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Thursday 8 January 2015

When snow follows rain

Following days of heavy rain and strong winds we were warned to expect snow. It arrived yesterday morning. We awoke to whiteness everywhere. Great mounds of snow stood out in the landscape, and trees, now looking like fantastic characters, spread wide their magnificent snowy branches. Rooftops and Church domes glistened. The peaks of the White Mountains around us were lost in a heavenly sea of drifts which gleamed in the winter sun. A week ago I'd been marveling at the sight of anemone already in bloom. I hope they will survive this cold snap and reappear to brighten the land.


The rain which preceded the snow storms caused much misery in the surrounding area and in the city of Chania. Houses were flooded, falling rocks and landslides disrupted the daily flow of traffic and the loss of electricity made life miserable for many people. While we marveled at the beauty of the pine trees in the forest and took our photographs others were desperately trying to salvage household goods. It was very cold too -- much lower temperatures than we've ever experienced here in the past. We were eager to light a log fire early in the day.Villages high up in the mountains were cut off while those farther down in the foothills battled a steady flow of water streaming downhill towards their basements.

Although assistance was at hand from the Local Authority, Agencies, and Support Groups a little water can go a long way. In the aftermath of flooding help is needed even more. The support, goodness and neighborliness of people who live on Crete (and in places all over the world) inspires     us during such times of crisis.

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