It was lovely to open the shutters to blue sky and sunshine this morning after so many dreary days of wild, cold and wet weather. We grabbed the chance to ride round the island. In spite of it still being cold there were signs of spring with all the different yellows of mustard, oxalis and gorse coming into bloom on the road and hillsides. Later the whole island will be a sea of yellow. The almond blossom is out but not such a magnificent show as last year. The high seas have sculpted all the beaches into different form. Huge stones have been thrown up into ridges and masses of drift wood and other rubbish beached.

The weather continues to be so cold and there was snow on Didima opposite this morning when I rode down into town. Our friends left on Sunday for Athens, England and Australia so we are on our own again for a while.Time to stay home and get some painting done. High SeasWe had one last night all together at Meraclese taverna which was packed and cosy with a roaring fire. Jan, who used to be a Laskarina rep was celebrating her fiftieth birthday.The years have gone - was the first person I met here when I came here with Laskarina in exchange for a painting, little thinking how it would change my life. Sadly, Yianis Skajos died suddenly at the weekend.

The start of the Megalo Evdomada (big week) saw the skies darkening and steady rain all day Sunday and Monday and the forecast is not too optomistic. How could it be after all the wonderful weather before. I have English friends here and it will be such a shame if Sunday is a washout. We all need a celebratory day in these difficult times. All around the town posts have been decorated with hand painted colourful wooden eggs made by local people in the craft workshop on the island where all sorts of creative activities happen. They are so attractive I am sure they will be used in years to come.(Continued)

Friday was wet and windy for the blessing of the waters at Epiphany. I got down to the Dapia early to get a dry spot at Roussos caferteria to photograph from. Even so I had to stand my ground against late comers trying to push in - Greek style. A kaiki arrived carrying nearly thirty young lads in high spirits fueled, no doubt by quantities of Tchipero to add to their bravado and encourage each other to jump into the icy water. The doves were released and the cross thrown far to the right enabling Giorgos Markadonis to catch it.They had dived in white and came out bright pink!

The name day celebrations for Aghia Paraskevi are probably one of the most popular and well attended on the island. Two boat loads, the bus and dozens of cars and motorbikes brought so many people this year to the lovely church at at Agia Paraskevi beach on Monday night. It looked so pretty with lights and flags strung under the trees. It was such a blessing that after the last big fire these huge pine trees were saved. After the service groups of people were barbequeing along the whole beach and thouroughly enjoying themselves.

We are having very autumnal weather at the moment, cool and cloudy but with a nice bit of sunshine in between. I am quite happy that summer is over as it is good to have a change of season and clothes. The leaves are changing colour and dropping in the garden so everyday there is lots of sweeping to be done. Riding round to Anarghiri for lunch with our Dutch friends on Saturday it was good to see the hillside coverd in heather and the air heavy with its scent. I was surprised to find pink autumn crocuses (meadow saffron) growing on the roadside and also a clump of Amaryllis Belladona, a stunning plant from South Africa that grows on rocky hillsides especially after fires, so it was very at home here on Spetses. I wonder how it got here.