Apokoronas Our Home

Georgioupolis plateia has a traditional Greek Boat decoration. It also has a Nativity scene built by the Women's syllogos. Sunday started with a table top sale at the Cotton Club And the school's Xmas Bazaar in the plateia Lot's of lovely things made by the children All sold in aid of the school funds The naive Nativity scene, complete with dog! Face painting table The weather was with us and a good time was had by all.

Yesterday - 10th December - The Christmas tree was lit at the Town Hall in Vrysses Building the Crib The wise men were waiting impatiently in a council office (No comments please!) The Mayor, Mr. Koukianakis, explains that the tree will be know and the "Tree of Love" reaching out to everyone in the area and helping those who are in need through donations of food, clothes, gifts etc The tree is lit - and the fireworks go off! Santa throws sweets to the children - and indeed the grown ups too. Two small children admire the Nativity Scene The tree The Nativity Santa looks a bit hot and flustered! ( Can you guess the Santa?)

On Saturday 6th of December it was the day of St Nicholas. Everybody named Nikos or Niki was celebrating. Many Churches held their name day services. In Greece St Nicholas does not bring presents - St Basil does that on January 1st. St Nicholas is also the saint who protects sailors and fishermen. Two of the churches in our area who were celebrating were at Vamos and the little church on the causeway at Georgioupolis.  Sailors carrying the Icon of St Nicholas at Vamos The procession leaves the church and goes up to the memorial in the Plateia of Vamos … accompanied by a friendly dog St Nicholas at Georgioupolis on a sunny day

I thought for a change I would  you one of my favorite places in the UK where I spent a few days  a couple of weeks ago when I went to visit my family. This is the lovely Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth which dates back to at least 1640. Looking out to the harbour from my room Littlest room with a view! Looking across the river Kenneth Graham wrote "Wind in the Willows" while staying here. Another notable visitor was Florence Nightingale - her signature can be seen in the hotel register. When the Packet ships arrived in falmouth many of the captains had rooms at the hotel. When they arrived they put up a flag on the ship to notify the hotel to "Get my room ready"! Some of these flags and names are now on the doors of the hotel rooms. A model of one of the packet ships "Mercury"

Yesterday we held the annual service of Remembrance at the Souda Bay War Cemetary This year was the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of WW1 The Piper led in the procession The flags were flying and the sea was still and calm, very different to the war when this area saw some savage fighting Wreaths were laid on behalf of different regiments and arms of the armed forces We had two Veterans of the Cretan conflict of WW2 with us.  There were representatives of the Regional Governor of Crete, the Municipality of Hania and an MP   ( Mr Virvidakis) from Hania The mayor of Apokoronas Mr Koukianakis and his wife Thank you to everyone who made the occasion possible and especially to those we were remembering DULCE ET DECORUM EST Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,  Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,  Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs  And...

Today a group of willing volunteers met in the basement of Vrysses town hall to tackle the big pile of clothes that have been donated to the social welfare department over the lat few months. Until now this has not been organized so a start was needed. Bags of donations Men's, women's, children's. Small, medium, large More bags arrived as the sorting was going on. Many hands make light work. Sorted and labelled ready for those in need Hmmm "Large Men" ????? The next step is distribution. this will be done with the help of Social services, "Help in the home", local priests, women's groups and local representatives. This will be an ongoing work, sorting, laundering etc. Anybody who would like to get involved please contact us: info@apokoronasourhome.com  A big Thank you to today's workers.