Robin's Nest ...Crete: June 2015

Tuesday, June 23

Standing with Greece

STAND FIRM GREECE: You are not alone - your supporters are throughout the world. There are tough times ahead, but you are resilient and not alone

IT’S quite amazing how a small post on social media site Facebook can have such an incredible response.
I posted a small photograph with the words added “Stand firm” in relation to the ongoing saga of will they won’t the Greeks leave the eurozone and default on re-paying their mounting debts.
In response came nearly 1,000 likes, comments and shares, and not one voice against what was written. The replies came in many languages, including Greek of course. The Greeks were delighted that somebody was standing up for them, and appreciated the comment and the support for the country in difficult time. The support came in many languages from around the world - proving that they are not alone.
As course we are going to support the country, just as we have for the last 12 years since moving here.
We spend our money here, pay taxes on everything that we buy, so their pain is our pain.

Saturday, June 20

Are we missing something here??

GOING the rounds on social media at the moment is the following. It has been well received by the ex-pats we know and has gathered momentum back in the UK.
Dear Prime Minister The RT. Hon. David Cameron, MP. I wish to ask you a Question:- "Is This True?" I refer to the Pension Reality Check.
Are you aware of the following ? The British Government provides the following financial assistance:-
BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER
(bearing in mind they worked hard and paid their Income Tax and National Insurance contributions to the British Government all their working life)
Weekly allowance: £106.00
IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN
(No Income Tax and National Insurance contribution whatsoever)
Weekly allowance: £250.00
BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER
Weekly Spouse Allowance: £25.00
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN
Weekly Spouse Allowance: £225.00
BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER
Additional Weekly Hardship Allowance: £0.00
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN
Additional Weekly Hardship Allowance: £100.00
A British old age pensioner is no less hard up than an illegal immigrant/refugee yet receives nothing
BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER
TOTAL YEARLY BENEFIT: £6,000
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN
TOTAL YEARLY BENEFIT: £29,900 -
           Something seems to be
              very wrong with the
                whole of the system.

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LIFE IN GREECE

WE NOW live in a traditional village, with tavernas, a butcher, baker (no candlestick maker! and three kafenions and three tourist shops, and currently just the one mini-market, so it's a short trip to the main part of Hersonissos for groceries. Although away from the busy towns, we are only minutes from Hersonissos and 15 minutes from the capital Heraklion, where there are big markets on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and a massive one on Saturday, as well as major stores and airport. Retired from a busy lifetime in newspapers, marketing and hotels, to set up an independent marketing and consultancy for local businesses, but in a very part-time fashion Now we are fully retired to a beautiful island where there is always something to do, and visitors to entertain. Of course the weather helps, we are able to swim from May 'til October, and venture out to explore the countryside and tee-shirts still in late November! The local social club for seniors, invited us to join, a good choice (KAPI) arrange many events and activities throughout the year. They also arrange holiday opportunities, and excursions to parts of the island which we would never normally see. Winter is quieter, but our village square still remains open, but without the tourists and there always seems an event or party to attend every week, the places that stay open also have fires during the colder months, so there is always a warm welcome.

FRESH & DIRECT

THERE is something special about Greek villages, and our village, Pano Hersonissos is no exception. The services that brings fresh food as well as clothing, shoes, fish and cheese, is always welcome in the village, but you never really know what will come, or even when, we also have one that sells pots and pans alongside tools. Sometimes it's sold from the back of a van, or car, sometimes it's on a barrow pushed through the village.

Recently we were in the village square having shopped in the main town, and were relaxing over a coffee, when a scruffy looking pick-up pulled up. The old man got out and started to shout about his wares. This time it was fresh fruits and cheese, all of which you are invited to try first, some he grows, others he buys, and sells for a little profit.

We usually have fresh orange juice everyday, so we buy oranges from the trucks that come round - 10 kilos for 5 euros, and usually a few more added for good measure! That's about 20 pence a pound.

Within minutes along came a second truck, this time with fish straight from the local harbour, while already at the top of the square there was a woman with a push-along cart, piled high with clothing. The village shops do not appear to have a problem with these traders, and are often the first in line to buy.

We were in the square one day, when suddenly a man appeared at our side, plate in hand with huge chunks of his own local cheese to try. If you liked it, you bought what you needed, it's a free and enterprising market, and they take advantage of it, but the customer always knows that the food is fresh, and if you miss one, another will be along - some time.

Now on Sundays were have flowers and plants from a local man whose friends now come along with their own local cheeses, as well as speciality sausages. They cook up some to sample knowing that the smell attracts the locals - subtle marketing.

WORLD-WIDE INTEREST

MANY THANKS to all of you around the world who have now visited our Blog, so far we have been seen in no less than 90+ countries, which is staggering. So we can only say: Welcome, velkommen, Добре дошли, vítejte, welkom, bienvenue, willkommen, καλωσόρισμα, benvenuti, bienvenida, and hoşgeldin - which takes care of most!! We never intended the Blog to be a daily event, it was primarily for family and friends, but they are already scattered around the world. We have been most impressed by the range of the countries, and still remain. grateful for those who come back time after time. Hopefully most read the Blog in English, but we understand that the translation tool is a valuable asset. We have asked a couple of friends who are not English if the translation is good,and their verdict is "mainly ok, and that it helps if they are stuck with a certain passage of writing" We shall hopefully continue with the style and flavour of the blog along with our news and photos, as and when things are of interest. Photographs and now a recipe section will now have their own tabs at the top of the main page, we encourage you to try the recipes.

Robin's Nest ...Crete

Tuesday, June 23

Standing with Greece

Saturday, June 20

Are we missing something here??

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