Have just this minute finished rereading JUST IN CASE, the sequel to DEAD ON TIME, rectifying a few typos and making one or two small amendments but will be happy now to see it published, hopefully, in June. It is three years since I wrote it and there is a third Thornton King adventure to follow written shortly after, possibly for publication 2010? Started on a fourth but have been sidetracked. Am really, even if I do say so myself, rather pleased with this one. It has more comedy in it than I remembered, some really interesting atmospheric episodes and the plot works like a dream so let’s hope that when it is added to the Jones list they all start to sell and make us some money. The returns so far have been negligible and the winter bills have piled up waiting to be paid. I reckon the cost of living in Greece is now three times what it was when we first arrived. Our accountant Georgos, his wife, Eleni and two kids being in the neighbourhood came around for coffee today. I only hope that, on seeing the house for the first time, he didn’t come to the conclusion that we are loaded.
Haven’t got any further with the new resident permits. Half the population tell us they’re not necessary, the other half of the population say they are. This is typical of Greece. There are two different tax offices in Xania, A and B. A told us we needed pink slips from the bank to show what money we were bringing into the country, B told us the pink slips were unnecessary. It’s all up to George now so I have no idea whether it’s A or B. Whichever it is, it appears Douglas has to get himself an IKA number (National Insurance) to satisfy the authorities before he can get a new resident’s permit which, according to EU regulations, is unnecessary. Chris and I are aok as being pensioners we automatically qualify for IKA. I do hope though not to be a drain on the system as it is struggling. Last year there was a brief strike of pharmacies because IKA hadn’t paid them for months for the medicines they had supplied on prescription. Was supposed on Friday to go for abdominal and thyroid scans but the day before got a phone call to say it had been put off, don’t know why, maybe the doc just didn’t turn up, and it will now be April 29th which is a long way away. Unfortunately it’s not until two in the afternoon which means a half day of grumpy starvation!
Much too cold for the garden today. Managed about an hour which achieved virtually nothing so it became haircutting day. Chris did Douglas, Douglas did mine. That Remington do it yourself hairdressing set has certainly paid for itself many times over since we bought it. I loathe having my hair cut; always have done, even as a child, so have it cut as short as possible, looking like a Doré illustration of a Victorian convict so I don’t have to get it cut so often.