Thankfully we have the Thassos VI ferry (the only covered ferry boat), which can come and go in up to gale force 7 Beaufort winds, and it is very rare indeed to find oneself stranded on either side of the small strait which separates Thassos island from the mainland at Keramoti. However, it does happen periodically, especially when it is very windy. When it happens and you only have three ferries running that day, the only thing you can do is settle down with a coffee and brandy as well as a good paperback and wait for the Thassos VI to arrive.

This happened last week, when we had two days of winter, gale force winds, and downpours which seemed to grind Thassos to a halt. The coffee bars at Keramoti are modern, comfortable, warm, very well stocked, have very affordable prices, and are never very busy at this time of year; so it is quite a pleasure to sit there for an hour or so to watch people come and go...

Wow! Spring time on Thassos seems to be almost upon us. It is the middle of February and the sun is shining with an unbelievable temperature of near 20 degrees centigrade. “A few hours in the mountains is the order of the day.”, we thought.

So we set off with two of our friends and headed for Kallirachi village. Knowing that mountain tracks can be quite an ordeal for a normal car, our friends followed us on their motorcycle which can easily navigate Thassos' lovely mountainous terrain...

One of the most wonderful things about winter in Thassos is that one's friends have time. Both Greeks and ex-patriotic friends, many of whom work in seasonal employment, have time to spare and thoroughly enjoy including other friends either for their wintertime activities or for just chilling and chatting over coffee or drinks.

Having organised my new SIM card, and with the batteries returned to their rightful place in my drawer, and having worked out how to tell my Thassian friends of my new phone number, (Αυτό είναι το νέο μου ελληνικό αριθμό, afto eine to neo mou elliniko arithmo!!), I was having my early-morning (actually late breakfast) coffee on my balcony, gazing out across the bay to Kavala and beyond, when I was pleased to get my first text message.

“The fish are nibbling not biting” might seem like a code message to many, (think of Rene Dubois, ‘Allo, ‘Allo?) , but in my reply ”to where are you”, “ between the ferries”, I realised it was no code, no joke, and I grabbed my rod and tackle box to join a couple of friends who were as they said, “between the ferries”...

Carnival has come and gone yet again on Thassos, and another fantastic day was had by all who came to participate at one of the many carnivals around the island. I had the pleasure to partake in the festivities that were jointly organised by Agios Georgios and Rachoni. These two mountain villages have lived harmoniously in co-existence with each other for a long, long time, and they've learned how to throw great parties together!

The day began with all of the figures eloquently positioned onto the relevant vehicles, the adults dressed up and the children wore brightly coloured clothes and face make up. The atmosphere was one of excitement and anticipation for what was to follow throughout the day...