‘Oh and I really am pleased with the house. Almost finished is good even for me, at least I literally have a roof over my head. And today I’m going shopping for a sofa, would you like to come with me?’
Phoebe agrees, and a couple of hours later, we have returned from a furniture shop, where I selected a stone-coloured sofa, and a gorgeous blue velvet chair that will look great in the corner. It will arrive at the end of June, during my next visit.
We are sitting on kitchen chairs, borrowed from Phoebe as she has several spare. Dimitri has promised to send me some photos of the newly installed bathroom when I return to the UK, and although there is still a little of the rendering to be completed at the back of the house, the major stuff is out of the way.
‘And now, I have something for you. A housewarming gift.’
Phoebe appears with a bag and I open it to reveal a set of fluffy bathroom towels, two in a stone shade and one sea blue that will perfectly match the bathroom accessories.
‘Thank you, Phoebe, that was thoughtful. They will go perfect with the décor.’ I hug my friend.
‘I cannot believe you leave again tomorrow,’ she says.
‘I will be back at the end of June for a few days.’
The time here has gone so quickly, yet I have become accustomed to the toing and froing, at least for now.
‘I will miss you,’ she tells me. ‘And I know someone else who will miss you too.’
‘Really. Who?’
‘As if you do not know. I see the way Dimitri looks at you.’
‘He has never told me directly that he likes me.’ I shrug, although feeling secretly delighted by her remark. There is also the matter of him being five years younger than me, which I know isn’t huge, but even so. He might not have any desire to start a family for years, whilst my own clock is ticking. Gosh, what on earth am I thinking? We haven’t even kissed, and here I am thinking about babies. Time to literally give my head a wobble.
Dimitri and the team have worked hard today and Yiannis seems to be getting stronger every day. Today, he has been barking orders at everyone, and even Dimitri rolls his eyes once or twice and mutters something under his breath.
‘My father was sorry he could not come today,’ Dimitri tells me. ‘He says he is a little sore in places he has not been sore in for a long time.’ He smiles. ‘He thinks maybe he has gone a little soft since his retirement, and maybe he ought to do a day’s work here and there.’
‘Maybe so. Use it or lose it, hey.’
‘Also, I think having my father and Yiannis in the same room was perhaps not the best idea.’
‘Perhaps not. Anyway, I am grateful for all his hard work yesterday. I hope you paid him,’ I joke.
‘I offered, but he would not take a penny.’
‘In that case, what does he drink? I would like to buy him a bottle of something to show my gratitude.’
‘Metaxa brandy. But I don’t think it is necessary.’
‘It would be my pleasure,’ I insist.
I sweep up the last of the debris whilst the workers finish a little early to go and freshen up before they return for a bit of a party. The garden is neat and tidy, and I admire the brightly painted gate.
The front of the house looks like a picture too. I can’t wait to bring some bits and pieces on my next visit, and to order some nice cushions to place on the sofa.
Yesterday, with the help of Phoebe, I wrote notes and pushed them through the doors of the neighbours to invite them for a drink and a little celebration, so I have been to Thea’s for some treats and Phoebe has made a cheese pie, along with some Greek dips and flatbreads. We set it all up on a table in the garden, along with a platter of pineapple, grapes and watermelon.
Later, we are all gathered in the rear garden, and I raise a toast to my neighbours. Thinking about how far everything has come along since the sorry, grey building that first greeted me, I feel a little emotional as I address the assembled group.
‘I would like to thank you all for being such understanding neighbours. Well, once you stopped waking to the sound of a drill so early in the morning,’ I say, and they laugh. ‘And I know the tourist season will be in full swing anytime soon, so I really appreciate the extra push from you guys.’ I turn to Dimitri. ‘Efcharistoto you all, and please join me in a drink.Yamas!’
Everyone raises their shot of ouzo, before many of them step forward and present me with gifts. Ria hands me a stylish vase, and an elderly couple present me with a lavender bush in a pot.
‘Place it on your windowsill, spiders, they do not like the smell,’ says the smiling woman, glancing at Dimitri.
‘So you have told the whole neighbourhood about my spider phobia?’ I ask him.
