Community matters

Well, I was right about the rain – the day we had ordered water it was hissing down, but our “Water man” turned up more or less on time to check whether we still wanted some. “But it is raining – why do you need it?” For the house, and also because the ground in parts of our olive grove is so dry that whatever rain we get isn’t enough – it is like concrete! I gather, however, that the rain this winter has brought the reservoirs up to 65% capacity, which is a relief, but doesn’t let anyone off the hook when it comes to watering sensibly. We love our Water Man – he’s so helpful, and usually prompt. I just ring him, or go into his shop to tell him what we need and when, and it happens. Being part of a small community like this has great benefits – we’ve got to know whom to contact about all kinds of things and we get good service.

Earlier this week – a crisis – we got locked out. Something wrong with the lock on the front door and the key wouldn’t turn. Fortunately a window was open, so my husband climbed in (not without difficulty) and opened the door from inside. Bought a new lock and attempted to fit it. The old one wouldn’t budge. Eventually came out – new one in – didn’t work and wouldn’t come out. Trip into town to where we bought the lock – taken to a locksmith who came immediately and (with a certain amount of force) removed the old lock. Another trip into town for new inner and outer mechanisms – husband fitted it; now working fine. Cost for locksmith to come out straight away and do his work – €15.00! We love this – in the UK it would have been £50 call out and a long wait.

The flip side – the “Social Supermarket”/food bank put out an emergency appeal this week, as their shelves were empty. This is the side of the Greek crisis that doesn’t make the international press – people driven to the edge not even able to afford to donate small amounts of food. Thanks to the appeal there has been an upswell of support, and they now have enough food to last about a fortnight. It is up to all of us who can afford it to donate a bit more, and we have been able to do so this week. It was a wake up call which I’ve sent around to other English speakers, as many won’t read the Greek press. We must all do what we can.