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15th May 2008 (Thursday)

Petrol tanker drivers (and other lorry drivers) in Greece have been on strike for about a week now. Most of the time there is no petrol to be found in Rethymno or the local environs. Although most striking lorry drivers are on rates set by the government there are still a handful of private tanker drivers making deliveries to garages on an irregular basis. Needless to say when petrol is available the prices have rocketed up (see photo taken today in Perema) but even worse is that many garages are reserving the limited supplies for their regular local customers. Tourists in hire cars are often turned away or if they are lucky may be rationed to 10 Euros worth. Many rent cars have been seen abandoned out of fuel. I have spoken to holiday makers who have had a really miserable time during their holiday because the weather has not been good enough for serious sunbathing and the lack of petrol means they were unable to explore the beauty of the island. This is not doing a lot for the image of Greece and can only harm the tourist trade for the future. According to some newspapers the banks, power stations and telephone services are also going on strike this week. Television reports indicate that the lorry driver strike is also causing panic buying of many food essentials, whilst fruit and vegetables grown on Crete for export to the Greek mainland are rotting on the docks. It is already very noticeable how much quieter Rethymno is compared to this time last year. The Greeks seem absolutely determined to destroy their own tourist industry.

13th May 2008 (Tuesday)

Yet another day at Rethymno Hospital and a further appointment tomorrow. Hopefully I still have enough petrol in the tank for a couple more journeys. The doctors are very thorough and give an exceptional service. You can still hear the odd Brit moaning about them but that is part of being British I suppose. Some of my tests have had to go to Athens for more detailed examination and so there will be a period of uncertainty until the full diagnosis is back. All this worry makes you think about the meaning of life more than usual!

12th May 2008 (Monday)

Bright sunshine 23 degrees

I have spent most of the last week backwards and forwards to Rethymno Hospital, including an overnight stay on Friday. Updating this web site has unfortunately taken a back seat for a few weeks for one reason and another. I am very aware that the web site site has now grown to the point where some sort of index is required and I am now trying to design a navigation structure which I can incorporate without losing all the work already done over the last couple of years. Watch this space for developments over the next few weeks.

When we purchased the scooter shown in the picture below we did not realise how much fun it would be. Because of this we ordered another one so that we could both go out together without being squashed on to the one seat.

The tourist season is now well under way on the island. All the beaches have been cleaned and the umbrellas and sun beds are out. With the current low value of the Pound versus the Euro the locals are not expecting as many British visitors as usual this year although they believe the number of Germans and other 'Euro-Zoners' will significantly increase to compensate. Prices in the supermarkets are rising rapidly in Crete and many cafes and restaurants appear to have put their prices up between 20% and 25% compared to last year. Proprietors I have spoken to blame rising fuel prices and general inflation. Petrol is now about €1.28 a litre. (If you can get it - there is currently a tanker drivers' strike and nearly all petrol stations have been without fuel for almost a week.)

20th April 2008 (Sunday)

33 Degrees and southerly winds gusting 60 mph. We are expecting this weather to continue for the next two days. This month we purchased a small scooter for local journeys. Great fun!. It is only a 50cc 2 stroke but it has plenty of 'oomf' even with two up. It will reach 80kph on the straight but it sure lets you know if you hit a pothole at that speed!.

02 April 2008 (Wednesday) Slight rain today but still a reasonable temperature. We now have our car back from the repairers and so are mobile once again! The link below plays a very popular Greek pop - song. Χερια Ψηλα Μιχαλης Χατξηγιαννης - Remix ( Heria Psilia by Mihalis Hatzigiannis - Remixed) If the player above is not visible the file can be downloaded by right clicking here 29th March 2008 (Saturday) After five weeks of very good weather, spoilt only by occasional strong winds, some colder and wetter weather has now returned to Crete. We had 6mm of rain within the last 24 hours and the forecast is for cooler weather all week. Daytime temperatures are expected to only reach about 17 degrees but it will feel warmer because there will still be plenty of sunshine. Night time temperatures may drop down to around 8 degrees. Our car is still in the garage being repaired and I am immobilised with my ankle and so I have at last found time to use my PS3 games machine (FIFA 08 & Uncharted Drakes Fortune get the heaviest hammering). Cathy is making sun-dresses for the summer and is also managing to practice her cooking skills. Homemade marmalade and lemon curd being the most recent additions to the larder. Lemons are so common out here that most of them remain un-harvested. Oranges from the market are inexpensive, very large, tasty and mainly seedless. It is possible to pick oranges direct from the trees but to be honest they are so inexpensive at the market it is not really worth the bother.

25th March 2008

Last weekend the inevitable happened and the time came for a visit to the local hospital at Rethymno. Whilst out on a walk I had fallen badly and suffered excruciating pain and some swelling in my right ankle as a result. Although my ankle made a horrific noise as I fell I was still able to stand up and so assumed it was just a strain rather than a broken bone; however after 24 hours there was concern that it may be something worse and so we set off for the hospital.

One of the most common questions from people in the UK is 'don't you miss the National Health Service? Well so far the answer is a resounding 'No!' The staff at our local Rethymno Hospital were both friendly and efficient. Upon arrival we reported to the Emergency reception (It was a Sunday morning). We were greeted with a smile and treated with respect rather than as a nuisance as has sometimes been our experience in UK hospitals. I paid the princely sum of three Euros and was given a ticket to take to the First Aid Assessment Centre. There were about 15 to 20 people waiting there and initially our hearts dropped thinking we were in for a long wait. However within 10 to 15 minutes I had been quickly assessed by a doctor who gave me a form authorising an X-Ray. A slight hiccup occurred upon arrival at the X-Ray department where I found I should have taken the form back to reception for a stamp. Once the form was stamped a woman from reception personally escorted us back to the X-Ray department. The X-Ray department technician was polite and efficient and she spoke perfect English. Within 10 to 15 minutes I had the X-Ray in my hand and had returned to the First Aid Assessment Centre as instructed. An assistant came out and told us that the Orthopedist was on rounds in the wards and I might have to wait between 60 and 90 minutes. As soon as I sat down and opened a book, after waiting less than five minutes, I was called in to see the doctor, a young greek lady who spoke absolutely perfect 'English' English (rather than 'American' English ! ). She could not have been more friendly - talking about her sister who lived in Essex, asking about my roots in the UK etc. After examining the X-Ray and prodding and stretching my ankle for a few minutes the diagnosis was given as strangulated ligaments. My ankle and lower leg were bandaged up and after being advised on the time and method of recuperation I was on my way home.

From being dropped off at the hospital gates to being picked up after completion of booking in, initial assessment, X-Ray and treatment was only about one hour and ten minutes. A much better experience than I have ever had at any UK hospital. I have nothing but praise for the whole set-up and in particular the staff. On our departure the staff at reception who had dealt with us at arrival even called out to us to ask whether I was OK and to say goodbye. I know that the majority of hospitals in the the UK now put X-Rays directly onto computer networks for doctors to view, whereas in Rethymno they still use X-Ray film and the patient has to store his/her own X-Rays at home, but so far I prefer the Greek system, although as yet I have not experienced being an in-patient which I am told is a whole new experience.

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