Just one of those days!

Just one of those days!

We woke to another cloudless sky. It is a national strike in Greece today; the Troika are visiting and so the unions think that they are making a point. I don't understand what their point is, but I can see so much that is not working. I guess a lot of us can sit with friends and put the world to rights and wonder why those in power cannot see what we see. I think that the reality is that it is not what those in power see, but what they want for themselves which is rarely compatible with what we want for society. And, of course, there is a big gap between talking and determining what is wanted or needed and actually making it happen. Greece has the anachronistic positioning of being the centre of so much political thinking; it gave the world democracy yet no longer has such government, but a sad and corrupt copy of the original high principled discipline. Yet in other ways it is far from the centre. It sits on the edge of the European Union in the unique position that it is geographically part of mainland Europe but only in sea and air connection rather than land connection with the EU. The Turkish past gives it some unique insights and racist thoughts onto the Muslim world. It's Orthodox religion and political tendencies give it more than scant contacts with Russia. In many ways it has a long history traced back to the eons of civilisation. Yet as the nation we know it is barely one hundred years old.

The conundrum that is Greece is a fascination; like a child watching the flames of a fire, it fascinates and is full of danger. It is like the old veiled women of Greece that were at once exotic, perfumed, loved and oppressed and abused. On this warm day towards the end of October, when I look out the window I cannot but be filled with love and a great sense of privilege; what we have here, no millionaire could buy.

Reality is both kind and cruel. We were sitting on the kitchen patio, enjoying our customary leisurely breakfast when something made me look up. There was no sudden noise, no big gust of wind, nothing to attract my attention. I just sensed that I should look up. Then I heard the rush of wings and the peace and tranquillity was shattered as the Peregrine Falcon caught a tiny bird in mid air, just in front of me. This is something I have never seen and the speed of the attack was incredible. The little bird just made it's last cry and the falcon, with it's breakfast in its strong beak took it down behind the tall pine tree in our garden. Nature is cruel, but it is about survival. I feel sure that the attack was so swift, so professional that the little bird did not suffer for any length of time; death was immediate. I cannot but admire the speed and silence of the falcon. I watch him often, just hovering, remaining perfectly still whatever the wind. Then with amazing agility and quite unbelievable eyesight he just kicks back and dives down to some small creature in a bush or tree. But never have I seen him catch something in flight as I did today.

Perhaps I should have known better than to start baking today! A friend of ours has his sister and nephew to stay for a while. His wife is back in the UK where her elderly father is in hospital. I decided to make some cupcakes and a cake to take down to him so that he and his guests can enjoy them with morning coffee or afternoon tea. Recently I made some lemon and lime jelly marmalade which turned out to be a wonderful flavour and great for breakfast toast; I put aside a jar to give to them. I mixed up one of my own cupcake mixes. It was based on a recipe in the wonderful Hamlyn 200 Cupcakes book for orange flavoured sponge cupcakes.  Instead of orange juice and sugar I used some of my pear and geranium leaf jelly which I made some weeks ago and which for some reason did not set properly. To compensate for the additional liquid I put in some extra flour and for more taste added a teaspoon of cinnamon. These baked in just 20 minutes and turned out a treat.

Waldo was washing up the breakfast dishes and helpfully washed up after me as I used various baking equipment and utensils. As soon as the first batch of cakes was in the oven I set about making the second batch; malty sultana cakes. These are our favourite and are made by soaking All Bran in warm milk and leaving it to go mushy before adding large juicy raisins and agave juice instead of sugar. Again I used up my pear and geranium jelly as agave juice is impossible to get on the island and I have used up what I brought from Cardiff. I must make a note to put it on my list of 'things to bring to Kythera'! I was just about to put these in the oven when the electricity went off.

There is nothing we can do when this happens. Such is our dependence upon electricity that we have no computers to work on, no telephone to call friends with, no water to do anything with, no sewing machine to make something with, and of course no cooker, blender, mixer or bread machine! But we have plenty of alternatives. The first is to sit on the patio and enjoy a leisurely break with a cold drink and freshly baked cupcake. Then Waldo sets to fixing the rail for the curtain to go over the AcropoLiz door; he has a battery run power drill. I read my Kindle for a while and then pot up a large clump of cyclamen that Waldo brought home from Potamos yesterday. They are a beautiful pale pink with deep fuchsia centres. I've given them a good talking to, handled them with love, added some fresh compost, watered them and placed them on a ledge just outside my window. I hope these survive!

The power comes back after about 2 hours, which is good. No doubt it was just to remind people that there is a strike today! I pop the waiting tray of cakes into the oven and then spend a frustrating three-quarters of an hour when I cannot get either the house Internet signal nor the AcropoLiz one! Rather than waste time I return to my Kindle to find that the battery is flat!

My nerves are soon calmed when the little citrine wagtail comes down the path. I have put out some crumbs for him which he eagerly pecks at. I am pleased that he was not the Peregrine Falcon's breakfast. Thunderthighs lumbers over the edge of the path and sticks out his big tongue. The little bird thinks it is time to get out of here and flies to safer parts of the garden. Then, two chubby little Great Tits come to visit; they pick grubs from the gnarled branches of the tree behind the pergola vines. I watch them for a while as they go about their business, completely trusting of my presence. They finally drop down to the ground where they find some crumbs to peck at before taking off into the valley. With no more birds or wildlife to distract me, in a happier mood I return to the kitchen to realise that I had forgotten about my cakes! The burnt offerings are no good for anything. There is no way I can cut off the black bits, make a trifle or do anything to disguise the lumps of charcoal in the browned paper cases! I set about making some more, which fortunately turn out well. Just for good measure I make a lovely cake, one of Delia's recipes, which is a puddingy base because I substitute half the flour with oats then put down a layer of warmed dates mashed with a little water and spices and then I top it with the same mixture as the base, but in the heat it has become a much more crumbly consistency. I sprinkle the top with brown sugar and cinnamon and put it in the oven. I ring the changes with this cake, sometimes I use dried apricots, fresh plums, prunes or a mixture of dried fruit.

While the cake is baking I turn back to my Kindle; sitting on the kitchen patio this time to make sure that I hear the timer 'ping' and take the cake out before it gets burnt. I have just settled into the good book I am reading when the telephone rings. It is our friend's wife, whom I thought was in England. Her father is now out of hospital and plenty of help and support provided for him at home. She came on the same flights as their guests and arrived last night. Her guests are not used to travel and so having a quiet day today. She was fine and spent the morning baking and cooking for the next few days. Yes, the power cut was an inconvenience but she managed to get round it. She's tired now but quite satisfied that the has a full pantry! Would we go round to their house on Saturday for dinner? Yes, of course we would; she is a great cook, and expert on both Greek and British cooking.

I phone our Dutch neighbours who are quite fascinated with the British habit of 'tea' and invite them down for 'tea and cakes' tomorrow afternoon. I've plenty of cake, I tell them!