Okay, this is going to be more of a newsy blog with an update of all the little bits and pieces that we’ve been up to lately. We’ve been here just over five weeks now, and Spring is in full bloom. There was a frenzy of activity in the fields about a week ago with hay being mown and baled, summer vegies planted and olive groves cleared of rampant thistles. It’s slowed down a bit now but there’s always someone in one of the neighbouring fields busy at work doing something agricultural that I can’t always identify.
The weather has warmed up and we went for our first swim of the season on 5th May. Still a bit chilly and it was a quick swim. The boys have adjusted fairly well to going to the local school. The school day here starts at 8am and finishes at 1.15pm so they’re home in time for lunch. Then its homework and off to the beach. Not a bad life. One of the reasons they’ve settled in so well is that there are quite a few Greek/English bilingual kids at school. Great for their social life but not so good for their Greek language acquisition. I’m having to revise down my expectations of their increased fluency in Greek. Ralph is experiencing a similar problem – most Zakynthians our age and younger speak pretty good, if not excellent, English and so will respond to Ralph in English denying him the chance to practice
We’ve been trying to do as many walks as possible before it gets too hot and we’ve managed to do a few spectacular hill walks. Another week or two and the walking season will be over. For me, this has been one of the highlights of our stay here so far. Usually we are here in high summer when you are in danger of getting heatstroke by the time you walk from the car into the house. With the warmer weather the first tourists have also arrived. At the moment they’re mainly Dutch, as they have school holidays now. The tavernas and mini markets in Koukla are now open so we don’t have to drive to the village whenever we run out of milk anymore. Summer is on the way.
kouklahouse.com 