Once
upon a time there was a small Island Called Kos and Ron and Sally
loved to go there for their holidays. Then one day Ron said “ let's
live here forever and never go home” and that's how it all started
and many of you have had the same dream.
And
so the true tale of Greek drama began, humour, and tragedy and
possibly Happy Ever After.
All
the Greeks have opinions and everything is the Best and everyone is
related or so it seems and everyone knows someone, who knows someone
who can help. So not surprising then that Dimitris owner of the
Fashion shop should double up as an Estate Agent and after so many
near purchases in the past thwarted by so many reasons why not go in
and ask him whilst trying on a dress. So the time was set for land
hunting and a trip round the Village boundary was organised. We'd
already come foul of regulations, what size of land would equate to
the size of house, would there be a road with access and not cross
some ones land. Would water and electric be within proximity and TV
and Internet.
Ron's
fantasy of living in the countryside away from it all was laid to
rest with my fears of being stuck in the middle of nowhere in the
middle of an emergency, would I be able to wheel those giant rubbish
bins up to the main road. Would the cats be safe in the hunting
season, yet not too close to the road. And so with a clear idea of
our requirements we toured the village. Plot one had beautiful views
across the Bay, but too expensive and no direct access. Plot two
gorgeous with its own orchard established of Olive, Lemons and
Medlars but rumours of Ancient ruins. So back to the apartment and
Plot 3 right where we'd started from, the very view we'd been looking
at year in year out. OMG this was it , why hadn't anybody told us
before? The price was right and it seemingly met all the requirements
and the deal was done in 2010.
I
won't go into the whys and wherefores of delay even though I have
every minute detail recorded in black and white and etched forever in
my heart but suffice to say the journey started.
We
need a builder, a good builder, and Architect, a good Architect, one
who would stand up to the demands and scrutiny of Ron an Architect
with many well known projects to his name. They really had to be 'The
Best' and so the enquiries started and everyone knew someone, who was
related to and who had done something for and so it went on.
We
had three names and one stood out for his quality of work and we
liked him. But we'd better shop around and so away from the village
we asked our friend in Mastichari and she recommended the same one,
Our friend in Zipari had the same one, however Zach is very good why
not ask him and so we did. 'I've retired now' he said ' let me phone
my nephew he is very good' and so he did and so of course it was the
same man, who said to his Uncle he'd already met with us and all
roads led back to Kefalos and all roads back to Manolis and so it was
settled.
So
much red tape and paperwork and legalities and visits to the Notary
and the Lawyer and Architect wasn't it a relief to find you just got
your plot marked out on a piece of paper, everyone knew whose bit was
which and you're off and running. Not so 2013 brought in a new law
and land boundaries had to be plotted by GPS even Big Brother had
it's eyes on tiny Kefalos and Google Earth thank
you very much
and so a year later with boundaries settled and parcels of land
swapped things could move forward except for the garage. You can't
build two houses together on a plot without being joined in some way.
And so the car port was the answer but yet again required its own
planning permission and visits to the lawyer and the notary etc etc.
And
so the build began and suffice to say even the earthquake last year
could not shatter the stability of our footings but what did shatter
my world was the death of Ron and my Mum five weeks later and so I
couldn't face Kos last year, all those hopes and dreams lost in a
double Tragedy.
But
Kefalos calls to you, spreads it' magic and by February I was back
for Apokries and to find out where my heart lay. Easter and Kristos
Anesti sealed the deal and Manolis has been building like a Trojan
and anyone watching from the hill above will see progress. I now
nearly have a complete concrete shell, I have stairs to the first
floor, when it's built of course and I have peace of mind.
So
thank you Kefalos, thank you George, Frosini and Family for always
being there for me and making me feel part of the family.
Thank you Christine and Ron for putting up with
me, thank you Missy for sharing my bed with me even if I don't like
sharing your Dog Chews and chicken leg Dog breath, thank you Manolis for
introducing me to Dimitris, and thank you Manolis for doing the
excellent construction work Ron knew you could do........Even if he
did demand to see photos and videos along the way just to make sure.
Thank you Sotiris for seeing it through and thank you BOO for everything.
More
stage to come towards the Happy Ending
