Nature provided the pyrotechnics which ushered 2015 into north western Crete. When the thunder crashed outside and lightning illuminated the surrounding area I recalled a New Year's night several years ago.With friends we were invited to a renovated old village house on New Year's Eve.The couple who had undertaken this project were truly dedicated to preserving the architectural remnants of the past. Within the dwelling there were old arches and alcoves, wood beamed ceilings, and a simple but very large fireplace.
While we each enjoyed a warm drink (warm being open to interpretation) the weather changed. A sudden storm began to rage bringing with it wind, rain, thunder and lightning. The sturdy walls of the house withstood a terrible battering but as the rain increased in volume it became obvious that the old chimney was more open to the elements than expected. Great raindrops landed on the burning logs to create assorted bubbles which sizzled before exploding. Black smuts floated here and there while smoke which made our eyes water billowed around the room
.
Our hostess went into the kitchen and returned with an assortment of plastic basins She handed each guest a basin. 'Orange is for the area beside our bedroom,' she said. 'George, take charge there and Irene take this pink basin and leave it on top of the kitchen table. Tom, the yellow basin will do in the bathroom and Julie go to the back bedroom with this purple one.' My basin was pillar box red and my husband's was white. We were to take command in the hallway. 'The roof will leak,' our host explained 'but the exact site is unknown. You see, there's a gap somewhere and when rain gets in under the tiles it flows along under the roof looking for a suitable exit into the house. So far we've failed to solve this problem.'
It became the duty of each guest to check from time to time to see if there was water in the basin assigned to them. While we enjoyed more drinks, lovely food, music and chat there was a sudden splashing noise. 'Red Alert, it was in the hall.' My husband and I ran to our stations to find the red basin already overflowing. The hall had become a stream. Soon the water flowed down some internal steps and formed a pool in the lower level. 'We need help here my husband shouted.'
Our fellow revelers didn't hear us. They remained seated by the hissing fire until a great rush of water splashed fountain like from somewhere overhead. Meandering rain water had found another outlet. 'Oh my hair, it's soaked,' Julie screeched and then the lights went out.
'Darlings, don't move,' our hostess cried. 'I'll fetch towels and candles too.'
At midnight, in a scented sauna of jasmine, cranberry, ginger, magnolia, cinnamon, and peach we held hands to sing, Auld Lang Syne. By candlelight I read the logo on my husband's beach towel --
CRETE the island for
SUN
Sea and
SURPRISES
While we each enjoyed a warm drink (warm being open to interpretation) the weather changed. A sudden storm began to rage bringing with it wind, rain, thunder and lightning. The sturdy walls of the house withstood a terrible battering but as the rain increased in volume it became obvious that the old chimney was more open to the elements than expected. Great raindrops landed on the burning logs to create assorted bubbles which sizzled before exploding. Black smuts floated here and there while smoke which made our eyes water billowed around the room
.
Our hostess went into the kitchen and returned with an assortment of plastic basins She handed each guest a basin. 'Orange is for the area beside our bedroom,' she said. 'George, take charge there and Irene take this pink basin and leave it on top of the kitchen table. Tom, the yellow basin will do in the bathroom and Julie go to the back bedroom with this purple one.' My basin was pillar box red and my husband's was white. We were to take command in the hallway. 'The roof will leak,' our host explained 'but the exact site is unknown. You see, there's a gap somewhere and when rain gets in under the tiles it flows along under the roof looking for a suitable exit into the house. So far we've failed to solve this problem.'
It became the duty of each guest to check from time to time to see if there was water in the basin assigned to them. While we enjoyed more drinks, lovely food, music and chat there was a sudden splashing noise. 'Red Alert, it was in the hall.' My husband and I ran to our stations to find the red basin already overflowing. The hall had become a stream. Soon the water flowed down some internal steps and formed a pool in the lower level. 'We need help here my husband shouted.'
Our fellow revelers didn't hear us. They remained seated by the hissing fire until a great rush of water splashed fountain like from somewhere overhead. Meandering rain water had found another outlet. 'Oh my hair, it's soaked,' Julie screeched and then the lights went out.
'Darlings, don't move,' our hostess cried. 'I'll fetch towels and candles too.'
At midnight, in a scented sauna of jasmine, cranberry, ginger, magnolia, cinnamon, and peach we held hands to sing, Auld Lang Syne. By candlelight I read the logo on my husband's beach towel --
CRETE the island for
SUN
Sea and
SURPRISES
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