Breaking News or "The News When it Happens as it Happens"

• There will be live music starting at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) around 9pm from this evening (30th) until the end of August.
• Reminder:  There will be an evening of electro acoustic music tonight, Thursday 29th, starting at 9pm in Plateia Iroon by the war memorial in the Upper Old Village featuring Akis, Canadian George, Chester Smith and Chris Browne.
• Mike Holmes has contacted us to say there is a problem with their main VillaSevenSisters web site and a new URL will be available soon with their information.
• The Fun(d) Raising Group's 5th mini quiz took place at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri last night (28th0 hosted by Nigel and Philippa  They did an excellent quiz which raised 95 euro with disappointingly only 4 tables of people attending the quiz.
• There was an impromptu music session last night (28th) at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) with Chester and Kosta playing late into the night.
• There are no church tours for the next two weeks in the lead up to the celebration of Panagia on August 15th.
• Update on Jonathon Seagull:  After making his way back to Steni Vala from Gerakes (via Ag. Dimitris!) Jane and Guy received a call to say he was being a bit of a bother, so they went to collect him wondering what an earth to do next.  This is Guy at Steni Vala giving Jonathon advice on life in the wild.  They met a Greek couple from Skopelos who were over with their boat and keen to adopt him!  So he is now hanging out on the Skopelos town beach and lunching at tavernas of his choice.  Let's hope he is OK and maybe learns to be a proper seagull in time for the winter.
• Reminder:  The Fun(d) Raising Group's 5th mini quiz will take place at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri on Wednesday 28th starting at 7pm and finishing around 9pm.  Quiz hosts will be Nigel and Philippa  Entrance 5 euro per person and everyone welcome.
• Reminder:  Ineke Hemminga will be giving a presentation, accompanied by photographs and a computer slide show, about the Tuareg people who live in the Sahara Desert at Nereides Hotel and Apartments in Paleohorafina starting at 6.30pm tonight, Tuesday 27th.
• The music evening for Agia Paraskevi took place last night (26th) down at the harbour front with a stage set up opposite the Alonissos Cafe and the Corali Bar (Comfy Chairs).  The group were reportedly shipped in from Naxos.
• There will be an evening of electro acoustic music on Thursday 29th July starting at 9pm in Plateia Iroon by the war memorial in the Upper Old Village featuring Akis, Canadian George, Chester Smith and Chris Browne.
• We had a wild electric storm last night (25th) with masses of lightning and thunder but unfortunately very little rain.
• The procession of the holy icon of Agia Paraskevi from the church and across the harbour passed off without problem.  As the icon passed all the boats in the harbour sounded their horns.
• The "Not the 100 Club draw took place at the Nereides Hotel adn Apartments and was won by Davae's sister Trish with number 43.  The next draw will be Sunday August 29th at Taverna Megalos Mourtias.
• Reminder:  The church service for the name day of Agia Paraskevi is tonight, Sunday 25th, starting at 6.30pm followed by the procession of the holy icon.  There will be live music afterwards on the port starting at 9pm.
• Reminder:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw for July will take place at the pool bar at the Nereides Hotel and Apartments in Paleohorafina today, Sunday 25th.  We will meet from 12.30pm for drinks with the draw at 1pm.  There is a nice pool and food from the traditional kitchen is excellent if anyone wants to eat.
• Mike Holmes sailing boat Pleone has suffered a fatal engine failure and is currently unavailable for charter this summer.
• Please Note:  The church service and procession for Agia Paraskevi is on Sunday 25th NOT Friday 25th.  The entry below has been corrected accordingly.  Signs had gone up showing live music starting at 9pm.
• Chester Smith and Chris Browne will be playing live music tonight (23rd) and every Friday night through until the end of August at Andy's Helios Bar (ex Rahati Bar) above the port in Patitiri from 9.30pm onwards.
• Reminder:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw for July will take place at the Nereides Hotel and Apartments in Paleohorafina at 1pm on Sunday 25th.  As usual we will meet from 12.30pm for drinks.  The pool there is very nice and the food is excellent if anyone wants a dip and a bite to eat.
• Chester Smith has let us know that the Aloni band will be playing outside Taverna Panselinos in the Plateia where the bus stops in August on Tuesday 3rd, Monday 9th, Monday 23rd and Monday 30th from around 9:30pm.
• Advance Notice:  The name day for Agia Paraskevi, the patron saint of the island, is Monday 26th followed the next day by Agios Panteleimonas.  There will be a service in the church on Sunday 25th at 6.30pm followed by a procession of the saint's icons in a circular route through the port and up via the Dimos offices.
• We spoke with Nektarios from Taverna Kastro and he told us that the Shadow Puppet show in the Old Village will probably be at the end of July.
• There will be a Shadow Puppet show in Patitiri on Friday 23rd starting at 9.30pm.  We will check for posters in the Old Village, this morning when we walk the dog, for a show up here on the following day.
• We have heard unconfirmed rumours that the Skyros ferry may stop running to Alonissos and Skopelos at the end of the month due to the low passenger and freight traffic.
• We went up to Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) for as few ouzo's after the Corn Threshing demonstration and Dora told us that there would be live music every night starting at the end of July for a month.
• The Corn Threshing demonstration went off well last night although disappointingly there wasn't a school dance troupe to perform traditional dancing in the corn circle.  Write up and pictures will be posted soon.
• Please Note:  The Corn Threshing festival will take place today, Saturday 17th, at the Alonia in the Old Village starting from 8pm.
• According to the Canadian Press the earthquake off Alonissos was timed at 9.53pm and the preliminary magnitude was 5.1 and followed an earlier quake off the island of Kos.
• Breaking News:  Alonissos felt an earthquake tremor tonight, Friday 16th, at around 9.55pm Greek Time.  We were sat outside on the veranda with a glass of wine when we experienced a rumbling like the sound of a 44 ton truck full of gravel going up a hill outside.  This was followed seconds later by all the metal shutter hinges making a squeeling sound.  Did we panic?  No, we finished our wine and had an ouzo instead.
• Our Corn Threshing reporter Philippa Smith has e-mailed to say that the demonstration will take place Saturday 17th and that some last minute posters have gone up.
• The Fish Festival and Corn Threshing Festival took place around this time last year and so far no posters have gone up around Patitiri or the Old Village.  The grape vine would have it that they are not being funded by the Dimos this year due to the financial crisis in Greece.  More as we hear it.
• The Skyros ferry came into Patitiri port today (Thursday 15th) so may now be running a summer timetable.  Check departures if you intend to use the ferry.
• The Fun(d) Raising Group now has 135 orders for it's recipe book "Not Just Another Greek Cookbook" and have just had a duplex colour laser printer delivered to help speed up the production of the books.
• The Fun(d) Raising Group's 4th mini quiz took place at the Paradise Hotel last night (14th) and raised 150 euro for the care and welfare of the animals and other local causes.
• The American artist Larry Rink will be celebrating his 40th anniversary of painting on Alonissos with an exhibition at the Alonissos Musuem in Patitiri from 18th July to 17th August between 11am and 9pm.
• Captain Pakis has now started excursions to the island of Skantzoura as well as the Marine Park and the island of Kyra Panagia.
• Reminder:  The Fun(d) Raising Group's 4th mini quiz will take place at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri on Wednesday 14th starting at 7pm and finishing around 9pm.  Quiz hosts will be us, Dave and Gerry, so don't expect an easy ride!!  Entrance 5 euro per person and everyone welcome.
• Reminder:  Ineke Hemminga will be giving a presentation, accompanied by photographs and a computer slide show, about the Tuareg people who live in the Sahara Desert at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 5pm tomorrow, Tuesday 13th.
• The bus timetable has now changed to a full summer service with extra journeys between the Old Village and Patitiri during the middle of the day and extra journeys at night with the last bus now at 12 midnight from Patitiri to the Old Village.  We will paste the new timetable shortly.
• Father Avraam is away on Monday 12th so there will be no evening vespers or church tour.
• The Aloni Band played an excellent gig outside Taverna Panselinos last night.  The event was very well attended and a lot of people were up dancing.  We were thinking of you Brenda.
• Reminder:  The Aloni Band will be playing live tonight, Saturday 10th in the Old Village outside Taverna Panselinos in the Plateia where the bus stops.  The gig starts around 9.30pm.  Be there or be square.
• We received information that one of the Flying Cat's broke down during the Friday transfer merry-go-round and the passengers had to be picked up by the Flying Dolphin.
• The Motor Yacht "Guilty" was moored in Patitiri harbour yesterday.  We are not sure if this is a boat or a moving piece of art but art collector Dakis Joannou has enlisted Jeff Koons and a crew of contemporary artists to create the most original sight in the Aegean.  Our picture was taken in the harbour of Aegina when we were in Athens for Gerry's radiotherapy.
• Gerry's brother Nik is in Larisa hospital today, Thursday 8th, to have a carotid angiogram to determine how blocked the artery is and whether they can insert a stent or if it will require surgery.
• Thursday 8th and Alonissos is currently being battered by high winds that started during the night.  They are due to lighten during the day but pick up less stronly tomorrow morning.
• Reminder:  Thursday 8th is a national strike day in Greece.
• After an unsuccessful release at Steni Vala which only lasted half an hour (hope the small boy's leg heals quickly) Jonathon the Seagull was taken to Gerakes last week.  He seems to be doing well there, practicing his flying and being fed by the woman who runs the kantina.  Hopefully he will get more and more confident in the air and on the water and by the autumn be able to survive on his own.  Fingers crossed.
• Please Note:  News from Chrissy Georgiou in the Albedo Travel office that there will be a stike this Thursday 8th July which will affect the airports but no-one knows at the moment about other travel on and off the island.
• Advance Notice:  A large banner has just gone up outside the school in Patitiri to say that the 6th Alonissos Multi-Terrain Marathon will take place on Saturday 4th September.
• Reminder:  A reminder to all GIT's (Greek Island Thespians) and FRoG's (Friends of GIT's) that there will be a get together at Philippa and Nigel's house today, Tuesday 6th, at 7.00pm to discuss ideas for a possible review or other performance later in the year.
• Reminder:  There is a tour of the church of Agia Paraskevi tonight Monday 5th starting at 7.30, immediately after the 7pm vespers service in English.  Tours are conducted in English by Father Avraam and are free but donations towards the church roof fund will be appreciated.
• The weather here has turned hot again but has also become very humid.
• Chester Smith and Chris Browne will be playing live at the Sunset Bar tomorrow night, Saturday 3rd, starting around 8.30pm.  The Sunset Bar is located off the OTE turn between Patitiri and the Old Village.
• Alonissos Health and Fitness Week starts today Friday 2nd July.  There are posters around the island detailing what is on offer.  Check our pages for details of the week's programme and also the workshop programme.
• This year there is no scuba diving in the Marine Park but private diving can be arranged with either of the two dive schools.
• There will be an exhibition of paintings entitled "Buildings and Constructions" by David Barker at the Alonissos Museum in Patitiri between 11am and 9pm starting today, July 1st and running until July 14th.
• Kalo Mina to all our readers of Breaking News.

• Our transport correspondent Brenda has just phoned to say that the bus is now running a morning and evening service.  We will post up the timetable as soon as we can.
• The Fun(d) Raising Group's 3rd mini quiz took place on Wednesday 30th at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri and raised 168 euro for the care and welfare of the animals and other local causes.  The quiz was hosted by Clive and Dianne who did a brilliant job.  The next quiz will be in two weeks time on July 14th hosted by us.
• Jonathon the seagull is back with Jane and Guy Routh in their veg garden  Having flown off on Sunday he ended up in Patitiri where there were numerous sightings of him.  People were feeding him and taking his picture so there was no worry that he won't know how to survive on his own.  Release Plan B is currently being formulated.
• Reminder:  The Fun(d) Raising Group's 3rd mini quiz will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 30th, at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri starting at 7pm and finishing around 9pm.  Quiz hosts will be Clive and Dianne.  Entrance 5 euro per person.  Everyone welcome.
• For those of you that have been to Alonissos before you may like to know that Ouzeri Kamaki has not opened yet and rumours are that it will stay shut this summer.
• The ferry timetables are changing this week so check on either the Hellenic Seaways or Openseas websites for the lastest sailing times if you are intending to use the ferries.
• Tuesday 29th June is another national strike day so the National Bank and Post Office in Patitiri will be closed for the day but most of the other shops should be open.
• We may have an explanation for our weird experience with Spiros' son Yorgo in the taxi.  Our very good friend John Goodwin who built Villa Aliki contacted us to say that he bought the land from Spiros the taxi driver, so it seems logical that if they know we live in the house then he would have known where to drop us off.  Simple really isn't it.
• Jane and Guy Routh would like everyone to know that after nine months Jonathon the seagull has flown away!  His wing feathers, which were so badly damaged by being cut have regrown and over the last week they have been encouraging him to get airborne.  He has had a few short trial flights over and around the garden but yesterday morning took off and didn't return.  They hope that he is finally flying and being a proper seagull after so long living with the cats and chickens but are slightly worried that he won't know how to survive on his own.  So if anyone sees, or hears of, a young gull looking lost can they contact them please?
• The "Not the 100 Club" prize draw for 100 euro took place on Sunday 27th at the Pleiades Aparments and Restaurant in Patitiri at 1.15pm and the winning number was 18 belonging to our dear friends Gill Carroll and Frank Tepper.
• We had a weird experience tonight in the early hours of Sunday morning (27th).  We left the Pleiades and took a taxi home with Spiros' son Yorgo.  We have often gone home by taxi with his father Spiros but never with Yorgo.  Not only did he know that we lived on the island all year around but he knew exactly where we needed to be dropped off without being told!!  It's times like this that make us realise that we are part of a very special community.
• Reminder:  The "Not the 100 Club" prize draw for 100 euro will take place tomorrow Sunday 27th at the Pleiades Aparments and Restaurant in Patitiri at 1pm.  As usual we will meet for drinks from 12.30pm.
• The Next Big Event:  The Fun(d) Raising Group's "Not the 100 Club" draw for June will take place on Sunday 27th at the Pleiades Apartments and Restaurant.  This is the first of the two 100 euro draws for the year.  Come along from 12.30pm for drinks with the draw taking place around 1pm.
• Thursday night 24th and the wind has been blowing most of the day and joy of joys at 9.45pm Greek time it's raining again.  This is our "oneiro" which is Greek for dream that the weather is good during the day and that it rains at night.
• We now have a howling gale blowing which started late last night (23rd).  The Flying Cat has gone out but the Flying Dolphin has probably been grounded.
• Dave was looking over our veranda wall into the garden when he spotted a tortoiseshell and two ginger kittens playing in the garden.  It appears that we didn't manage to get Black-eyed Susie spayed before she sprogged.
• We had the mother and father of a storm in the early hours of this morning (23rd) with thunder crashing and torrential rain.
• Reminder:  Ineke Hemminga will be giving a presentation, accompanied by photographs and a computer slide show, about the Tuareg people who live in the Sahara Desert.  The presentation will be at Bert and Beau's house in Paliohorafina from 4pm.  There will also be the opportunity to purchase the beautiful and unique jewellery made by the Tuareg people.  Light refreshments will be provided.
• The GIT's meeting tomorrow has been postponed and will now take place on 6th July at 7pm at Nigel and Philippa's house.
• Over 40 people turned up for the "Lazy Sunday Afternoon" Garden Party and the Fun(d) Raising Group thank them for their support and hope they enjoyed the afternoon of food, drink and good company.
• Reminder:  The Fun(d) Raising Group will have a "Lazy Sunday Afternoon" Garden Party in the grounds of Jan and Jeff's house at the bottom of the Old Village on the path down to the Megalos Mourtias road tomorrow, Sunday 20th starting from 4pm.  Food and drink will be provided and entrance is 7.50 euro per person.
• We had a massive storm last night (18th) with thunder and lightning which has helped to clear the air and end the mini heatwave of last week.
• There have been sightings of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell on the island.
• A mega yacht Pegasus has been cruising around the island for the last few days. You can view details of the boat here.
• The Fun(d) Raising Group's 2nd mini quiz took place at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri yesterday (16th) and raised over 160 euro for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.  Thanks to Anni Bason for hosting the quiz.
• There is a get together of the Git's (Greek Island Thespians) and Frog's (Friends of GIT's) in Nigel and Philippa's house at 7pm on Tuesday 22nd June to discuss the idea of putting on a review.  Please bring any ideas and inspirations you may have..
• There is an end of term event at the school tomorrow night, Monday 14th and therefore Father Avraam will not be available to do vespers or the tour of the church.
• Advance Notice:  The Fun(d) Raising Group will have a "Lazy Sunday Afternoon" Garden Party in the grounds of Jan and Jeff's house at the bottom of the Old Village on the path down to the Megalos Mourtias road on Sunday 20th starting from 4pm.  Food and drink will be provided and entrance is 7.50 euro per person.  Come along and meet new or old friends and pass a relaxed time eating and drinking together.  Enjoy a game of boule or other games on offer and perhaps purchase some homemade preserves and marmalades.
• Books for holiday reading are available on Jan and Jeff's wall at the bottom of the Old Village on the path down to the Megalos Mourtias road.  Books are 1 euro each and all proceeds to the Fund(d) Raising Group for the care and welfare of the animals on the island and other local causes.  So far 101 euros has been raised since early May.
• One of our neighbours David Barker is having an exhibition of his paintings next month in the Alonissos Museum in Patitiri.  We will provide more details shortly.
• Taverna Eden (Edem in Greek) opens tonight (12th) on the site of the old taverna Argo, on the Kava peninsular overlooking Patitiri harbour, which has been shut for 2 years due to a death in the family.  Stephanos from Mamma Mia's will be working there and promises an excellent cuisine will be available.
• Sales of the Fun(d) Raising Groups recipe book "Not Just Another Greek Cookbook" are going well with 116 copies on order so far and 8 group members in shock at the popularity of the book.  Copies will be available soon but please be patient as we are all a little overwhelmed at the moment.
• We were destressing in the Cave Bar this lunch time (12th) after a particularly difficult shopping trip around the supermartkets in Patitiri when much to our surprise the not running Skyros ferry arrived.
• Reminder:  The Annual "Sale of Works" will take place tomorrow, Sunday 13th, outside Rene's house in the Old Village starting around 10am.
• There is a mini heatwave on the way with temperatures rising from 31C/91F on Saturday 12th to 36C/96F between Monday 14th to Thursday 17th.  This could drag in thunderstorms for the weekend of the 18th/19th.
• The restaurant at the Pleiades Apartments opens at 7.30pm with a new menu and Chef Lefteris in the kitchen.
• It is rumoured that the Skyros ferry Achilleas will not now be running between Skyros, Kimi, Alonissos and Skopelos this summer.
• Speed Cat 1 is moored in Skopelos harbour and starts its summer run between Agios Konstantinos and Alonissos on the 11th June.
• Reminder:  The ASAP AGM will take place tonight (9th) at the Pleiades Apartments and Restaurant in Patitiri starting at 7pm.
• While travelling back to Alonissos today (9th) from Volos we saw the Express Pegasus ferry moored next to the Express Skiathos in the port.  We understand that the Express Pegasus will be operating between Agios Konstantinos and Alonissos during the summer, but we don't yet know when the service will start.
• We have been away with our neighbours Jan and Jeff to Langadas near Thessaloniki to stay with our friend Dimitri.  We saw the Michael Jackson stage show on Friday 4th, visited Ancient Vergina (the burial place of Philip II of Macedonia) on Saturday, went to the beautiful lakeside town of Kastoria on Sunday and shopped in Thessaloniki and visited IKEA on Monday.
• Xrissy kindly mailed us the bus timetable this afternoon so you can check the bus times on our Alonissos Bus page.
• Reminder:  The Fun(d) Raising Group's 1st mini quiz will take place at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri tonight (2nd) starting at 7pm and finishing around 9pm.  Quiz hosts will be Jan and Jeff.  Entrance 5 euro per person.  Everyone welcome.
• Our transport correspondent Brenda has just phoned to say that the bus is now running a morning and evening service.  We will post up the timetable as soon as we can.
• Kalo Mina to all our readers of Breaking News.

• We understand that Taverna Peri Orexios in the Old Village is closed for a few days as Panayioti has gone off the island to attend a family wedding.
• The weather recently has been hot and humid and we now have three balls on our Galileo thermometer down giving an average day temperature in our lounge of around 23 Centigrade or 73 Fahrenheit.
• Please Note:  Due to unforseen circumstances the tour of the church of Agia Paraskevi tonight, Monday 31st, has been cancelled.
• The "Not the 100 Club" draw for May took place yesterday at the Milia Bay Apartments and the 25 euro prize was won by Jan Thomes with number 70.  The first of the 100 euro prizes will be next month on Sunday June 27th at a venue to be arranged.
• The bus has been off the island for its pre-season service and is now back and we await the timetable to be posted for the early summer.
• This is Greece, so the dermatologists started at 10am not 9am today (29th) but there were 6 working at the same time, some from Volos and some from Athens, so a large number of people were seen.  Their secretary said that they will be there on Sunday 30th as well but check first if you need a consulatation.
• Obituary:  Rufus, one of the smartest of our local tom cats was laid to rest today.  Until now, no human could catch him and he even knew when the vets were on the island and would go missing for days until they left.  Sadly, cancer of the face which is common to cats on the island drained his fight and Dave got him today (29th) after twice evading capture yesterday.  He couldn't eat and was was wasting away and was saved from distress but will be remembered as we think we have a number of his prodigeny with us.  Although we could never get that near to him we fed and watered him and he came back to us in his final days.
• Sat out with a glass of wine tonight, Saturday 29th, we saw a huge liner come into view from Skopelos.  Checking on Marine Traffic we found out that it was the Grand Celebration which is a 223m long Madeira based passenger ship on its way to Istanbul.
• Urgent Notice:  We have just learnt from Chrissy that the dermatologists will only be available for consultation in the Medical Centre from 9am to 1pm on Saturday 29th and will not be available on the Sunday.
• Reminder:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw for May will take place at the Milia Bay Apartments at 1pm and we will met from 12.30pm onwards as usual.  Aqua Fit with Dinah will take place there from 10.30-11.30am.  We were planning to stay and eat but Vivien has intimated that the kitchen will open from 1st June, so this is a bit up in the air at the moment until we find out from Dinah what is happening.  If enough people want to eat Vivien may put on a limited menu.
• We understand that the ASAP May Ball at the Pleiades was a great success and that it raised over 400 euros for the charity.
• We met Mo today while walking around and he told us that parking restrictions come into force in the Old Village on 1st June the same as around the port area.  Presumably the same applies and anyone caught parking illegally may be subject to an 80 euro fine.
• Reminder:  The Git's (Greek Island Thesbians) will do a play reading 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at Nigel and Philippa's house today 27th at 5pm.  All FRoG's (Friends of Git's) welcome.
• Yianni and Chef Demi have arrived on Alonissos and Taverna Astrofegia will open in early June.
• Unconfirmed rumours that the ArGO Seaways flying plane service from Volos to Skiathos has gone bust.
• Don't Forget:  The Alonnisos Society for Animal Protection (ASAP) May Ball will be held at the Pleadies Hotel in Patitiri starting at 8pm.Live music from the Aloni Band with an open mike session.  Price is 15 euros per person including a hot buffet, salad and dessert with a ½ kilo jug of wine per couple.
• Parking restrictions come into force around the port area.  Anyone caught parking illegally may be subject to an 80 euro fine.
• Our new medical reporter has informed us that the dermatologists will be available for consultation in the Medical Centre from 8am on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th.
• Beau and Bert suffered severe trauma this morning (25th) when a man appeared at the door and hand delivered their water bill!!
• We understand from our shopping reporter Brenda that all the supermarkets in Patitiri are now open on Sunday.
• Please Note:  The Aloni Band gig outside Taverna Panselinos in the Old Village tonight, Sunday 23rd, has been cancelled.
• Update:  The Aloni Band will play live outside Taverna Panselinos in the Old Village along with Nektarios from Taverna Kastro starting from 8.30pm.  Be there or be square!!
• If you are travelling to or from Alonissos check the departures as the timetables appear to be all over the place over the next couple of weeks.
• The Fun(d) Raising Group's recipe book "Not Just Another Greek CookBook" has now received orders for 91 copies and the season has barely started.
• Don't Forget:  The Aloni Band are playing live outside Taverna Panselinos where the bus stops in the Old Village along with Nektarios from Taverna Kastro who is a brilliant bouzouki player.  We are waiting for Chester Smith to advise a start time.
• It may be that Taverna Megalos Mourtias will open on Holiday Monday (24th) and not on the previous Saturday (22nd) as reported earlier.
• We had a wonderful thunderstorm last night (20th) with lightning and a nice continual rain all through the night to soak the garden without battering the plants down.
• Book now for the Alonissos Health and Fitness week for ladies starting on Friday 2nd July.  Follow this link for details of the itinerary and costs.
• General strike day today (20th) with the Bank and Post Office closed and the Express Skiathos ferry and Flying Cat not running.  Otherwise the tour boat came in, the Flying Dolphin ran and the rest of the island was as per normal.
• Updates to the ASAP May Ball and the ASAP AGM have been posted on the Noticeboard
• We finally managed to get Gerry's 2nd follow up scans and blood test to Flora, her Oncologist in Athens, this morning and thankfully she was very pleased with the results and Gerry doesn't need any more tests for another 6 months.
• There appears to be another general strike in Greece planned for Thursday 20th over the Government's austerity measures so be careful with travel arrangements into Greece and on to Alonissos.
• The annual rubbish collection will be on Tuesday 18th May and this time it will be around the back of Peristera.  They need to know numbers and the boat will go about 9am.  Bring drinks and a snack.  Contact Karen Kaloyiannis in Patitiri for details or contact us for information.
• Starting on Monday 31st May 2010 there will be tours of the church of Agia Paraskevi every Monday from 7.30pm.  Tours will be conducted by Father Avraam in English and last approximately 30 minutes.  Tours are free but donations towards the church roof fund will be much appreciated.
• The Git's (Greek Island Thesbians) will do another play reading 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at Nigel and Philippa's house on Thursday 27 May at 5.00 pm.  All FRoG's (Friends of Git's) welcome.
• The Alonissos Museum above the beach in Patitiri is now open.
• Don't Forget:  Kaloyianneia takes place today, Saturday 15th at the harbour.  The Scbool PTA Bazaar will be open between 5-8pm and the festivities will start from 7.30pm.  The PTA Bazaar will also be open on Sunday lunch time and early evening.
• Summer has arrived as Taverna Levendis under the Police Station has closed after the winter.
• Friday 14th and probably the hottest day of the year so far with 88F recorded on our veranda around 2pm today.
• John and Val are leaving Steni Vala in a few days for their summer sail around the Aegaen and donated us a Conger Eel when clearing out their freezer.  Strange how few recipes for this fish appear in the average recipe book.  We are going to make it into soup and if its good it will appear in next Alonissos Cookbook in 2012.
• We heard that the parking restrictions around the harbour will probably start from tomorrow, Saturday 15th.
• We were sat on our veranda yesterday (13th) around 1pm when we saw the tour boat from Skiathos come into view.  This really confirms that the summer has started.
• We saw Ria today and she said that they are opening Taverna Megalos Mourtias on Saturday 22nd.  This coincides with a religious holiday on Monday 24th.
• Good news that Emily the charity vet will be with us all day tomorrow (14th) and not leaving until early morning on Saturday 15th.  We have managed to get Gracie, Victor and Sid done but Black-eyed Susie, Greystokes and James escaped capture.  Tomorrow is another day.
• The charity vet arrived on the Catamaran today at 5.30pm (12th) and is leaving on Friday afternoon (14th).  She will be working and staying at Mike and Carol's house in Votsi if there are animals that need the attention of a vet.
• There was a power outage today (12th) for a couple of hours after 1pm and we understand from Chrissy that the power will be off tomorrow, Thursday 13th, from 8am until 3pm across the island.
• Great Story:  Val Ward had a copy of the book to take with her when she and John go off on their boat Nina across the Aegean in the summer.  Some guys off of a catamaran saw the recipe book she was reading in a bar in Steni Vala and thought it was so enthralling they wanted to buy it from her!!  Val promptly sold them her copy straight after she phoned us to ensure there was another copy available for her before she leaves on Monday.  That's our girl.
• The launch of the Fun(d) Raising Group's recipe book "Not Just Another Greek Cookbook" was a fantastic success with 56 orders for books on the day added to the 24 already ordered.
• Don't Forget:  The launch of the Fun(d) Raising Group's recipe book "Not Just Another Greek Cookbook" will take place today Wednesday 12th at Jan and Jeff's house in the Old Village from 1pm.
• There will be a charity vet arriving on Wednesday afternoon (12th) and leaving on Friday afternoon (14th).  She will be working and staying at Mike and Carol's house in Votsi.
• Reminder:  Aqua Fit starts today (Sunday 9th) in the pool at Milia Bay Apartments from 10.30am.  The session costs 5 euro per head and all welcome.  The first session at the Hotel Paradise pool will be on Tuesday morning at 10.30am.
• Temperatures are rising quickly with two of the balls on our Galileo thermometer now down giving an average day temperature in our lounge of around 70 Fahrenheit.  According to the weather reports the outside temperatures may be 90 Fahrenheit by the middle of next week.
• Watch out, watch out, there's a thief about.  Shopping items have been stolen from unlocked cars in Patitiri on two occasions over the last week and we advise anyone on, or coming to, the island to lock their vehicles and not leave items on display.
• Reminder:  The launch of the Fun(d) Raising Group's recipe book "Not Just Another Greek Cookbook" will take place at Jan and Jeff's house in the Old Village on Wednesday 12th at 1pm.  Sample some of the recipes from the book and place an order.  We are currently inundated with orders and are having to ration them as we can't produce enough books!!
• The Fun(d) Raising Group "Bring and Buy" sale raised an excellent 370 euro for the care and welfare of the animals and other local causes.  The better quality clothing we have left has been donated to the School PTA to raise money at the Kaloyianneia celebration for Panayioti who is in a hotel in Athens awaiting a heart transplant.  TFRG will also make a donation to the cause from the proceeds of the sale.
• Dave has recently applied for his residency permit and collected it from the Police Station today (7th).  The process on Alonissos is now very simple and we will post a page in the next few days with details.
• The Rooms to Let office (garden shed with air con) at the back of the port is now open and we will post a picture with their web address in due course.
• We understand that Dr. Yorgo is back on the island next week and will be in the Medical Centre on Tuesday morning.
• Both the Gorgona and Odyssey excursion boats are now moored in Patitiri harbour ready to take visitors on tours around the Marine Park.
• While recently checking our webstats we were pleased to find a visitor from the Holy See (Vatican City State).  We have visitors from all over the world and we welcome you to our website and hope that you all find something to enjoy about the life we record on our beautiful island of Alonissos.
• Aquafit starts this Sunday (9th) at the Milia Bay Apartments pool starting at 10.30am.  Check the Alonissos Noticeboard for dates.
• Reminder:  The Fun(d) Raising Group "Bring and Buy" sale will take place tomorrow on Anni Bason's veranda from 10.30am.  Come early to get the bargains.  All proceeds to the care and welfare of the animals on the island and other local causes.
• We had a fantastic day at Siggy and Dieter's church consecration.  We arrived about 1.30pm and Papouli arrived at 6pm.  There was tons of wonderful food and loads of drink.  Chester and Nik played guitars and sang and we all lit a candle in the chapel for our departed loved ones.  A wonderful day was had by all.
• We are off today to the consecration of Agia Irini which is a newly built private chapel in the Old Village.  Today is the name day of Agia Irini.
• Paddy Minnis forwarded us this image of the postcard that was turned over at the end of an episode of Coronation Street.
• There is a general strike in Greece today (5th) although Flying Dolphin 23 went out to Agios Konstantinos and Flying Cat 5 went out to Volos this morning.  The Express Skiathos has also left Volos at 9am as usual.
• We saw Nikiforos at the Nereides Apartments on Monday and he said they were opening on that day.
• Alonissos has become famous on UK TV with an episode of Coronation Street ending with one of the male characters saying that he was off to a Greek island to open a bar or hotel and turning over a postcard with "Greetings from Alonissos" on it.  With this and the recent Greek and French TV crews filming here it may be time we sold up and left for somewhere quieter!!
• We think there may be another general strike in Greece on Wednesday over the Government's austerity measures and rumours abound that there may be a strike by seamen and women (seaperson's!!!) on Friday.  If this is the case be careful with travel arrangements on and off the island.
• The Corali Bar (a.k.a Comfy Chairs) is now open, so all the bars and tavernas on the harbour are now open.  Pasquali's (Avrogiali) behind the beach opens we think on Thursday 6th.
• Sister-in-law Lyn's birthday today (2nd) and we are off to Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) at 8pm to watch the film Mamma Mia on the big screen and have a sing along.
• This is Dave holding the first copy of "Not Just Another Greek CookBook" hot off the press at Nigel and Philippa's house in the Old Village.
• There were 26 of us down Megalos Mourtias beach on May Day for the BBQ.  Temperature was around 72F and everyone had a great time with too much food and drink.
• Rahati Bar (near Pleiades) has been taken over by a German guy Andy who is making some changes and hopes to open before or on June 1st as a cafe bar with beer and drinks at a good price and possibly some simple snacks, etc. as well.  He plans to be open all year round.
• Kalo Mina and happy May Day to all our readers of Breaking News.

• The Fun(d) Raising Group now have a new ½ kilo addition to the group.  After much angst we successfully produced the first copy of our recipe book "Not Just Another Greek Cookbook" which will be on sale this summer and contains 200 wonderful recipes from 60 different contributors associated with the island.  As this is a limited edition, hand printed book, we are charging 12.50 euro per copy but the book is not just a recipe book but a memory of the island, the people who have contributed and the animals that will benefit from the sales of he book.  More details shortly.
• Our medical reporter has been sacked as we were informed today that the dermatologists were due on the 28th May NOT the 28th April.
• People arrived from 8am this morning at the medical centre to see the team of dermatologists only to be told by the doctors that they never turned up on the island.  Come on, this is Greece remember.
• We appeared to have acquired a Greek warship which is sailing around slowly in the waters off the area of Megalos and Mikros Mourtias.
• Holes are being dug around the back of the port area in Patitiri and rumour has it that these are OTE contractors laying optic fibre cable.
• Dr. Yorgo at the Medical Centre will be away from the island for 2 weeks starting from today, Monday 26th.
• Monday 26th and the sea was so choppy today that the Express Skiathos ferry failed to dock at the harbour today.
• Rumours that the Women's Cooperative opposite the school in Patitiri will close soon.
• Information posted on windows in Patitiri suggests that the electric to the island will be cut off from 6.30am until 3.00pm tomorrow Sunday 25th.
• Reminder:  There will be an exhibition of Chrissy's hand-made jewellery at our house, Villa Aliki, in the Old Village today (23rd) starting at 1pm.  Everyone welcome.  Drinks and a buffet will be available.
• We went up to Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) last night (22nd)at 10pm to watch "I Love GR" which is a TV competition to find the best place in Greece.  Alonissos made the final four with Trikala, Karditsa and the island of Psara.  The Aloni Band were features playing and group members were interviewed afterwards.  It was one of those brilliant impromptu evenings that you can't plan but just went off really well.
• We had reports from our roving reporters that there was a fire on one of the Flying Cat's yesterday (22nd) in Volos harbour.  We don't know that damage was caused, if any.  Flying Cat 6 is still running and Flying Cat 5 was moored there.
• Gerry's blood test was a bit up and down so may have to be repeated in a month's time.  All the results have been sent to the Oncologists in Athens and we will know more after the weekend.
• We believe that a team of dermatologists will be at the medical centre next Wednesday 28th offering a free consultation for checking any suspicious skin lumps and bumps.
• News of Paniotis who is awaiting a heart transplant is that he is in the same situation as before, keeping going on a machine in an hotel within 30 minutes of the hospital and trying to avoid infections.
• Mamma Mia's in Patitiri is closed for renovation and will re-open on Wednesday April 28th.
• Anyone interested in a May Day BBQ at Megalos Mourtias beach?  We will mail around in the next few days.
• Julia Browne's new book "An Insider's Guide to Alonnisos" is now published and available online at the publishers www.travelleur.com or on Amazon and soon at shops here on the island.
• Reminder:  The Aloni Band are playing tonight at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) starting from around 9pm.
• The plays "Maria Marten" and "Unhand Me Squire!" were performed at Nigel and Philippa's house at 5pm on Thursday evening to a packed and heckling audience.  Everyone gave a really brilliant performance.
• Managed to get the blood test done at IKA with no problem but have to wait a week for the results!!
• We are back to Volos on Tuesday morning at sparrow fart for Gerry to have a blood test on Wednesday morning.  Hopefully we will be back on Thursday afternoon on the Cat.
• Check the Alonissos Noticeboard as we have posted up provisional dates for the summer mini quizzes at the Paradise Hotel in Patitiri.
• The Easter Quiz at the Pleiades was a great success with around 33 people taking part and raised over 255 euros for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• Reminder:  The Easter Quiz is tonight, Saturday 10th, at the Pleiades Apartments in Patitiri starting at 7pm.  Bring your own drink and a hat for the Easter bonnet competition.
• Gerry's X-ray appears OK and liver scan showed no change from the November scan but the blood unit are on strike, so we have to go back for the blood test next Wednesday (14th).  Nik and Lyn are back on Monday (12th) as Nik was sent to Thessaloniki for an angiogram.
• The main road from Volos to Thessaloniki has now reopened after the landslide.
• Reminder:  There will be an Easter Quiz starting at 7pm at the Pleiades Apartments in Patitiri.
• We are off to Volos (6th) as Gerry has her 2nd follow-up blood test and scans after the breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  We are going with Nik and Lyn as Nik has a blood test and scans booked for his cardiovascular problems.  We are all back on Friday and will be together in a team for the Easter quiz at the Pleiades on Saturday at 7pm.
• Jan and Jeff are starting to put the books out on the wall outside their house.  Books will be available all summer for a suggested donation of 1 euro with proceeds to the care and welfare of the animals of Alonissos.
• Be at the church of Agia Paraskevi in Patitiri before midnight so you can get your white candle lit from the holy flame.  Take the candle home without the light going out and make a cross in smoke above the door for good luck in the coming year.  Our tip is to take a night light holder with a tea light and use that to get your flame safely back home.
• The Easter Friday procession from the church came through the harbour around 9.30pm and took more than 5 minutes to pass where we were standing, opposite the Cave Bar with our lit brown candle.  Dave managed to video the procession and this appears to have come out OK.  We will try to extract some pictures in due course.
• The Alonissos Cafe has opened on the harbour front in Patitiri along with Tavernas Tzitzifia and Archaepelagon.
• A wake was held yesterday lunch time at the Cave Bar to say goodbye to Chester and Sarah's Volvo estate (aka the "hearse") which took its final journey to the scrap yard.
• Down in the port yesterday to meet Jan and Jeff and we bumped into Pericles the taxi driver who is now also sporting a brand new Mercedes 250 taxi.
• Kalo Mina to all our readers of Breaking News.

• Summer started today with high temperatures during the day and an evening so warm we didn't need to light the wood burning stove or have any heating in the house at all.
• The Not the 100 Club draw took place today at Taverna Panselinos in the Old Village.  Victoria Crawshaw pulled number 4 from the hat belonging to Diana Burr who wins 25 euro.
• Don't forget to set your clocks forward by one hour tomorrow on the morning of Sunday 28th as this is officially the start of Greek Summer Time.  We may be losing an hour but with extra daylight in the evenings and a long summer ahead, there's plenty to look forward to.
• The Aloni Band played a great set at Taverna Panselinos last night (26th).  We were also treated to some great Greek music and singing from Nektarios, from Taverna Kastro in the Old Village, who plays a mean bouzouki and his three other band members.
• The French film crew will be at Taverna Panselinos tonight Friday (26th) with the Aloni Band playing from 8pm.
• The weather was good today for the National Day service and marching parade at the church and then at the war memorial in Patitiri.
• Don't forget the drama rehearsals at Nigel and Philippa's house tomorrow.  The first play rehearsal "Maria Marten" starts at 3.30pm and the second "Unhand Me Squire!" at 5pm.
• Tomorrow is a holiday in Greece with the National Day celebrations.  Over the past two years the church service has ended around 10.15am and the celebrations at the war memorial start opposite the Dimos offices around 10.30am.
• It seems that the Greek economic crisis has come to Alonissos with a tax man being assigned permanently to the island.
• Don't forget that Anastasia is giving a presentation on the French Romantic painter Eugene Delacroix at 7pm tonight, Sunday 21st at Taverna Panselinos in the Old Village.  She will do the introduction in English, but the rest will be in Greek, with photographs of the art.
• Sad news that we lost Dougal, the last of Gracie's kittens today.  We buried him in the back bed of the garden along with Gerry's mum.
• A French film crew will be on the island and at Taverna Panselinos this Friday (26th).  No idea of time yet but Chester Smith has let us know that the Aloni band will knock out a few of their greatest hits if required.  No-one knows what is happening yet as Olivia is the link with the film crew but if anyone wants to appear on French TV, now's their chance!
• The bad weather has finally gone and the 15 day forecast on Accuweather shows temperatures in the low 20's Centigrade up until the end of the month.
• The latest on the tree is that the Dimos have been told that pavements must be improved at the point where the tree is and the pavement and steps outside the shops is private.  The idea was to chop down the tree to ensure the roadway was wide enough to put a pavement at the edge of the road beside the private pavement and steps.  The Dimos have re-measured the area and now think this can be done without taking the tree down.  However they say that there is some disease in the tree and it still may have to be removed.
• The Dimos are apparently imminently intending to chop down the tree in the middle of the road by the car park.  We understand that this is illegal unless the North Sporades office near the Internet Cafe are informed of a very good reason why this should happen but they apparently have not been informed as of today (17th).  They of course can do nothing if the Dimos go ahead without their knowledge.  There is a petition to sign with Angeliki in Alonissos Electric and Simon Darragh has asked her to ring him at once at the first sign of council workers coming with chainsaws.  We all need to be ready to react to the call and go to Patitiri and save the tree.
• There are plans afoot to take down the big tree in the middle of the road by the car park.  We don't know when it might happen, but apparently many of the locals are up in arms.  If enough people make enough fuss it may be preventable - do we have a Swampy?!
• Anastasia (aged 9) is giving a presentation on the French Romantic painter,  Eugene Delacroix, at 7.00 pm this Sunday (21st) in Taverna Panselinos in the Old Village.  She will do an introduction in English, but the rest will be in Greek, with photographs of the art.
• Sunday 14th at half past midnight and Marine Traffic shows the Express Skiathos back in Volos harbour and the Express Santorini sailing off down the coast of Evia towards Kimi on its way to Piraeus.
• Our motoring correspondant was spot on with the Mercedes taxi report as a new 250 CDI has Taxi Spiros emblazoned across the back window.
• Sad news that at 9.30pm (12th) Gracie's first born Andy (so named as the kitten was born in Gerry's 'and) died with mum in the box in our front room.  Gracies's last remaining kitten Dougal (think of Father Ted!!) appears to be gaining weight and is OK at the moment
• Thanks to everyone who contributed recipes to the Fun(d) Raising Group's recipe book.  We are now heading for production with 195 recipes from 60 contributors.  For those who still have recipes to donate we will take them in for the 2nd edition of the book.
• The general strikes hit Alonissos on Thursday with the Bank and Post Office closed and only one teacher in the school.  More strikes are planned for next week.
• The charity vet will no longer be here on Thursday 11th May due to problems with the impending strikes.  The next vet visit is now likely to be by George Michael from Volos.
• We have new locum doctors in the Medical Centre assisting Dr. Yorgo and so the emergency mobile number has changed.  The number is now 6983641399.
• There are loads of strikes coming up in the next week or so.  This week Thursday 11th is a strike day and next week there are various groups of workers who will be out on strike from Tuesday to Thursday.
• We have decided to call mum Gracie and these are the first pictures of Gracie and kittens taken at 1.05am this morning (9th).  At present mum and kittens are doing fine and she has left them twice so far to eat.  Poor Zoe has a nervous breakdown every time one of the kittens squeals!!
• 9th of March at 1.32am and we have two surviving kittens and one stillborn.  Mum if asleep in a box on one of our armchairs with Zoe the dog to look after her.  Hopefully she and the kittens will have a peaceful night.
• 8th of March at 9pm and Greystokes the cat who turned up on Halloween and we thought may be pregnant has just started giving birth on Gerry's lap on the sofa in our front room.  We have popped her into a box with a cushion and one kitten has been born so far which seems to be OK.  More news as we get it.  Gerry and Dave are now parents after being married for 29 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• According to Openseas.gr we will lose the Express Santorini on 12th March and get the Express Skiathos back on the 14th.  Looking ahead to Easter we have both Flying Cats, one Flying Dolphin and the ferry running from April 1st.
• The Skaï TV film crew including a small dog turned up this morning and filmed the Aloni band playing "Back in the USSR" at 10.30am in the morning with people moving around the music room pointing cameras at every angle.  Afterwards they did a sofa interview with Chester, Guy, Nigel and Olivia about life here and why they chose to live on Alonnisos.  The programme is a kind of annual competition amongst some of the Greek islands promoting different aspects of life and a chance for the audience to vote for the best one.  It was all very jovial and they polished off all of Chester and Sarah's biscuits before heading off to film the Homeopathic academy before leaving on the ferry back to Athens.  The programme is scheduled for May on Skaï TV and we will all be up at Mary's Bar to watch it on the big screen.
• We lost Hector the little ginger kitten today.  He came to live with us as an outside cat a couple of weeks ago but never looked healthy.  He went away for a few days and came back to our studio bedroom to die.  At least he had some quality food and time with us and our other outside cats and trusted us enough to return when he wasn't well to what he thought of as home.
• Chester Smith has contacted to say that Skaï TV are on the island this weekend and looking to interview foreigners to find out why they moved to Alonissos and for the Aloni Band to perform a song from their extensive repertoire.  Watch this space.
• Yesterday (5th) was a wonderful sunny day but we are now appear to be in for a week of rain and cold winds.
• The price of petrol is supposed to rise again soon due the Greek government's austerity measures.  We have already had a 12% rise in prices recently and the new tax may take a litre of petrol up to 2 euro which is about £1.75 per litre!!!!!!!
• Our motoring correspondant reports that we may soon have another Mercedes taxi on the island which means that the fares will probably go up soon.
• Work is continuing on the "Ring Road" connecting Paleohorafina and the main road not far from the OTE turn.  The road has been levelled and most of it has a sand base down with a stone surface.  Be careful because the sand is not all level where it has been bulldozed and so is a bit lumpy and bumpy in places.
• A charity vet is due out to Alonissos on Thursday 11th May and leaving on Friday 12th May.  The vet will deal only with cats and if you have a cat that needs to see a vet then contact a member of the ASAP committee.
• It has been an absolutely gloriously sunny day today (2nd) with temperatures in the 70's F and with a wonderful hazy sunsent this evening.
• News from Emily from MOm yesterday (1st) that Nefeli the recently released Monk Seal pup is doing well and is still around the island of Piperi and the northern islands of the Marine Park and has been swimming down to depths of around 100 metres.
• First day of the week so in Greece you wish people "kali evthomatha" and also the first day of the month so you also wish them "kalo mina".
• Although not confirmed there has been talk that Wednesday 3rd will see another one day national strike over the Government's financial austerity measures.
• Stephanos and Ivan have reopened Mamma Mia's and opening times are as before - Thursday to Sunday evenings (inc) from 7pm.

• Reminder that the "Not the 100Club" draw is at the Cave Bar on Sunday from 12.30pm.
• If you are in Greece on Wednesday 24th please note that there is a general strike across the country.  No-one knows the full extent of who will be striking but it may affect flights, sea travel as well as banks and the retail sector.
• Intelligence reports suggest that Mamma Mia's will reopen on Thursday 25th.
• The quiz last night (20th) was exceptionally well attended and along with donations from the Greek people the evening raised a fantasic 380.50 euro for the family of Paniotis Stamatiou.  It was also Dora's name day which added to the fun of the evening.
• Sad news that some idiot in Roussoum Yialos has put down poison and the lovely Rottweiler that lived next to Taverna Remezzo has died as a result of eating the poison.  This is an ongoing problem on the island which is outrageous but seemingly no-one in authority can stop.
• The "Not the 100 Club" draw for February will be at the Cave Bar in Patitiri.  As usual we will meet from 12.30pm for drinks with the draw around 1pm.
• News that the Italian owners of Mamma Mia's have closed with immediate effect and we are waiting to see if Ivan and Stephonos can re-open.
• Petrol prices on the island have gone up by 20 cents per litre due to a new tax imposed as a result of the Greek government's austerity measures.
• An early summer has arrived with lovely warm days but it is predicted to be very windy on Sunday 21st.
• Glorious day today (17th) with Dave gardening in shorts and no T shirt while Gerry was at Stitch and Bitch.  Tomorrow and Friday better and maybe 22C on Saturday.
• Reminder that recipes for the Fun(d) Raising group's Recipe Book have to be in by the end of February.  So far almost 40 people have contributed around 165 recipes, but there is room for a few more.
• News from Jane Routh that most of the internal painting in the church of Agia Paraskevi has now been completed and we hope to bring you some photos in the not too distant future.
• Today (Monday 15th) in Greece is the first day of Lent and called Clean Monday (Kathara Theftera).  Clean Monday is a holiday when kites are traditionally flown and today was so breezy that flying kites would not have been a problem.  Although windy it has been gloriously warm and high temperatures are predicted for the next few days.
• Carnival was a little disappointing as there were only 3 floats including ours and the threat of rain hung over the whole afternoon.  Despite that, a large number of islanders dressed up and walked with the floats from the Dimos offices to the port where the Carnival ended.  Write up and pictures to follow soon.
• Carnival day here on Alonissos and it has already started to spit with rain.  Professor Trelawney (Gerry) predicted this weeks ago and Professor Dumbledore (Dave) and the rest of the wizards and witches will use their magical powers to keep everyone dry.  If our magical powers fail us then we're all in the Cave Bar for a tsipouro.
• Happy Carnival, happy Valentine's Day and happy Chinese New Year to all our readers.
• Update on the accident at the harbour on Thursday 11th.  The person hit by the rope when it snapped was a crew member of the Express Santorini who was taken off on the ferry to Skopelos and then by air ambulance to Athens.  We have no news about his medical condition.
• The Aloni Band played at Time Out in Patitiri last night (13th) as a fund raiser for the school children's field trip to Thessaloniki.  As always the English arrived at 8pm and the Greeks from 10.30pm onwards.  The band were very good and after a slow start the evening really rocked.
• Tomorrow (14th) is the Alonissos carnival and everyone who wants to join in is welcome.  If you don't have a costume for our Harry Potter float then just come as Muggles.  We are meeting outside the Dimos offices at 1pm.  The weather doesn't look promising and if it rains in the afternoon then Stephanos and Ivan are opening Mamma Mia's for drinks and perhaps some food.  Don't forget that Monday 15th is Clean Monday and a holiday in Greece, so everywhere will be closed and families will be out flying kites.  Get your's at Eleni Pappou's supermarket.
• Thanks to Stephen Rewse for news that the Skyros Ferry Company have published their summer timetables and the ferry Achilleas will run from mid-June to mid-July from Skyros to Skopelos on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  From mid-July to early September the ferry will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays and finish with the early season schedule until mid-September.
• News of a potentially fatal accident at the harbour yesterday, Thursday 11th, when the Express Santorini was docking in very rough seas.  Reports suggest that one of the hawsers snapped and someone may have been hit by the rope.  People were jumping off the back of the ferry and the ferry eventually left most of its vehicle traffic on board.  More news as we get it.
• Wednesday 10th and Alonissos is currently being blasted by very high winds.  It shows the strength of the winds that Flying Cat 5 has stayed in Volos harbour this afternoon and that the Express Santorini has returned to Volos early.
• The Express Santorini has started sailing regularly from Volos to Alonissos but there is still no sign of the Poseidon Flying Dolophin Irida.
• It will soon be time for the Express Skiathos to go off for its annual service and the Express Santorini will again fill in this year.  At 8.50am Greek time today (6th) MarineTraffic.com shows the Express Santorini sailing up from Evia towards Skopelos.
• Interesting story emerging that the islanders of Skopelos may follow the lead from the islanders of Skyros and buy their own ferry.
• Flying Cat 5 is back in service between Alonissos and Volos leaving the Flying Dolphin to run between Alonissos and Agios Konstantinos.  There is still no sign of the Poseidon Flying Dolophin Irida running yet.
• The evening tonight (4th) has been cold and clear and at 11.30pm Greek time there are just so many stars to be seen in the sky it looks like "star soup" up there.
• There was a very successful poetry reading afternoon at Mary's Bar today (4th) which started around 4pm.  About 18 people turned up and there was a wide variety of readings which entertained all present.
• Today in Greece is known as "Burnt Thursday" or Tsiknopempti which is celebrated eleven days before the start of Lent and describes the smell of meat cooking.  The 10 days between now and the start of Lent on Clean Monday (February 15th) people can eat meat as much meat as they can before the fasting of Lent starts.
• The Poseidon flying dolphin Irida has not been seen recently since it departed from Patitiri harbour last week leaving a dense smoke screen in its wake!!
• The "Not the 100 Club" draw took place at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) yesterday (31st) and the winning number was 87 belonging to Jane Routh.
• The weather here has turned really pleasant and the air has cleared so we can see the snow on the mountains on Evia and also on the Halkidiki Peninsular.

• Reminder:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw will take place at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) tomorrow, Sunday 31st and as usual we will meet from 12.30pm onwards for drinks with the 25 euro draw around 1pm.  The next Carnival planning meeting will take place straight after around 1.30pm.
• Lovely warm spring-like day today with blue skies and sunshine and our outside thermometer reading around 66F.
• Nefeli the Monk Seal was released today (30th) in a low key ceremony held at the harbour at Steni Vala.  Pictures to follow shortly.
• Important Notice:  MOm are releasing Nefeli the Monk Seal tomorrow morning at about 10.30am, Saturday 30th.  There is not going to be a big ceremony because of the time of year and the weather, but a few people are over from Athens.  Everyone is welcome to join in.
• Reminder:  There is a get together at Philippa and Nigel's Villa Eirene in the Old Village tomorrow (Thursday 28th) at 7pm for anyone interested in starting a drama group.
• The snow is now gone and the rainy weather should finish on Thursday afternoon to give us a pleasant weekend.
• Tuesday 26th and the Poseidon flying dolphin Irida has started back in service.
• Monday morning (25th) 9:40am Greek time and it's snowing on Alonissos!!  The snow is being driven by strong very cold winds from the north east.
• The "Cultural Society of the Old Village" met in Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) last night although rather than a meeting it seemed more a social gathering and a good piss up.  There was a large vasilopita (St. Basil's bread) cake which father Avraam blessed and cut.
• Reminder:  The "Cultural Society of the Old Village" meets in Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) today, Sunday 24th.  There is a buffet from 7pm with the meeting starting at 8pm.
• For anyone brave enough to go out, Nektarios and Vangeli are playing live Greek music at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) tonight from around 9pm.
• We managed to catch all 3 of Rena's kittens to have them done by the charity vets that were here at the start of the week.  Black-eyed Susie threw a wobbler when they tried to get her out of the cage and went so mad in Nik and Lyn's house that they opened the door and let her out.  The other 2 were done and released at the cemetary where we feed the feral cats.  Two days later and we have all 3 off them back here in the studio bedroom!!!!!!!!!!!
• Very cold and windy today (23rd) with Accuweather predicting air temperatures for tonight and the next 2 nights feeling well below zero and the possibility of snow Sunday night/Monday.
• The weather yesterday (22nd) was atrocious with high winds and rain.  The flying dolphins went off to safe harbour and the Express Skiathos ferry never left Volos.
• Advance Notice:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw for January will take place at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) on Sunday 31st.  As usual we will meet from 12.30pm onwards for drinks with the 25 euro draw around 1pm.
• Advance Notice:  The next Carnival planning meeting will take place at Mary's Bar on Sunday 31st around 1.30pm, after the "Not the 100 Club" draw for January.
• The weather here has turned decidedly chilly with high winds and rain.  According to the Accuweather web site we are in for a few days of sleety snow up to the middle of next week.
• Still no sign of the Poseidon flying dolpin which, according to OpenSeas, was due back in service yesterday (21st).
• The two Hellenic Seaways flying dolpins appear to be off and around to Volos and Agios Konstantinos but little has been seen of the new Poseidon flying dolphin.
• The first fortnightly meeting of the Knitting Circle a.k.a. "Stitch and Bitch" will take place today at Beau and Bert's house in Paleohorafina, starting between 10.30-11am.
• Olympic Air are no longer flying between Athens and Skiathos.  The route has now been taken over by Athens Air along with a number of other routes in Greece.
• Advance Notice:  There will be a get together in the Old Village at Philippa and Nigel's Villa Eirene on Thursday 28th January at 7pm for anyone who may be interested in starting a drama group.  You can view the flyer Philippa sent around by clicking on the link.
• We saw Guy Routh today (18th) and he said that the release of Nefeli the Monk Seal will be Saturday week on the 30th January at Steni Vala at a time to be advised and depending on the weather conditions.
• News has reached us that the Poseidon flying dolphin Irida has broken down.
• There are charity vets on the island today (18th) for 24 hours arriving on the ferry today at 2pm and leaving on the ferry tomorrow at 2.30pm.  They are working and staying at Nik and Lyn's house in the Old Village.
• The "Cultural Society of the Old Village" are holding a meeting in Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) next Sunday from 8pm and would like non-Greek residents and home owners to join them and input into events for the summer to bring visitors into the Old Village.
• There was a large turn out to plan for Carnival this year and Harry Potter was confirmed as the theme.  Anyone coming to Alonissos who wants to join us please bring appropriate clothes for a character from the films.  Contact Anni Bason if you want to know what characters have been taken by people already.
• Carnival Meeting:  There will be a planning meeting about Carnival on Sunday 17th at 11am in the Cave Bar in Patitiri.  The theme for this year's carnival will be Harry Potter, so please come with ideas about the float, characters. props, etc, especially for Moaning Myrtle and where we put the toilet.
• Latest news from Di Sinclair is that Nefeli the Monk Seal weighed in at 43.5kg on Monday 11th and that the likely release date for Nefeli will be on Wednesday 20th January and we will hopefully have confirmation after the feeding session on Monday.
• Advance Notice:  The theme for this year's carnival will be Harry Potter, so if you are coming to Alonissos and will be here on Sunday February 14th, then please come ready to be one of the characters from the books or films.
• The two Hellenic Seaways flying dolpins appear to be off and around to Volos and Agios Konstantinos but little has been seen of the new Poseidon flying dolphin.
• We were expecting the good spell of weather to end yesterday (13th) and be raining today (14th) but so far only a few drops and nothing else.  The weather sites are still predicting a week or more of rain but nothing has started yet.  It is now so many weeks since the last rain that it could create a water shortage in the summer as it did two years ago.
• Things have been very quiet here on Alonissos since the end of the Xmas/New Year/Epiphany celebrations.  Everybody is party'd out and are now resting for Carnival on February 14th and the start of Lent, the day after on Clean Monday.
• The Epiphany blessing of the water service at the harbour started around 10.45am and although the water was choppy the weather was fine and the service went off without a hitch.  Four boys went in to the water for the cross and we will publish pictures in the next few days.
• News from Dawn Kiriannakis that the Epiphany service at the harbour should be around 10.30-10.45am but we are getting there around 10.15am to be safe.
• The are two Hellenic Seaways flying cats in Patitiri so it looks like we have lost flying Cat 6 from service for the moment.
• It appears that the new Poseidon Lines flying dolphin is not yet running a daily service and their web site is still showing routes and timetables for Naxos and the Cyclades islands.
• Reminder:  Epiphany is celebrated on Wednesday 6th and assuming the weather is OK then the ceremony of blessing the water should take place on the harbour front sometime around mid-morning after the end of the church service.
• Info from Chrissy Georgiou that tickets on the new Poseidon flying dolphin to Volos are about 20% cheaper than the Hellenic Seaways flying cat.
• Monday 4th and the Dimos sent a mechanical digger and a truck down to Megalos Mourtias to remove the carcass of the cow from the beach.
• News from Di and Craig that the New Year Day BBQ raised 320 euro for ASAP which is a fantastic achievement.
• The ASAP BBQ at Megalos Mourtias beach was brilliant as the weather was really hot but breezy.  Seven swimmers braved the waters at midday and we ate and drank our way through the afternoon in the sun.  ASAP have probably raised around 200 euro from the event but the only downside was that we watched something being washed up onto the beach from afar which turned out to be a dead cow!!!
• We had a great New Year at Mary's Bar with the Aloni Band playing a very good set.  We sang Auld Lang Syne after midnight to the amusement of the islanders.
• A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our readers of Breaking News and visitors to our site.

• The ASAP BBQ at Megalos Mourtias beach was brilliant as the weather was really hot but breezy.  Seven swimmers braved the waters at midday and we ate and drank our way through the afternoon in the sun.  ASAP have probably raised around 200 euro from the event but the only downside was that we watched something being washed up onto the beach from afar which turned out to be a dead cow!!!
• We had a great New Year at Mary's Bar with the Aloni Band playing a very good set.  We sang Auld Lang Syne after midnight to the amusement of the islanders.
• A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our readers of Breaking News and visitors to our web site.
• We have some news about Nefeli the monkseal being rehabilitated at Steni Vala from a couple of our friends who are acting as volunteers to look after her welfare before she is released.  Di Sinclair recently told us that Nefeli now weighs in at 39 kilos and Guy Routh has advised us that her release date may be as early as January next year.
• Poseidon flying dolphin Irida arrived at Alonissos around 3pm.
• Wednesday 30th and according to MarineTraffic.com the Poseidon flying dolphin Irida has left Volos around 10.30am and is heading down the Pelion Peninsular.  Hopefully it will arrive at Alonissos sometime around 1.30pm.
• Tuesday 29th and we were down in the port of Patitiri and guess what?  Irida the Poseidon flying dolphin never arrived!!  Not a very auspicious start.
• Reminder:  ASAP are planning a BBQ at Megalos Mourtias beach on New Year's Day from 12 noon.  Price is 10 euro per head for food and drink and the weather is now looking good for the day, albeit a bit breezy.  Anyone in for a dip should be aware that the beach is very kelped up and the water level is very high.
• Reminder:  The Aloni Band are playing at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) on New Year's Eve from 10.30pm.  We will arrive some time after 9pm.
• A new company called Poseidon are starting a flying dolphin service between Alonissos and Volos as from tomorrow, Tuesday 29th.  This is a one dolphin operation so we shall see if it lasts longer than the others.  The flying dolphin is named Irida.
• We found out over Xmas lunch that that the Albanian guy died in a motor bike accident with a car and was the young waiter who worked for Yianni and Ria at Taverna Megalos Mourtias toward the end of the summer season last year.
• The "Not the 100 Club" draw was held at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) on Xmas Day and the 100 euro prize was won by Beau's son and daughter-in-law Justin and Liane.
• A very Merry Xmas to all our Breaking News readers and website users from Dave and Gerry on Alonissos.  The Xmas Day weather is predicted to be cloudy and 21C with light to moderate winds.
• Reminder:  The 100 euro draw for the "Not the 100 Club" will take place at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) tomorrow. Xmas Day.  As usual we will meet for drinks from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.
• We heard that an Albanian guy came off his motor bike in the Old Village last night (23rd) and was killed.  We don't know the circumstances of the accident but his coffin was being walked down the high street today (24th) at 1.30pm presumably to be put on the Express Skiathos ferry.
• We had a great time at Mamma Mia's with Steph except that we intended only to stay from 8-10.30pm and ended up leaving at 1.30am in the morning.
• Beau & Bert's Xmas Quiz took place at Mary's Bar last night.  Everyone had a fantastic evening and the event raised 135 euro for the care and welfare of the animals.
• Reminder:  The 100 euro draw for the "Not the 100 Club" will take place at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) on Xmas Day.  As usual we will meet for drinks from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.  Good luck to everyone with a number.
• Reminder:  There will be a Xmas party at Mamma Mia's in Patitiri on Wednesday 23rd starting from 8pm and organised by Stephanos.  Price for the buffet is 15 euro per person with drinks extra.  The Prosecco there is really good and not expensive.
• Reminder:  Beau and Bert's Xmas Quiz will take place at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) tomorrow (22nd) starting at 7.30pm.  All profits for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• Advance Notice:  The Aloni Band will be playing at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) on New Year's Eve.  We are planning to arrive from 9pm with the band playing from 10.30pm.
• Advance Notice:  ASAP are planning a BBQ at Megalos Mourtias beach on New Year's day from 12 noon.  Price is 10 euro per head for food and drink.  Weather at the present doesn't look promising but things change very quickly here.
• Shops on the island will be closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so get what you need for Xmas by Thursday evening.
• The shortest day of the year has been glorious here with sun and clear skies but very cold and clear this evening.
• The weather has improved recently and the atmosphere has become very clear and in the Old Village we have views of the snow on Mount Dirfis on Evia, on Mount Athos on the Halkidiki peninsular and Mount Olympus on the mainland.
• Richard was laid to rest in the cemetary in the Old Village yesterday (18th December) after a short service performed by Father Avraam around 3.30pm in the cemetary church.  On a very pleasant and mild day there was a large number of people there to pay their last respects to Richard and support Jan and Richard's family.
• For those of you that knew Dave's cousin Eileen, this is to let you know that at 9pm tonight (16th December) she lost her year long battle against cancer.  She will be desperately missed by family and friends alike.
• Richard will be back in Alonissos tomorrow (17th December) around 1.30pm on the Express Skiathos.  We are meeting the ferry and then following the hearse up to the cemetary for the funeral service which is expected to start around 3pm.  Mary's bar will be open from 1pm for people to have a drink and be out of the weather before the service in the cemetary chapel.
• Richard Sealy lost his fight against cancer this morning, Tuesday 15th, in hospital in Larisa and his funeral is expected to be within the next few days here on Alonissos.  Our thoughts are with Jan and his family.
• For those of our readers of "Breaking news" that know Jan and Richard you should know that Richard is critically ill in hospital in Larisa and is not expected to win his fight against cancer.
• Flying Cat 6 is on the move so everyone should get back to Alonissos today.
• Advance Notice:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw for December will be held at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) on Xmas Day.  As usual we will meet from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.  This is the second 100 euro draw of the year.
• The Express Skiathos made it as far as Agnontas on Skopelos yesterday then waited in the harbour until both the Flying Cat and Flying Dolphin had gone passed on their way to Alonissos before the captain decided to go back to Volos with the Alonissos passengers still on board!!
• Correction:  The Express Skiathos left Volos today (11th) around lunch time on its way to Alonissos and at 3pm now is currently docking in Skiathos.
• There are no vessels sailing today (Friday 11th) to Alonissos and news from our stranded friends Chester on Skiathos and Chrissie & Tony in Volos suggests that the first vessel to Alonissos is likely to be the Flying Cat at 2.30pm tomorrow (12th) from Volos.  Check with Hellenic Seaways or their agents if you are travelling here.
• Alonissos is currently (10th am) being lashed by torrential rain and high winds and there are no vessels sailing to the island today.  The wind should have calmed down by tomorrow afternoon but the rain will be with us for the next few days.
• Advance Notice:  There will be a Xmas Bash organised by Stephanos at Mamma Mia's in Patitiri on Wednesday 23rd, we think from 8pm but will confirm.  Jan Luca and Stephanos are laying on an Italian buffet at 15 euro per head with drinks extra.
• Advance Notice:  There will be a Fun(d) Raising Group Xmas Quiz organised by Beau and Bert on Tuesday 22nd at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) from 7.30pm.  Gerry will be providing the mince pies.
• According to Accuweather we are going to get a week of rain and high winds from Wednesday onwards.  Let's hope they are really Inaccuweather!!
• We have been introduced to a new path down the bottom section of the donkey track that cuts out all the steep rocky section.  The path starts just passed the Villa Hara's and comes out almost at the bottom near the well.
• The well at the bottom of the donkey track is being reconstructed so watch out for the building work during the week if you are walking up the track.  The well is also out of use for collecting spring water.
• After a very pleasant Friday the rain bucketed down this lunch time (Saturday 5th) and we are due high winds tonight and tomorrow.
• As predicted the wind has picked up from the south and we are expecting heavy rain here on Wednesday and Thursday.
• The Christmas lights have started going up in Patitiri today (Tuesday 1st)

• The "Not the 100 Club" draw was held at the Cave Bar in Patitiri today, Sunday 29th.  There were 5 members for the draw which was made by Les Green and the winning number was 63 belonging to Don and Trish Phillips.  The last draw of the year for 100 euro will take place on Xmas Day at a venue to be announced.
• The "pub afternoon" around Annie and Les Green's house in Votsi raised 310 euros after expenses for ASAP which is a fantastic result considering the wonderful food and drink that was provided.  Indications are that around 40 people attended the event.
• News about Nefeli the new Monk Seal pup at Steni Vala.  Reports are that she now weighs around 26 kilos and is doing very well, although Guy said she is less tame than the other recent pups which may be a big advantage when she is released.
• Reminder:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw for November will be held tomorrow, Sunday 29th at the Cave Bar in Patitiri.  As usual we will meet from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.
• The "pub afternoon" around Annie and Les Green's house in Votsi was a great success.  Loads of excellent food and good company and we can only hope that the event raised a lot of money for ASAP.
• Due to fax transmission problems and impending bad weather on Tuesday and Wednesday our trip to Athens for Gerry to see the Oncologists has been postponed for the time being.
• We are off to Athens on Monday at the Alexandra as a liver ultrasound that Gerry had last week has shown up some abnormalities.
• Reminder:  Annie and Les Green are holding a "Pub Afternoon" at their house in Votsi to raise funds for ASAP.  Fun starts from 2pm and hot food available from 3pm.  Entrance fee of 5 euro and then 1 euro per drink.  Where else could you get pissed on 10 euro??
• Reminder:  The FUNd Raising Group are compiling a recipe book to sell next year for the care and welfare of the animals on the island.  Recipes from any residents or visitors to the island would be very gratefully recieved.  All recipes in the book will have names of the people donating the recipe on the page.  E-mail to daveandgerry@ivicourt.com please.
• High winds are forecast for next Tuesday and Wednesday so time to batten down the hatches.
• Hellenic Seaways are changing the Flying Dolphin timetable and there are no departures shown for Tuesday to Thursday in early December.
• The "Not the 100 Club" draw for November will be held on Sunday 29th at the Cave Bar in Patitiri.  As usual we will meet from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.
• Latest word is that the new supermarket on Skopelos is a Carrefour Marinopolous and is located on the ring road towards Stafylos.
• Correction:  Mama Mia's Italian restaurant in Patitiri is open Thursday to Sunday.
• According to an Athens News article this week the final date for registration of "pay as you go" mobile phones is 30th July 2010.  After that date service will be discontinued and remaining credit lost but phones can be registered after the cut-off and service resumed.
• Yorgo at Taverna Panselinos is now open every day except Monday from 4pm.
• It may be that Maria has closed the supermarket in the Old Village for the time being.
• Mama Mia's Italian restaurant in Patitiri is now open Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Stefanos is now working there.
• Excitement abounds with the news that a large supermarket has opened on the neighbouring island of Skopelos.  Not apparently a known brand like Carrefour but there is sufficient interest that a girly day out may be on the cards to check the place out.
• There was a funeral today and even though we didn't hear the church bells ringing as we were walking Zoe in the Old Village we saw a procession of cars from Patitiri come up the main road to the cemetary followed by the Municipal bus full of mourners.
• Peri Orexios above Maria's supermarket in the Old Village apparently re-opened this week.
• Argo Seaways have now started a flying boat service betweeen Volos and Skiathos.  The plane does a round trip each morning and afternoon and can take up to 9 passengers.  From Volos it costs 57 euro and from Skiathos 59 euro and the journey takes about 15 minutes.  Problems with refuelling at Volos is probably limiting distance at the moment but perhaps if sorted we will see a service to Alonissos.
• We had our mobile phones registered in the Cosmote shop in Dimitriadis street in Volos.  Took a scan of our passport and they asked for the phone number and father's christian name and a few minutes later it was done.  Registration is free if you go to one of your service providers shops or Angeliki at Alonissos Electric will process the forms for 5 euro.
• Chatting with people down in Patitiri today it seems that the cut off date for mobile phones being registered is next summer, somewhere around June to August but no-one seems sure of the exact date.  Watch this space for more news.
• Important Notice:  Greece has recently passed a law that all "pay as you go" mobile phones must be registered as an anti-terrorism move.  We are not sure of the timescales involved but anyone who has left Greece with a Greek mobile and doesn't have it registered may find that their phones will stop working.  We are off to Volos on Monday (16th) for Gerry to have some tests and we will get all the info while having our phones sorted in the Cosmote shop.
• The weather here is unseasonable good at the present time with warm days interspersed with cloud.  Predictions are that temperatures could be up into the low 20's C by next week.  We went down to Megalos Mourtias beach today (14th) with the dog and a bottle of retsina to do some beachcombing for drift wood.
• The ferry timetables have altered recently and we now have Flying Dolphin 23 to Agios Konstantinos 5 times a week, the Express Skiathos ferry to Volos 5 times a week and Flying Cat 6 running every day to Volos.
• The Hallowe'en party went off very well with 32 people attending, most dressed for the occasion.  Although a bit breezy the promised rain strorm held off and arrived the following morning.
• Reminder:  There will be a Hallow e'en party at our house, tomorrow 7th November from 7pm, in aid of the care and welfare of the animals of Alonissos.  Tickets are 10 euro for adults and 5 euro for children, including food and drink.  There will be a prize for the best looking spook.
• Weather here yesterday and today (6th) has been absolutely glorious.
• MOm News:  News have reached us that MOm will be building a brand new modern Monk Seal rehabilitation centre at Tzortzi Yialos with vastly improved facilities compared to their current centre at Steni Vala.
• MOm News:  The MOm centre at Steni Vala has taken delivery of a new Monk Seal pup from Kefalonia who has been named Nefeli.  Hopefully more news and perhaps some pictures from Guy Routh who is helping with the rehabilitation of the new baby.
• Exercise classes with Bente Keller will be on Monday and Wednesday in the school gymnasium from 4.30-6.30pm.  Cost of the classes is 20 euro per month.
• The only taverna in the Old Village that appears to be open is Niko's, although Mary's Bar is open for drinks.
• Niko has a new Mercedes taxi to replace the one that was totalled in a collision with a hire car on the road to the Old Village during the summer.
• Weather here has been terrible with high winds and torrential rain.  People over for half term have not had a great time of it.

• Arrived on Alonissos at 1.45pm on Friday 30th and were met in the rain by friends from the island.  After a few ouzos in the Cave Bar we went home to see Zoe the dog and all the cats.
• Left Merimna around 1.15pm by taxi to Bus Station B and while sat outside having an ouzo Dave discovered he still had the room key in his pocket!  Got the 3pm express bus to Volos and after staying in the Hotel Avra overnight, we got the 9am Express Skiathos ferry home.
• We saw the Oncologists at the Alexandra and at first they wanted us to stay for Gerry to have an ultrasound, blood test and X-ray.  NO WAY.  These will now be done in Volos in a couple of weeks then Gerry has 3 check-ups in the first year with results of the same 3 tests.
• Thursday 29th:  Last radiotherapy treatment around 10.15am then back upstairs to see the doctors.  Eventually cleared the paperwork and left Agios Savvas around 11.30am to go to the Alexandra.  Gerry back to Agios Savvas in 2 months so they can check how the skin is healing after being zapped 28 times.
• Went for the second time to the War Museum near Evangelismos metro station on Oxi Day to see the 1941-1953 section on the mezzanine and the guns and planes outside.  Started packing around 7pm and finished about 4 hours later.  We had forgotten how much stuff we had bought and our new trolley case must have weighed about 30 kilos!!
• Tuesday 27th and we are writing this at the Hotel Attalos roof bar and collecting our e-mails via their wi-fi.  Tomorrow is Oxi Day and a national holiday in Greece and the last treatment is on Thursday morning around 10.15am.  We have to see the team at Agios Savvas and then off to the Alexandra to see the Oncology team.  This means that we should be able to get away to Volos by mid-afternoon, then hopefully home to Alonissos on Friday morning.
• Gerry started the last 3 radiotherapy treatments today, Monday 26th.  After seeing the doctor and being re-marked for the new treatment she was zapped around 10.15am which will be the new treatment time.
• Advance Notice:  The FUNd Raising Group are holding a Hallow e'en party at our haunted house on Saturday 7th November from 7pm, in aid of the care and welfare of the animals of Alonissos.  Tickets are priced at 10 euro for adults and 5 euro for younglings to include food and drink.  There will be a prize for the best looking spook, so dress to impress.
• The grapevine has it that we have a celebrity from the 60's on the island at the moment.  Can't say who until we are back and find out whether his presence is "Secret Squirrel" or not.
• The "Not The 100 Club" draw for October took place on Alonissos at the Arhondostasi (Mary's Bar) on Sunday 25th, which is the same day that the clocks went back.  The winning number was 6 belonging to Martin and Brenda Murphy who win 25 euro.  The penultimate draw for the year will be on November 29th at a venue to be decided.
• Poured with rain here in Athens over the weekend and Sunday late morning we had thunder and lightning as well as driving winds.
• Friday 23rd:  Gerry has successfully completed the 25 general radiotherapy treatments.  We had a small celebration and plan a quiet weekend before the last 3 treatments next week and hopefully home next Friday.
• Thursday after the treatment we walked down Athinas Street between Omonia Square and Monastiraki Square and for the 2nd year running there is a plant festival opposite the Old Town Hall in Kotzia Square, with around three dozen outlets selling everything from small bedding plants to large cacti.
• Wednesday 21st:  Gerry's saw Mr. Scarlatos today for her check up and after looking at the blood test result he said "no more".  After the last of the 25 treatments have finished on Friday we have to be at his office on Monday morning at 9am to organise the last three treatments.
• After blood test and treatment on Tuesday (20th) we got off the metro at Evangelismos and visited the War Museum.  Entry is free and there are so many interesting exhibits we will have to visit again.
• Had a text from Dawn and Yianni to say that they got away from the hospital on Monday afternoon and were on their way by taxi to the bus station to get the KTEL bus to Volos.  Hopefully they will be home on Alonissos by Tuesday afternoon.
• News from Jan and Jeff Moon on Alonissos that Peri Orexios (Snack Bar) will stay open again this winter.  Dina's supermarket in Patitiri is closed for a couple of weeks and in the Old Village Maria's supermarket is now open every day 10am to 2pm but not on Sundays.
• Met Dawn and Yianni around 12.30pm at the hospital on Sunday (18th) where he is recovering from his operation and he is hoping to leave on Monday.  We went off to the new Acropolis Museum with Dawn for a look around and some lunch.  Gerry starts the last week of her main treatment tomorrow.
• Got the 10am ferry from Piraeus to Aegina today (17th) as weather looked OK.  It started raining around 11am and rained on and off all day.  Gerry got some knitting wool from the shop and we ate at a locals taverna.  We had the most wonderful meat soup which we hope we can recreate and put into the FUNd Raising Group recipe book.
• Thanks to everyone for their e-mail messages.  Sorry we can't respond but for some reason our laptop and the wi-fi we are using will allow us to receive messages but not to send replies.
• Hoping to get the 10am ferry from Piraeus to Aegina tomorrow (17th) as Gerry wants to visit a wool shop she found last Sunday which was closed.  This will depend on the weather.
• The doctors have said that treatment will finish on Thursday 29th as the day before (28th) is Oxi Day and a National holiday in Greece, so the radiotherapy department will be closed.
• Friday 16th and Gerry has successfully survived 20 radiotherapy treatments.  Only real problem is an allergic reaction to the paint they use to mark the area which has caused the top surface of skin to bubble and peel off.  We have some cream to put on but they do have to repaint on a regular basis.
• Poured with rain this morning (16th) and we got soaked going to and from Agios Savvas.  We had a massive storm at lunch time with thunder, lightning and torrential rain.  We are writing this at 2.30pm with clear blue skies and so hot outside that it's summer sunbathing weather.
• Grey, overcast and raining her on Thursday with the weather predicted to stay like this all across the weekend.
• Greece beat a 10 man Luxembourg team 2-1 and scored all 3 goals with one of their defenders putting an excellent shot passed the Greek keeper and into his own net.  Don't know how Switzerland did so not sure if Greece will automatically qualify or will go into the play-offs.
• Big week for the Greek National Football team where qualification for the World Cup hangs by a thread.  Two poor recent performances means that they MUST beat both Latvia and Luxembourg to qualify.  They slammed Latvia 5-2 last weekend and the Luxembourg game is on the box tonight (14th).
• Yianni went in for his operation Wednesday 14th about 12.30pm and came out around 4.30pm.  According to Dawn all went very well.
• Gerry's saw one of Mr. Scarlatos' team for her Wednesday check up and all still OK but they want a blood test for next week.
• Met Dawn and Yianni at the Aretaieion Hospital during lunch time visiting hours.  Yianni was told that his operation would be tomorrow, Wednesday 14th at 11.30am.  We all wish him the very best for a successful outcome.
• Woke up at 7am as usual but this morning, Tuesday 13th was grey and overcast and rained for a large part of the day.
• Dawn is over in Athens to be with Yianni but sent us a text Monday morning to say that his operation has been put off until Wednesday.
• We got the 8.20am to Aegina by the skin of our teeth and got off at Aegina with the idea of getting the next ferry to Poros.  Decided to stay on Aegina and got a room at the Plaza Hotel, no less, for 25 euro for a double ensuite.  Result or what.  Took the afternoon bus to Agia Marina and had an ouzo with meze on the beach and a paddle in the water.  Came back to Piraeus on the 2.15pm ferry on Sunday afternoon.
• Never made it to Poros but ended up Saturday morning on Aegina instead.  Morning beset with disasters - Dave fell down a hole where a metal cover was not properly placed and grazed his shin, then the metro to Piraeus wasn't operating, then the 040 bus from Syntagma deposited us miles from the harbour and we were walking to the port when our 8am ferry passed us heading off for Aegina and Poros!!!
• We are posting this on Thursday 8th as we are off to the island of Poros for the weekend to have a break from the heat in Athens.  The week started around 25C and they are predicting 29C for the weekend!!  On Friday Gerry will have successfully survived 15 radiotherapy treatments and is over the half way mark with some discomfort but no real problems.
• We went to the Christian and Byzantine Museum near Evangalismos Metro station on Thursday 8th.  This museum chronicles the time between Roman rule in Greece in the 2nd-3rd century BC through to the 12th century BC and the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders.  The museum has wonderful exhibits and although not well known is well worth a visit  They also had a special exhibition of works by Andy Warhol in their exhibition area which was very different.
• Gerry had her purse stolen on the Metro between Evangalismos and Monastiraki stations on Wednesday evening.  As far as we know the only plastic in there was a Blockbuster Video card, Boots and Nectar cards and a library card.  We reported the loss to the Police station in Monastiraki.  There was 50 euro in cash so lets hope he went to a fish restaurant to celebrate and choked to death on a bone!!!!
• News from Beau Dendy that the second Bring and Buy Sale raised 430 euro for the care and welfare of the animals on the island.  A great result for all those involved.
• Wednesday 7th:  Gerry's 9am appointment happened at 8.55am which was great but we had to wait until 10.15am to see Mr. Scarlatos.  Another short appointment where he just checked the skin for damage and was obviously very happy, so no blood test again next week.
• We have been off to the Aretaieion Hospital this week to visit Yianni Kyriannakis who is in for an operation.  Yianni will have his op on Monday 12th.
• The second Bring and Buy Sale went really well and thanks to everyone's hard work the sale raised around 400 euro for the care and welfare of the animals on the island.
• Advance Notice:  There will be a second Bring and Buy Sale on the veranda of Anni Bason's apartment in Patitiri on Monday 5th October starting around 11am.  All proceeds for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• We did the Monastiraki flea market on Sunday (4th) which was a pile of crap.  We also visited the nearby Keramikos Archaeological site and Museum where entry free on Sunday and this is another must visit if you are in the Monastiraki area.
• Dave and Netty have done Venice and the Italian Lakes and are now back in the UK.
• Friday night/Saturday morning (2nd/3rd) it rained quite heavily but cleared up by 10.30am when we headed off by tram to Plateia Syntagma to visit the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art which is another must visit if you are in Athens.
• Jan and Jeff had a stopover on Friday (2nd) at Athens airport between their flight from the UK and their onward flight to Skiathos, so we headed to the airport to meet them off their flight and have a drink.  Their flight was brought forward from 8.50pm to 7.30pm so they came through to arrivals about 6.15pm and after checking in for their Skiathos flight we had 20 minutes for an ouzo and a chat before they headed off.  At 8.30pm they were still in departures as we were on the X95 bus to Plateia Syntagma.  They eventually got away around 9.15pm.
• Friday 2nd and Gerry has successfully survived 10 radiotherapy treatments.
• For anyone visiting Athens for a few days and wanting to get out and about we recommend a 10 euro, 7 day integrated ticket from Metro stations.  You can use it 24/7 for a week, as many journeys as you like and is valid for buses, trams, trolleys, metro and suburban railway.
• News from Chris and Debbie that Ria and Yianni have closed Taverna Megalos Mourtias and the island has become very quiet.
• Weather still hot and sunny in Athens with midday temperatures ranging from 25-27C.  Not good for Gerry as she is not allowed to get the treated area in the sun for 3 months!

• Wednesday 30th:  Gerry's 9am appointment happened at 10.40am which was annoying as we arrived at 8.30am at the hospital.  The meeting however with Mr. Scarlatos lasted less than 2 minutes.  After looking at the blood test result he said "all good and no blood next week".  We assumed this meant no blood test, rather than Gerry will have no blood next week.
• Tuesday 29th:  Gerry has now had 7 radiotherapy treatments and is so far (touch wood) feeling fine and not suffering any effects.  The second weekly revue with her consultant Mr. Scarlatos is tomorrow.
• The tenth and final mini quiz took place on Monday 28th September at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri.  Many thanks to Dinah and Craig for hosting the quiz which raised 145 euro for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.  A big thank you from the Fund Raising Group to Bessie at the Paradise for allowing us to run the quizzes tere, her daughters for playing brilliant music and all the residents and visitors who have supported the 10 quizzes during the summer.
• We have discovered a wonderful local Monday street market near to Xenon Merimna selling fruit and veg, fish, clothing and household goods at a fraction of the prices in local supermarkets and shops.  We may need to buy another large trolley case if we visit too many times.
• The "Not the 100 Club" draw for September was held at Taverna Panselinos on Sunday 27th and the winning number was 67 belonging to Vanessa Saward who wins 25 euro.  The next draw will be at Mary's Bar (Arhondostasi) on Sunday October 25th which is the day the clocks change.
• Gerry sent Dave and Netty a "where are you" text thinking they were in Venice and discovered they were still in Greece and, not only that, still in Athens.  We got the tram down on Sunday 27th from Fix to Neo Faliro near Piraeus and had a lovely lunch with them by the waters edge.
• Almost the entire GA Ferry fleet must be moored in Piraeus harbour including Jet Ferry 1 and Dimitroula, both of which have serviced the Agios Konstantinos to Alonissos route in the last couple of years.  We wonder if the company is again insolvent as none of the ferries appear in the current ferry departures from Piraeus.
• We went to the island of Aegina for lunch on Saturday 26th which is only 1 hour from Piraeus by ferry.  The temple of Apollo and the archaeology museum are a definite must visit.
• We ate at a Goody's for the first time ever during the week and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the keen prices compared to other similar food outlets in the high street.  We will definitely eat there again.
• Reminder:  The tenth and final mini quiz will take place on Monday 28th September at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 7pm and ending around 9pm.  The quiz is hosted by Dinah and Craig.  Everyone is welcome and all proceeds for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• The "Not the 100 Club" draw will be on Sunday 27th September at Taverna Panselinos.  Meet from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.
• Advance notice that there will be a Bring and Buy Sale on Anni Bason's terrace on Monday 5th October starting at 11am.
• We arrived at the church run hostel Xenon Merimna on Monday afternoon after spending 8 hours in Agios Savvas hospital sorting things out.  We have a lovely room with a large balcony and all the staff are very nice.  We are close to Sigrou-Fix metro and tram stations so travel to and from the hospital is very easy.
• Advance Notice:  We have now had the call to Athens for Gerry to start her radiotherapy treatment and will be leaving Alonissos on Sunday 20th for a 9am appointment at Agios Savvas hospital on the Monday morning.  We will be away for around six weeks and during that time there may be restricted information on breaking news and new information on the web site.
• Brian Jones produced a very good quiz at the Hotel Paradise in Patitiri which raised 194 euros for the care and welfare of the animals on the island.  We teamed up with wife Sue Jones and won the wooden spoon!!
• Reminder:  The Aloni band played their last gig at the Pleiades Restaurant and Apartments on Tuesday 15th to a packed house who danced the night away for four hours until midnight.
• Reminder:  The ninth mini quiz will take place tomorrows, Wednesday 16th September, at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 7pm and ending around 9pm.  The quiz is hosted by our friends Brian and Sue Jones from Broom in Beds, England.  Everyone is welcome and all proceeds for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• Massive thunderstorm hit the Sporades last night (14th) with more torrential rain and lightning so intense it illuminated the sky.  We have some video footage and will post up some pictures shortly.
• A milestone for our web site this month with the annual number of page loads passing the 50,000 mark yesterday (14th September) for the first time ever.
• Correction:  The tour of the church will not take place tonight but will be at it's usual time of 6pm on Wednesday 16th.
• Father Avraam will be doing a church tour tonight (Monday 14th) starting at 7pm and finishing around 7.45pm.  This is in place of the usual Wednesday tour.
• The bus timetable has changed again with the 12.35pm departure removed along with two departures in the evening.  We will publish the timetable asap.
• Weather here still not good for the influx of English visitors.  Grey clouds and occasional showers and not looking good for the weekend.
• The pool at Leftos Yialos is closed due to rubbish being dumped in there by the storm.
• The thunderstorms and torrential rain started as predicted on late Sunday evening (6th) and continued unabated all through the night until late Monday morning.  More rain and high winds expected on Tuesday.  No watering the gardens for the next few days.
• The Marathon appeared to finish OK and we went down to the port around 7.30pm.  The band set up near where the bus stops on the harbour in front of the Port Police office.  The presentation ceremony started around 8.15pm and the band starting playing around 9ish.  Not that many people around to hear them but a good gig as always.
• It's 1.25pm Greek time on Sept 5th and the competitors in the marathon set off at 9.10am this morning on a very hot and humid day.  The first 10km runner was back at 9.52am!  Hopefully all runners and walkers will be back in Patitiri harbour before the Aloni Band start playing at 8.15pm tonight.  We will be down the port later for a dance but we are off to the Pleiades for a meal at 7pm as today is our 28th Wedding Anniversary.
• Reminder:  The Fifth Alonissos Marathon will take place on Saturday 5th September starting at the harbour front in Patitiri at 9am and ending when the last competitor returns.  There is an evening bash at the harbour front starting at 8.15pm with the Aloni Band playing, followed by a prize giving event.  The Aloni Band will then finish the evening's proceedings until late.
• The eighth mini quiz took place on 2nd September at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri, hosted by Anni Bason with questions by our friends Martin and Brenda.  The quiz raised a total of 172 euros for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• Reminder:  The eighth mini quiz will take place on Wednesday 2nd September at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 7pm and ending around 9pm.  The quiz is hosted by Anni Bason with questions by our friends Martin and Brenda.  Everyone is welcome and all proceeds for the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• The bus timetable has now changed to a reduced service with the last morning bus at 1pm from Patitiri to the Old Village and the first evening bus at 7pm.  We will publish the timetable asap.

• This Week:  Thursday 4th September there is aqua fit for the ladies from 10.30am in the Hotel Paradise pool in Patitiri.  The classes are run by Di and cost 5 euro per person.
• This Week:  The eighth mini quiz will take place on Wednesday 2nd September at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 7pm and ending around 9pm.  This is the 2nd quiz hosted by Anni Bason but the quiz was devised by our friends Martin and Brenda in the UK.  Everyone is welcome.
• This Week:  Annie Green is hosting a coffee morning at the Pleiades Restaurant and Apartments on Monday September 1st from 10.30am in support of ASAP.  Everyone is welcome.
• Ferry timetables to and from Alonissos are changing this weekend so consult a good site like www.openseas.gr to see how the departures have changed.  We think that today (31st) was the last Flying Cat to Thessaloniki this summer.
• Alonissos is now firmly in the 21st century as we have a blue and white changing cubicle on each of the beaches.  Having said that the one at Tzortzi Yialos beach has the Dimos sign on the bottom upside down.
• There has been a huge number of visitors leave the island across last weekend.  The Old Village and the beaches are noticeably quieter than they were this time last week.
• According to www.marinetraffic.com Flying Cat 6 is back in operation and as we write at 4.45pm Greek time on Saturday 29th it has just left Skopelos Town and is heading towards Glossa on Skopelos and then to Skiathos and Thessaloniki.
• Reminder:  The "Not the 100 Club" draw will be tomorrow, Sunday, at Taverna Megalos Mourtias.  As usual we will meet from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.  We are staying for a swim and lunch.
• Driving down to Patitiri today (29th) we saw a National Alamo hire car and what turned out to be Niko's Taxi both with the front of the cars stoved in between the Old Village and the OTE turn.  Apparently the accident happened yesterday evening.
• Reminder:  The Aloni Band play a gig at the Sunset Bar today, Saturday 29th, so be there to watch the sunset and listen to the band.
• Reminder:  The final Greek dancing lesson with Thomas is today, Saturday 29th, in Yorgos' house next to Taverna Nikos from 7-8pm.
• If you pay in a bar or taverna for food or drink with a debit card be sure you check the bill carefully before authorising the transaction.  Friends of ours have ended up with a bill for 910 euro instead of 9.10 euro due to an error made by the taverna opposite Skiathos Airport.  The taverna have accepted the error and will give them a refund but our friends are now in the UK and are fortunate to have family and friends on Alonissos who have sorted things out for them.
• Now that Jan and Jeff have left Alonissos for home, we have inherited the books.  The books can be bought for a suggested donation of 50 cents in aid of ASAP and are located on the front of our apothiki on the hard standing area in front of the house.  So far this summer Jan and Jeff have raise 440 euros for ASAP towards the care and welfare of the animals on Alonissos.
• The next "Not the 100 Club" draw will be on Sunday at Taverna Megalos Mourtias.  Meet from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.  A lot of us will be staying for lunch and a swim, so bring a healthy appetite and your bathers.
• Chester and Chris will be performing live acoustic music in Taverna Remezzo at Roussoum Yialos beach on Sundays starting around 8.30pm.
• The Aloni Band are due to play a gig at the Sunset Bar on Saturday (29th).  Not sure of the start time but we will check with Chester and post the details asap.
• There is a Greek dancing lesson with Thomas on Saturday (29th) in Yorgos' house next to Taverna Nikos from 7-8pm due to public demand.  This is the last lesson of the summer so be there.
• Don't forget that aqua fit continues at 10.30am on Thursdays in the Hotel Paradise pool in Patitiri and Sundays in the pool at the Milia Bay Apartments run by Di with a cost of 5 euro per person.
• Speed Cat 1 is running again after being out of service for a short while.
• It appears that at the moment Speed Cat 1 is out of service as well as Flying Cat 6.
• Reminder:  Tonight (Wednesday 26th) at 7pm Father Avraam will say Vespers in English, the service will last about 30 minutes and Jane Routh now has English service sheets which makes it easier to follow!  Also from 6-7pm Father Avraam is available if anyone wants a tour of the church and to find out more about Orthodoxy.
• We think that Flying Cat 6 has broken down and is currently out of service (25th).  We saw Flying Cat 5 yesterday afternoon going off to Thessaloniki and Flying Dolpin 23 came in late last night and then went out again around 11pm with a lot of people with cases.
• Reminder:  There is a Greek dancing lesson with Thomas tonight (Tuesday 25th) in Yorgos' house next to Taverna Nikos from 7-8pm.
• Report from Nigel Mackenzie that when they drove up the island to Gerakas recently they discovered a "snack wagon" and apparently the food they had was very good.
• The Aloni Band played a brilliant gig outside Taverna Panselinos in the Old Village last tonight to a packed plateia that danced the night away till well after midnight.
• The price of a single ticket on the bus between Patitiri and the Old Village is now 1.50 euro.  This is the same price as a single ticket between Patitiri and Steni Vala which is a much further distance!!
• Reminder:  The Aloni Band will be playing outside Taverna Panselinos in the Old Village tonight, Saturday 22nd, starting between 9 and 9.30pm.
• Don't forget aqua fit for the ladies at 10.30am on Thursday (20th) in the Hotel Paradise pool in Patitiri.  The classes are run by Di and cost 5 euro per person.
• There was a large turn out of people at the seventh mini quiz tonight at the Hotel Paradise in Patitiri.  As always Jan and Jeff did a really excellent quiz to a packed house, which raised a total of 251.20 euro for the care and welfare of the animals on the island.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  The next quiz is by our friends Martin and Brenda in the UK and hosted by Anni Bason on Wednesday 2nd September.
• Don't forget the quiz tonight at the Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 7pm.
• We did the Greek dancing lesson with Thomas yesterday and actually managed to do two dances reasonable well.  Only problem is that we are now walking around mentally chanting - slow, quick quick, slow, quick quick, slow.
• This Week:  The Aloni Band will be playing a 2nd open air concert on Saturday (22nd) outside Taverna Panselinos organised by the Cultural Association of Alonissos starting around 9pm.
• This Week:  Thursday (20th) there is aqua fit for the ladies at 10.30am in the Hotel Paradise pool in Patitiri.  The classes are run by Di and cost 5 euro per person.
• This Week:  The seventh mini quiz will take place on Wednesday (19th) at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 7pm and ending around 9pm.  This is the 2nd quiz hosted by Jan and Jeff and everyone is welcome.  The six quizzes so far have raised a fantastic 1,208 euro for the care and welfare of animals on the island.
• This Week:  The sale of goods will take place at Ali's house on Wednesday (19th) around 10am.  A list of goods for sale is available to view and the house is located off the Tsoukalia road, on the left up the track to Agii Anargyrii.
• This Week:  Greek dancing classes should resume after Panagia on Tuesday (18th) at the house being renovated by Yorgos next to Taverna Nikos from 7-8pm.
• Warning:  There are serious problems booking the morning flying dolphin to Skiathos from Alonissos.  Hellenic Seaways are not allowing people to book in advance unless they are prepared to pay twice the amount and buy a ticket to Volos, then get off at Skiathos.  Many people told to come back closer to their departure day are then finding the flying dolphin is full.
• We attended the Panagia celebration and a report will be posted shortly.  There were not as many people as last year and balloon and children's toy sellers seemed to make it more commercialised than in previous years.
• Check details about the Panagia celebration because things may be kicking off at 6pm rather than 7pm as in previous years.
• Report from Chester Smith that in true rock 'n roll fashion the Aloni Band were involved in a major drugs bust drama when their Pleiades gig was abruptly silenced shortly after 10:30pm on Wednesday night.  Their gig coincided with a police drugs raid on a nearby house.  Sadly the joint (no pun intended) was packed and really rocking but they didn't want the backing of the Aloni band playing their greatest hits during the operation.  Some people were later arrested and removed from the island and hopefully all will be back to normal for the next Pleiades date on Wed 26th Aug.  It just goes to show there's never a dull moment at an Aloni band show, be it a wrong chord, missed out verse or even a drugs bust!!
• Very successful quiz last night at Tassia's Taverna at Steni Vala which hopefully raised a lot of money to improve the lives of disabled children in South India.
• Reminder:  Tonight (13th) at 8pm at Tassia's Taverna at Steni Vala there is a quiz organised by Julie Braithwaite and run by John Atkinson to improve the lives of disabled children in South India.  Food and drink and a donation to the charity are included in the price.
• We sat out last night after midnight to see the meteor shower but we only saw half a dozen from our top balcony before we went to bed.
• The Aloni Band gig at the Pleiades was stopped last night at the mid break around 10.40pm prior to a visit by the police.  We don't know why but there are various rumours circulating and eventually the truth will emerge from the Chinese whispers.
• Advance Notice:  There will be a sale of goods at Ali's house on Wednesday 19th August at 10am.  A list of goods for sale is available to view and the house is located off the Tsoukalia road, on the left up the track to Agii Anargyrii.
• Reminder:  The Aloni Band will be playing tonight (Wednesday 12th) at the Pleiades Restaurant and Apartments in Patitiri, starting at 9pm.  The kitchen opens at 7pm so arrive early for food or if you want a table for the night.
• We went to the Greek dancing class again yesterday (11th) and carried on learning how to do the Syrto and Syrtaki dances.  The next class on Saturday evening from 7-8pm is still going ahead even though Panagia celebrations start at 7pm.
• Don't forget the Perseid meteor shower tomorrow (12th) seen best at night without any light pollution.  Follow this link to the BBC web site for more information.
• The "Not The 100 Club" draw for August will take place at Taverna Magalos Mourtias at Megalos Mourtias beach on Sunday 30th.  As usual we will meet for drinks from 12.30pm with the draw around 1pm.  Anyone wanting to eat and swim can bring some cash and their bathers.
• Sunday (16th) there is aqua fit for the ladies at 10.30am at Milia Bay Apartmens run by Di, assuming that you have survived Panagia.
• Saturday (15th) is Panagia and the celebrations in the Old Village normally start about 7pm.  Be there early for free drinks and sweets and to buy the specially made cups and bowls.  Dancing and food with free wine starts around 9pm in the plateia outside Taverna Panselinos after the wedding entourage has gone around the lower and upper Old Town in recreating a traditional Alonissos wedding.
• Thursday (13th) at 8pm at Tassia's Taverna at Steni Vala there is a quiz organised by Julie Braithwaite and run by John Atkinson to further improve the lives of disabled children in the South of India.  Food and drink and a donation to the charity are included in the price.
• Thursday (13th) there is aqua fit for the ladies at 10.30am at Hotel Paradise run by Di.
• Reminder:  The Aloni Band will be playing at the Pleiades Restaurant and Apartments in Patitiri this Wednesday (12th) starting at 9pm.  Everyone welcome but arrive early for a table and especially if you intend to eat.  The kitchen opens at 7pm.
• The Greek dancing class was held at the house that is being renovated by Yorgos next to Taverna Nikos on Saturday evening from 7-8pm.  Thomas gave a very good dance class to more than two dozen people who paid 5 euro each.  It was hot and sticky but we all enjoyed the class and will be back on Tuesday night (11th) from 7-8pm for more.
• Time confirmed as 7-8pm tonight for the Greek dancing.  We are off to trip the light fantastic and learn some dance steps for the big celebration of Panagia in the Old Village next Saturday night (15th).
• Sat having a drink last night when a bat flew in through the open door, around the lounge and then out again.  Obviously lost on its way back to Gotham City.
• There are Greek dancing sessions in the Old Village on Tuesday and Saturday nights next to Taverna Nikos from, we think, 7-8pm.  We will re-check the poster and post up a correction if the time is wrong.
• The sixth mini quiz took place last night (5th) at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri and raised an astonishing 299 euro for the care and welfare of the animals on the island.  The pool bar was packed and everyone contributed to a great evening.  Many thanks to Lyn and Nik for an excellent quiz.
• REMINDER:  The sixth mini quiz will take place on Wednesday (5th) at Hotel Paradise in Patitiri starting at 7pm and ending around 9pm.  Everyone welcome.  The location is excellent and all money benefits the animals on the island.
• We have heard reports that the new swimming pool behind Leftos Yialos beach is closed at the present time.  The possibility is that the correct planing permission was not obtained.
• News from Chester Smith that the Aloni Band will be playing at the harbour after the Alonissos Marathon on 5th September and will start gigging every Saturday night from the end of August at the Sunset Bar near the OTE turn.