilarious event as the board and oche were on opposite sides of the road and there was some through traffic! Bob participated in the egg-and-spoon race, and alleged the wins had stuck his egg to the spoon!

Friends John and Janine turned up and he (an artist) painted a portrait of Mick Jagger on his stone, but didn't win! Later Chris and Jann played, getting a great reception, but we were anxious to descend so gratefully took up the offer of a lift with J and J :- she having reluctantly drunk rather less than the rest of us and knowing what the road is like!

Britain, Germany and France in harmony!

 Meanwhile the live music scene - already humming with the August arrival of Avid and Paul - was enhanced when Rainer and his sons Felix and Lucas had a short stay. Late afternoon jam sessions happened frequently at the cantina, with one remarkable session when the regulars were joined by Professor John (Cambridge), Austrian Franz and Moz from Oxford (who usually plays classical guitar).

Jann and Jane jammin' at Christos

Greyrocks also had several other brushes with Chris and Jann in performing mode. These were a couple of sessions at the cantina, at Monica's kafenion and at Christos' restaurant.  For their final two evenings they were joined by two friends from Norwich - Lenny and Jane - who were visiting  for a couple of days from their home in Vamos. When the four played at Monica's they attracted the largest audience of the season, and Greyrocks went to their "last supper" at Christos. Rainer played a few numbers too, and we were pretty impressed, too, by the food!

But for many it is beach life that matters most, and September has a distinct flavour! Greyrocks has previously described the change of typical tourist when the month starts, and that combined with a new attention to legality amongst locals has led to some "interesting" incidents down on the beach! The tax inspectors have made a few visits to check that receipts are issued. This had resulted in one block of sunbeds on the main beach being hors de combat  for some days, and - although this may be a modern myth - two such inspectors apparently went undercover (!) on the naturist beach with similar intent.
The overall effect, then, has been weeks when the supply of sunbeds and parasols in this area has been completely inadequate, and no more can be placed for fear of a huge fine. Numerous complaints have been made in many languages about alleged unfair reservations. Greyrocks had a bizarre silent "stand-off"  with four Brits who had-  before our arrival - put beds round the tree we use, and our Austrian friend reports the quote of the season: The Norwegians had - as usual - nabbed most of the front row of beds, and he settled on his towel between them and the sea, He was told to move because, the speaker said

"I've paid for this view!"