Homecoming on Crete

Cannot confirm that as factual but in my 20 years here I don’t recall such rainfall and the accompanying damage – broken roads, landslips, fallen trees and rocks as well as very damp homes. The dehumidifier is on non-stop in mine. It’ll take more than a dehumidifier to restore the branch of Lidl at Platanias after it was completely flooded 14th February, I drove past a few days later and the car park was still thick in dirty sludge, while work was continuing in order to pump out the flood water.

And why was I driving via Platanias? Good question. There’s an inconvenient detour for one section of the national road, has been in place since early January after a major landslide, and that land is attached to a house, making for an unstable situation that’s not easily remedied, especially since the rain keeps on coming. Most of us are well aware that heating and electric bills are much higher than usual, far worse for anyone whose livelihood and /or property has been affected by the storms. In comparison the inconvenience of the detour is a minor one, even on days when due to incredible parking creativity there’s only a narrow channel to drive through!

In the peace of recent days it was evident how we’ve slipped into spring without (speaking for myself anyway) always noticing the shift. With no wind, stormy seas or house shaking thunder the early morning and afternoon dog walks are full of birdsong from the migrating visitors. Unfamiliar shapes and sizes fly out in all directions, and the more than familiar little sparrows perch on my balcony railings singing a song that may ridicule attempts to stop them from building nests in our many external air conditioning units. Ask housekeeping staff about the mess that creates!
In the garden, no small amount of weeding, well – I suppose more correct to say ‘removal of nice flowers in wrong places’ – was underway. The abundant growth is everywhere out in the countryside, such transformation and variety. I’m enjoying, on my weekly drive, the snowy like carpeting of chamomile flowers and the smart wallpapering where they cleverly cover the vertical cliff sides created where roads have been carved out.

My favourite pink, fluffy, dancing blossoming almond trees have suffered (again – the rain… hail) and look more like poor wretches left over from a production of Les Miserables. However, all this wet stuff is bound to mean a bright and colourful display of wild flowers for a longer than usual period. The heavily snow capped mountains will keep springs and rivers active and soon enough (she says hopefully…) we’ll dry out, warm up and enjoy an increasing number of days with more blue skies than the dark ominous threats that often loom over. And that’s how it is today, the last Sunday of February – properly wintry, no doubt snowing at higher levels and the prospect of today’s dog walk requiring many layers and a brisk pace!