Watching the Olives Grow

by Stavros Allanopolis

  The hardback book is only available from the authors Kevin and Jackie Freiberg www.freibergs.com.

  File Note:

  Stavros was privileged to work with both Kevin and Jackie at their offices in San Diego, California, and they inspired him to ‘make change happen in both his professional and personal life’, and he did!

  I desperately wanted to complete the Gazebo before Sally and Pete arrived, and I also hoped that the parcel would have arrived before they did. By the day that I left to make the trip to London, neither had materialised!

  I looked out of the window of the ‘plane as we started the descent for Gatwick. Below me was the coast of France, and ahead the coast of England. I felt quite uneasy. What was I thinking of? Coming back!

  Still, I did have the consolation of having organised the trip around two specific activities that would make it all worthwhile. When the dates had been confirmed for the first visit to London, I was able to make a plan, and what a plan it turned out to be!

  First another ‘goodbye’ dinner with Peter, and I had invited my three daughters to come too, and they did. It was great to see them (all). So the dinner party turned out to be, Peter, Mel and Joseph, plus Nina, Emma and Lucy. This was a truly unique occasion as it was the first time that all four of my children were seated around one table! We had a great time! For me though, it was a very strange moment of emotion as I said ‘goodbye’ to Peter for the second time in three months; first, Athens on his own, and now in London with his family.

  Although I’ve never made much of ‘being away,’ I think that always at the back of my mind there has been the thought that I was never more than 24 hours away from the UK if I ever needed to return. Now, here was Peter moving away to the other side of the world and I may never see him, Mel or Joseph again.

  The second part of the plan was the following day, spent with my client, and the third part was travelling back to Meerkat Manor with Sally and Pete, but as I set off to Gatwick to meet up with Sally and Pete, I adjusted the plan to include part 3a) because I went via Henry’s Bar in Piccadilly to meet up with George. I remembered that the last time we were together was at Aaggi’s Bar in Agios Nikolaos. Back then (October 2009), we were sitting at the water’s edge enjoying the warmth of the evening. The scene then was that of solitude, peace and quiet, and the bar to ourselves, as we watched the sunset as we sipped our wine. Now, some eight months later, here we were sipping our wine from a window table in a very crowded and noisy bar, and looking out of the window onto the street crammed full with commuters rushing home in the cold evening air!

  As we parted, George promised to visit Meerkat Manor and Aaggi’s Bar again as soon as he could, and I set off for Gatwick because I was going to meet with Sally and Pete, stay overnight in a B&B and catch the early morning flight to Athens with them and onward to Meerkat Manor. It seemed that the plan was coming together beautifully, but not so the ‘collections’ that were still nowhere to be seen. Previously, I had ‘phoned Valerie and she confirmed that there had been no parcel to collect and no wood had been delivered.

  I had travelled by car to Athens in order that we could all travel back to Meerkat Manor together, and avoid using the coach services which would have added a further three hours to the overall return journey. We landed in Athens and in no time we were on our way. We were making good time and even made enough time for a ‘pit stop’ for Sally and Pete to view the Corinth Canal. Stavros: the consummate Tour Guide! We arrived at Meerkat Manor in time for us all to see a fabulous sunset and for me to do some ‘Watching’ and check out if the Olive trees had missed me.

  Photo: Sunset Beyond The ‘Watched’ Tree At Meerkat Manor.

  The following day was remarkable in two separate ways.

  Firstly, I went to the Post Office and I discovered that the parcel had arrived that morning; there it was on the counter just waiting for me to collect it! Ironic that it arrived after Sally, yet had been posted some seven weeks earlier! It had probably been caught up in the Customs area during the strikes in May, but we’ll never really know.

  At least we had it now. Trouble was, I couldn’t remember what was in it! When I opened it, I discovered a cardigan that I had ordered back in March to see me though the chillier nights. No use for that now for at least another nine months! Oh well, seemed like a good idea at the time I ordered it!

  Secondly, I went to see Dimitris in the builder’s yard and he said that he thought that he had traced a supplier for the decking!

  This was better news! I asked him,

  “When will you be able collect it and deliver it to me?”

  He thought about this for a moment, and then looked at me and said,

  “ ....... Maybe tomorrow, Stavros. Yassas!”

  It wasn’t ‘tomorrow’, as it was in fact some three days later when he delivered it, and I was impressed that it was the correct size and quantity of the wood for the decking and the timber for the framework.

  On that first morning back at Meerkat Manor, Sally and Pete said that they just wanted to relax, generally ‘chill out’ and do nothing. So I suggested that they join me on the terrace and watch me hard at work ‘Watching The Olives Grow’ and to observe first hand just how hard it was!

  As we sat there ‘Watching,’ I explained how I was going to build the decking for the Gazebo. Pete commented that when he was here last time he wished he had been able to be around to help build the stone bench, as he enjoyed that sort of thing. So, this time, upon hearing about my plans for the deck and the Gazebo, he said the same about the deck for the Gazebo.

  “Stavros, can I help at all?”

  I didn’t take long to accept his invitation to help; if I remember correctly, around about two seconds!

  So, Pete got down to work, supported by his able ‘assistant’ none other than Stavros Allanopolis himself! Meanwhile, Sally opened the parcel whilst we worked.

  Photo: Sally With THE Parcel Now Delivered.

  Photo: Pete Laying Out The Gazebo Base Frame.

  Pete decided I needed some stone chippings to fill in the framework foundation for the deck. So it was back to Dimitris to order some cement and the stone pebbles. I introduced him to Pete and placed my order, and he surprised me by saying,

  “Within the hour, Stavros. Yassas!”

  True to his word, he delivered three tons of stone pebbles, but forgot the cement! Notwithstanding, I set to work with the wheelbarrow to transport them from where they were dumped at the gate, and into the garden to fill the foundation of the framework that Pete was constructing. I decided to collect the cement the following day.

  By now the temperature was reaching 38 C at noon, so Pete and I worked from 6am until 10am and 6pm until 9pm, and he and Sally became ‘tourists’ in the hours in between. During the ‘in between time’ they spent it sitting in the sun, reading their books and sipping their beers, and some days they went to the beach too.

  The only change to that routine was the day we went for a boat ride. I had arranged for Christos, a friend of mine who runs the local Padi Scuba and Snorkel Diving School, to take us for a ride across the Messinian Bay from Kardamyli, and to visit some beaches that are only accessible by boat. As we set off, we turned right out of the harbour and headed out into the Messinian Gulf in the direction of Kitries and Kalamata beyond.

  The sea was velvety smooth and the boat just glided across the water. We sat under the shade of the boat’s sun canopy and chatted and drank ice cold Cokes and Beers. This was the life! It was a great day, and from time to time Christos would stop and we dived and swam from the boat, and then we went in towards the coastline and visited some small beaches; no set plan, just following the bow of the boat.

  Photo: A ‘Castaway’ Type Of’ Beach Awaited Our Arrival.

  We had taken a cooler box with us for a picnic lunch, and Christos knew this, so he decided to take us to a special place that he said he knew. It turned out to be to a fabulous, deserted sandy beach. As the cooler box is made of polystyrene, I knew
that it would float, so I jumped overboard and Pete lowered it over the side.

  Photo: Stavros With The Picnic Cooler Box.

  As I swam, it floated alongside me to the shoreline. Picnic to go!

  I felt quite proud that I had got it there without it capsizing and spoiling the contents! As the others arrived and we looked around us, we all got that ‘Castaway’ feeling. Well we had the food, true, but it was deserted, and it looked like a beach on a desert island in a movie! We sat on the sand and drank our wine and ate our packed lunch; totally carefree! We spent the time ‘chilling out’ and catching up with all the various ‘bits and pieces of news’ from when we had last seen them.

  Then, all too soon, it was time to swim back to the boat and head for dry land, and back to continue work on the Gazebo. It had been a great way to spend the day; idyllic even. Valerie and I planned to do it again sometime soon.

  At the time Pete had offered to help build the deck, and site the Gazebo, he had looked at my plans and suggested that we could manage to complete it in time for dinner on their last night of their stay. That night and the following morning, despite the heat, we worked towards our goal and we finished it right on schedule. As the Leader of the Construction Team, Pete even ‘signed’ his work.

  Photo: The Constructor Signs His Work.

  Photo: Construction Team Celebrate.

  Sally’s suggestion of a ‘curved’ end of the deck as a feature to hold ‘something’ was an inspirational idea; the finishing touch!

  Valerie had chilled a bottle of ‘bubbly’ and our celebrations included celebrating that the parcel had been delivered, a Gazebo built, and a relaxing week that had been spent together. Like all our visitors before them, Sally and Pete loved the allure of Aaggi’s Bar, so we decided to have dinner under the Gazebo and then go to Aaggi’s Waterfront Bar for a ‘nightcap’ (which turned out to be two or three – well earned!).

  Photo: The Gazebo Is Complete, Including ‘Curved’ End.

  After celebrating at Aaggi’s, we went home for a ‘final’ drink as a ‘nightcap’ on the upstairs terrace. We sat in comfortable silence. It was still very warm at around 28 C and we ‘drank in’ the peace and quiet. I also did an evening ‘stint’ of ‘Watching The Olives Grow’ but I didn’t notice any ‘growth’ whilst I sat there!

  The week had literally ‘flown’ by; we had done nothing but at the same time so much!

  The following morning, we drove Sally and Pete to the Kalamata coach station, where they caught the 09.00am Express for Athens and then to travel to the airport for their return to the UK.

  They had enjoyed their visit and vowed to return again soon. We had enjoyed their company’ and we had also benefited from the experience and skills of a qualified project manager, and had a Gazebo to show for it!

  By now, it was Sunday 20th June. The sun was coming up over the Taygetos Mountains behind Meerkat Manor and I was taking my place on the terrace to ‘Watch’ the sun coming up and to ‘Watch’ my Olives. I was settled comfortably in my chair, and had my first mug of tea in my hand; happy and contented in the silence of the early morning. The sky was clear and not a cloud in sight. I discovered that it was going to be sunny and hot, and noisy.

  Noisy? Yes, noisy! All I could hear in the clear morning air was a ‘grunting’ sound and it was coming from somewhere below the terrace. I stood up and looked over and got the surprise of my life! There foraging in the green succulents was a small, brown Boar! Not a baby but a juvenile. It was just grunting and digging up the soil searching for who knows what. So, I had discovered the source of the ‘grunting’ sounds and a surprise at the same time. He was quite cute; pale brown and had bright eyes.

  I went down into the garden and approached him and he seemed totally oblivious to my presence as he kept on digging in the soil. No damage to the plants was apparent as he was digging to the side of and underneath them. As both gates were securely closed, I concluded that he must have jumped over the wall to get into the garden.

  I went back to get my camera and to take his ‘snout shot’ so to speak. As he was ignoring me and doing no real harm, I decided to leave him to it.

  I thought I would let him carry on in the expectation that he would jump right back out when he was ready.

  Photo: Wild Boar Foraging For Food.

  Photo: Giving The ‘Nose’ Look!

  He was still busy foraging in the soil when Valerie woke up and she too thought he was rather cute. Well, she came to that conclusion after she had inspected the garden to make sure that he hadn’t damaged any plants! Sometime later, as predicted by me, he just jumped over the wall and was gone. Just like that!

  Looking back, it was 26th April when Valerie broke a tooth, so we experienced the first visit to a Greek dentist. We didn’t know what to expect, and only had our experience of UK practices to compare it with. We were in for a surprise as it turned out to be an extraordinary experience! It was a really good one. We turned up on the steps of the dentist without an appointment and explained the situation.

  The dentist was a lady, and she spoke excellent English, and invited Valerie to sit in the chair straightaway. She did an inspection and suggested that it would be necessary to have a crown fitted by way of a repair.

  After Valerie confirmed that she would go ahead with the repair, the dentist said that she could start on the repair immediately. Just like that, immediate attention, and the start of the work; amazing, and more importantly Valerie said that it didn’t hurt!

  So there followed a total of 11 visits to the chair throughout the period of the last week of April to the last week of June. Despite the number of hours in the chair the cost was only 450 Euros which is not expensive, especially compared to the UK. Good entertainment whilst it lasted!

  As I did a good deal of waiting outside the dentist’s office in Kardamyli, I decided to celebrate the final fitting, and the occasion of a new tooth with a permanent reminder; a tooth rock! Yes, I went and found another rock (in the shape of a tooth) and had it delivered to the garden, where it is now sited in a prime position.

  Photo: ‘Tooth’ Rock.

  Photo: No Fillings Required!

  Also, during the last week of June, I decided to the enhance the look of the main garden, and to give us better access to it, by building a path from one side of the Gazebo all along the middle of the garden and as far as the main path by the wall.

  Shifting tons of stone pebbles and soil and making cement is jolly hard work at the best of times, but really so much harder in the heat of the day. So, just as before when Pete and I constructed the Gazebo, I worked on constructing the path from 6am until 11am, and then from 7pm until 9pm

  Photo: Left Side Of New Path.

  So, we had the ‘tooth’ rock and the new paths. Not quite ‘Yellow Brick Road’ but more like ‘The Long and Winding Path of White Pebbles!’

  At the same time, I also installed a watering system. We had gone to a ‘House Sale’ as somebody was moving, and whilst everybody was inside looking at items to buy, I spotted the watering pipes and a timing meter stacked in a corner of the garden. I made the owner an offer for the system, and minutes later I was putting it all in the back of the car! I set the timer to come on for 30minutes at 5am and 30 minutes at 10pm every day.

  This will give the plants a more regular and stable source of water, and will save me a lot of time; time that I can spend ‘Watching The Olives Grow’ from my seat on the terrace, or should I say my (newly sited) hammock!

  Photo: Stavros Hard At Work ‘Watching’ From The Hammock.

  During the construction of the deck for the Gazebo, and the construction of the white pebble path, I moved the hammock further towards the ‘Watching’ tree.

  There was ‘method in my madness’ as I had calculated that this new position would give me a new vantage point from which to do my ‘Watching’ duties, and a more comfortable and shadier spot during the heat of the day! An excellent idea, even if I do say so myself!

  Well, June ha
d turned out to be very busy, and it wasn’t over yet. There was my Birthday to celebrate on the last day, and then there was our 10th Wedding Anniversary on the first day of July.

  At the time we got married, I had developed a cunning plan! I

  knew that Valerie would never forget my Birthday, so when we got married in 2000, I organised that we got married on the day following my birthday and this would mean that if ever I forgot our Wedding Anniversary, then I would get 24 hours’ notice to do something!

  During the last week of June, our friends Flo and Rod had arrived to stay in their house in Riglia, and, along with Elaine and Tony, they came to my birthday celebration dinner.

  As usual, the day had been very hot, dry and sunny. Valerie had decided that we should have a barbeque dinner in the Gazebo.

  It was a perfect evening and the Gazebo was the perfect setting. Valerie insisted on doing everything, and my only task(s) were to light the mosquito burners and open the ‘bubbly’ and the wine.

  Rod gave me a fantastic present!

  Unbeknown to me, he had made a ‘Pen and Ink’ drawing of the Olive trees to the front of Meerkat Manor.

  If you look closely, you can also see the Meerkats at the entrance gate and the new Gazebo!

  Photo: Pen And Ink Drawing. © Rod Springett 2010

  JULY 2010

  For our 10th Wedding Anniversary, I had planned that we would go out to a new restaurant that had opened in the mountain village of Pyrgos.

  But before that, there was work to do; ‘Watching’ and keeping the photographic record of the tree growing.

  How many times do I have to remind everybody?

  “It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it.”