Thursday 17 September 2009

What, rain? Here? on the island of Zakynthos? surely not!

Yes there god damn is. 3 out of the past 4 nights has been monsoon season and the days grey and cloudy. Now for me i don't mind as i haven't seen rain for 5 months and it feels good falling on my balding head, for business it has also been good as people don't leave, i guess you could call it "natures imprisonment" haha but for the poor tourists its bad, who packs a brolly or a pac-a-mac when going to a sunny greek island? well it seems a few do, so i guess these people were either girl or boy scouts in their youth "ALWAYS BE PREPARED".

Well the bar is now back inside set up for the colder nights and it will soon be time to test the outdoor heaters, the outdoor walls are being delivered as we speak, well as i type and the sofas are in under the roof so its all nice and cosy.

I had a visit from the most famous english greek dancer while he was on Zakynthos for his holidays he drank in my bar every night with his partner and his friends Stan and family, i felt honoured to have such a high profile celebrity drink in my bar for 14 nights, he kept a low profile as you could understand as not wanting to be bothered for autographs but he has given me permission to air fo free his latest show, so i present to you Stan and Ken " Lord of the Prance"

Stan dances first then the master at work ken will entertain you. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hK32_MKZu4

AMAZING, i think you'll agree, such grace and style, BRAVO!!!!!!!!!

Sunday 13 September 2009

Help, help call the police!

Well you wouldn't believe it, i went to wash and polish my bikes earlier and there were my bikes with all their tyres let down, OH NO! wheres columbo when you need him. The thing is they are parked away from the pavement so someone had to purposely walk about 20m to under my apartment and take time to let all 4 tyres down, so i used my native american instinct and followed the foot tracks which led me to my apt, BUGGER! they were my footprints, so i found a strand of hair which traced bag to Tiddelos the landlords cat, DAMN! but no matter i have a foot pump so both bikes are back in action and now clean also.
I could point the finger, lay the blame but its not worth it really, i keep myself to myself every season, keep my head down and work damn hard, don't bad mouth other businesses, in fact i promote other businesses in my bar, on websites and on my own blog, i guess thats why i've been full 90% of the season as you don't get moans and back stabbing from me and jealousy can be a horrible thing. Last season my bike got damaged 3 times while parked in the same place but hey let them carry on, it will all come out in my autobiography, a gripping read i can assure you with some shocking truths about life on this island LOL.

So on to more drama in my life, on Tuesday at about 8pm a little puppy who i named "Pup Pup" wandered inside my bar a promptly sat herself on my kitchen floor where i played with her for a few seconds before finding out where she had come from. After visiting a few businesses i found out that a tourist had been looking after her and they had called the ZAWF (zante animal welfare) 3 times to collect her or to at least see her only to be told they were full and no one would come out to see her. I asked the tourist to look after her till i closed my bar and i would sort something out. At 3.30am she was delivered back to me, off to my apt with PupPup zipped up in my jacket, head poking out as i try to ride my motorbike. Once inside my apt out come all my shoes, tennis ball, plastic bags as she wanted playtime and the barks began so off back to bar so i didn't wake my neighbours, i stayed awake all night in the bar playing with her till she fell asleep until 10 am when i took her to the vet, the vet couldn't take her to put in window as she was to old a puppy, the ZAWF were already out of the question and i wish i could have kept her but i'm just to busy and couldn't leave her at apt. I remembered a house i'd seen near Lithakia that had a big garden and 4 dogs all roaming free with kennels, proper eating and drinking water bowls and a high mesh fence, off i went to find it. When i got there the dogs all still looked happy and healthy so i dropped Pup Pup over the fence and waited to see if they would take to her, luckily they all made a fuss of her and played with her, so i turned away and left her with her new friends. I felt very sad when i got home and had heavy guilt but she has a better chance there than if i'd let her to roam free on the streets and there is no way i could have lived with myself knowing she was alone on the streets somewhere but i hope now she has a family who will care for her.

PupPup having a chew on a stick



PupPup decided my thumb was better than a stick



PupPup getting sleepy after being all chewed out

Sleepy time for PupPup (6.15am)


Well i'm in the home stretch of the season now but i could easily close now, everyone paid up full, have 6 weeks holiday the season has been that kind to me but once again its not me that makes the bar what it is its my customers who have all been lovely and enjoyed the fact that they have a bar that they can socialize in again instead of being fixed to TV's or loud music and entertainment being forced on to them when sat in a bar. I'm not saying this is a bad thing as everyone likes different types of bars but in these times with financial and personal difficulties its good to talk and have a laugh with people you've only just met, its like a breath of fresh air in your social life and worries get left behind for that brief moment while on your holidays, so once again a big thank you to all who have visited Oceanic and made it what it is,the most chilled out bar in Kalamaki.

Friday 11 September 2009

Let me introduce you to my babies.

Well i always said that once i had 3 babies i would stop as thats as many as i wanted (not myself having them of course that would be gross) but last week my final baby girl was delivered so nows the time to show you all my 3 babies.

First of all "Renegade" she's the oldest at 5 years, she can be a bit slow at times but has never let me down and has always been there for me no matter what i've asked of her, she has never been poorly sick and i can count on her 100%.

Next is "Ghost" she is 3 weeks and 4 days old, we are very distant at the moment but it will take time to get to know her but we have plenty of time through the winter so i will handle her with care.

Then the new edition to the family "Virago" who is greek and is 9 days old, She is very quick a bit like her dad and also strong, she likes to get out as much as possible but i do have to show "Renegade" some attention so they take it in turns to come with me to the bar, so my family is now complete, next i may adopt a boat and gonna call her "Dignity", sounds like a good line for song LOL.

Tuesday 1 September 2009

I've found "The Holy Grail", no sign of a bike though.

Well would you believe it, i thought i would have found a second hand cruiser bike out here by now but no,in fact its that rare that before i've found a bike i come across "The Holy Grail" and even that was a disappointment as its meant to be a gold vessal that jesus and his disciples drank from during the last supper when in fact it was just a clay mug with "WORLDS BEST BOSS" carved on it, so the search continues today in Alykes which is the last main resort at the north of the island. Been messed about with a few bikes so gave up on them as wasn't worth the hassle but todays another day.

As for the bar well, well, well, a busy august is the understatement of the year, my lemon chessecakes which have to be pre-ordered a day in advance are going out at 6 cocktails a day which is good going when you got to wait 24 hours for it and i'm going through so many barrels of Mythos lager you'd think George Best and Oliver Reed were on a jolly boys holiday (god rest their drunken souls), my body is starting to ache a bit (well i am 41 this year, no comments please) but i wouldn't have it any other way and will continue to work the bar alone. On saturday i beat my records night takings since i opened 3 years ago, in fact i blew it away but boy was i tired, my little feet were red hot and if running to the supermarket for supplies was a olympic sport i'd have the gold medal, 25 seconds, thats 40 metre sprint including finding the item in the shop and paying, i think you can see that i may be the fastest man on the planet LOL.