‘Maybe I will pitch a tent and live in the garden then, because I have no idea when the house will be finished.’ I tell her about the builders having summer jobs.
‘Everybody work near the beaches in the tourist season, always busy.’ Again, I wonder why no one really discussed this, but I can’t pin this lack of communication on anyone else, despite my frustration.
I call Dimitri and the other builders down for some of Phoebe’s delicious lemonade.
‘I am surprised we are allowed a break,’ Dimitri teases, taking the drink and glugging it down, as do the others. ‘But come, take a look up, most of the roof beams are on now.’
I’d been so busy in the yard I’d barely glanced above even though the banging had continued above my head.
‘We are about to put the last few beams across but first we need you to hang thegourifrom the beams,’ Dimitri tells me.
‘Thegouri?’
‘Yes. It will bring you good luck in your new home. It is symbol for new beginnings. May I?’
He pulls a red ribbon with a tiny metal house at its centre from his pocket. ‘I bought this for you, for good luck in your new home.’
‘Thank you, Dimitri, that’s so kind.’ Despite the worry over the ensuing build I am touched by his thoughtfulness.
‘You must be the one to tie it around the beams as you are the householder,’ he instructs.
He stands behind me then and guides me up the ladder towards a flat platform. I almost stumble at one point, and feel his hand on my backside for a split second as he steadies me, which almost makes me lose my footing even more. Glancing down, I notice Phoebe below with a huge grin on her face. I carefully tie the good luck charm around a beam at the centre, before descending the steps feeling flushed in the face, which may not be entirely down to my hard work in the sunshine.
Several hours later, the final beams of the roof have been nailed in and the crew break for lunch.
The builders take some slices ofspanakopitafrom tubs and glug down water, whilst Dimitri seems preoccupied with scrolling through his phone. He takes a call and with a slow smile spreading across his face, he begins a conversation in Greek with someone as he strolls a short distance away.
Phoebe appears out of her front gate carrying a basket before heading to the local shops.
‘Tonight, you would like to have dinner at my house?’ she offers.
Phoebe always says, ‘You would like,’ rather than ‘Would you like,’ which kind of feels like she is telling me I will enjoy something. I will possibly correct her when the time is right; in return, I hope she may teach me a few Greek phrases.
‘Actually, yes, thank you, Phoebe, that would be really lovely.’
‘Good. I will make the cheese pie. My mother’s recipe.’
‘Wonderful. I will see you later and thanks.’
‘Tomorrow, we will continue working on the roof,’ Dimitri tells me as he returns from his phone call. ‘After that, the work inside will maybe not take so long,’ he assures me.
‘And the outside rendering?’
‘As soon as the roof is finished, we will begin. I will have that done in no time at all. Even faster if you like it rough.’
‘Pardon?’
‘A rough texture on the walls.’ He gives me a sidelong grin. ‘It takes longer if you want a smooth finish.’
‘Oh right, I see. I guess I would like it smooth, but I will have a think about that, especially now that time is of the essence.’
I’m about to apologise for my earlier frostiness, but remember how laid-back everything is here in Greece, including deadlines. I must keep reminding the crew how important it is to keep the building schedule on track before the influx of tourists.
‘So you are okay?’ He looks at me a little doubtfully.
‘Yes. I will have to be, I guess. Truthfully, though, I didn’t realise my workforce would disappear in the summer, but never mind. I trust you enough to know you will work hard while you are here.’
‘That is good to hear. And you have my word that I will. We all will.’
