Pictures

On Thursday we went into Mandraki to collect the pork joint we had ordered for Xmas lunch and to do the shopping that was needed to see us over the holiday period.

Once we had fortified ourselves with frappe coffee and orange juice on our way home we saw some activity on the square. On closer investigation we discovered an 11kg fish for which lottery tickets were being sold. We bought one but were wondering what we would do with it if we won. Fortunately we were not so lucky.

Xmas day we spent quietly after Carmen and Peter came to lunch. where we had foie gras, pork ribs with potatoes, leeks, a Norwegian cabbage dish and a potato and cucumber salad (brought by Carmen). We finished off with a Tiramisu and a chocolate mousse (brought by Carmen). A simple but delightful meal in good company.

Despite the glorious weather on Thursday, when Svein  went swimming in the harbour looking for our lost dinghy oars and the temperatures reached the mid 20s, it has today been overcast and windy but that did not dampen spirits.

The DVD was finished today so we went into Mandraki and found the envelopes and will be spending a busy night getting them ready to post out tomorrow.

The Christmas spirit is coming to Nisyros. The street decorations are up and the houses are decorated. We have tried to contribute a little by decorating the doghouse. On Sunday we were treated to a short concert by the school’s brass band. We are starting to plan our Christmas meal but are not sure yet what we will be eating.

To everyone following the blog a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

We are slowly recovering from the storm and are picking up the pieces. We have contacted the insurance company and are collating the information for them.

We decided that in the event of bad weather again we would stay on the South side of the harbour and rely on our anchor. In order to do so we have increased the size and have bought a new anchor (35kg Kobra) in Kos marina. They delivered it to the ferry and we received it on Wednesday evening. That was quick service everything done in one day. It was installed on the chain so quickly that there was no time to take a photograph. We immediately moved over to the South side and installed ourselves again.

There have been some squalls but the worst was last night or should we say early this morning at 3.30am. The anchor was put to good test as a squall came through that lasted 3 hours. “Charisma” was out checking their anchor later in the morning and also checked ours. It is so dug in that you can only see the attachment to the chain!!!! Feel much safer now.

Alpha antenna also arrived by post today so hopefully our internet connection will be more reliable and we shall be able to call from the boat instead of going on land.

Svein in on the last part of the DVD so we are hoping to be able to ship them out on Monday.

Pictures

What a day and night! We woke on Saturday morning to strengthening winds. Svein quickly went off to the baker for bread and then parked the car on the far side of the harbour (away from the spray). Mike (Eagle’s Nest) rang us from Athens and said that he would arrange for the car to be washed as the sea recks havoc with the paintwork. We then sat and waited. Sure enough the wind levels rose and by midday we were in a constant waterfall. The water was pouring over the breakwater and into the harbour.It was impossible to stand on the quay. Svein managed to move the bicycles (that we had left on the quay) to a safer spot but not without great difficulty. We bunkered down in the boat and watched everything from the doghouse and tried to record events through the windows. The catamaran that had arrived Friday evening moved over to the south side alongside. Mid afternoon the gullet still moored on the south side dragged its 3 anchors and moved over to raft to the ferry. Shortly after its arrival the aft moorings on the ferry broke and she swung out into the harbour held only by her front mooring lines. By this time the wind was somewhere round 11 Beaufort (we could not check as it was impossible to get into the cockpit) and against all odds the ferry started its engines and came alongside the quay again. Stronger ropes were put out but on waking up this morning we saw that they had again changed the ropes during the night for even stronger ones. The wind continued at this strength all night and at the moment is still blowing strongly although there is less spray coming over the wall at the moment.

Lamp posts have lost their lights, electricity posts have been ripped out, stones and rocks have come over the wall and the two barges moored at the entrance to the harbour have broken their moorings and gone aground on the beach. As we write they are firing lines from the shore onto the barges to try and free them.

Unfortunately we have also faired badly. We have lost the wind generator, the radar has been severely damaged and the targa system holding the solar panels and dinghy has been badly twisted. Physically we are fine if a little cold as the electricity went off and we woke up this morning to 6 degrees in the boat. We hope the pictures will give you all some idea of what we experienced and must admit hope never to have to go through it again.

Having recovered from the trip to Kos we have been taking it relatively easily on the boat since. Svein is working really hard on the DVD with very long hours to ensure that it is ready. We went with Carmen and Peter (Charisma) into the Port Police but came away none the wiser except that apparently there exists a tax for boats staying longer than 3 months in a harbour “but it would be too expensive for us” so nothing was done other than checking our papers.

We are experiencing winds from all directions at the moment so to be prepared for the very strong North Westerlies forecast for the end of the week we have all moved over to the North side of the harbour. It does mean that we get the sun for a little longer each day.

Caryn went looking for the thermal spring today but did not manage to find it as it meant rock climbing and as she was on her own she did not dare attempt the climb. She will have to wait for another day and have someone with her.