Tomorrow I am off on holiday with family to Greece for 2 weeks. I'll be back round about 3rd October, so look after yourselves and enjoy cookin' up a storm in the kitchen.
I promise to bring back awesome pictures and some authentic Kalymnian recipes to share. I already have a wonderful tan.
It's been two years since I was there last. But I know that as soon as I step off the plane, it will be like going into a time warp; nothing's changed. Nothing ever does except taxes, though speech is free, as they say.
It's ironic that the gruff seafaring men kept in touch with me whereas all my other friends, all of them English, never bothered. Yannis, pictured here on the right-hand side with his chief engineer is like a father to me. He's the ships' Master of the fast boat Orek.
I can sit with my own people and come away with nothing. Or, I can sit with Yannis and his seafaring men, play my acoustic guitar and sing to them, and come away feeling I have had the best conversation of my life.
See you all when I get home.
Take care, all of you
Love,
Lyra-Emma
I used to take her on the bus into Pothia for a clop around. I paid full fare for her, just the same as any passenger. Once on a bus journey, Molly spotted up a bag of apples that a portly lady passenger tried in vain to hold back - too late - she lunged for one and got it!