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...

I had just been to Thessaloniki for one of my regular winter shopping trips, mostly with other people's shopping lists, and was checking to make sure that I'd not forgotten anything. Then I realized I had bought nothing for my husband stuck at home! He had been given a very long “to do” list (small jobs which had been hanging on for quite a while) and I know he would have been working very hard with his best mate, who shares his “love” of DIY (do-it-yourself). It didn't seem fair not to buy them a small treat. He’s 65 next year, going on about 13, and like everybody else, that is to say all the males in our family, he has an exceptionally sweet tooth.

I gathered my belongings and popped next door to the pastry shop which had an absolutely exquisite display of Sunday's best sweets (Sunday is the day traditionally when cakes are bought). I asked the shop owner to fill a box full with a variety of cakes, explaining to him that I had to take a treat back for “ta pedia”, the boys. (In what other country would you pay for your sweets by the kilo?) I did want a couple of everything pointing here, there and everywhere. I was thoroughly enjoying myself, but suddenly the shop owner was very concerned at my choice. He finally stopped me and asked “ehoun dondia, boroun na masoun?” (do they have teeth, can they chew?)

They are 65 and 70 respectively – so maybe, not for many years more................