All Hail SEPTEMBER...............

In less than a week of September you can already see a marked difference to the island we call home.

The streets have, for the most part, gone back to normality, people are in a friendlier mood and the universe seems to have gone back into alignment.

It seems a large amount of people left the island to attend the U2 concert on Friday night, and according to various tweets and FB status' the concert was particularly magnificent, with Snow Patrol supporting the main act.
Ah, those boys have done me proud (considering I grew up in the same part of Dublin they did). The question is now, are they going to come to Santorini to record their new album as has been reported by the media?? I certainly hope so, would be great to have U2 here for a couple of months.....

So lads, congratulations on yet another unbelievable live show......you truly are awesome!

Also, on Thursday night, there was a BBQ at the Serb's house.....great food, drunk serbians, in the avli of her beautiful house, what better way to kick off this our very favourite of months???

And now, I am going to face something that perhaps will draw certain consternation from certain readers. I have noticed in the last few years that our little island has grown in the number of immigrants working here. No, im not talking about serbians, americans, canadians or polish. Im talking about, the most touchy of subjects, the albanian population of Santorini.
While I have always been an advocate of people having the right to emigrate in order to find work I do have one or two pointers for people from this country to make themselves more integrated.

What upsets me is that they (and i speak generally here) seem to cluster in groups. The ones here on Santorini are all from the same town in Albania, and they don't socialise or try to integrate with the locals, nor do they seem to have any interest in embracing the fact that they are not in albania anymore.

Another thing, they complain constantly about Greece, how awful it is, if they are so unhappy here then why do they stay?

Thirdly, some, not all, are involved in certain criminal enterprises. I won't go into details but the thing is we have enough problems with greek criminals, I dont want you in my country if thats what you are doing.

And finally, I saw a sign for a concert that is going to be in Kotsogiannopoulos soon. Its an albanian singer coming to the island. Ok, i get you have a right to attend a concert of your favourite singer and yes that person may very well be from your country. However, seeing as I accept that, why do you get offended when I play my music in my home (not very loud) but I have to listen to your albanian folk music at FULL VOLUME at the weekend cause all your extended family etc have come by for a visit.

Ok, the last thing was supposed to be the final thing but sorry........one more pet peeve. STOP PARKING OUTSIDE MY HOUSE, more specifically stop parking outside the entrance to my house....I have a right to be able to come and go as I please and I can't do that if your Lancia is parked right across the entrance.

I have asked politely and been aggressively answered.....We'll see how funny it is when i get the police to tow your damn car......Why the aggressiveness??
To readers, I asked the man who parks his car there if it was possible to park it further down or up because i cant get into my house. I didn't shout or use obscenities, I just asked.....

and what was the reply??? I just finished work and i want to park my car here, because its beside my house. Yeah Ill move it but you have no right to tell me what to do..........

His rudeness threw me for six and i didn't know what to say...so readers, Im going to let you in on a little secret....when i got drunk, i let the air out of one of his tyres....that'll teach him........(im actually quite embarassed by that bad display of behaviour but he deserved it)

Anyway, back to September, the mother arrives next week for 10 days so i see early mornings at the beach and nights out for dinner in the near future..

Topchef bought me the most beautiful dress yesterday so thank you!!!!

And tonight, there is a little soiree at my abode for a few close friends, although there's a rumour abounding about big bottles of mojito mix being brought along, not sure how little or quiet the soiree will become......

Be forewarned, if you live in or around the Firastefani area and hear loud voices in a variety of languages...my apologies, its me and my nearest and dearest!!!!!!!!!

KALO MINA EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!