Too early for the Post Office

That's good Post offices open at 7.30 on Kos or that's what the Website said. I'll just nip up to the Village bright and early, no one around but me and the cats. So as I drew up to park by Mylotipi overlooking the view of Kamari Bay I shared my space with the Garbage Truck and the driver eating his breakfast and smoking a fag as he sat on the edge contemplating his day. With morning dew still fresh on the cars and damp air I alone walked round the Village. Cats still slept in corners and on steps and as I strode round past the old school two men in the Kafeneion said Kalimera.

The only sound was that of doves cooing from above and as I came towards the post office eager to be the first in side I spotted a gathering of men already in the Old Gits Club warming up for the day. Aha somebody is in the post office but as I walked towards the door I noticed 9-2.30 oh woe is me. How can I escape ridicule and laughter as a solitary English Woman clutching her handbag and paperwork is walking purposefully towards a closed door at silly o'clock.

I know I'll just cut through the back streets and no one will see me. But wrong . The Bewitching hour of morning is when all the Olds come out. Shopping, hanging out the washing, drinking coffee outside whilst sitting on their back step talking to neighbours. Mums putting babies in prams ready to take to Yiayia to look after for the day. A row of ladies sat under the concrete frame of a new building ready to be constructed (some when) sharing the space with a car, motorbikes and old barbecue barrels. Kalimera.......Kalimera........ No chance of an invisible walk back to the car.

And as I approached the car down the steps I had to avert my eyes as the soul of discretion not, the Garbage man had chosen that very moment to have a crafty pee over the side. I pretended to admire the Morning Glory just opened out on the walls beside. As I drove back down through the sleepy Kefalos I noticed the neighbours new goat had chosen to ignore his pile of carefully selected vegetation and had jumped over their wall and was noshing on their geraniums. Too early for a morning call from me I thought better go home and write this down.