16/06-10/07/25
There have been no additions or deletions to our family for 23 years, since my niece Zoe was born. Until 30/05, when my grandson arrived. Meet Ben Grahame Hallgalley.
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Category Archives: UK
Obituary to Tythe Barn House
27.12.24-14.01.25
We had decided to sell our holiday let house. Lots of good reasons to sell:
- Last tax year, it made less than £5,000 profit.
- We had paid for an expensive repair of over £5,000 for a leaking roof. But being part of a C17 Devon long house with daub and wattle walls ( insulation in parts was hair, as we discovered on the last roof repair!), there was an almost certain expectation of further costly repairs.
- We had also had trouble with our housekeeper, who seemed to believe I worked for him. Not easy to manage when one is abroad or travelling.
- Holiday rental prices have plummeted with oversupply of holiday properties, and competition from overseas holidays where sunshine is guaranteed.
- Guests are now demanding and damaging. Definitely a lack of respect. So repairs and extra cleaning costs are higher. And much more likely to give poor reviews, often completely unjustified.
- When we bought Tythe Barn House, we had thought we would retire to it when we were done with travelling. Devon is too wet with too many grey sky months (I suffer with SAD). We’ve made a home in Crete, certainly sunnier! 🌞
Yes, the right time to sell. For us, but not for the market. Every 6th house in Combe Martin seemed to sport a for sale board. We priced to competitivly. And hooked a buyer. Unfortunately, the sale did not go through before Christmas as everyone expected. Our buyers’ solicitor was rubbish, not returning calls or dealing with difficult enquiries. The up side of the delay, was that a) I did not have to fly home from our Morocco trip to clear the house, leaving James with Corrie alone and b) that we got to use it twice once we returned to the UK.
We do absolutely love the house, and it enveloped us like a blanket. We stayed over New Year, and Lin, Craig and Evie came to supper. Then Maddy and Jordan came for a few days and New Year.
With guests, we did not get much time to sort out what we might take to Crete in our motorhome, with an international removal company, or to dispose of items. So we returned on 10th January with the Aged Ps for 4 days. Robyn also popped over for a night. We managed to Facebook Marketplace a couple of items, a couple of charity shop and dump runs, and returned with a fully laden car … quite a lot of bulky but light stuff is now in Jez the motorhome for our return trip to Crete.
Whilst we were out and about, we reflected what a fabulous area North Devon is … when the sun shines! I took pix as I can’t see that we will return to the area. So this post, I guess, is an obituary to Tythe Barn House. No apologies for the number of pix; they are just for us.
COMBE MARTIN
ILFRACOMBE
HUNTERS VALLEY
WOOLACOMBE TWICE
TYTHE BARN HOUSE
Another Canine Odyssey
Woodlands Farm and Stationary
21/07-28/07/22
Maddy didn’t come down to see us as her boyfriend had caught Covid. So far, touch wood quickly, we’ve not had it and did not want to risk ourselves or passing it to parents and other family who are immune suppressed. Sad not to see her, but better safe than sorry.
On Saturday, Stella’s new owners drove down to collect her. They kindly took us out to lunch to say thank you. What blew us away was on top of that, they arrived with 3 large boxes. 1. Filled with toys, cool mats and treats for CO2. 2. Filled with yummies from Waitrose … things we may not get easily in Crete. 3. Filled with booze! Incredibly generous. Just as well they did come for her as J was getting attached … on being asked he had said he would keep her. So much for our no more dogs rule! Feck, incidentally, was collected as we arrived in the UK on the M25 … not the live carriageway, of course, but at the services.
Watching for deer.
Card from Stella’s owners.
J got his 4th booster. We ate with the Aged Ps. BBQ at my sister’s. And David and Karen (also part of our Turkey lockdown family) came over and stayed 3 nights: walked, ate at a nice restaurant in Chichester and generally drank too much. David is the man who ‘has a glue for that’ so he helped with a few maintenance jobs too :).
Hundreds of deer in the woods.
Another K9 Odyssey
28/-7-04/08/22
We will be leaving Jez in the UK, but will need to get back to Crete by road as we have CO2 to take with us. So I flew to Chania to fetch the Greek car and the camping kit. Thank you to the train strikes (NOT), J had to drive me even though there’s a perfectly good direct 1 hour train service from Chichester to Gatwick. I had 4 nights in our Crete house to clean and shut it up for being empty. Friends had used the house and left just before I arrived and there was just a bit of laundry to finish off. I got to see Gillian, Karl and June and Nicky and Rob. I’d thought I would have had an empty suitcase coming over. Paid for when I planned to fly back on my own after returning the van solo to the UK in Sept. No refund on cases … so I’d offered to bring back anything for friends. I did some ordering and shopping for us too. So much so that my case was overweight with HP sauce, stain spray, Worcester sauce etc! Had to borrow a small cabin bag from the Aged P’s!!!
Cretan Animal Protection had two smallish dogs for me to bring over. Both absolute sweeties.
Johnny who had cruised from house to house for left overs. Had been fostered by a family who all cried when he was collected.
Little Alma. Had been rescued from a couple who were alcohol and drug addicts. They used to batter her. When she was removed from their ‘care’ she had to spend weeks in vet hospital. So nervous that cowered initially, but got used to us and is a real poppet. Loves cuddles. She’s available for adoption if anyone reading this is interested.
Gillian had been thinking about coming back to the UK to see her mother and sisters in and around Portsmouth and friends. She suggested joining me on the road trip. Excellent … spent a lunch with her booking her onto the crossings.
First ferry. First Campari. Daytime crossing from Chania to Pireaus.
First ferry for dogs.
Overnight at an AirBnB. A wander with wine and beer, followed by a few red wines on our balcony. Bit later to bed than panned!!!
Coffee stop required after leaving our basic accommodation.
Ferry No.2 No cabins to be had. We bought airplane seats at the port. I paid EUR20, Gillian EUR9!!! Why???? She’s a certain age! LOL
Ferry No.2. Campari No. 2.
Picnic lunch. Dogs had been refusing their dog food (kibble supplied by Cretan Animal Protection) so I mixed out left over salmon and sardines with it … which they sucked off and left the biscuits.
Pre supper drinks!
Dogs starting to vomit bile and slime as soooo hungry. They woofed up bread, ham and cheese!
They also woofed up half a burger each! The other half was given to Johnny’s new owners in case he refused to eat what they had bought.
DFDS Calais. Got here in under 22 hours from Ancona. Both drove and stopped a couple of times for a nap.
White cliffs of Dover. Always think first time visitors must be disappointed. No Campari, but Gillian did force down a glass of white!
2022.01: Unplanned UK Winter
Update …
Sept 21 to Jan 2022
A long time since the last post. Whilst few significant things occurred we seem to have been busy!
James’ Heart
The bypass was scheduled for early October. J was in the hospital, had ordered his dinner and was then told that it was to be postponed. Too many staff off sick from the Covid booster. By this time, I was at the Aged Ps and about to have dinner. The hospital was a good hour away and more with rush hour traffic. So J ate his hospital pasta and I had my meal before I fetched him … was that so wrong of me?! As visitors are not allowed, I’d booked myself busy for 5 days whilst he was supposedly in hospital. So James came with me … a few nights at Stonehenge wild camping with the motorhome having a few more repairs. And then overnight up in Twickenham helping a friend clear the attic prior to moving house.
In the end the surgery was 26th October just over 2 weeks later. He was under a good surgeon, but he had to leave so the substitute was an even better bet. The top Prof, who rang me himself early evening. He’s big, as in top man, in beating heart surgery. Yes, that is a thing. I had to google it as the consultant had not mentioned it and neither of us was keen to know the specifics of the actual surgery. I subsequently read about beating heart and skipped over the video that started with the incision into the skin, and would have gone onto the whole procedure … too much info for a sensitive me! In essence, the heart and lungs are not put onto a pump but are able to operate as normal. Suction holds the part of the heart still where the surgeon is working. Pump / normal open heart surgery around been since the 1950’s. Beating heart since 1995, so still relatively new … not all all open heart surgery suitable for beating heart. The surgeon told me his recovery would be much quicker and so it proved.
James surpassed all the milestones and was walking a few miles within a week and a half Very little pain from his chest unless he sneezed! Paracetamol was sufficient and that was for his upper back discomfort. The nurse explained this pain is due to the position they put you in to prise open your chest. He’s itching to get running, even short distances, but that’s a few weeks off. And then we’ll be back into the hills of Crete!
The cardiac nurse team are amazing. They respond quickly to emails and calls and we’ve had one assessment meeting with them. He’s been given exercises to do 3x a week and we’ve been walking a lot building distance and speed. The Rolex is off … replaced by a Fitbit so he can ensure his heart rate doesn’t go above 106! I was slightly envious, of his new Versa 3, which includes built in GPS and its olive green … my colour and mine’s only a Versa 2!!!
Family and Friends
Lots of getting togethers … mostly lunches! Our theory was that we’d eat out once a week, but fine dining. We could afford to do this is we dispensed with ordinary lunches and coffee & cakes. Using the Michelin app, we booked into a number of local Michellin plate restaurants for set lunches. All well and good, but we still seemed to have the odd pub lunch and those coffees! I discovered the Bognor Fishermen’s Association fresh fish stall … so we’ve eaten skate, a whole brill and Dover sole … yum. Bonus of Bognor is a wonderful homemade open all year ice cream parlour!
And Christmas … a proper family Christmas. Our last was 2018. Again Clare and Chris hosted and we all took bits …but C did the bulk of the work. It was truly brilliant. Party games, cards etc. And Boxing Day 3 meats and salads. All yum! And Maddy and Jordan came down on Christmas afternoon and stayed Boxing Day until Jordan had to return home to watch Chelsea with his family! He’s a lovely chap, but sadly he’s into that round ball game instead of rugby!
All our van Christmas decorations were in Crete, so I raided Poundland …. our tree! If you can call it that! Supposed to light up … wasn’t worth taking back for a refund!!
Every year the Aged Ps purchase Christmas stocking gifts whilst on their travels. There was a lot from the UK this year!
Arundel. We’d been for a Michellin plate lunch and walk and then booked a city walking tour for a few days later when Frances and Edward visited us.
Arundel castle.
Whole brill cooked with hassleback potatoes in the motorhome with Michelle and Craig.
Misty Stonehenge.
Maddy’s graduation. Did I mention she gained a 1st?!!
Kalives is the nearest town to us in Crete … found this boat at Chichester marina. No owner around to ask why it is so named.
Mum repeated oft that there is NO STORAGE at their new house. All our stuff was cleared out and under duress they will store a bulky coat and wash kit. Then they took pity on us … I was offered space to put a storage box in the car barn! I put it together too. Needless to say, it is now FULL.
We’ve really come to like the area around Chichester. It may be flat, but lots of inlets and wiggly coastline.
Campsites
Whilst the weather was good we stayed at Connor House and mostly Woodlands Farm 5 pitch site. Lovely couple run Woodlands … very basic but woods with deer. However, the lack of sunshine meant the solars were just not harvesting sufficient juice to run all our gadgets and heating. I was also concerned that post surgery J would need to be kept warm and whilst our gas is super efficient (radiators and under floor heating), I did not want to keep moving the van for gas refills. So we needed EHU. And with impending bad weather … hard standing. Being nearly 5 ton we have a tendency to sink! We moved to one site, intending to stay there, but the owners were a bit off. Told me off for putting on the awning light when I took CO2 for their night time pee, would not let us move to the sunny side, even though we planned to stay till January. So we voted with our wheels and moved to another site. We were really happy here until the owner doubled the price (we had been using a lot of power at one point as there was a severe cold snap) and the field we were in became very muddy. I got serious pee’d off with soggy doggies and mud splatters … despite doggy dry bags. After New Year we moved to another site with proper concrete hard standing … woken every morning at 6.00 am but the tractor … lovely walking there though. Finally we ended up at Concierge Camping. Famed for being on a motorhome TV programme where one chappie in his posh van declared he liked it here, as it was expensive enough that he knew he would only meet people like him. Well, I dont think he can of been there when we were … as with all our accumulated mud (van, CO2 and us) we definitely lowered the tone. To be honest, it is worth every penny, as the facilities are fab – even a free ice making machine and dog shower. And at the weekend there is quality Thai street food for sale.
I think we’ve experienced most of the suitable sites now in and around Chichester … if you need a recommendation?
Deer at Woodlands Farm. They come down from the Downs in winter and the noise they make at night and during rutting is somewhat unnerving.
The cold snap at Sunnyside.
Tythe Barn House
Having not been to our Devon house that is used as holiday lets for over a year, we’ve used it a lot this year. Quarantine back in May. A quickie when the Aged Ps and Clare & Chris used it in May. November for 2 weeks as it was between guests … the thought of J recuperating with more space was attractive. And he normally does the washing up but was excused chores, and it has a dishwasher! Nothing selfish on my part!!! Then we’ve had some damp work done so we stayed whilst the plaster was drying and then for 2 weeks in January. We probably won’t get back down there till 2023! Lovely to be able to share it with family and friends.
The kitchen had been mostly packed away for the damp work … the housekeeper seemed to know which kitchen kit was most important to us!!
The main Combe Martin beach with the tide out.
The other beach at Combe Martin … with the tide out!
After a storm at Woolacombe beach.
Regular walking / running route around Whistlandpound reservoir, especially after some of the humungous downpours we had as the track is mostly firm.
Walk along to Hebdon Mouth
Hebdon Mouth
A Devon road … a motorhome is a no go!
Baggy Point walk.
Nothing Baggy about this man!
Baggy Point looking across to the 2 miles of Woolacombe beach … we did sample the Thai fishcakes at the cafe this end.
Hang dog – Kelsey is not used to sharing the comfy spot!
Clovelly is a private estate with gardens and a village. The ticket was valid for a week, so we went with Lisa and Danny and then with Robyn.
Fab walk with rushing water and mossy boulders at Watersmeet with Robyn.
It was David’s birthday when the Turkish Lockdown family stayed … Lisa did decorations and I did a meal.
I did warn them that Devon is the wet test country … non stop rain! Sunny the day after they left, of course! This pic was taken at the Rocks near Lynmouth.
Mini Tour of North Kent
Loved it. We intended starting at Gravesend and following the coast around. But we had to return to Chichester earlier than planned as we (J specifically) had to isolate prior to surgery, and we found so much of interest that we didnt move as fast as we thought we would. And of course, he was still getting very tired, so we were mostly active in the mornings. Definitely unfinished business.
Gravesend Temple. A wedding was going on but the guests were happy to chat. Had a free tour and were offered free food. Classes, older person clubs, sports gourds etc … money here but used for the community.
Guess where this wedding guest made his money!
Also in Gravesned a WW2 festival.
We also visited Rochester, but we really liked Chatham Dockyard. So much to do and the ticket was valid for a year so we went back a second day and still did not see it all. This is one of the massive old dry dock coverings.
The Ropery is one of the longest brick built buildings in Europe. Length determined by the metres required for an anchor rope. And this is still in use.
Bikes are used by staff to get from one end to another. The building would not meet current work regulations … all the windows gaped. On our tour of the Ropery, I got to have a go at twining rope and came away with a sample.
2011-2027: Zorba Repatriation And Unexpected Events
2011-12-: Preparation and Planning
Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd September 2021
Another early start to drop Jez back into Abacus for more work to be done … we coffee’d and walked locally into an Andover Park as we didn’t have the car. Late afternoon arrival back at our usual 5 pitch C&CC site, Woodlands Farm.
Replacement rear view and reversing camera … the last one had fogged over. Driving a nearly 5 ton vehicle with no rear view is not ideal!
Lots of resident deer at the farm … mostly Roe and a few Fallow.
The background to this trip is that cars can only remain in the UK for 6 months or they have to be imported. 6 months would be up at the end of October and we also had a load of belongings to take across to the house in Crete. J’s consultant had not argued about us going to Ireland for J’s daughter’s wedding, but had said no to him travelling to Greece. So he was going to stay home (in Jez) with CO2, whilst I took Zorba and stuff to Crete.
Zorba the Greek car was collected from the Aged P’s. Well, eventually. He didn’t want to start. A new battery in May, so not that. Jump started off the Merc. No power steering. Googled and apparently it is usual for electronics to go haywire on jump starting. Switched off and jump started again … power steering worked this time. Back at the Farm, he was then emptied and all the boxes re-sorted to reflect the fact that James’ heart surgery would mean us staying in the UK IN WINTER. Then reloaded. All the PLF and transit rules done and understood. Route plotted.
Maddy, my daughter co-driver was put on the insurance. Plan well and truly sorted …. Maddy and I would catch the late afternoon overnight ferry on 6th Sept from Ancona to Patras. 4 hours to do a 2 hour drive to catch the next overnight ferry to Crete, arriving early on 8th. Maddy’s boyfriend, Jordan, flying in on 10th. All to fly back on 17th. Friends rate my planning. They’ve not met my mother or sister, who are scary when it comes to planning, but what could possibly go wrong?!
Fully laden … no room for you Oscar!
2013: Refusual at the First Hurdle
Saturday 4th September 2021
Final check of all paperwork and in the afternoon I set off to collect Maddy from Farnborough. Zorba wouldn’t start again, so another jump start and I took the jump leads with me! I got quite adept at accosting men in car parks to allow me to jump start from their cars! … Tesco as I collected a prescription for J and then Halfords to buy a lithium jump starter pack. This will be fine, really, honestly, I told myself. We can just jump start our way across Europe! Then once there, I’ll take Zorba into the garage to have starter motor and alternator checked.
Maddy drove back down to Chichester to get used to a left hand drive manual car on the wrong side of the road and parked nose out so we could jump start it again! We had supper at the Aged P’s as our Tunnel crossing not until 0230. We thought they’d probably put us on the next available train if we arrived early, so we got in the car to set off …. awful grinding and whining noise. Then deathly silence. A similar noise to the last time Zorba had to be low loadered to the garage for new injectors. Zorba really wasn’t going anywhere. The whole point of the trip was get Zorba back to Greece and was refusing! I was on the verge of aborting, until I looked at Maddy’s face … she and Jordan were really looking forward to a holiday. Decision … a fast decision. I’d take the Merc. At least our stuff would get over to Greece and I could bring back some winter clothes, not that we have many!
If you’ve never tried emptying a roof box, removing it … fixing it to another car and reloading it in PITCH DARK …. don’t! It really isn’t the easiest thing to do. But we managed it and it did stay on! The Merc’s seats down, the inside was filled to the gunwales. Interestingly it is less capacious that the Skoda Roomster – aptly named. Excess boxes and bags were relocated to the Aged P’s garage … despite their downsizing house move and being told they didnt have room to store our stuff! Ooops!
Slightly frazzled we made it to the Tunnel in plenty of time and did catch and earlier train at 12.45 p.m.
2014: Tyre Pressure but not Tired
Sunday 5th September 2021
One of the benefits of travelling across the EU on Sunday is that most countries ban trucks unless they are refrigerated goods, so the roads are relatively empty. Our route was toll free through Belgium and Luxemberg, re fill with cheap diesel, and then toll free through France to Basel. Bought a vignette for Switzerland and used the free Gotthard tunnel during Sunday night. As Maddy had not been put on the insurance for the Merc, I was driving overnight. Once offices opened, we tried to get her on my insurance … no, my ex pat insurance will not cover anyone under 25. No go with her insurance either as they won’t cover 3rd party on other vehicles if under 25. We ended up paying for expensive day insurance that ran for 24 hours so she did a couple of good stints behind the wheel.
It got warmer as we moved south … layers were peeled off….
… and hair tied back … the air con doesn’t work, so windows had to be opened. I found another use for a mask to keep my hair from blowing in my face.
A few weeks ago we’d had a tyre warning light come on … nail … tyre repaired. However, having inflated the tyres for a heavy load, the warning light came on again. Every time we stopped, I was having to check and re-inflate. Could anything else go wrong?
Having made good time with only a few nanny naps, we stopped in Como and had a proper restaurant supper. Well deserved. We had made such good time we had some big nanny nap stops that later that night.
Maddy had pizza, but my swordfish with caponata was lovely.
2015-2116: Killing Time and Missing the Next Ferry
Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th September 2021
We had made such good time, having allowed for holdups …. but we even managed to get past Milan before the rush hour and so arrived in Ancona at 9.00 a.m. We parked up at a Motorhome stop that J and I have used a number of times … formerly Auchan, but a few other shops and cafes. Breakfast and lunch … Maddy clothes shopped, of course!
We drove down to the port mid afternoon. Paid for our tickets … only to be told the online office had incorrectly used previously bought tickets, but it did mean we paid less than we thought.
The ship was late in … they didnt send the the text offering me alternative dates until after we had sailed!
All these trucks did eventually make it on board….
… meanwhile, I consumed a few of these. It was Cretan wine, after all.
We treated ourselves to serviced dining … if you can call it that! Linen table napery, but rubbish food and service and very expensive. J and I have never eaten on board before as we’ve the dogs, but never again. And the cabin stank of ammonia … obviously the toilet tanks needed cleaning out! The food was almost enough to make you gag, but the cabin stink certainly was!
Fortunately we’d brough our own brunch.
With time to kill on the 22 hour crossing, we dyed our eyebrows!
The ship was 4 hours late into Patras so no hope of catching the next overnight ferry. Oops … my carefully laid plan! Before we docked, Maddy was onto a booking site and found us a beach hotel for about £50. We had a lovely supper at a neighbouring restaurant. A fraction of the price compared to onboard too. Before we left the port, we found the Minoan office and rebooked our Pireas – Chania ferry for the following evening.
2017: Tourist Day
Wednesday 8th September 2021
The ferry from Pireas was less than 2 hours away and didn’t depart until evening, so we had all day to kill. We thought about sunbathing …. but it was grey with showers. Tourists, it was to be. We drove up the mountains to Kalavryta to a holocaust museum. I’d been before with J and the Aged P’s but had found it very moving.
Video recordings of some of the now grown up survivors and girls told of their first hand experiences, making it very real. Descriptions of how the women and children tried to identify their family and then dig graves with bare hands in the frozen soil, as all the tools had been destroyed when the Germans burnt the all the houses. Just as moving as the first visit.
View from the hill were the men and boys were mown down and now where many still lay.
Maddy is rather fond of Corrie (Oscar too sometimes!) and wanted to see where we had found her. I think she rather hoped we would see a close relative of Corrie that she could adopt … don’t know who she thought would look after it with her about to go off to Kings to do her Masters! Fortunately, this time, Accorinth was bare of strays.
James and I have stayed here twice later in the year so never seen it so dry. It was about to close, so we only had a quick wander.
This ferry left on time AND the cabin did not stink. And we’d taken our own picnic, so altogether a better and shorter crossing.
2018: Cleaning Day
Thursday 9th September 2021
We were up in plenty of time to have a coffee on deck and watch the approach into Chania port. And with no more set backs, we were straight off and within 20 minutes we parked by our house. Before we unpacked the car, we had to clean. It had been empty since end April, but unwelcome residents had moved in! Yep, stink worms and cockroaches again, especially in the basement where Maddy was to sleep. So debugging and bleaching started at 0630! Once Maddy’s bed was made, she climbed into it and I continued the clean moving up the house … she gave me a hand for the last bit and then we unloaded the car and roof box.
With the house pretty much in order, we had supper Almyrida with Gillian … lovely to try a restaurant that has been shut whilst we have been in residence during the winter.
2019-2024: A Holiday
Thursday 9th – Thursday16th September 2021
Jordan arrived the next day, so he and Maddy spent a few days sunbathing. He is very fair (strawberry blond!) and used more than a tube of factor 50. We went into Chania, I collected a ring a jeweller friend of a friend had replaced the stone. I hired a car for Maddy for 2 days and they had an overnight in Rethmyno and visited Knossos Palace. We ate out a lot … with friends, including a Sunday tea party in aid of animal charities: we ate our body weight in cake! I also spent some time visiting car dealerships … after a summer forking our thousands on cars, we had decided we really do need a reliable car. It needs to be Greek as we will be in Greece for more than 6 months each year and big enough to transport us and CO2 to and fro to the UK. Short list of a Hyundai Kona and Suzuki Vitara … need to test drive and J to look at them in the UK.
On his own in the UK, J dog walked and waded through a pile of admin and jobs. He had use of my sister’s car for a week and ate in a few pubs and at my parents … just as well as he’s a can’t cook won’t cook man. I’d left him a few frozen soups and casseroles …. honest!
Almyrida with all the sun umbrellas out.
I got to walk and run one of our favourite local walks … Plaka head.
On the way to one of my favourite restaurants, we stopped for a sundowner overlooking Almyrida.
Chania.
One of our meals in Eleanora’s.
Maddy and Jordan flew out lunchtime on Thursday. Think they had a good time, as they spent most of the previous day trying to work out how they could stay! Having cleaned their room, I dined back up the hill with friends …. it really was fabulous to see friends after 5 months.
2025: The Return Journey Commences
Friday 17th September 2021
With the ‘children gone I completed the cleaning and got all my paperwork in order. Rather hoping for an incident free trip as I was doing the return leg solo.
I treated myself to a good late lunch in Chania at Salis restaurant which has been recommended by Ann … wonderful fish followed by two flavours of ice cream Didn’t realise each was an entire pudding … I was offered two spoons lol! Dill ice cream with strawberry jam and watermelon with pickled rind … both delicious.
To save a little money, I’d booked an airplane reclining chair instead of a cabin … only an overnight crossing … medicine to help me sleep!
2026: Patras Tourism
Saturday 18th September 2021
Arrival in Pireas early morning and I drove to Corinth … I’d booked an antigen test there at 10.00. I had a walk and beachside coffee beforehand. Test was only EUR10, so a bargain compared the Kalives ones that Maddy and Jordan had had at EUR25 each.
Still with lots of time to kill, I drove to Patras. Despite sailing in and out, we’ve never actually gone into the town centre. I walked up a massive flight of steps to Patras castle … arriving as a sweaty puddle. The first thing I did once on board was shower! Fortunately I’d a cabin for this 22 hour crossing to Ancona. Very few tourists, no British again and mostly truck drivers. At Pireas the lorry loads were being clambered all over by a private security firm looking for immigrants. I’d had to open the rear doors and boot.
Patras Castle steps were right at the end of this boulevard.
View from Patras Castle.
2027: Mostly Bored On-Board
Sunday 19th September 2021
Straight off the boat in Ancona and I’d not had to show my double tax cert or even my passport. More docs had to be presented from Crete to the mainland. Being Sunday afternoon, I knew to expect traffic heading up to Milan and Como, but there were quite a few road works too. I got my head down for a bit and then it was plain sailing back through the Gotthard Tunnel at just after midnight and Switzerland.
2028: A Good Run and a 3rd Ferry
Monday 20th September 2021
A pretty straight run up to Calais, with another cheap fuel stop in Luxemberg. On one morning stop, I booked my day 2 Covid test, did the Gov PLF and booked the ferry. Not used a Channel ferry in years as a) I remember lots of times where I felt sea sick (funnily enough don’t on the Greek ferries), and b) you have to leave the dogs in the car. This time, I booked DFDS as it was a lot cheaper than the Tunnel at short notice and with a Flexi ticket I could turn up 72 hours either side of my booked crossing and be put on the next available ferry.
I arrived a day earlier than I’d booked and caught the 5.30 ferry. Again largely empty other than trucks. The hour and a half passed really quickly as part of the Flexi ticket bonus is that I had a meal voucher.
DFDS chicken curry free … as part of my ticket. OK it was too … better than Minoan / Grimaldi!
A meal with a view.
Before I knew it, Dover in sight.
I got hauled over in Dover … why and where had I been. Was this my car? etc. I handed over V5, passport, Greek residency, Greek Tax number, Greek rental agreement and explained why and where I’d been. He conferred with colleagues and checked my boot and I was allowed to leave.
Back home to James and CO2 by 9.00 UK time.
So this return drive was just over 3 days door to door, with 3 ferries, 2 of which were overnight. 1125 miles door to door. 963 miles in 24 hours including nanny naps from Ancona to Calais.
Was it hard? No, not really. Audio books kill the journey. More fun coming out with Maddy.
Would I do it again? Yes, if need be.
Maddy and Jordan got a holiday.
We got most of our ‘stuff’ from the Aged P’s old house to Crete.
I saw some friends.
Failed on getting Zorba out of the UK … Since our return the garage has established that the diesel pump must be disintegrating to cause the new injectors to fail and the battery was also not being charged …. so he is definitely for the scrap heap. Not one of our better buys.
Clune Gap Years 