11. Goodbye Summer......????

Well we are drawing near to the end of our first summer in Anthoussa/Parga. We know this because, after 3 months with NO RAIN, in the last few days we have had some spectacular thunderstorms. These are the real thing here, window rattling thunder, long lasting lightning strikes and torrential rain. However, unlike the UK, temperatures during the day have remained well above 20 degrees.

So what have we learned during the "season?"

1. Don't try to find a parking space in Parga during August! The influx of Greek & Italian tourists, in their own cars/campervans, completely overwhelms the town to the extent, that in some places, there is double parking up to 1 km from the town centre.

2. We can probably manage without air conditioning. We only had a few nights when the temperature became uncomfortable for a restful nights sleep; keeping the house cool during the day was a question of remembering to close the shutters at the right time!!

3. Regularly check inside the house for wildlife. As we don't have mosquito screens we are open to invasion from moths, crickets (small to XXL), 100mm centipedes, large hornets (which get very upset when hit with flyspray), beetles of all sizes and colours, and the odd cat looking for a meal/bed!! Fortunately the delights of our household failed to attract any snakes!!!!!

4. You can eat so much salad that the sight of a tomato makes you feel feint!

5. Watching bats catching insects a few feet from your face at dusk is really quite a cool thing to do; until you start to feel dizzy trying to track them whilst keeping your eyes in focus!

6. Don't turn on the porch light while you are trying the above!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7. Growing your own vegetables takes a lot more work than looking after a lawn. (Make a mental note for next spring). And, as most people in the village are doing the same, there is a surplus that everyone is trying to give away. We could have filled a large freezer with courgettes alone!

And lastly, that this is a really good place to live, and we have been made to feel part of the village by the amazing kindness and friendliness of the villagers.

Bring on autumn and winter, but try to keep it sunny!!