All Change

Well how time flies, it is so long since I last updated this. However there is good reason as there has been some significant changes in my life here since I last posted. The first being that Justine & Simon have departed for a 3 month work stint in Australia & so I am really missing them like mad. They are also looking seriously at the possibility of making a permanent move over there but this will all depend on whether they can obtain permanent visas as they have very strict entry requirements there - so it's a case of watch this space on that front.

The major change has been around my job. The work I've been doing during the Winter should have become full time from the beginning of May, however, my employer was unable to offer any extra hours & so it was no longer a viable job for me, I needed full time & the local insurance cover (IKA)

So I followed up a couple of leads & arranged a couple of interviews & was successful in securing a job at the first interview. I am now doing something very, very different to what I have done in the past & am enjoying the change. I'm working at Garden Village Apartments which is in Kalamaki, Zakynthos & my main duties are working at the pool/snack bar.
It's a seasonal job which started on 1st May & will come to an end in October so I will have to put away money earned in the Summer to also cover the Winter as I will probably have no work in the Winter. That is the normal work pattern for most people here though. I'll be working 7 days a week & my hours are approx. 8.45am - 4.45pm. Yes, long hours but again this is the norm.
It's a lovely apartment complex with very pretty, well cared for gardens & a beautiful pool area. Having previously done mainly office based work this is a complete change for me although I've always worked with the public so it's good to get to meet & talk to lots of different people from different backgrounds. It's a physically more demanding job than I've had before & my body is having to adjust to all the bending & stretching in & out of fridges & cupboards etc. I'm also cooking the meals/snacks that the bar provides & we have quite a comprehensive menu so gradually I'm becoming familiar with each dish. As the bar also serves alcohol I'm acquiring the skills of a bar person too - not got onto the cocktails yet.
What's also nice is that I can use the pool when I finish for the day which is great for cooling off now that the weather is hotting up. I will be also working extra hours on a Friday evening as this is the barbecue night at the complex & as it is also a venue used for weddings there will be extra hours to work for those too.

So you can see I will certainly be kept busy throughout the Summer.
I'm also very excited at the moment as tomorrow evening my friend Jan arrives from the UK to spend a week staying with me. You may recall if you have followed my blog since it's start, that she came for a week last September. I am so looking forward to her being here again. As I'm working full time I won't have the same amount of time to spend with her as before but the great thing is that she is able to come to work with me & use the pool & sunbeds there. It's also close to the beach so she will be able to go for a wander to the beach or around the resort too.
As she arrives tomorrow night, being a Friday, I'll be working because it's barbecue night. I'll be popping out to the airport to pick her up & then taking her back to work with me for something to eat from the barbecue & we'll be able to have a natter to catch up over a few drinks once the food service has finished & I'm no longer working.

You may be wondering if there has been any progress around my UK house sale after my original buyer dropped out. Well there's been none really. The house has been put back on the market & I understand there have been a few viewings but no offers have come in yet. The sellers of the house I am looking to buy here have offered a proposal which buys me some time to get my UK house sold. So all I can do is wait & see what happens - so keep watching this space.

I'm expecting quite a few people from the Zante internet message boards that I use, to look me up when they come out for their holidays. It will be nice to put some names to some faces & I know quite a few read this blog so I hope to say Hi in person soon.

Well I think that's more or less up to date with what's been happening with me. I can't promise to keep the blog updated quite as regularly as I have previously because of my new work commitments but I will definitely keep it going as I know it does get read & as long as people still read it I am happy to share my life here through the blog.

Take care everyone & have a great Summer wherever you are :-))