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DIARY
2/7/08 Was the re-opening of Effie's Dreams cafe-bar, it was a very good night. Lucky cousin Dimitri Giamalis was here on holidays and helped us out. 26/6/08 Sorry I haven't been up to date with my diary I will fill in the missing dates some day soon. All I'm going to write now is that on the 5th of June mum passed away. From the 7 of April when mum when in, to remove the gall-stones Effie's Dreams cafe-bar has been closed, we are hoping that we will re-open on the 1st of July. 7/1/08 St Johns day, I'm sorry that i didn't ring or email any Giannis but today wasn't my day. On of the things that when was my tooth broke, so I just didn't feel like corresponding. it was cloudy today & rained for 1/2 hour in the evening. 6/1/08 Today is Ton Foton the day they throw the cross in the sea, & the man dive to catch it then they take it around the houses, for people to kiss it to be blessed. Also they get the holy water from church to drink a bit & also put it in a little bottle to keep in our house, for blessing. (see Gennadi album, 5th row 3rd picture) Today its so warm & sunny you would think its summer, the goats are at the back again eating dad's plaints, Phillip is trying to get them out, not much luck. I just wish I knew who they belong to. who ever you asked it's not theirs. The holy water yesterday from church is to take to the fields to bless the trees that give our food. 5/1/08 Mr. Karamarios (Politician) came to see once again, & I highly appreciate it. I always look forward to he's visits when he's in the area he drops in, with he's kind words & this year a lovely gift. 1/1/08 New Years day we had the cutting of the vasilopita, this year the LUCKY piece Colin got, an English man that lives in the village & has opened a beauty & gift shop. It was a nice night & day. The weather in Gennadi was rain that wasn't bad, because in Rhodes town it had 40-50cm hail & it did allot of damage. Rhodes made it on TV. New Years Eve Party was great, people brought a dish and made a buffet and there was dancing on. Antoni from mama's kitchen was to came through the doors after midnight so he got the present. I have a thing about the 1/1 every year keep track, first this first that. my personal diary is always full detailed on that day. the Greeks always have this the first to came through the door is the one that brings you the good or the bad luck for the year. These 2 weeks, all phone calls, text, emailing, very tiring, as most of you know we have allot of relatives & friends & people from the studios & the bar, my parents & Phillip always say Effie did you write or ring? because they don't. I was looking up the lottery tickets that dad gave us all. Phil, mum & I won, dad & Eleni didn’t. then we realized that it was the wrong dates lottery. At the end no one won any thing. We just got excited for nothing. Spend a few days going Rhodes for shopping it was great. Finely got over my cold. 25/12/07 Christmas day, it was great people coming to the house to wish us a nice Christmas & it was my dads name day. It was sunny & warm, in the day time. We had lunch at our house altogether. Didn't open the bar, our first Christmas in all the years we a business but we didn't open Christmas day. Got presents & a lot of phone calls and got a lot of SMS, I even got a marriage proposed but I didn't except. long story.. There was a dance at the beach restaurant but we didn't go because Eleni had a bad cold. I was in bed at 10:30pm because I ate so much. 23/12/07 The last 4days sun shine all day & warm but tonight its cold. Christmas it says cloudy. Merry Christmas to every one. Two days ago it was the longest night & the shortest day, so now it means not long before winters out (2 months more). the last week we been to Rhodes for shopping odds & ends as we say. Lots of running around. This man rang me from Rhodes saying he found my dad's wallet, but he never lost it, but it was our business card in there that's what confused him. Mum picked it up & it was my cousin's from Adelaide that was here a few years ago. He was cleaning he's shop out and found it now after all this time. It was nice of him to return it. The one day that we was going to Rhodes, lucky we when pass our bar. As we was sitting in the car, the car stops running, the reason ran out of gas, Phillip forgot that cars need gas :))). Two weeks now we are fixing the odds & ends that keep braking down at home, hot water, front door, oven, fly screens etc. I think the day around Christmas that the GOBLINS (kalikantzaraioi) normally arrive as the Greek myths go came earlier out our place so this year I'm getting the broom to hang next to the door to keep them away. I'm into our Greek customs & sayings etc. One saying I was told recently was. A man told he's daughter, "If you can't do it, I will help you. If you don't know some thing, i will teach you, and if you don't want to do anything in your life, I will force you". I think that's so good. 18/12/07 Spend the day with mum wrapping up presents. They took one of the PC's away to get fixed. I got my hair done. Dad finish trimming down the mulberry tree, like he does every year. This is something they send me that I love, so I like to share it with my friends “Flower dries, stories ends, songs fade, memories are forgotten but God's love is everlasting”. 17/12/07 Once again we left late around 1pm for Rhodes, banks was so busy in Archangelos & Affandou so we didn’t stop. We still manage to get a few things done. We ended the night at a Chinese restaurant (fantastic day/night). In winter this year we are closed in the Bar on Monday nights so we enjoy it. This week I got a fantastic email from a long lost friend I was touched. 15/12/07 Today was my Name day, It was really nice, lots of surprises, gifts, phone calls & emails I got. Finished the olives picking & pressing for this year. This year Dave & Bob helped a bit to pick olives, Dad & Phillip going from morning to late same days even in the rain. This year i when once to the olive press with Phillip. It was great it reminded me when I was in Greece as a small girl in early 70's we use to go to the olive press but then we had in Gennadi. Toast same bread on the log fire that they use to have going to keep warm while waiting your turn and put fresh olive oil on it & eat it. The nicest taste you could ever have. This olive press is new & it presses 2 tones of olives an hour. Its really nice to see how its done, chat with every one that comes from other villages there. 13/12/07 They say tonight is the night that there is falling stars so you should pray, make a wish. 10/12/07 Dad’s 70th birthday we stayed home all together it was a nice relaxing day & Eleni’s dad joined us. Then us young ones when out for coffee. 9/12/07 There was goats on the boundry wall next to the bar again 3 of them. They go every where, eating dad's flowers & trees, and there isn't any thing we can do. Big storm also today. This winter is not like other years not that much cold, more rain but lots of cloudy days. Not that haven't been having sun shine can't complain. 3/12/07 Phil slipped & hurt he’s angle on the same place that he hurt it last week playing soccer after all this time we wanted to play with out training, I think he still thinks that he’s 20 years old. Something funny, Phil through out a scissors that broke and dad collected it to fix it because he never through things out he said. 30/11/07 Romeo (Dog) didn't stop crying when mum left the house, when she come back he when crazy. He's like a baby, we couldn't believe it, while I was holding him, he was quite as soon as I took my hand of him, we would start crying. We didn't open the bar today because of Phillips foot. This week was also mum's 67th birthday & Phillip's name day. November & December have a lot of name days. I'm happy this week I also got a laptop. That's the news for one more time. November Now:- It's still very hot, people are going swimming. Dad has started to put nets under the olive trees & cleaning around the trees ready to start picking them. We started to open in the afternoons through the week for winter only that the weather doesn't feel like it.
I'm still looking for a laptop I
don't know what to get same say this same say that, I'll be a granny at the
end and still won't have it.
This year we had a few running
around with doctors etc but that I won't go into details on the net. I
finely got my house. So much I can't remember all that this summer. but
thank God the apartments when very well the bar got as good as other years
but can't complain.
Alot of back and forth to Rhodes
town. Met a lot of great people that paid a big part in my life. Thank you
to all that we met.
31/10/07
The animal welfare
had a fun raiser at our bar with life music it was a great night for all.
every one enjoyed them self's. If you would like to help them this is
their site
www.noahsarkrhodes.com
.
29/10/07 Agia
Anastasia's day. on this day every year the have the church service down at
the monastery.
28/10/07 Ohi day when
Metaxa said no to the German troops in 1940 to go through Greece. Today they
had the parade as they do every year down in the square with all the
speeches, the presentation of flowers, & kids saying their poems. Then they
came up to us for coffee.
23/10/07 Aaron, Anjia &
Susanna invited us to Lachania for Tea it was a fantastic evening. The house
looked very traditional really nice the food was great the company
fantastic. Parents had to ring for us to come back.
Early & mid October rained a bit unusual
but after that summer gain. In mid October for 3-4 days i had no Internet
because the O.T.E lines was down and most of the village had no net.
15/10/07 As we was going we was out
of Gas and the petrol station in Kiotari was shut so we wasn't sure if we
would make it to Lardos, & we had to take Smita, Phillip, Steffi and Lilja
to the airport, the kids was so loving for their age so good. Then looking
for coach for mum but I spend the day reading my book & relaxing in
the car, that was great for me.
8/10/07
We had people drop in to visit
us that Hadn't been here for years same as long as 15 years, since they was
on the island they made the effort to come and see us. Thank you. some of
the stories they told us that we don't remember, its so nice to hear.
7/10/07 Had friends drop in from
Sianna also Father Saranti dad's cousin did service at our local church he
came to Gennadi after so many years away. he had left the village when he
was 15 even though he had been back a few times. my dad was so touch when he
saw him in church preaching.
27/9/07 International tourist day.
Reasons that i don't know they didn't have it at the beach so, all us locals
got together and did it at the square like it was done years ago and it
turned out perfect, every one had a great night. (Tourist & locals).
26/9/07 I added Gennadi
to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gennadi & photos of Gennadi at
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4912250 .
24/9/07 We had a
French/Japanese couple stay in the studios & they wanted to try Greek coffee
but also see how it's made because Phillip (my brother) still makes it the
old way stirring it in the little Greek sauce pan (briki). They liked it so
Phil gave them the briki for a wedding present since they was here on their
honeymoon.
22/10/07 I had Terry
wanted us to take photo's of him to put on our site, since we try to please
every one that comes to us to enjoy their holiday, we did that as well :)).
We found Bello our cat that we
had home the last 4 years so we was up set.
17/9/07 Richard & Judie Gumm who was
staying in our studios gave me earnings & also to mum a necklace & to Eleni,
she makes them her self really nice
www.judiegumm.com. At the same
time Bernadette (Actress)
www.bernadettenason.com & John was
here. Judie from Alaska & John from Texas & when I introduced them, they
knew of each other because John was the boss of Judie's relative, and finely
they met at Effie's Dreams after all these years what a small world.
September was a month of
weddings of relatives in Evros & Thessaloniki but we couldn't go & also my
best friend's twin's christening that I also couldn't make it. that weekend
was the elections so we was always doing something. Busy summer. Romeo our
dog when Phillip was singing would look at him strangely, bark & turn and go
away. This god is like our baby, it when through allot in it's 10 month of
age the caterpillars attacked him he was ill for a long time then the
Rockwhaler from down the road attacked him, then he got poisoned but he's
good now.
13/9/07 Where do I start
from I’m behind on my diary sorry all our friends out there that go on the
site to read. Today it’s very windy here but still hot. Lots happened today
from the morning so we were on the go with people going and coming but a
nice day. The local kids are coming back from university for the elections
to vote same just left last week as you can see elections, religion and
football is a big thing in Greece. The one couple that arrived earlier then
we was expecting miss understanding of the Taxi driver, well Phillip took
them to he's house so they can sleep, so they just don't wait around.
The 9/9/07 very cold and
windy at night well for us the Greeks.
8/9/07 We when to Skiadi
monastery for the church service to take the 5 breads as every year, I cut
an apple from there and ate nice and fresh. Its those little green ones they
are so delicious. Family just sat around relaxing after the service, all
together it was nice, we don’t often have time all together because of work.
Not as hot as last year, cooler. People from Cyprus came for Skiadi. They
came from a lot of places for this day and for the festival the night before
but we couldn’t go to the festival. Today is also name day of Skiadi.
Politicians came to Gennadi but
we wasn’t here for it, not long to go for the elections so you see all the
politicians around every where.
We when to prasonisi for lunch
it was nice. The water from the wind a few days ago made like little ponds
in the sand between the two seas. It was a deferent look from other times At
the restaurant we when food was great and at a good price hadn’t been there
for a long time. Gianni was there, it was good to see him again and catch
up.
In the morning it rained for 5
minutes first time this early in September. I couldn’t believe it.
Came home slept in the afternoon
and opened 6pm this day every year is a family day and we have the day time
off. After work 13 of us got together and when to Lindos and after did the
bakery thing where after 3 am we go and get the cheese pies. It was a good
day and night.
7/9/07 got Reiki from
Laura (USA) she’s on vacation at the moment comes every year to Gennadi. The
Polish that arrived to us brought us vodka from Poland and they haven’t met
us before its their first time staying with but Adam said he know us from
our web site.
6/9/07 our dog Romeo ate
passion through the night lucky the chemist Gianni heard about it when I had
rang Phillip to come and he when and got what was need and come and we saved
Romeo. All ended well.
5/9/07 Day
started with Laura (USA) coming to the house giving me Reiki & with the singing
Bowls (vibrational healing) I never heard of this before but it was great. Gave
me also a gift made out of clay a dancing Goddess, which her 91 year friend
(Amy) has made. I wore that at the party. :)
Then my friend Vangelia that I haven't seen all summer because she was in
Thessalonica nice surprise.
In
the afternoon instead of getting ready for the night, he and Jason throwing
water balloons & then playing pool, chatting about football. (just kids at 37).
Don
and Pauline come and spend the night here from Lardos It was Don's birthday so
we surprised him also, Debs my neighbor brought a cake up surprised her husband
Chris I made cards for them. i was great night laughter, dancing, eating
thanks once again mum for all the food she prepared to put the buffet on and
feed all these people that came and celebrated with us the 8th birthday of the
new Effie's dream bar, Eleni also helped with the preparation of the food.
When the priest was doing the blessing then come the time to kiss the cross,
Eleni's lipstick rubbed of on the cross so when mum kissed it she had lipstick
on her nose.
By
the end of the night Bill with his jokes the new one for this year, " can I pay
by credit card, cash or my body?" I said "cash" Bill says "one out of the three
isn't bad".
Then we had Jason & Phillip being kids again throwing the cream to each other
and beer, so Phillip dived into the spring water to wash it all of, he then when
home to change he's clothes he came back wearing my clothes.
Thanks to Tasha W (Newcastle) I got good photos, she played photographer. Thank
you to every one that come and made the party the success, we all had a great
time.
To finish of the night, when to the
misanixtiki at the evangelismo around 4am, but Phillip was so tired that I
said I’ll wait in the car and he when in the church to light the candle.
Today is also the name day of
any one named Zaharia & Zaharoula. If you cut the last a from Zaharia
means sugar greek word for the day.
Click here to see photos.
2/9/07 Tine asked us to
do some thing for Goedele's birthday. so Phillip made a cocktail and I
printed a card, so every one enjoyed their self's. one more guest happy.
They are going tomorrow. Phillip did it during half time because football
was on.
Believe it or not but it was
cloudy in Monolithos today, some guest of ours where there and told me but
here in Gennadi it was sunny and hot.
1/9/07
'Kalo mina' (have a good month) that's what we say to every on the first of
every month. When out after work it was great but it's warm at night and hot
in the day still. The concert the other day i heard it was great I end up
not going, it when on after 4 am with dancing. The fires in Greece are still
going its so very sad and to top it all of in Chalkidiki they had floods
today they had the big fire last year. That's all for today.
28/8/07
Ines & Udo came and guess what they brought mum from Germany a plant. We get a
lot of gifts from every where and normally mum is who gives cuttings of plants
to people to take. It was nice surprise because it's hard these days to bring
things from other countries.
For all of you out there
that knows Bill Pizi my cousin well he's in town, more late nights, more
laughter, more Jim Bean.
I'm proud I have put allot
of information in 2 days on my site (happy reading to all). I been working hard
on the site now ad Phillip 2 days in a row going to Rhodes, just hope he got
same work done. One thing he will stop at the CD place in Archangelos :)))).
25/8/07
When out to Lindos and in the village the last few days and tonight going to
Lardos to take my friend and get something to eat. The last few days i have the
television on to watch the fires on the main land of Greece, its so upsetting.
22/8/07
This last week so much happened in my private life and also, that I won't go
into details. I had more to write but if I don't write it in straight away I
forget. 17/8/07
The day started busy, so I could tell that things was going to happen. finely
the OTE come fixed the ADSL. The spring water across from the bar, dad & then
came Thomas and cleaned the weeds out of the pipes, so the water can run more,
now every one has enough to water their citrus trees. This will stop Eleni
yelling to dad that there isn't enough water for her. :) When to Rhodes with
Phillip to look for a new television for the bar, he must of when to every
single store there was looking at them and asking questions driving me mad. In
one store he wanted me to go in to see the picture quality between them. For you
all that know my brother, you know never go shopping with him. At the one place
I waited in the car and sitting there I saw Vasili who I hadn't seen for over 15
years, I called him and he came straight down from the balcony talked for a long
time. said something to mean from back then that made me feel good because I was
hurt back then. It felt good. On the way back we stopped at Archangelos at the
CD place as always I keep saying that my brother married that store, but the CD
he got this time playing it in the car broke my nerves so I rang Georgo and said
if he doesn't take it back I'll brake it over both they're heads. Just joking.
Then that night I had an other surprise. Maria dropped in she was my best friend
little sisters back in Australia, I was in Adelaide she was in Melbourne and
when they used to come to Adelaide they would stay with us. Then I came to
Greece and after she came got married here. I would send regards with her dad or
brother all these years not knowing she was in Lardos 10 kilometers away and she
didn't know I was in Gennadi I didn't know she was so close. we haven't seen
each other for 23 years. Thank God I had to find a new technician to fix my
computers and he was from Lardos got talking and said I know Maria her son works
for me and he gave her my regards and that's how she came to see me. The funny
thing was that her son has came to our bar in the past but we didn't know who
each other was. Maria and I wasn't just friends but cousins. Then is man asked
me for my photo to make a painting for me just out of the blue. It was a day to
remember. Also met my cousin's Toula and her parents from Philadelphia that I
never met before. So much more but I have gave all of you a head ache today.
15/8/07
Happy Name day to all that's named Maria, Despina, Mary, Panagiota and
Panagioti. For those that don't know it's Virgin Mary's day a very holly day for
us. it's a public holiday today but not for us we are open. the beaches will be
full with all the Greeks :))). Jessica (10) & Katie (7)
arrived today, it's there first time abroad, but they was told about us from
there grandparents Malcolm & Sandra (Kent) so the kids made cards for us and
brought to us that was so sweet.
Got email from Greece magazine that same one
recommended us to them for best cocktail bar.
12/8/07
I haven't been up to date with the diary part on my site, sorry to all that like
going on here to read.
Today I
had a
nice surprise a girl walked in our bar with 2 boys, they said hello and
then said to me do you know who I am? I looked at the boy and said he looks like
Nik my cousin are you Maria? She was so surprised that I recognized her. I
hadn't seen her since 1984, we are cousins but more like sisters that close. I
lived in Adelaide she in Melbourne but when they would come to Adelaide they
would stay in our house. I came to Greece she did also in a different year from
us. when I would see her parents or brother I would send my regards but I found
out now that they forgot to give them to her I didn't know she was in Greece
(Lardos) & she didn't know that I was in (Gennadi) until this man came from
Lardos to fix the computers in the bar and we got talking and he said she's
here. he gave her my regards, she couldn't believe it, & with in a few days we
met up. I cried I was so touched.
One thing that happened
today that shows there is still honest people around. An English man left
he's wallet in the bar bathroom on the window seal and later that night a young
Greek man (Niko) when in and saw it and brought it to us. Michael was so happy
and surprised that it was handed in.
10/8/07
To all my friends that I haven't been answering your emails, sorry but
its been busy with friends, relatives & guest coming and going. Also had an ear
infection. Like also to thank every one that brought us gifts.
7/8/07
Today dad cut prickly pears and was cleaning it by the spring water,
giving to Monica & Roberto (Italians) to try. it's not easy to clean because
they prick. last week he picked figs for us. Every season has different fruits.
Today as I was adding this
photo George A (Greek-English) showed me how to do photo gallery so soon to come
on the site there will be allot of photos.
31/7/07
Taso (cousin from MA USA) came with he's family to the bar
cut a cake for he’s 48th birthday. He’s mum put the candle 49 instead of
48 on the cake because that’s what they do in Greece she said, add an extra year
on. So I said to him your mum got your age wrong, I got wrong what you are man
or woman that’s why the pink balloons. Just joking!!! It was a great night.
I got he’s son to blow up pink balloons for him & made him a birthday card, with
he's name on it. I showed he’s son how to make paper roses from paper towels &
gave them to Taso as well. Great man, great cousin, great family, it was a
fantastic night.
28/7/07 The night of the reunion after 20 years.
it was great there was from America, Australia, Austria, The UK, Greeks from
other parts and local. Same hadn't seen each other for 20 years others had been
back in this time. We played music also from back then. Showed on the big screen
TV photos that was taken in 1987, people wrote in the book their comments and a
few that couldn't make it rang that night or emailed. Nice night with a lot of
memories. The weather was nice and warm and a slight breeze come from the
mulberry tree. On the same night there was the concert in Kiotari but it was
still full at our reunion. Got home after 4:30am.
