UPDATE. SUMMER SOLSTICE 2006

A year has passed since my first Solstice Update and again I am picking cherries and kwumquats and watching the formation of apples, grapes, figs and walnuts.

My recent swimming has been limited as my builder- friends, Fabijan and his son Misel and helper Denis, are here woking on the roof and paths.  I look forward to my work-load being signiicantly reduced by the latter!  Living such a solitary life, it is a pleasure to have their company.

Following the poor winter weather up to my 2005 Solstice Update,  January offered plenty of sunbathing and I was able to make progress with ivy-cutting and stone-moving.

I had my first swim on 11 March, one of the coldest days of the Winter, as it was supposed to be a good one  for tuning- in to water.  I then couldn't get out of my wet-suit and, driven by the thought that I could die of hypothermia, I went to Fabijan and Parvica's house where Misel's brother unzipped me!

Sadly, on the morning of 4 April, I found Lucky with his head bitten off.  I later saw a racoon, which is probably what is known locally as a kuna.  Unlike the hens with whom he lived, he liked to spend fine nights outside, especially sitting on a wall from which he had a good view.  Our ever-closer bond had obviously made him insufficiently on his guard against predators.  I shall always value the time we had together.

The same afternoon however, my first guests of the year arrived.  Miriam and Dot were absolute treasures,  throwing themselves energetically into exploring the Island and contributing to Potok in all sorts of imaginative ways.  They moved stone, weeded, pruned, cleaned, reorganised the kitchen, replaced the elastic in my shorts and made olive-picking bags out of jeans donated by a village friend.  I now have three so anyone who would like to join me for olive-picking in October will be well-equipped!

By this time I was getting anxious about whether I would be able to get my car out by 23 April by which time I needed to leave in order to use my Calais-Dover ticket and reach Swansea before my MOT ran out.  The Planning Office finally had a temporary surface of earth and rubble put on the road especially for me.  Three officials, two from the Contractors and one from the Planning Office made personal visits to ensure that I got my car out during the lunch hour, after which they would be digging a ditch across the road.  Although I had recently charged the battery, the car would not start and the Planning Officer phoned Meme, the mechanic for me!

Two days before my departure,  Christa and Ian arrived to care for the  place in my absence  and I left feeling that Potok was in wonderful hands.  Ian stayed for 2 weeks and nobly painted the kitchen and concreted a leaky piece of border  and after a few days was replaced by Martin who had visited last Sept.  He and Christa were here to welcome me on my return.  Christa had made some very original contributions to Potok such as I would not have made time for.

She later wrote to tell me that her time here had been so healing that she no longer needed the chemotherapy she had been due to start on her return.

After hers and Martin's departure,  I was overjoyed to find that a rift with my neighbour Tonci and his family that had endured since January was at an end.  The whole family had been moved by the note I had left on my departure. The local Director of Tourism had translated it for me so I told her she should have a special award for conflict resolution!  The time of non-communication had given me much pain and sleeplessness by night, but a wonderful exercise in unconditional love by day!. The situation is still a little unstable but I now know that the fault is other than with me.

In May, Lorna, an old friend from London came and meticulously weeded the path up to the hen-run.  She also washed-up and cleaned the kitchen every night while I watered  which was a real godsend.  She appreciated Potok's peace and quiet enormously and loved the coastal walk into Supetar.  She was also a mine of esoteric information, especially on the Jesus theories.

After the struggle I had to get seeds to germinate, the garden is now looking - and tasting - a treat.  I have a large number of courgettes, cucumbers and melons as these plants are good space-fillers.  I hope someone will come and help me eat them and the fruit as there is no one now booked before October.