About

Welcome to Mawsie Maw’s World!

I am an Irish woman living in western Crete since the turn of the millenium. I’m working on a new edition of my first novel (A Place in the Choir). I’m told that this achievement entitles me to claim the honour of being a writer. I’m working as inspiration strikes on the sequel. Life here in Crete enables one to do this sort of thing. Not much is planned in advance because the unexpected happens almost daily.

Moving to Crete did not come altogether unexpectedly .

Many years ago probably around 1987 my husband and I spent a wonderful time in Eastern Crete. One afternoon when the sun wasn’t too bright we drove towards the mountains behind Elounda. On the way we passed a lady sitting side saddle on a donkey. She was leading two goats who followed behind her stopping now and then to graze by the roadside. Having travelled through several mountain villages which were literally clinging to the side of the mountain we came to the end of the trail. We had reached a monastery which sat on the edge of the world -- we could only see the sky behind it. Such a scene was awe inspiring and when a monk dressed in black approached we indicated our wonder and amazement in sign language. We sat on a stone wall while he brought a white enamel jug of fresh water to us. Standing he reached up to the walnut tree under which we sat and gathering some nuts he broke the shells and shared the kernels with us. Perhaps our desire to live here began during such a gesture of hospitality.

I’m Mawsie Maw to those who know me well. This nomenclature happened many years ago when my brother who was less than a year older than me tried to pronounce my name. He christened me Mawsie Maw for life. I hope you will feel free to do likewise as we become acquainted through my Blog.