An early start is needed for the 05:55 flight from Manchester to Kalamata.
Our Manchester heatwave means there is a lot to do the night before, in watering pots and planting out runner bean and chard seedlings. Ideally they would have waited a bit longer, but their chances of survival are probably better in the ground rather than the greenhouse
So I am in a deep dream when my alarm sounds at 03:15, and it takes a few moments to shake off the bonds of sleep and focus on getting moving
I gently shake and speak to Vera, lying beside me, but get only unconvincing grunts in reply
I dress, go downstairs, make cups of tea, and put the final few last minute items into my luggage. Then back up to check on a deeply sleeping Vera. Twenty minutes to our taxi, I bark. This finally achieves a response, and Vera's eyes are open. I'm not leaving until I see her feet on the bedroom carpet and the bed is made. Vera is not a morning person
With ten minutes to taxi time Vera has materialised in the kitchen, but we are still waiting for a taxi to be assigned to collect us
This does happen, the car arrives as scheduled, and we are driven through the sleeping streets of South Manchester to the airport
The airport is bustling but not to busy. Our suitcase is dropped off, we are through security, and still have 90 minutes to departure time
Vera tries to sleep on the plane, without success. We have brought food for the flight, leftover kebabs and Arabic rice from last night. We are unable to eat this, as it is announced that the plane carries a person with severe nut allergies and people mustn't eat their own food. I suspect an attempt to increase Jet2 food sales, but feel I can hang out until 10am for food.
We land ahead of schedule, and are head quickly to the airport building and border controld. I have read that there are new EU systems in place requiring the taking of photos and fingerprints, leading to queues at passport control several hours long.
We are the only plane to have landed at the small airport, but there is a long queue, moving with glacial slowness. Luckily we are towards the front of this line, so only a 30 minute or so wait. The equipment for the new border process is in place but not being used. This is simply the old slow examination of passports.
Once through passport control we pick up our waiting suitcase and head for the exit. A customs officer stops us for a random bag check. Luckily it is Vera's hand luggage she is interested in. I am very aware of the two containers of rice with grilled meat in my bag, which I feel sure will contravene at least half a dozen phytosanitory and associated regulations
As soon as we pass through the sliding door to the arrivals hall we are warmly greeted by a waiting Barbara, hugs and kisses. Peter is in the car nearby and scoops us all up after more hugs
We go to a seaside restaurant near to Crisocelleria for a long and lazy lunch. There are a lot of stories to be swapped and a lot of news to be exchanged
We eventually arrive at their house, unpack, and have a few hours rest before reconvening for the evening.
I go with Peter for Jumbo's evening walk, along tracks through the olive groves. Vera stays to chat with Barbara
The tracks are festooned with spiders webs, waiting for their evening meal
The remains of our evening meal
We chat late into the night, sat around the large stone and iron table on the patio, overlooking the gulf of Messina and the Taygetos mountains
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