It is two weeks now since I made my exit from beautiful Vienna. The door-to-door journey (Vienna to Skopelos; train, plane, coach and ferry) was exceptionally smooth with only an exceptionally comfortable overnight break in Volos. This I reached in the early evening hours and caught the Skiathos Express, our all-year-round ferry, at 08.00 hours.

I was on a semi self-isolation in Vienna, when I saw events escalating and fully intended to organize myself for a full self-isolation of two weeks when I reached the island. As an energy boost, and before I went into self quarantine, I treated myself to a day in the vibrant outdoors of the island, at best times crowd-free! It was a chance too to stock up with some forage for my lock down quarantine, which the Greek government extended by a week, in putting the island under curfew for a space of two weeks, until further notice.

Stay safe everyone!

We are all in this together!

Whilst in Vienna, events moved fast: too fast for comfort and instinct dictated that I should go with the tide and make alternative plans. Friends from the UK, who were to join me for a few days, became hesitant about their visit, nervous of the escalating state of events...

So, I decided to follow my instinct - to cut my stay in Vienna short and return to Skopelos. As beautiful a city as Vienna is, I didn't care for an impending lockdown there!

Sanctuary for me is Skopelos and I could not be happier to be back with springtime nature blooming in the plentiful, calm space of the quiet valleys, hills, coastlines and Old Town. In these strange times, Skopelos provides all I need; it is my 'safe base'. I am so lucky to have it, as are all who live here.

Wherever you find yourself right now, I wish you all a safe stay and look forward to welcoming you - when ready - to our beautiful island, Skopelos.

Life, as we have known it until now, might change, but beautiful Skopelos will still be here for you to appreciate - as all who are residents here do.

Stay safe everyone!

With Vienna in a strange sort of virtual lockdown (so many people self-isolating),what can one do, other than get creative in the kitchen?! Here are a few the creations my friend, Irena, and I came up with in the past week.

This year, most of Lent finds me out of the island and out of Greece. I wasn't sure that I would participate as in past years: when not on Skopelos, I found it difficult to carry out alone the abstinence through the full 52 days. It is always easier to carry on with a tradition in a community in which most participate!

Unexpectedly, I found keen spirits to motivate me in Jiri and Irena (husband and wife from the Czech Republic) who enthusiastically entered in the lengthy Easter fast.

They sought guidance and inspiration which I could hardly give without fasting myself! As in past years, my reason for fasting is for detox and presumably the same goes for Jiri and Irena.

Some of the creations we came up with.

1 and 2 by Irena

3 and 4 by me

The winter was mild on Skopelos and many sunny days were enjoyed by those who stayed. Needless, to say, back on the island, these cheerful spring flowers, denoting the seasons' change, are a welcome sight.