Fourth Sunday in Advent but we're up a little late for our regular Church. Will have to check later for Christmas times. so begin the day lazily with the Sunday Mail, and bacon and eggs.
Down to the waterfront in the afternoon. We're expecting the customary crowded promenade with touriss and local families out for a Sunday walk, cotton candy and ice creams and balloons everywhere and the cafes spilling out onto the pavement. there are some tourists and a few locals, a scattering of balloons and the odd ice cream, but the numbers are small and the cafes not full. What's happened? the chairs are still set up in front of the beach stage, so there will have been a concert this morning, but there aren't many booths and they're not busy.
We stop to look at the Athene - our old home of 3,4, and 5 years ago. It's been under construction for 3 years now, ever since we moved out. It's been resold and is now boasting six full floor flats for sale. They'd be huge, each comprising a previous four flats plus some hall space, and the view is stunning from the higher ones, but there hasn't been much progress. The building is still totally gutted, the floors open to the elements. Since we're close, we take a quick look at the Augusta. The views are good there, but it's not, as we knew, cheap. One bedrooms 900EU - studios 800EU and 850EU.
At 6:30 there is the nine lessons and carols at St. Helena's. We neet M&M there, Maggi bearing a sample of fruit from Chris's orchard. the parish is between priests and has a "resident locum", Rev. rajinder Daniel, retired, late of India and now of Birmingham. He chats with us afterward upstairs where the parish is hosting its usual generous refreshments - mulled wine and sausage rolls and minced pies - a cheerful, open, cosmopolitan man.
JAWORSKI TRAVELS