Oops! Sorry, spelling mistake.
Zykanthos is in fact ZAKYNTHOS.
I knew that. Just testing...
Do East Riding Council think we are plebs
12 years ago
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Post Holiday!
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the long silence, this was due to a longed for holiday. This year it was Zante, a much recommended place to be. So I went.
Zante is the place for sun, sea, sand, and anything else beginning with s!
It's probably the greenest of the Greek Islands, and the action is mainly beach based. Plenty of water sports for those inclined, with shallow water, toally safe for little ones, and those who just like a paddle.
Now here's a fact. Zante is the name the Venetians called the island when they were in occupation for a few hundred years. The Greeks, however, call it Zykanthos, which is the Greek name. So far I haven't heard anyone who lives on the island call it Zante, it's always Zykanthos.
The temperature was almost 100 degrees every day, and it's not much under 80 at night. Having air conditioning is wonderful. It makes sleep possible, which you need after a hard day lying on a sunbed on the beach. Well, someone has to do it!
All this heat tends to trigger off forest fires. On our first day on the beach helicopters were gathering water and flying off to dump it on fires. Then we heard there were huge fires near Athens. Nowhere near us, but there were lots of foresty bits prone to ignite on the island.
Zykanthos is an ideal place if you're looking for a relaxing holiday to get a suntan and make the folks back home envious. The only drawback are the mosquitoes. And there are lots of them! They're BIG and very hungry. So if mozzies look on you as a walking dinner, this isn't the place for you.
You're definitely not going to have a Shirley Valentine experience covered in mozzie bites!
Sorry for the long silence, this was due to a longed for holiday. This year it was Zante, a much recommended place to be. So I went.
Zante is the place for sun, sea, sand, and anything else beginning with s!
It's probably the greenest of the Greek Islands, and the action is mainly beach based. Plenty of water sports for those inclined, with shallow water, toally safe for little ones, and those who just like a paddle.
Now here's a fact. Zante is the name the Venetians called the island when they were in occupation for a few hundred years. The Greeks, however, call it Zykanthos, which is the Greek name. So far I haven't heard anyone who lives on the island call it Zante, it's always Zykanthos.
The temperature was almost 100 degrees every day, and it's not much under 80 at night. Having air conditioning is wonderful. It makes sleep possible, which you need after a hard day lying on a sunbed on the beach. Well, someone has to do it!
All this heat tends to trigger off forest fires. On our first day on the beach helicopters were gathering water and flying off to dump it on fires. Then we heard there were huge fires near Athens. Nowhere near us, but there were lots of foresty bits prone to ignite on the island.
Zykanthos is an ideal place if you're looking for a relaxing holiday to get a suntan and make the folks back home envious. The only drawback are the mosquitoes. And there are lots of them! They're BIG and very hungry. So if mozzies look on you as a walking dinner, this isn't the place for you.
You're definitely not going to have a Shirley Valentine experience covered in mozzie bites!
Friday, 7 August 2009
Paul Swann -- 1970 - 2009
Yesterday a very special friend died.
I've known Paul for 4 years and during that time he became more than a T'ai Chi Instructor, he became a very dear friend and mentor.
Everyone who came to his T'ai Chi class will know how much fun Paul could be. I'm surprised any of us actually learned T'ai Chi through the laughter. But then, Paul was an excellent teacher.
Paul can't be summed up in a few words. He can be summed up in just one - unique.
As we go through life people come and go. Some remain lifelong friends, others just pass through and leave a small memory of themselves behind. Paul was someone who touched everyones heart because he reached out with his. He was only part of my life for a short time, but he gave me so much.
When he first became ill we'd literally spend hours on the phone talking about everything and laughing a lot together. When he rang me to tell me he had cancer, then we cried together.
There is an old saying that when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear. Paul not only taught me T'ai Chi, he reawakened a spirituality in me which had been asleep for a long, long time. For that I will always be grateful.
I have one more wish for "The Boss" -- safe journey... He knows what I mean...
If you would like to add your thoughts to mine, please click on the COMMENTS box below. I promise I will pass every one on to Barbara, his mother, and David, his brother.
I've known Paul for 4 years and during that time he became more than a T'ai Chi Instructor, he became a very dear friend and mentor.
Everyone who came to his T'ai Chi class will know how much fun Paul could be. I'm surprised any of us actually learned T'ai Chi through the laughter. But then, Paul was an excellent teacher.
Paul can't be summed up in a few words. He can be summed up in just one - unique.
As we go through life people come and go. Some remain lifelong friends, others just pass through and leave a small memory of themselves behind. Paul was someone who touched everyones heart because he reached out with his. He was only part of my life for a short time, but he gave me so much.
When he first became ill we'd literally spend hours on the phone talking about everything and laughing a lot together. When he rang me to tell me he had cancer, then we cried together.
There is an old saying that when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear. Paul not only taught me T'ai Chi, he reawakened a spirituality in me which had been asleep for a long, long time. For that I will always be grateful.
I have one more wish for "The Boss" -- safe journey... He knows what I mean...
If you would like to add your thoughts to mine, please click on the COMMENTS box below. I promise I will pass every one on to Barbara, his mother, and David, his brother.
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