Watching the Olives Grow

by Stavros Allanopolis

  Bill and Jeanette sensed the atmosphere too and soon suggested that we do a ‘takeaway’ and get going; home. So, within the hour, we turned off the tarmac road and onto the track leading us home to Meerkat Manor. Soon we could see the silhouette of our house in the light of the headlights.

  We came to a stop, jumped out and stood there listening to the ‘silence’ and absorbed the smell and the warmth of the evening; truly ‘Paradise’ for us.

  Quite by surprise, Owen appeared at the gate to greet us and welcome us home with a noisy and insistent “Miouwww”

  As expected, no sign of the other two as they were probably sulking for being left on their own for so long. Elaine had called by every morning to refresh their water and dispense more food, but to them it wasn’t the same as having us around waiting on their every need all day long!

  Bill and Jeanette stored their bags in the studio and came and joined us for a ‘nightcap’ sitting in the Gazebo, and together we just sat, ‘listening’ to the peace and quiet that is living here in the Olive tree groves, and looking up at the stars; so clear and bright tonight.

  Eventually, we awoke from our ‘reverie’ and we all walked around the garden checking out the growth in the moonlight. To us, everything was as it should be; no damage to any plants, and all the seedlings and vegetables were busy growing, just as we had left them a few days earlier. To Bill and Jeanette they were amazed at just how much the garden had developed since their last visit.

  Tired but happy we all went to bed looking forward to the next day. For Bill and Jeanette it was to be ready to start their week’s holiday, and for Valerie and I ready to continue living in ‘Paradise’ and probably to suffer the ‘wrath’ of Minstrel and Snowball when they eventually deemed to show up and allow us to feed them. We didn’t know it at that moment, but we were going to be in for a shock when we woke up.

  No! Make that a tragedy!

  I woke up around 6am, not sure what time zone my body was in, but I was soon into my regular routine; kettle on, change the date on the calendar, open the cupboard and get a mug and a teabag and milk from the ‘fridge to the ready. Then, whilst the kettle is coming to the boil, as usual, I opened the front door to let the cats come in for their breakfast. Today, although the three of them are usually there waiting, today, I wasn’t sure how many there would be.

  Two were present. Owen was waiting and that was no surprise, but what was a surprise was that Minstrel was waiting with him. In they came and headed straight for their food bowls.

  No “missed you whilst you were away” type of “miouwwws” from either of them, just heads down and noses into their respective food bowls. Well, at that moment in time I felt let off quite lightly! Better to be ignored than have them sulking.

  However, there was no sign of Snowball. I was just a little concerned. She had been with us almost four months and was very settled and into a regular daily routine but this had been the first time we had been away leaving her to be fed by strangers. OK, I decided that I was being ‘punished’ and that maybe she was just out somewhere ‘sulking’ and that she would eventually come home; when she was ready, and on her terms no doubt.

  I thought no more about it until later that evening. When she still had not turned up, I felt sick in my stomach. Had something happened to her? Valerie felt the same too. We set off on a search of the surrounding area, calling her name.

  Also, rattling the house keys as we know she used to recognise and come to the sound of the keys ‘jangling.’ Nothing.

  We were both worried but decided to give her another night before extending our search.

  The next morning, Owen and Minstrel were there sitting on the doormat as I opened the front door. Obviously we had been forgiven and they were back into their routine, but still no sign of Snowball.

  So, after breakfast, Valerie and I set off to search for Snowball again. We extended our search area. I drove around all the tracks and roads looking for her, and calling her name. Valerie walked all the paths that criss-cross the Olive tree groves, jangling keys and calling her name.

  “Snowball. Snowball. Come on! Where are you?”

  Then, together, we went to all the houses in the area, both new and old looking in all the basement areas and outhouses to see if she had strayed inside and was trapped. We didn’t find her; no sighting, and no sound of her. We now feared the worse, but lived in hope.

  As I write this sad piece of news, the saddest since we have been living here in Meerkat Manor, there is still no sign of her. She has been missing two weeks. It’s well known that cats can go missing like this for weeks on end, but that doesn’t make it any easier for us to manage. We still look every morning and every evening. Ironic that the last photos that I took of her were on the Sunday morning that I left for the UK visit. She was happy and in mischievous mood climbing up on to the roof. She was such an affectionate cat, and had had a hard life for her two and a half years before she met us. It seems that when she was born, she was wild on the streets, but taken in by somebody and she became domesticated, only later to be thrown out onto the streets again when she had her litter of kittens.

  Befriended by our friend Alan and Stella, she had once more been well looked after, and as soon as the kittens were weaned, Alan had arranged with a local Vet to have her spayed. Then we took her into our lives when Alan and Stella returned to their home in the Austrian Alps (they Winter in Agios Nikolaos for the five months of the skiing season).

  She had settled in within three days and Owen and Minstrel began to accept her into their space within the following two weeks. We had become a happy family. As I am writing, I am hoping that maybe I’ll get to write about her again in the pages to come and that maybe she will find her way home to us. Owen and Minstrel are both 12 years old and less inclined to play, whereas Snowball loved to play; on her own, or with us. At under thee years old she had so much energy, and Snowball loved to chase insects and play ‘rough and tumble’ games with her ‘toys’ that we had bought her. She made us laugh so much, and now the house is empty without her around anymore.

  The hardest bit for me is when I open the front door first thing in the morning as I got so used to her pushing past the other two to be first in line for breakfast, and now she’s not there.

  Her disappearance has affected us more than we realised. However, Bill and Jeanette understood, and we determined that it would not spoil their holiday week with us. Bill had bought over an extra watering system timer as they are about half the price of those available in Greece. Jeanette on the other hand had bought us a beautiful oil painting of a pair of Meerkats to hang on the wall below the ‘Hands of God’ carved alabaster shelf; gifts both practical and pretty at the same time.

  Photo: Meerkat Oil Painting.

  When they leave to return to their home in the UK I intend to set about installing an extension to the watering system. Using a separate outside water tap for the supply, I will develop and install a system that will reach the second garden as well as the vegetable garden.

  With meter system, when the tap is on, the water flows through the battery operated timer, which can be for set days at set times and for a pre-determined length of time. When ‘on’ / ‘open’ the valve in the timer will allow the water to flow. It flows through the piping, and the sheer pressure drives the water out of the pipe through the directional nozzles. All in all, I now have 85% of the garden being ‘drip fed’ twice per day. This approach is better for the plants and for my energy levels. Standing holding a watering pipe can be as tiring as ‘Watching’ and it requires more concentration too!

  Back to Bill and Jeanette. The week went quickly for them but they seemed to enjoy themselves. Meanwhile, we were getting back into our routine and adjusting to what was now the norm for us; peace and quiet, and a slower life, not to mention the heat.

  Temperatures were now rising on a daily basis, and on one day during their stay it rose to 35 C, and this was the first time they had been here in very high temperatures. T
hank goodness for air-conditioning at night time as the temperature only drops by about seven or eight degrees between 11pm and 9am.

  During the week, we had the occasional Ouzo by the water’s edge in the harbour to enjoy the breeze off the sea and keep cool. We barbequed most nights and ate and drank in the Gazebo and marvelled at the amazing site of the stars in the night sky.

  However during the evening of 22nd July there was a change in the atmosphere. It was an important day - it rained! This was the first rain (of more than two minutes duration) for over 17 weeks! We were on the edge of a thunder storm passing over the Taygetos Mountain Range behind Meerkat Manor and we were getting the ‘hand me downs’ of the main downpour. But, beggars cannot be choosers as they say.

  It rained heavily and steadily for 14 minutes, and we accepted it gratefully, despite the sand. As often happens, the rains come in off the sea and contain sand that has been sucked up from the Kalahari Desert. Everything gets covered in it, so much so that everything has to be washed down after the rain has stopped and the water dried off. A real inconvenience!

  Photo: Sand Deposited In The Rain

  Sand or not, all I can say is that we live in hope for more rain and especially the plants and vegetables in the garden, not to mention the Olives! They don’t need much water, but they do need some in order for the Olives to ripen properly. So far this year there has been hardly any rain at all, well not of substance that is.

  After Bill and Jeanette returned home, our lives settled down once more, and we were back to our daily routines. It was the last weekend of July, we were now up-to-date with all our household chores, and I had completely finished the watering systems, so we decided to go to the market in Areopolis on the Saturday to buy vegetables and fish.

  The market is held every Saturday just on the outskirts of the small town, which was once the centre of The Mani region. Usually, we will go mid-morning to look around the market, and afterwards we will usually stroll into the town square for an Ouzo and a plate of Souvlakia.

  This time, we decided to go early. We bought our fish, and the fisherman insisted on showing us the one that didn’t get away! Although it was only 11am when we put the fish in the cooler box, situated in the boot of the car, it was already 37 C; very hot!

  Photo: The Fish Stall.

  Photo: This Big Fish Didn’t Get Away.

  Photos: Fruit Stalls.

  We then went back to the market. There were about 30 stalls and we bought the fruit and vegetables, and inspected some of the clothing stalls offering an eclectic mix of styles!

  Afterwards, I said, “Hey!” I said, “Let’s go to the Baker’s and get some pies and have a picnic breakfast under the shade of the trees in the square.”

  On the way, we passed the Areopolis Museum. Outside, it has a field gun on display; a stark reminder of the Greek Civil War, and some memorial plaques remembering the many who died.

  Photo: Field Gun On Display.

  Photo: Plaques In Memory Of ‘Fallen’ Troops.

  After reading the memorial plaques, we went on towards the Bakery which is located in a street at the far side of the square. We bought a slice of savoury tomato and cheese pie and a local speciality; savoury ‘doughnut’ roll with a slice of cheese to complement the texture!

  As we headed back towards the square, and the cool shade of the trees that line the square, we purchased some iced tea, water and a miniature of Ouzo to go with our picnic breakfast.

  Photo: The Picnic Breakfast..

  AUGUST 2010

  August 1st and Snowball has been missing for 23 days. Heart-breaking.

  Time for some ‘Watching,’ and I decided that I needed a new perspective of ‘the’ tree as it grew.

  I came down from my favoured spot on the upper terrace to take in a different view. This time I decided to start my ‘Watching’ from the comfort of my hammock! For the August ‘Watching’ record, I took a close-up photo of a branch of the Olives growing on the tree. As I ‘Watched’ and studied the tree, I realised that there had not been too much change. I compared today’s photo with July’s. It was hard to see a noticeable difference. Obviously they must have been growing, but the fruits still looked small.

  Photo: Olive Tree As ‘Watched’ On 1st August 2010.

  Time for action on the first day of the month! But, what to do! It was hot, even though it was only nine-o-clock, and the sun shone down on me, and my corner of the garden, as it started to climb high into the sky. Already the temperature was around 29 C, and rising with every minute. This was going to be yet another hot day in ‘Paradise’ and I was in just the right place to enjoy it, in my hammock! As I lay in my hammock, I took in my immediate surroundings; the garden. It really does look good and it is very satisfying to know that Valerie and I developed it from scratch, because when we arrived just 27 months ago it was bare, rock-like, red soil. During the first 12 months, we had focused on getting it into a ‘shape,’ and in the following year we had started to plant flowers, shrubs and trees. Right now, we were at the stage where we had a recognisable garden to enjoy.

  Photo: Garden Corner August 2009

  That was it! The view gave me an idea and I went inside to get the photo album.

  I found just what I was looking for, which was a photo of this corner of the garden taken in August 2009.

  As I looked at it, and looked out of the window at the same spot some 12 months later, the change to behold was amazing!

  Photo: Garden Corner August 2010.

  From brown, and barren, to green and full of growing plants, and all our own work! It was not until I looked at the photos’ that I realised just how much the plants had grown! As we live amidst them we tend not to notice the change as it is so gradual. Before and after is dramatic!

  I’m not quite sure whether it is fascinating or ‘scary’ when you see the change in only 12 months.

  The Datura has grown over the external water tank.

  The second garden had transformed from an empty space of red soil into a green ‘oasis’. The Olive tree that had been chopped back by the builders to allow them to get their lorry closer to the house to deliver materials had grown again,

  Photo: Water Tank 2009

  Photo: Water Tank 2010

  Photo: The Second Garden 2009.

  Photo: The Second Garden 2010

  Photos: Olive Tree 2009.

  Photo: Olive Tree 2010.

  Last year we pruned it hard and hoped for the best. Olive trees are very resilient and seem to thrive on being cut back!

  Almost everywhere we looked, there had been dramatic change.

  A lot has also happened throughout Greece in the last 12 months too. There has been a change in Government, and Pasok (Labour) are now (back) in power. The timing has not been good for them. Whilst other European countries, and even the USA, are recovering from the Global Recession, the recession continues to have a dramatic impact in Greece and the future is bleak in terms of recovery. The plight of Greece and the Greek people has been the subject of International news for most of the year. Greece has almost reached the stage of bankruptcy and needs cash urgently and desperately. Apart from securing loans from the EEC, taxes have been imposed to raise money as quickly as possible to try and reduce debt.

  The Greek people, and all of us who live in Greece, are suffering financial hardship as a result of the increases in tax. The Civil Servants keep going on strike in protest, but, in reality, there is nothing that can really be achieved by withdrawing services. Actually, the Civil Service is one of the root causes of the financial plight as around 38% of working Greek people are employed by the Government in one way or another. By law, they are not allowed to be made redundant, and many turn up for work and sit and do nothing because their job has been made redundant by computerization etc. They also, have very generous pay and holiday benefits and a very low retirement age. Their pensions are based on their salaries, and can be passed on to the family after death. Clearly, these benefits, available to so many
people, have put the country under great financial strain.

  To date, the rate of VAT has increased from 19% to 21%, and then to 23%, in just under six months. As a result, Greece is now one of the most expensive tourist destinations in Europe. The VAT at 23% makes everything more expensive, including food. In addition, and again to raise cash quickly, new 15% surcharges have been imposed on petrol, telephone and alcohol.

  Petrol is now 1.66€ per litre, which is the equivalent of £7 per gallon. It will be interesting to compare prices when this book has been published! A surcharge tax is on all telephone calls, whether from a landline, internet or mobile, and there is also the 15% surcharge on alcohol.

  Author’s note: Doing an update in August 2013, the price of petrol in the village is now 1.91€

  Since we have been living here, the cost of filling the car with petrol has more than doubled, and the cost of my whisky has gone from 7.50€ (around £7 per bottle) to now just over 22€ per bottle! The cost of a bottle of Ouzo has remained virtually the same, so, I'm drinking less whisky and more Ouzo! It would appear that they are subsidising the cost of Ouzo as it is the National drink in Greece, and made only in Greece! All in all, I am driving less and making fewer ‘phone calls in order that I can afford to drink my whisky!