#decemberonios

View from Francesco's. I walked down to the port & bumped into Nick on the way who kindly took my big bag off me & will bring it down to the port. It's got wheels but it's quite bulky, so that made the walk far more pleasant. I breathed in the fresh air & felt lucky I was able to stay on this beautiful island for so long this year. Maybe next year I'll stay over Christmas too. It feels like home here #Dec2016 #lambisstory #ios_island #cyclades #greece #myios2016 #cyclades_islands #iosisland2016 #iosgreece2016 #decemberonios #winteronios (at Ios, Greece)

It rained a bit this morning, just enough to clean the streets and make them slippery. I thought I'd walk down to the port with my bags instead of taking the bus .... the locals will think I'm totally crazy, but I'm London bred - we call this rain drizzle & it doesn't faze us. Besides I want to breathe in the fresh air of the island before I leave #Dec2016 #kafeneionios #lambisstory #ios_island #cyclades #greece #myios2016 #tumblr #iosisland2016 #lambsios #cyclades_islands #decemberonios #winteronios (at Ios, Greece)

Almost finished at home, time for a cuppa. Thinking back about my stay here this year, I'm happy about how it went. I had a lot of time to sort out my thoughts & make a few decisions about my future life. Just general guidelines, not firm plans ..... Once again my magic island has protected me and taken care of me. Uli has also kept a watchful eye out for me - I feel him around. I'm glad I stayed here so long #Dec2016 #lambisstory #myios2016 #iosisland2016 #iosgreece2016 #winteronios #decemberonios (at Ios, Greece)

Well I'm not going to see the island green before I leave. This field is usually overgrown with plush grass at this time of year. Meanwhile one of my friends has cleared the field of rubbish & planted some rosemary and other plants. Hopefully by the time I return it will have rained & the slopes & this field will be wearing their winter garb of green #Dec2016 #ioschora #lambsios #tumblr #myios2016 #iosisland2016 #iosgreece2016 #winteronios #decemberonios (at Ios, Greece)

When the sky darkens like this, it looks so dramatic as a backdrop to the little white houses. I'm always quite pleased it's not brilliant sunshine before I leave the island. It's cleared up now, but yet again they've forecast rain for tomorrow. Had a coffee at Wheel Well with Malcolm & Kane & now am going home to finish up preparations for leaving #Dec2016 #lambisstory #ios_island #cyclades #greece #myios2016 #iosgreece2016 #lambsios #tumblr #winteronios #iosisland2016 #decemberonios #ioschora (at Ios, Chora)

Had a wonderful afternoon down in the #portofios with my friends. Delish food, great company & the drinks kept flowing. Nope, I didn't get trollied, I only had 3 rakis, I won't speak for the rest. All I'll admit to, was that I was the one to start drinking raki, but I hadn't had anything alcoholic beforehand. Left the rest there & caught the 6 o'clock bus up to the village. Before I left, I had the delight of seeing #iosport at dusk & sunset - magic. Can't believe it's December 11th! During the day it was like summer. Still gets chilly once the sun's gone down tho' #Dec2016 #tumblr #lambisstory #cyclades #ios_island #greece #lambsios #iosisland2016 #cyclades_islands #myios2016 #iosgreece2016 #winteronios #decemberonios #magicalios (at Port of Ios)

When I think of a Greek island this is one of the images I have in my mind. I walked down to the port taking the back road past the football pitch and strolling into the valley. I used to walk a lot in this valley in my early years here as many of my friends rented houses there. Tried to find some of the hovels they lived in but they've all been renovated and have become family houses. I couldn't even find the guest house I first stayed in. Now I'm waiting at Aphrodite for my friends to arrive for lunch. I checked at the travel agent & my ferry should be leaving as planned on Tuesday ..... phew #Dec2016 #lambisstory #ios_island #cyclades #greece #iosgreece2016 #myios2016 #cyclades_islands #lambsios #iosisland2016 #tumblr #winteronios #decemberonios (at Ios, Greece)

Happy Sunday! Today I was awake before the church bells could wake me up. I lay in bed quite happily listening to them chime. Perhaps that's because if all goes right it'll be the last time I hear them this year. I'm not so upset about leaving now I've stayed past the date that Uli & I left for the last time. It's so strange these little things that really matter a lot to me. It's another beautiful sunny day & I've arranged to meet friends down in the port for Sunday lunch. Intend to take it easy, have brekkie in my garden & stroll down to the port later on. Packing? Well it's nearly done ..... shame not to take advantage of a lovely day on a beautiful island #Dec2016 #tumblr #lambisstory #ios_island #cyclades #greece #myios2016 #iosisland2016 #cyclades_islands #iosgreece2016 #lambsios #decemberonios #winteronios (at Ios, Greece)