"Homeward Bound",,,,,,,,,,,, Well almost!

Well the season is almost over and it seems to have shot by this year. Up until today this year has now become my best season but we still have Oct to get through and with the tour companies basically killing off Oct for the island with only 3 airports flying to here after this weekend that will only bring all together 560 tourist a week from the UK for the whole of the island for the last 3 weeks, so it could be slim pickings but we'll see, at the moment Oct is going well. Many places are closing after this weekend and few have already closed with the odd business have done a runner.

Why don't people just quit as soon as they can see they are struggling to keep up and just hold their hands up, be honest with landlord saying its not working, give them what they can afford and leave on good terms being able to return to the island for holidays instead of staying open and building up more debts then when they got a bit money in their pockets leave before anyone gets paid, landlord, staff, suppliers, electric, tax and accountant. Everyone else has to pick up those debts and its worse for the landlords as they have to clear those debts left on the building before anyone else can open the business and the landlord doesn't get his rent so its a double kick in the teeth. All I can say to those people is shame on you that you have done this and can never return to this beautiful island.

 

So What have I got to tell you, loads and loads as its been over 2 weeks since my last confession, sorry blog update, that was my Reverend side coming out.

 

Been out and about eating lovely food with Helen while she was here. We always like to try and find new places to eat in little villages or in Zakynthos town but we are starting to run out of villages to visit now as we have gone through most and especially me after being here for 13 years now. So lets start our tour of a few tavernas we visited.

 

This tavern we have visited before but enjoyed the seafood so much that we went back there. Its just part Tragaki and Kipseli and its on the sea front, now the name was in Greek so sorry I can't give you the English version of it but I took a pic of the entrance.

 

This is the indoor seating area which they use through the winter, looks like it would have a nice cosy feel to it sat next to that fireplace.

But we sat outside in gale force winds but the sun was shining so it was OK. We had a fisherman's platter for 2.

Now its not the best presented looking dish but who cares, after all you don't order food just to look at it, they say you eat with your eyes...no you don't and I've had pretty looking food before and its tasted awful so why go through all the bother to have a pretty looking plate of food, as soon as its in front of me it's fork in and stuff my gob LOL There were prawns, calamari, octopus, large mussels and cod pieces, lovely.

Here is another little gem that only opened this year or did I go last year, maybe last year or was it? Anyway great food here. If you go to Base café in town you will see it opposite down a little side street, now I did know the English name for here but have lost the business card, DOH!

I had the mixed grill that was really good value at 8€, unfortunately I had already started stuffing my face before I remembered to take a pic so some of the meat and chips has already been eaten.

Helen had a fish platter, now this was really good value, a big whole fish (species unknown) large tiger prawns, octopus, cod, sardine and smaller fish (again species unknown) all that for 10€, BARGAIN!

And instead of the usual bread we were given mini pitas with paprika and salt on, lovely when dipped in olive oil, mmmmmmmmmmmm.

To continue the food theme, one night I fancied a pizza but with the bike its difficult to carry one home, so I got Helen to collect a large pizza for me from my fave take away place Big Boys, unfortunately Helen doesn't like cheese so I had to eat it all myself, aww shame LOL. Now when I got home the box was huge, not lying now but it was the size of one my ikea tables in the bar and the only way I could show you the size was by putting a Warburton Crumpet (other well known brand crumpets are available) next to it. I was eating pizza for 3 days ha ha.

And finally on the food front my blog wouldn't be complete without a crumpet creation. This time its topped with black pudding and a hybrid mixture, not a Bolognese and not a chili its a sort of combination of both that Helen had made for me before she left. I can see my Crumpet Creation shops now rolling out around the world, watch out Mcdonalds (other burger stores are available).

I like to ride around the island with the spare time I have and now I really am running out of places to visit, so I decided to look for historical sites. Historical sites are brown signs that you see dotted around the island such as churches, monasteries, wells etc etc.
The only problem is they don't say why they are historical. Take for instance this first sign "Old Village", Why is this sign here? What importance has this village? How old is the village? even when you got to the village it didn't say anything. You can't just put a sign saying old village, tell us why and how old. Wales would have bloody hundreds of these signs around the place.

Next sign, "Old School" again this isn't in relation to the music reference, it just says "old School" again why, what and where? I followed the direction of the sign and never saw the school as there wasn't another brown sign anywhere to be seen.

This sign was high up in the middle of the island near forests, scattered around the forest and on the road were shotgun shells and bullet shells, I guess you could say that the area where I was would be known to American Rednecks as "Squeal Piggy" country.
"What shall we do today Bo?", "Lets go shoot some sign Jessy", "Yeehaa, bring the moonshine"

Now this sign I have never seen before but I was excited at the fact of finding the WW2 forts, so I made my way down the direction in which the sign was pointing.

And there just around the corner was this stunning view and a perfectly laid road, unusual for Zakynthos LOL.

This then led to a isolated cove which the perfect road stopped at, I was the only one there, it was bliss.

If you swam just around the rock you can see there was a beach there but I think I would be a bit scared of any falling rocks.

You can see the cliff faces did go up very high but the sea was so clear it was a perfect place for me.

And just to prove to you that all the pics I post on my blog are real places I've visited myself and not copied off websites like some other people do, here is me at the cove with Virago taken on a timer. The cove is called Porto Sellinas.

But there was a down side, like all the other places that had signs, the first sign was there for the forts but then no sign after that to say where the forts were and it couldn't be that difficult as there was only that one road, not even a dirt track led off it and I still couldn't find the forts.

On the way back up the road from the cove I stopped at this cemetery. All the cemeteries over here are kept immaculate, well the ones I've seen are. Look at the ones in the UK, food wrappers, empty cans of booze, head stones pushed over, condoms and some spray painted. That's what I've seen in the cemetery that I used to live by in Cardiff. The one in this picture didn't even have a stray leaf on the floor.

Now we took a ride along the east side of the mountain range on the west coast and went through a few little villages, in a village called Pigadakia I saw this huge building. Now at first glance you may think its a hotel, WRONG, it is in fact a family home. I think that all the generations of family must live in this one building, it was stunning, I may put in an offer as 2 bedrooms just aren't enough  LOL.

I have posted this before but next door to our house, and I do mean next door is where Solomos wrote the national anthem of Greece, this is the monument to him at the place where he sat.

And this was his view. While he was writing the anthem he was watching the civil war take place down below with gun fire and cannons going off. I would like to ask a question at this point, Why didn't he have a gun in his hand helping the troops down below instead of pen and note pad? ha ha

On my travels I came across a sign (yes another one) that I had never seen before and it was to "Myceane Tombs" at Kampi, OOOooooo now that sounds good, After seeing the "Tombs of the Kings" in Cyprus I was thinking it would be along those lines.
Nope, it was 5 square holes in a rock and to be honest they didn't look like tombs to me.

I mean if someone had been buried in this tomb they would have had to have been very short (please, no jokes about it was made for me) or they were hacked up in to pieces before going in it or the were folded up like human origami to fit in it. Very disappointed indeed.

So as I continued on my travels I visited a church at the highest point in Kipseli, there is also a tavern next to the church but I didn't go in it as there was only the couple that own it in there and they seemed to be having a domestic, shame really as I was so thirsty and needed a drink.

There were stunning views from all around the church.

On we go and next was a little village called Macheirado, this was such a lovely little place. Helen had been twice before at night with friends to the little tavern that fed the village.

The tavern is called "Dennis's", original I know but that's what the sign said so that's what it is. I was told that they do the best freshly cooked grilled food, shame it was daytime so I just had a frappe.
If you have a hire car at some point during your hols give it a go.

Helen left the day before my birthday which was on Sat 28th but I didn't celebrate it then so I waited till the next day when I celebrated it alone. I don't mind that, I was a lone rider for years previous to meeting Helen so I took myself off around all the places I have just shown you. But here is a pic of me on my birthday at one of my fave hotels on the island.

Look how happy I am and how much I'm enjoying myself, can you see my feet smiling? or should that be smelling?

Well its almost time to pack up our house for this season but Helen I think has gone mad, bowls of salt left everywhere in the cupboards, in fact so many I now haven't got a Bowl for cereal. Also she said she had brought those silicon saches that you find in shoe boxes to stop any damp, good idea I thought for the drawers, nope I was wrong. These were huge versions compared to those ones. When I saw them the first thing I thought of was "Bodyform" (other sanitary towels also available). If you walked in the house you would think there had been an explosion in a panty pad factory, they are bloody everywhere.

On the back of the sofa.

On the welsh dresser.

On the bread bin.

By the TV.

And that's not the half and no I haven't just moved one from place to place, they are on the beds, on shelves, in wardrobes and even in the corners of the room on the floor. good job I never invite anyone to the house LOL.

Its starting to get a bit changeable the weather and here is a pic from my garden last Mon just as a storm was brewing that hit that night and we are due another this week.

Well folks the bar is now in rain mode with inside turned in to a nice cosy lounge, outdoor heaters under the roof and all furniture also in under roof to keep everyone dry and warm. This season I am staying to the bitter end and will be travelling back via Athens around the 31st. It actually works out cheaper to go via ferry/coach to Athens, flight from Athens to London with free luggage, free inflight meal and free bar and then a train to south wales than just the direct flight to Gatwick without luggage or food and drink. How crazy is that. Nothing booked yet though as it will be all last minute. Will be home soon beautiful girl, not long now.

I've got some great news about the bar for all my lovely readers, loyal customers and friends but I will tell you all about that on my last update from the island.

So until next week.

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

"Its the most wonderful time of the year" September, woohoo!

WHAT TIME IS IT? IT'S UPDATE TIME!

 

What have you all been up to? Anything interesting? How's your week been? You all looking forward to Christmas? "Ding Dong merrily on high, Rudolph the red nosed santa is coming TO TOWN!" Well the song goes something like that anyway.

 

Not been that exciting a week for me outside the bar, still very hot in daytime just been relaxing around the house but I would like to get some sun and pool time in before I head back home but with it still being very busy at night in the bar i'm trying to save any energy I have left for rushing around making drinks. With the season being as manic it has been it is starting to kick in now with the tiredness and aching but still got at least 5 weeks to go, maybe 6 weeks depending on if I stay till the very end or not, after all whatever October brings is a bonus. Bar is still going great guns and Sept is looking real good so far also have now sold 307 t-shirts, Spiro my t-shirt partner is a very happy man. I think I may have upset a few of my regulars by not spending as much time being able to chat with them as I normally do but when the bar is that busy I have to make making customers drinks priority i'm afraid, of course I would love to chat and have a laugh but peoples drinks orders must come first, so all I can do is say a huge big "SORRY".

 

So this weeks al a carte food is brought via the Kevlar cooking school of excellence, so I've put the crumpet creations on the back burner for this week and moved on to pitas, a base for so many Greek dishes so here is my dish to add to the many favourites, its a olive oil covered pita grilled lightly then add slices of cold corned beef and top with Heinz salad cream and eat while pita bread is hot, mmmmmm yummy!

  

Ok it doesn't look that good but who cares, its just shoved in your mouth and gone within minutes so why make it look good ha ha.

 

As I was walking around town just having a wonder, as you do, I came across a Greek car which found the best use for a Scarlets rugby team beach towel, its a sun visor. How in hullaballous name did that towel become a sun visor on a small island in Greece? You see the strangest things on this island LOL

There's a few new café bars opened in town, last week I told you about one of my faves Bliss Art Café re-opening after 2 years closed well here are 2 new ones. The first used to be the old bus station in the centre of Zakynthos town, it looks lovely the also do food not just coffee and drinks. Haven't tried it yet but i'm sure I will before I head back to UK.

The second used to be the site of an old garage/petrol station, I mean very old, they still have the original old hand pump petrol pump outside the building. Again I haven't tried a coffee in here yet but will, I took these pictures on way to accountant so didn't have time to stop off a try them.

As we're on the subject of cafe's I went back to Bliss today for a frappe and decided to try their cheese and deli meat platter, very nice indeed it was to. Only thing I didn't like was the cheese that had blue bits running through it, is that true they run metal wire through it? I must say it did taste of metal and in fact was most probably the most fowl tasting thing I've ever ate and I've ate goats head and lamb testicles LOL. I did take a picture of what I had, or what I did have, I only remembered to take a pic after I had finished it all off, apart from the metal cheese.

Now I have found a favourite biscuit. Its from Lidl, its a butter biscuit covered in chocolate but because Lidl is a bit of a distance from my house I have had to make do with sub standard biscuits, until today. In Spar today I found the exact same biscuit under a Greek brand. Now this is how to eat them, first get a cup of tea, them dip it in as far as you can, when the biscuit is soaked take it out and suck on it, then once you've done that bite it before it goes soft then swallow it whole, mmmmm de-e-e-licious.

Well a short update I know but i'm sure the next one will be a lot bigger as i'm taking a break from my blog for 2 weeks as Helen is here for her final holiday of the season before I head home at the end of the season to my beautiful girl, so looking forward to spending some quality time with her outside of the bar. Sorry went a bit mushy there. I do have a heart you know, well somewhere anyway. Now where did I put it LOL

 

So remember to keep checking for your picture on the website and until 2 weeks time folks I shall say "tatty bye everybody, tatty bye", its is still ok to mention Ken Dodd isn't it? Well you never know these days LOL.

 

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

WOOHOO! I've got something i've wanted for ages!

Well August is over and it was a very good and surprising one, to be honest with you I thought it was going to be a ghost bar what with the prices of holidays but only had 4 quiet nights all month but even those were good so can't complain at all. Also been getting quite a few in from the Klelia Hotel which is good to see as its AI, OK, they don't have many English staying there but the ones who do pop in to the bar so its all good.

 

Helen looking to get over this month mid Sept so that's good, can't wait to see my beautiful girl again, been to long this time, but soon.

 

Little St. Dionysios has been out and carted around town with his normal 5 day festival and main day being the 24th August. That has been the only down point about living in Bochali, bloody St. Dionysios festival, the town streets are packed every night even at 3am, traffic is a nightmare and people just walking out in front of you. On Mon the 26th the streets and pavements were still jam packed then Tuesday, no one, I mean absolutely no one, well, about 20 people i saw out at 3am. One minute on every corner were outdoor souvlaki BBQ grills, doughnut stands, cake stands and grilled corn stands, then Tuesday not even a hot dog wrapper to been seen on the streets. So weird.

 

The 5 day market just gets worse, every year I go and every year I buy less, in fact this year I bought nothing. The clothes on the stalls are cheap for the island but nowhere near as cheap when you've shopped in Primark, yes I shop in Primark and proud of it, they've lasted me much longer than designer clothes I've had and they are 10 times cheaper LOL.

All the stores were tat and tat and tat.

Oooh, that reminds me of a song by Manhattan Transfer " Chanson D'amour, rat-ti-tat-ti-tat", which leads me to a true story. My friends father had 2 heart attacks at the time that song was in the no.1 in the charts, and each time the heart attack happened that song was playing, so when I was in their house this one night, top of the pops was on TV and that song came on the tele, as quick as a flash he got up and left the room to go upstairs, then when he came down that's when he told me the story, so every time it came on the radio or TV he would go out of that room just in case, I have the same thing, when a 1D song comes on somewhere, my bloody pressure rises lol.

 

 

The Manhattan Transfer market stalls, tat-ti-tat-ti-tat.

 

 

 

The very good thing about the market is the food. Cause there are so many stands I never know what to have, so I thought I'd have the lot, 10 mini doughnuts with white chocolate sauce, meat pie, cheese & ham pie and to finish off a vanilla cream pie mmmmmmm,  Doh! I forgot the souvlaki's.

 



Now people have been knocking me for my crumpet creations, come on guys, think outside the box, it doesn't have to be just boring butter on top. So to prove I can actually cook a bit here is a 3 minute boiled egg with crumpets soldiers, crumpet soldiers, what a great idea.

Look at that lovely soft yolk, boiled to perfection.

Here we have a 2 bean chili con carne with homemade gnocchi lightly covered in salted butter.
See I can cook LOL.

Its been so long since I've had this and have been looking for ages but now I've found it and thank god I have. Corned beef, Don't you just love it. In sandwiches, in corned beef hash, in pasties and even fried with onion, that's so good. Now this particular brand I've never heard of before "Universal" but its the only make I have found so I bought a tin....or 3. It was only after I took this pic that I noticed something very disturbing "Product of France" AAAAAgggghhhhhhhh! HORSE MEAT! Never mind it tasted good even if it was.

So what do you do one night if you've made a big bowl of chili the day before and then buy 3 tins of corned beef........have a corned beef and cold chili roll mmmmmmmmm! What? its beef and beef isn't it, corned beef, minced beef, what's the problem? LOL

Now to end this master class in cooking we have this weeks crumpet creation, white pudding grilled topped with tuna and salad cream, I don't know where I get the ideas from but it works. Fine dining, A la carte, Michelin star, fancy food nonsense can kiss my lilly white buttocks.

Mojito, mojito, mojito, that's all I seem to be making lately and I've taken it off my menu this year. People are being told to come and try them by other people who have been in the bar, best form of advertising, word of mouth and cheapest lol.  I'm making so many my mint plants haven't had time to regenerate, that's 12 huge plants so far so I've had to buy another 6 plants and those are quickly being stripped bare, the garden centre loves me.

2 years ago my favourite café in Zakynthos town closed down, the balcony café but 5 days ago it re-opened, woohoo! its now called Bliss art café, it did only used to be upstairs through a small doorway but now they have changed the shop below in to a bar area which I think will make a lot of difference, good luck to them, you'll be getting my money anyway.

As I was riding to work, oooh 4 days ago I think I could see that mount skopos was on fire. It looked like quite a bad one. As I watched there were 3 fire planes constantly circling dropping water on it but being as it was in a valley they had to drop it from quite a height and time was running out as this was 6pm and the planes have to stop when it gets dark at 8.30pm but you'll be pleased to know they got it under control in time, good job guys.

What is it with my bar this year and animals, now I have another lady dog who comes and stays every night. again she is such a pretty well tempered thing and very clean, she's definitely someones pet or has been but no collar. I cant get to attached to this one as "Dog" will get jealous, so I just give her the odd chew but don't give her to much attention. Poor thing. I've called her "Brown", what? To original? LOL

And talking of animals, you'll remember that in the bar I used to have Eddie, Eddie L-Izzard, well now in the house I've got Eddie junior, awww he's only the size of a 2 cent coin, still finding his way in this world.

Unfortunately an hour after that pic was taken Eddie Jnr stopped moving so I gave him a Danish Viking burial, in a Lurpak tub LOL.

Well my fine blog lovers its that time again to bid you farewell and open up the bar for another exciting night. Wish my bloody dongle worked at house, its a nightmare having to write updates in bar as it takes me even longer than normal and its to bloody hot and I can't lay on the sofa while typing it I have to stand up LOL.

Till next week,

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

Mmmmmmm, What wonderful memories!

I know, I know, don't shout, I'm late with my update, its not my fault, I've just been shattered and not been in the right frame of mind to write it and I have to write it in the bar before I open but today I'm as fresh as a daisy and ready to give you another thrilling instalment of the welsh idiot abroad blog LOL.

 

Again this week not done much at all as its still stupid hot and can't wait for the temps to drop a bit so I can get back out on my bike and get to the beach and pool, I miss my doggy paddle up and down the pool but at least by the time I get back out to the pool most of the school children will be back in school, who knows what they are doing in the pool EEEeeewwww! I said pool quite a lot in that section didn't I?

 

Been walking the streets of Zakynthos town looking for a car for Helen (Given up now). Everybody who is selling a car is asking for stupid money, way over priced for what the cars are. There isn't a second hand car showroom over here or if there is its a very well kept secret. So what they do is put little "for sale" yellow notices in their car windows with their telephone number on but no price. How stupid is that? How many calls do you think they get, then when they tell the price the person just hangs up.

 

RING-RING, RING-RING (phone ringing)

"Hello"

"You have a car for sale"

"Yes that's right"

"How much?"

"5000 Euro"

Brrrrrrrrrrr! (phone hung up)

 

Imagine getting 10 calls a day like that, it would drive you crazy. Why don't they just add the price to the for sale sign then people who will actually pay that price will be the only ones to call, its simple really when you think about it.

 

Here is a perfect example of a car for sale, but no price shown. Why?

 

 

 

Sometimes you get something that jogs a certain memory in your life, a wonderful memory that makes you feel good. What am I talking about? Well i was talking with a customer about drinks I wish I could get out here like American cream soda and Dandelion and Burdock and that brought memories flooding back of a little place that used to be in Cardiff in an arcade called David Morgans Arcade and in that arcade was a  Sarsaparilla Bar that did those flavours I mentioned along with many others and they were poured out of beer type taps, then you could add ice cream floats. It was an amazing place with sweets in jars behind the counter, it reminded me of the sweet shop in the original version of Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Wish I was there now, loved it. Happy days.

 

 

Now, I don't really like having my pic taken but I will when asked but I am now the third most photographed thing in my bar, my X-ray is second and Dog is first. Dog is also now more famous than me (not that I was ever famous of course), first thing most people say now who have read my blog is "Where's Dog?" Now I will explain again, Dog isn't mine, I've just adopted her for the season, she belongs to an elderly Greek lady 2 doors up from Oceanic but Dog comes in for her chews and to sleep at night. She is a little cutey though and would dognap her if they didn't x-ray your suitcase LOL.

 

The most famous part of Oceanic, Dog!

 



Now I used to think Strada Marina hotel roof top pool was the best place in town, not anymore. That place is now pretty rubbish compared to this new hotel I've found and its right next to our house, cool. It only opened last week and has an amazing infinity pool that looks out over town, Argassi and Skopos, whats the name of the hotel? Do you really think I'm gonna tell yah, NAH! Its my little haven, so you will have to search for it yourself LOL.

Its my pool, all mine , yahahahahahahahahaa! (evil laugh)

I posted a few weeks back about some tribute acts I had on my agency books, well it looks like the Greeks are getting in on the act. "A tribute to The Legends Tour". Is this a rat pack tribute? Il Divo tribute? Westlife tribute? or 4 Michael Bubbles tribute? Ahh, I think its a tribute to 4 Greek singers but I may be wrong.
Oh yeah, talking of Westlife, when did Stephen Gately from Boyzone kick the bucket? I was talking about my t-shirts with a customer and they said "What about Stephen Gately", firstly I told them he definitely isn't a rock legend and then I said "Is he dead?" What planet have I been living on? Just goes to show I live in my own little bubble. What's that you say, the conservatives are running the country with the lib dems, blimey, next you'll be telling me Prince Harry is a Nazi LOL.

A tribute to which legends I don't know.

 

 

As you know I like my pot noodles either by themselves or in bread rolls (its the future, trust me) but I came across some new pot noodles. On the pot it says "Authentic Asia", now I don't know about you but I don't think many Asian people put noodles in a cardboard pot, boil a kettle and add hot water. In fact I think they most probably add some veg and meat of some sort, not just a tiny sprinkle of herbs, sachet of flavouring and 2 tiny tiny shrimps. It only cost me 97 cents but if I'm being honest it didn't taste of shrimp and noodles were so so, in fact the flavouring added was just chili oil and it just killed any taste it may have had. Back to good old proper Pot Noodle for me.

 

It must be authentic it says on the cardboard pot it is LOL

 

Being as they tasted so bad I decided to add another crumpet creation to my menu, this time its toasted hot crumpets with salted lurpack, cold sliced frankfurters topped off with authentic Asian shrimp noodles, not the best of combinations but I think that was down to the crap pot noodle, don't they look like Jeremy Clarkson LOL.

 

 Wifi, wifi, bloody wifi, I don't even have a TV in the bar so why would I have wifi? Its crazy the amount of people that ask for it, JUST TALK TO PEOPLE NEXT TO YOU! LOL. I will never ever have wifi in my bar. Friends of mine who own bars in different resorts have all said its killed the atmosphere in their bar since they had wifi, people just sit on phones and ipads now all night instead of talking with other customers creating an atmosphere. Also their takings have gone down cause people just go in, buy 1 maybe 2 drinks and sit there all night just using the wifi. The problem with that then is if proper drinking customers come in and the bars full with wifi users they're losing out. So no thank you, the other bars can keep their wifi, I'd prefer to be full with drinkers and socializers than wifi users. Nothings that important you need to log on in every business you enter.

 

August is almost over (thank god) but its been a very good month considering I thought it was going to be rubbish, having a really busy full early 2 hours before 10.30pm then just steady after that and most gone by 12,30am, only had 1 bad night 2 nights ago but even then I hit my target so can't complain at all. T-shirt sales are going to blitz last seasons 268 as we have already hit 237 and 2 months to go. Now I have to start to think of new designs for next season.

 

I've been told I must take pics of my cocktails but to be honest with it being busy I haven't got time to take pics of them once made as I need them out to the customers but i'll try this week.

 

Well once again I've run out of steam for this week, don't forget to look for your picture on the website.

 

http://www.oceanicchilloutbar.com/#

 

I have been a bit slow adding them but keep checking, if I've taken your photo you will be on there.

 

Till next week my sooper dooper blog followers,

 

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

 

 

To much sun is as bad as to much rain, stupid heat!

Hello folks, now don't get me started as its to bloody hot LOL.

So what's been happening, well Helen came over for a week, last minute flight, in fact if it was any last minute she would have been getting on with the pilot. She deserved a break from the UK and work but unfortunately I'm a moody grumpy git at the moment due this stupid heat so its a good job her friend Cassy came with her. Always when the temps get above 34 deg I can't cope, same every season. People say "You must be used to the heat by now", NOPE! You never get used to the heat as your body can only handle certain temps. When your cold its easy to get warm but its more difficult to keep cool when its boiling, also the bar has been manic since beginning of August so rushing around and the heat takes it out of you. I just stay indoors during July and August as I conserve my energy for the bar, always have done, so I wasn't good company for Helen I'm afraid to say, so a big apology goes out to Helen for me being such an ass, Roll on Sept when its cooler and I'll be happier.

Our house is starting to look like a jungle outside again but there is no way I'm doing gardening in this heat, in fact there is no way I'm doing gardening full stop, hate gardening, always have done. I say patio slab everything and have just cactus, simple and easy, bloody flowers and grapes, whats the point? LOL

On the way home every night I've seen this little café bar called "Zantino" its on the hill leading up to our house in Bochali. It doesn't open during the day as its a late night place staying open till 7am serving pizza and pasta dishes. I was told by a zakynthian friend that at one time it was the most famous place on the island, how long ago that was I don't know. So one night as myself and Helen were riding home I decided to stop off for a quick drink, a nightcap shall we say LOL. What a lovely place. Now I'm not just saying its lovely cause it looks similar to Oceanic, its lovely as they have loads of little quirky items scattered all around the seating areas. Everywhere you looked there was something unusual which was so nice. Chilled out Greek music playing the background and just somewhere that made you feel relaxed, which to be honest in this heat and after a crazy night in bar it was just what I needed also it was nice to have just a quiet drink with Helen as its always just in Oceanic with other customers and friends.

Zantino Café Bar

So where does it say on the outside of my bar "FREE SHOTS" or "FREE BEER"? Well for the first time ever in 7 years at Oceanic a group of 9 people were asking for those things before even 4 of them had stepped inside. As they walked in I asked as I do "How many of you are there?" At this point in time I only had 3 chairs free so had to get emergency chairs out. The reply came from a woman of about 50 "Do we get free shots?" this wasn't said in a joking manner but very rude manner. I answered politely "Sorry folks, nothing for free in this bar". I asked again "Right, how many are you?", a gent replied "Us", i asked again "How many are you as I need to get you seats", same gent said "another 30 coming" of course this was a lie he was just being funny. I counted 9 and got 6 emergency chairs out and made space for them to sit down. Another gent said "Do we get free beer?" I replied again "Nothings for free is this bar I'm afraid". He came back with "What if we all have a drink?" again my answer "Nothing for free in this bar" At this point, the heat was starting to make my calm self start to boil and in my head I was screaming but outside I was as cool as Cool Hand Luke LOL.
I said to the group "Sit yourselves down and I'll be with you in a minute just got one order to finish off". The oldest gent stood at bar and said " 2 beers", I smiled and said " take a seat and I will come and get your order now". He continued to stand and said louder "2 BEERS", no please or thank you which bugs me big time but not only that the way he said it was very rude. I smiled again and said " just one moment and I'll take your order, sit down, its all table service". The group of 9 all used the toilets then got up and left. Not a problem for me, my loss (if it was a loss) is another bars gain.

Well we're past the half way point and this season is looking very good up till today but I still take each day as it comes as I always do. I am really looking forward to getting back to UK though, strange to say I know but got so much to look forward to after a hectic season, Toys R Us (love my job there), going to Bath for new year ( not as in bath with water but Bath the place), learning to drive (Christmas present off Helen) and Depeche Mode in Birmingham in Jan with my world watched actor nephew Leighton Kyle, maybe a medical trial thrown in for good measure. Now in saying all that I think October is going to be very very quiet, most of the eastern European tour companies finish the end of Sept and 4 UK airports with certain tour companies are not flying out to the island for the whole of Oct so tourism is going to be way down but for me Oct is a bonus, even if I get 30€ its mine in my pocket, after tax of course.

My blog readers have to be the kindest and best customers any bar can get. I have had an overload of crumpets, black and white pudding and even a haggis, really looking forward to trying that. I've had so much brought out that my freezer is packed just with the food parcels I've been given, so thank you so so much for all the food parcels I am so grateful and your all very generous. I never knew there was so many different kinds of Crumpet, flat ones, normal ones, square toasting ones and even soldier ones for dipping in your boiled egg, mmmmmmm soft runny yolk.

Those pics remind me of Nothing To Declare on TV, looks like a customs seizure photos LOL.

Another Kevlar crumpet creation, Hot crumpet with salted lurpak, topped with grilled black pudding and cold beans, yess, cold beans. Lovely.

Well my lovely lovely blog followers its time to open the bar, yes I'm in bar writing this as connection is so crap at house, stupid dongle connection. Will try to get out and about for some pics for nest update but I'm not promising anything as its way to hot.

Serve All, Love All, Peace All, Kevlar out!

Here comes the heat, GOOD GOD, thats all we need!

Well hello and welcome to another rip roaring, thrilling, roller coaster of an update.

 

July is over, HOORAY. Now we have August, BOOOooooo! Now in saying that July ended up not being to bad at the beginning and was very happy with the end, the middle was a bit hit and miss but overall very good. Now the dreaded August, temps sky high, bar usually quiet during early opening hours and its just all round a horrid month and has been every season past but we take each day as it comes.

 

While I was out and about I went to have a look how the first bar I ever drank in on the island was doing and its closed. I stayed in Tsilivi in 2000 for 6 weeks and used to drink in a bar that was then called "Tizzy's". It was only a little bar but cosy and friendly. I see from the sign someone else must have taken it over at some point and called it "Rondavue", now the spelling for "to meet" is "Rendezvous" so I'm guessing it was 2 guys named Ron and Dave that had it by the name or the owners just couldn't spell LOL. Shame to see it empty and in such a mess.

 

 When I passed through Tsilivi I was on my way to one of my fave pools at the hotel Tsamis in Kipseli. I arrived, got my ice tea and a sweet frappe with milk and proceeded to my sun lounger. Now this hotel must have about just 2% British that stay there and what do I see when I look over down to the lower pool, the best looking flag in the world, the Welsh flag. Well, its a towel but with the welsh flag on it. You have to agree it is an impressive flag and I haven't seen one better. Maybe there is one out there somewhere that's better but I haven't seen it, yet.

Also on the point of towels which are flags, what is it with the Brits that seem to be the only nation that has towels with the flags on? All the pools I've ever been to in 13 years I've never, and I mean never seen another nations flag as a towel, just us Brits. It almost seems like "I'm claiming this sunbed for Britain", its about all we have got at the moment LOL.

 

A proud sight indeed.

And here is a holiday pic of me at the Tsamis infinity pool.

Well the amphitheatre in town seems to have something on every night over the past month and I saw this poster. its "The Full Spiros". Its a play about 5 guys who work in the feta industry that have fallen on hard times due to the economic crisis in Greece so the start up a strip act. Ladies this one could be just what your looking for on holiday.

Now I love my food as you all know, so I was very intrigued when I saw a packet of snacks named after a fictional TV character from the 70's/80's who was a rocker/biker from the 50's. Fonzies. What the .....? Does Fonzies mean something different it Greece? Wasn't it strange that Fonzie was a biker/rocker but never had a beer or bourbon, just a soda pop. Also I never saw him eat a flavoured wheat snack just a burger at Al's. OOOooohh, and weren't we all in shock when Fonzie did that motorcycle jump out side Al's and crashed, OH MY GOD HE'S DEAD! No, he's OK, we'll carry on for another 10 years until Fonzie turns off the light at Al's for the very last time.
Anyway, sorry, I was rambling there. These snacks basically are Nik Naks, that's it, nothing new but they did taste rather good, so, put a Fonzie in your mouth, HEY! COOL-A-MONDO!

After my distress signal for Black/White pudding and crumpets I was brought a new supply from Ireland by a lovely lady called Donna. She didn't want money for them either but I couldn't accept them without giving Donna something for her kindness so they had a Lemon Cheesecake and a Banoffee Pie cocktail. Thank you so much your a star.
By the way I ate them all within 2 days of arrival.
Black and white pudding needed. STOP. Also crumpets. STOPS. LOL

In my house I get many little creatures due to my garden being a national park. On this one occasion I had to reach for the fly/ant/mozzie spray. After killing an insect that sort of looked like a small scorpion only with 10 legs each side I noticed the name of the spray "Mr. Fist". I think it may need a bit of a tweak and re-branding.

I think I may have said before that when pulling up to my house I've seen, mice, rats, snakes, cats, dogs, owls and even a huge rabbit but look at this fatty of a lizard. This lizard stays around my nightlight outside and must feed so well. I can only explain the size of him by his stomach being the width of one of those large commemorative coins you could get for the queens jubilee. Fat greedy bugger indeed.

So each update now I will be adding my favourite tavernas that I eat in. I did this last season but thought I would update it for the new followers and for the people who are due out here soon. This first one is called "Amoroza" its off the main Alexander Roma shopping street, near Filion Café close to St. Marcos Square. Best lamb kleftiko I've had since 1995 in Crete. The place isn't much to look at but the food is so good. The owner is Zakynthian but had been in America for 30 years and came back to the island 2 years ago. Try it and try the village sausage, lovely.

 

Well my little followers that's all for this week, I know its a little late but its just been way to hot and I'm absolutely shattered at the moment, roll on the cooler days and nights, and I'm ashamed to say it, maybe a bit of rain, but not much.

 

So until next week folks,

 

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