Day 173...IT'S HOLIDAY TIME! WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!

Good morning, afternoon and evening depending on what time your reading this.

IT'S HOLIDAY TIME! YEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAA!

Well it's been the most amazing season ever, even with Thomas Crook going belly up.
I couldn't believe that when i arrived back on 17th Oct only 4 hotels were left open, 6 restaurants and 6 bars in the whole of the resort, that's terrible for so early in October. OK, its never packed with people but usually half the resorts still open, very sad indeed.

Was still doing good money even on my last night (21st Oct) but stock was almost all gone and many of my customers were leaving the next day so a on the spot decision was made and i packed the bar away for another year. I Couldn't leave my normal goodbye sign as i have run out of laminating sheets and i don't think A4 paper would last long.
I stayed in the bar till 4am to pack it away all neat and tidy so i can find everything easy next year and had my goodbye Jack Daniels as i turned the electric off.
All monies owed have been paid and papers sorted so it's time to chill in peace and enjoy my winter break with Sian, i think i deserve it, don't you?.

Was there a bar here?

And off i ride in to the moonlight for another 6 months.

Will be so nice to have a little break now as Sian arrives today for a week then on to Geneva and then finish in London for a couple of nights.

Sian has planned loads for us to do in London and that will be in my next update after i get back settled in Cardiff and after i visit my mum.

Along with that update i will give you my summary of season 2019.

So for this week its, good food, lots of relaxing, a few nights out and then sort the house ready for winter before we leave the rock.

So until i land back in the UK and get settled........

Serve All, Love All, Peace All. Kevlar Out!

Day 170...Wales - What a pile of S**T

Just got back from watching Wales play the worst game of rugby I've seen in years.
I have to say France were immense and deserved to win, Wales looked like 15 dummies with no ideas, no flare and if there was a parks club side on the pitch they would have run Wales close.
If I'm being very honest which i always am Wales didn't deserve it at all.
I left before Wales got the last try as my anxiety was so high i was shaking.

England and New Zealand both were awesome and deserved their places in the semis, that game will be so close and i would go as far as to say England will edge it IF they don't concede penalties as New Zealand will always take every chance given.

Japan v S. Africa is the next game in quarters and would love to see Japan go through to semis but their style of play is more like rugby league, all about keeping possession and field position, if you got the ball the opposition can't do anything, that's a great tactic IF you have amazingly fit players with allot of stamina in the tank.I myself would prefer South Africa in semis.

And one final word about two ex-England players. This shows bad sportsmanship and arrogance, Haskell and Tindall both come out with these comments

Haskell - If they win (Wales) the World Cup, the world as we know it will end. The rugby world will end. It would be unbearable. Every conversation - it doesn’t matter what you’re talking about, you could be in the middle of a business meeting talking about finance and they’ll somehow go ‘well, we f***ing won the World Cup didn’t we?

Tindall - If Wales win world cup, if that happens I’m just going to pretend I never played rugby.

And lets look at English rugby supporters shall we. Almost every single English supporter i have spoken to over the years always when they're on the back foot in a conversation with me brings out the line "But how many world cups have Wales won?"
The ex-England players from that winning team in 2003 always harp back to that victory whatever game they are commentating on.

Haskell, Tindall, grow up boys, concentrate on this England side who could be on the brink of greatness, even better than your World cup victory, your victory will be banished to the cobwebs of history if this England side lift the cup.
Mr. Wilkinson's boot won you that cup, this England side would hammer your England side,
Perhaps your scared that both of you will be forgotten that's why you come out with these childish comments.

Anyway, Wales you were extremely lucky, England I'd put as favourites, roll on the semis.

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out.

Day 167...Is there anybody out there?

Ahoy me hearty's....I be back I be. Landed back 10.50am yesterday (17/10/19)

Bloody hell, where is everybody. The resort is almost completely closed up, I'd say about 1/5 left open many businesses and hotels now all closed up for winter. You know it's bad when your good friend Tassos has closed his bar on the 16th October when he is always the last bar open every season.
Only 6 restaurants and 6 bars open in the whole of the resort.
Usually at this time of season half is still open.

When i left on the 12th Oct over half the resort was open.

So as i stated it was a quick trip home with a beautiful sunset behind my plane to see me off.

As i sat waiting to take of the little circle in middle of the pic is the moon rising above Skopos.

As i was flying home to the left of the plane we could see the silhouette of Mount Etna erupting which was quite a sight but my phone was in my pocket at that point so no picture.

Landed back in UK Sunday then onward to Cardiff where i was greeted by a very excited Sian which was so good to see as i was exhausted.
Monday popped over to Swansea to surprise my mum and she seemed to think i was going to turn up as i didn't call her Sunday as i always do every Sunday but she was still surprised. Had a nice natter and cup of tea before heading back to Cardiff to catch up on my sleep and chill out.

Tuesday off i go for my medical to good old medical centre (My third home).
Nice and early out 6am to be at the medical centre for 8am.
I now hold the record for the furthest travel just for a pre-screen.
This study is a goody and the gain from the study out weighs the cost of my travel and bar closed for 4 nights so much and i get to see Sian, my mum and a Cardiff Devils game, no brainer really.
This study is for a drug that is already on the market for schizophrenia but they are testing it to see if it will help with MS, Addisons disease and Diabetes type 1 to decrease the autoimmune system that creates these illnesses.

We agreed it would be good for us to do it, I'm happy to take the risk but he's not.
So I'm going ahead with the study, it's OK, he will never find out.
You may have to think about the last bit............has the penny dropped..........Ah, now you got it.

Had my full medical, blood pressure 107 over 68. resting heart rate was 57 BPM, BUGGER! I'm one heart beat over that of a athlete for my age.
Now we sit and wait on my blood and urine samples to come back which are usually fine as not a drinker or smoker and don't eat unhealthy.
Tuesday night is ice hockey night, oh poop, we lost 9-2 but in our defence we were playing the number one team in Europe so it was like Cardiff City against Liverpool.
All washed down with a Chinese and a cuppa.

Wednesday back i go to the rock after a day out in the sun, yes sun in Cardiff, i know crazy isn't it and trip to Costas Coffee with Sian and Faggots and peas for tea made with fresh farm shop Faggots.
Soooooooooo good.

Cardiff to Gatwick, Gatwick to Zakynthos, Airport to House, House to Bar and now open again

Was sat next to 2 middle aged ladies on way back and 5 Min's before landing both turned on phones and were trying to call people, they couldn't wait 5 Min's, we were still in the air, utter stupid silly people. Wanted to grab phones and chuck them out the window but then remembered windows don't open.

So I'm now open and in fact busier tonight then when i left so here's to a good last few nights as very little places open for people to visit.

Until my last blog from the island with Sians arrival in 5 days........

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out.

Day 161...A quick return trip to UK

Friends, family, countrymen lend me your eyes!

Hmmm doesn't really work for a blog does it. For those not so well educated its my version of Marc Antony speech written by William Shakespear "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears".
I guess you can't say that anymore anyway as not "P.C." These days it would have to be:-
"Facebook Friends, All nationalities, Country all gender persons, lend me your screens"

Anywhoooo taking off today on a quick whistle stop tour back to UK which i return from to the island on Thursday. So no tears just yet that I'm closed for 2019 as i will re-open on 17th as don't leave the rock till end Oct and got all flights and hotels booked (Phoenix Hotel Zakynthos, Sofitel Geneva and Charlotte Hotel, Fitzrovia London) and to tight to miss out on those stays.

But you must stay SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH, to my mum, i'm going to surprise her, Sian already knows as i told her so she's one excited bunny and maybe take in a Cardiff Devils game on Tuesday before i head back. Long way to travel just to see a ice hockey game but their hot dogs are sooooooo good!

So just to keep everyone calm i will be back and open again once more this season

In the words of the great Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy...............

Serve All. Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out.

Day 155..."The finish line is in sight" - Thank God!

Hello my loyal followers , how are we this fine wet and stormy day?

Thomas Cook is gone but still there is no let up in the bar. Thought it would maybe die of quite a bit but even last night the bar was full which I'm amazed at as this time of the season its usually just steady but with the end of TC i thought that would be it for the season but no, Oceanic has proved me wrong once again and that's down to you , the wonderful customer for making this season a record breaking season all round. 

I think after this weekend though the resort will be pretty empty with many places closing down. 

May - Best May in 13 seasons

June - Best June in 13 seasons and best night ever on June 6th

July - Best July in 13 Seasons

Aug - Best Aug in 13 seasons

Sept - Best Sept in 13 seasons and on Sept 17th equalled my best ever season which was 2018

Oct - So far beating best ever Oct in 13 seasons but early days yet.

Since 7th May had only 16 nights where i haven't been full at some point.

So a huge massive thank you to all who visited Oceanic this season.

So what happens now with Thomas Cook gone? Who knows what next season will bring.

Lots of tourists posting their sad stories online about losing their honeymoon, missing their dream holiday, had to stay in UK as lost holiday, poor you.

Lets look at the bigger picture here. 

Holidaymakers will all get their money back IF ATOL protected so even though you missed this holiday you will get your money back and be able to book another holiday at a later date.

Thomas Cook staff have all lost their jobs and some families are already struggling.

As for the hotels this has a huge knock on effect which makes the tourists sad stories look like a happy ever after story.

The hotels have lost 3 months of revenue which they won't get back.

Staff will lose their jobs along with not getting paid and could be without their winter living money from the tax payments.

Suppliers to the hotels/apartments won't get paid as products are usually all on tick and paid up when the tour companies way in with their money.

The Suppliers won't have the money to pay off the manufacturers of the products they buy.

So before we all start posting sob stories losing a holiday but getting your money back is nothing compared to the situations in resorts all over the world. 

Hotels could stay closed, families without any income from loss of jobs, suppliers could go bust, these are the real problems.

I think many accommodations will go with other European tour companies next season and not British as those tour companies don't put as much pressure on the Hoteliers to change things and upgrade.

Sian was booked with Thomas Cook to come over for my birthday.

That didn't stop the plucky little lady. She was that determined to be here for my birthday, she hunted high and low for flights and we got Sian a great deal £279 return for 4 days in from Gatwick and back  to Luton via Prague with only a 2 hour layover between connecting flights.

A bargain considering one way flights off the island the past 2 weeks have been ridiculous money up to 600-700 pound and then there were no direct flights off the island either.

That's a dedicated partner for you, going out of her way to get here.

So i decided to close the bar on my birthday as Sian had made such a huge effort to be here and booked us into the penthouse suite at the Phoenix Hotel in Zakynthos town.

The Penthouse suites are on the rooftop of Phoenix Hotel.

View from Penthouse to the back.

View to the front.

Lovely memory foam bed, such a good sleep.

Our private sunbeds.

Balcony dining and lounge area.

Nice little living area.

View out from bedroom.

Quite a big bedroom.

And of course toilet with shower room.

Sian and i had a wonderful day and night.

First we watched Liverpool beat Sheff Utd in the afternoon, Yay!
Then in the evening Zakynthos town had laid on a firework display, boat gala and marching bands for my birthday which i thought was extremely nice of them but i don't like to make a fuss of my birthday as i don't like celebrating it.
Then i found out the celebrations weren't for me at all, Phew! All the goings on were to celebrate a naval battle, Battle of Nafpaktos in 1571.

All very pleasant it was too, then off to food at a Gyros restaurant next to Alpha Bank in St. Marcos square. We ordered a mixed meat platter for 2 and it was huge, i mean it looked like a farmyard of animals on a plate.
As we were finishing our meal out came a birthday cake and happy birthday was sang in Greek. I noticed they had got my age wrong, I'm 51 but on the cake it had the number 12 made up in candles, ah, it wasn't for me it was a kids birthday phew and bugger. Phew because i get embarrassed easily when being sang at and bugger cause i like cake but didn't get any.

From here we moved on to Bliss Art Cafe for a drink. I was so stuffed it was uncomfortable to sit down.
We ordered our drinks and struggled to finish them but when you pay 18€ for 2 drinks you force yourself to finish them.

Then back to our penthouse suite to crash out on the bed and grizzle as we ate to much but what a great birthday it was and glad to have a night off with Sian from the bar.

I don't understand people who tell people its their birthday, the less people that know about my birthday the better for me.

We have the Suite again for the end of season as a little treat before we leave for our stay in London.

Well there are now 15 interests for Oceanic and no I'm not going to make it a bidding war, Its £10,000 and expenses, that's it and it will go to the person who i think will make a good go of it, maybe someones dream like i had when i first opened it, it would be nice to sell it to someone who wants a fresh start away from the UK but again that's a whole year away yet but if it's given to someone who isn't on the island they will have to start their paperwork in May 2020 to be ready for end of season.
If I'm being honest i just want this season out the way as its been exhausting and manic before i start thinking about season 2020 and then the sale after that.
Many of my customer have asked me not to sell, some have even pleaded with me, some have talked about starting a petition to keep me here but who are they going to send it to? Me, then i will say no I'm selling lol.
I'm very humbled by all the people wanting me to continue but I'm leaving on my terms and when I'm ready, a couple of people will love to see the back of me but that's their problem not mine. Jealousy is a terrible thing folks, HA!

So the bad weather is coming in, the nights are getting colder and the resort is starting to thin out as usual. Will i close early? No, i got lots of booze that needs drinking and boredom for me would soon kick in doing nothing until i leave so i may as well stay open as October is always a bonus month for me.

Strange thing someone said to me the other day. They read my blog and noticed through reading it that i eat allot of black pudding so they said "If you don't watch out you'll end up looking like one".
How is this possible? Even if i ate it for every meal every day for the rest of my life i still wouldn't end up looking like one. Now if i cut off my limbs and head, squeezed my body into black tight plastic and sealed it either end with metal clips THEN i might look like one but apart from doing that no i won't.

So i will leave you with this great sign from Manchester, how the mighty have fallen,
"The race for 6th" lol. I think from today that might be "The race to avoid relegation"

Until my last update from the rock..........

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar Out!