Well, as those of you who have seen us on Facebook will know, we have aquired a dog!  Meet Les, the latest addition to the bookshop...

Now he looks a bit odd in this picture, but it was the morning after his arrival, and he had been sedated for his flight, so was a little blurry at the edges...let me tell you his story:

For 10 year, Lesvos (his full Greek name)  had lived happily with his owner in Thessaloniki.  Fed regularly, very laid back and calm, he was a happy dog...unfortunatley that was all to change!
His elderly owner fell ill, and had to be taken to hospital.  The dog couldn't be left in the house on his own, so it was decided that he could be in the courtyard, with food and water and all the necessary while his owner was away.

Sadly, the owner didn't make it home and this became a real problem.  Les had been living outside for quite a few months, but he sensed that something was wrong.  The son of the family had dogs of his own, and they just wouldn't have Les in their patch, and Les started to howl at nights when left alone...

Poor old lad just couldn't understand what was happening, and while the neighbours had been understanding and gioven time for the dog to be re-homed, eventually they had enough of his racket (which you can understand, right?)

So, Les ws reported, and there was just 7 days to get him out of there or the authorities would be forced to take him and put him to sleep! The son was distraught, and was asking all the welfare charities to help, and Les was posted on Facebook by them...enter Tracee Walton!

Tracee does a lot of work with the Angle Hope Charity here in Crete, and heard of Les plight https://www.facebook.com/groups/794485610604303/?fref=tshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/794485610604303/?fref=ts .
 She and Jon just couldn't take another dog - they have 2 and are fostering another, but she knew we had thought about having a dog ourselves...our problem was the finances of it :(

The son has said that for the right home he would be willing to help with food and medical costs, and a an older dog, he was just right for us...so we said YES!
3 days he's been with us now, and he's like part of the fixtures and fittings already!  For a dog who had never been in a car who ended up not only in a car but also on a plane, he's done so well!He walks down with me beside the sea every morning, and then lazes about during the heat of the day in the shop...he likes to be around people does our Les.  Friendly and quiet, he gets on with all animals, even whenthey don't want to get on with him...
We think we have a star and are already completely besotted with him - he has a forever home with us now, and next is teaching him to swim :)

Breaking News...

Well, we've been sweltering in our own mini heatwave here in Crete, but I'm very relieved to say it's finally cooled down a bit and there's a lovely breeze today.

I've been waiting to write this blog until I had confirmation of some news, and now I have it!
Meet Les...

this old boy ( about 10) needed a new home after his lifetime companion had died.  the family couldn't give him a home, and he's been so sad to be alone...we talked it through and decided to offer him a place here with us.  We're hoping he'll be here with us sometime this week, and I can guarantee there will be scrapes, mishaps and adventures to report once he's here!

We already have a cat - Smudge who we got when she ws a little kit, but she doesn't like the shop too much - she likes to roam around in the fields behind our apartmentt, and doesn't like traffic, so she's our home based companion.

She's a proper little minx, and I know she'll boss the dog!  But Les will be coming with me to the shop every day and meeting our visitors - he likes making friends just like we do!

I'm used to having dogs - my dad used to breed pedigree Lakeland Terriers - so they've always been around.  as you can tell, I'm a wee bit excited by all this and can't wait to get Les on the lead and walking about in Elounda...maybe he'll take to the water like my mates dog Boo and Amber...we'll just have to see!

The shop is pretty quiet at the moment, but we expected it from our past seasons here.  It's strange, but most of the visitors who are here now head for the beach and don't seem to want a book.  Personally, if I was lying there for any length of time, I'd HAVE to have something to occupy me - I'm not good at sitting still!

Last night was a catch up night with our friend Clarrie.  she worked at Mario's last season, and we got to know this lovely girl there.  She has family in Ag. Nik, and has come out to see us all again - wonderful!  Unfortunately, too much wine and the bumpy pavements led to a slip, and I've got the most enormous bruise on my knee!  O well, lesson learned I suppose, but I should know better!

The music was supplied by the ever- fantastic Sam on the decks, and a good time was had by all.

Well, I guess I'd better get some work done...so many books, so little time - I may have to sit on the balcony and contemplate life for a while with a coffee :)

More info on Les to follow later this week when he arrives...have a good day all!

I've been having a bit of a thoughtful time over the past few days, thinking about my life, the shop, and how things have changed so much in the past few years...
When john and I got married, I don't think either of us envisioned the dramatic way our lives would alter, and that we'd end up here, madly in love with this island and running a bookshop!

Life hasn't always been easy - and my sons made up for a lot of past hurt - but although in material terms we don't have what we did in the UK, our lives are so full now!
thanks to this little bookshop, in a fishing village in the East of Crete, we have made new friends and learnt the meaning of living.
that sounds a bit trite I suppose, but let me try and explain...
 Throughout our working lives, both John and I have been employed by various people and organisations, and have obliged them with the hours we put in.  for me at some points, this was 2 or 3 part-time jobs, in varied shops while the kids were at school, and for John, long hours; often away from home and family, travelling miles to do what was required.
this doesn't necessarily mean you are living - you exist.  For many, the mentality is to work all the hours God sends, to buy the things we are told we MUST have to be happy and successful...I hate to tell you this, but IT'S A LIE!

The amount of money we have is paltry compared to what we had in the UK...the cost of living here is MUCH lower than most people realize, and you do still have to pay taxes, insurance etc.  But money isn't why we do this...
As I sit here writing this, john is sat on the balcony of the shop, surrounded by the plants he's been growing, on the chair he painted, reading another book.  today we will probably eat a sandwich for lunch, on fresh bread from the bakery, with tomatoes that taste of something other than water!
Tonight, we may eat a salad that cost less than 2.00 to buy ( the lettuce etc will last for about 3 meals at least)or we may go for a meal that will cost less than 5.00 for the pair of us.

While we wander to wherever we may choose, we wil be stopped at least 3 times for a chat with people we know and who know us, there may even be some that will come into the shop and join us in the evening for a glass of something on the balcony under the stars before that...
We will talk, laugh and smile with all these folks, and walk hand in hand all the time.  The weather will be balmy, and the moon and stars easily seen - we'll probably stop to look at them somewhere...
Now that is what living is all about!

Our lives are enriched by the people that we meet, and the history and beauty of Crete enthralls and inspires us to stay here no mtter what...yes, sometimes I miss having a laptop,or a new designer pair of shoes...sometimes I miss Sky TV and the shows I used to see - but would I trade this life for the trappings of middle/working class life in the UK?  NOPE!

Some of the people we know would probably be surprised that we wouldn't want to have the 3 bedrooms, 2 lounges, large garage and the cars that we had, but we don't need it!

One of the first things we came to realize here is that all the space we thought we required was wrong!

Before we came out, we had looked at properties, and thought we could manage in about 90 square meters, if we had to...boy was that stupid!  the spacious little flat we are in now is about 60 square meters, and is more than ample!  I don't know how we on that crowded little island called Britain came to the conclusion that we HAD to have all this room for ourselves...maybe it IS because we are so crowded!

We had a car, but never used it, so: gone - the bus service is great (and the buses are a hell of a lot more comfortable than British ones!) .

all in all, I guess I'm just saying that we're lucky, blessed and hopelssly happy!

It's been a frantic couple of days here!  I'm glad to say that business is picking up at last, but the season has been rather strange...

We don't have years to look back over, but last season we thought we had noticed a pattern for July and August - nobody really bought any books!  This season totally opposite!  The season here for us begins in April - the 4th to be exact (my birthday) when we officially open.

Usually, we have a busy spell in April, then a quieter May with June a good time...didn't happen this year!  and it wasn't just us, all the businesses have said the same.

We talked to a friend of ours who has a shell shop in town, Monica, and she had looked at her figures for the last 14+ years, and found exactly  the same - worst months ever!  Now, whether this was because of the World Cup (in Brazil, I doubt it) or the Commonwealth Games (UK, possible) or what, I just don't know.

However, the beaches are now filled with happy tanners, and they are staying on the beaches LATE...our local lads collecting for the sunbeds and the water sports guys are actually having to hang on till 18.00 and later!  Yay for them :)

As always here, there's a lot of returning visitors who have been hooked by this island and it's people, but we are also seeing a lot of first timers.  Many have been to other islands in Greece, but have decided to try Crete this year.  Most are very surprised to find the Eastern end so much less developed and to a certain extent unspoilt...aren't we the lucky ones :)

A new friend of mine, Chris Aiano has given me some images which I'd like to share in my next few blogs.  I think they are stunning and show just how varied and wonderful this little island can be.  Most are in the Lassithi province, although not necessarily Elounda...but I love them!

The top image shows the juxtaposition between the rural and the developed here - goats on the hillside and the lovely houses and villas below, while the second image is a lovely old tree near Istron - I have to agree with Chris that the colour of the tree and the clear, blue sky is breathtaking!

anyway, I'd better get down to some work: well, I'm going to have a look at Chris' pictures actually...
Have a good one all!