The Wise Words of Pepe the Bone Man.

I remember to this day (October 1982) sitting in the office of the senior orthapedic surgeon at UCH London, Mr Pepe Pozo. His words to me were- "Well Simon you have a choice, I can leave the knee alone but you will not be able to play any further sport or I can operate and remove bits and pieces but the down side is that you may suffer from some arthritis when you are 50." 

This is not really a choice to give to a 19 year old who at the time was playing rugby on a regular basis. Two weeks later I went under the knife - yes in those days keyholes had not been invented and what now is an afternoon procedure became a 10 day stay in hospital with complete removal of various bits of the knee. (Bizarrely I still have those bits at home in a jar of formaldehyde!)

The operation was a complete success and after 3 months I was back playing rugby (badly). Unfortunately Mr Pozo's power of prediction has proved to be uncannily accurate. Here I sit at 49 hardly being able to move because of the pain and swelling in my knee. Thank goodness this only happens a couple of times a year but I still do not know what sets it off.

I have to accept that a visit to a modern day bone man is overdue but I hope that medicine has advanced sufficiently for them to but back what they removed albeit in plastic or whatever.

On the way home from Belfast 30/9

Day 13 Kefalonia - Food & Fingerbobs

For those of you that know me it will come as no surprise that somewhere in this blog I will have to mention food.

The fare here is not bad with a good selection to keep everyone happy. It is just that after 13 days of tzatziki, chicken or pork souvlaki followed by various pastries dripping in honey and nuts, our palates were craving something different. So off to the A La Carte we went and were quite stunned at the quality we found.

This is my starter, black risotto with seafood. The flavour of the rice was good in itself but when coupled with the richness of the butter and parmesan it was outstanding. So much so that Mrs CT ate half of it.

The centre piece was a large dismembered langoustine whose head portion stood proudly pointing to the stars, his longest feeler adorned with gold leaf! I kid you not. Needless to say, after we had finished this course, I just wanted to play fingerbobs along the edge of the table with aforementioned body part. The look coming at me from you know who said that my life could be in danger if I proceeded. I thought best not then.

Main course of medium rare T-bone finished off with choccy fondant that oozed from the middle completed our dining.

The result of all this is that we are returning tonight so that Mrs CT can have her own portion of risotto. Don't worry our first visit was a couple of days ago.

Oh well 13 nights gone only one to go. Better get up extra early to maximise the sunshine hours - yeah right, some hope!

Day 11 Kefalonia - The Perils of Lunchtime Booze & Cat Plants

It is always tempting, when on holiday to have a little tipple with or after lunch. Fortunately I have stuck to the odd beer, which due to my partial immunity has little effect.

Mrs CT on the other hand had a Piña Colada the other day which induced sleep by 14:30 and lasted until 18.00

Today however she surpassed herself by guzzling a cold red wine (not advisable in the UK climate). This time she did not even make it to bed, instead choosing an elegant pose on the pool sofa!..…and before anyone thinks I am brave for posting that, Mrs CT gave her permission.

Mrs CT's debut editorial......
For some reason Mr T developed writer's block when I asked him to include 2 pussies in his blog, cannot think why? Anyway, I've asked him to find me a tree like this one so that I can grow my own - awwwww

Day 10 Kefalonia - Goodbye & Eating Habits of the Young

Today we said goodbye to quite a few acquaintances we have made over last week or so. The sad thing is they are leaving behind almost perfect weather to return to, so I read, almost typhoon conditions in the UK.

It was with one of these couples that I had my embarrassing moment of the holiday. During my Ouzo affliction of the other night I repeated a joke that a friend of mine had recently posted on Facebook to his daughter -

What grades do you need to get into Liverpool University? Straight 'A's. A A A A A A A.

I don't think I need to tell you where this lovely couple are from. Oops!

One thing I have noticed whilst being such a multi-national hotel is the eating habits of the youth which is quite bizarre. This is with the exception of the Brits I am pleased to say.

Like most big hotels dinner is served semi self-service from a hot and cold buffet. The preferred scenario is that you are welcomed to the restaurant, shown to a table of your choosing where a waiter will take your drinks order. He/she will then offer 2 choices of soup and serve your preference from a steaming hot turin. See above for my choice of Cauliflower soup from the other night, yum, yum. The rest of your dining is down to you.

But not for some of the younger Spainish & Italians. They will come rolling into the restaurant, past the tables and straight to the buffet. They will then proceed to load (for which read pyramid high) several plates each with and arrangement of salads, hot dishes and even dessert.

They then return to the tables doing some sort of circus plate balancing act whilst trying to locate somewhere to sit.

What follows is not pleasant. Chicken fillets followed by watermelon followed by tzatziki folllowed by ice cream. And I am talking mouthfuls here not separate dishes. The only thing that interupts this eating from the trough is the lighting of a fag every 10 mins only to be followed by more gorging.

Three points:-

This is not Macy Ds and you CAN find a table before getting your food.

This is not Pizza Hut and you are allowed more the one visit to the salad bar.

Don't mix your courses. We didn't rule half the globe at some stage to see you lot with barbarian eating habits.

Oh and one more point, put your knife and fork down now and then and breathe.

I feel that after insulting the Scousers and half of Western Europe it is time to stop typing!

Day 9 Kefalonia - Green Tea & White Guinness?

It is now a day on from my Ouzo poisoning and I am feeling decidedly better. Mrs CT has no sympathy and has threatened me with all sorts if I repeat the incident. Best behaviour from now!

My 7 o'clock friends are please to see that I am still alive including my barman for tonight, Dina.

The bottle on the left contains something that should never be allowed on a bar, Greek or British - Pomegranate Green Tea - yuk!

On the other hand describing Guinness as an "imported white beer" is interesting. Have they ever opened one?

Cannot beat a drop of Mythos, bottled or draught. The only reason I am drinking a bottle in this picture is that the barrel had run out and my Greek friends were worried that I might pass out if I had to wait 5 minutes for another pint. It's down to the heat and all that. Now that's what I call service!

Day 8 Kefalonia - Ouzo

I have just one thing to say about Ouzo - don't. Well no more than 4 or 5 in one sitting.

Nearly 24 hours later and I am still suffering. And yes it is true, just one glass of water the next day and you feel drunk again.

I think I will stick to the beer & wine from now.

Nothing else really to say due to the fact I have done nothing today!

Day 7 Kefalonia - Greek Wine & Mobile Saunas

I have been coming to Greece and her islands for the best part of 30 years. I can remember that in the beginning Greek Wine was something of an acquired taste. Either Retsina, freshly distilled from the nearest pine tree and donkey pi$$ or a range of wines called Demestica (effectionaly known by the Brits as killing 99% of all known germs).

Wine making in Greece has come along way since then with several of their wines winning international awards.

The lady in the picture above owns and runs a winery in deepest Kefalonia by the name of Gentilini which was started by her father 30 years ago.

Her niche is to produce organically certified wines made from the rarest of grapes only to be found on the island. Ranging from a very decent white at €10 to big bold reds of €60.

Needless to say Mrs CT and I took the opportunity to buy a few samples direct from Gabrielle. The chilled white being drunk around the pool at the moment is their gold medal award winning Robola.

The forerunner to all of this wine based frivolity was the mini bus journey from hell.

Air temperature at 15:00 outside the bus +37c, temperature inside the bus +54c! Reason broken air-con and no opening windows. Why would you want opening windows if you have air-con?

After 1hr 45mins we were all fit to drop. Some people were actually tipping water over themselves as well as drinking it.

Needless to say Mrs CT and I made the return journey by air conditioned Merc E class. (Bizarrely with the Head of Family medicine from Athens Hospital who was on holiday and a friend of the taxi driver). This was after I promised the Olympic rep that he would be getting the bill after allowing a sub-standard vehicle to be used. Harsh? No.

I forgot to mention that during the whole outgoing bus journey a large red light was illuminated on the dashboard. On closer inspection it was the one for the brakes "stop immediately and seek attention". For those of you that have been to Kefalonia you will know that good brakes are a good recommendation for the 1:5 hills!

Watch out Olympic / CBR you haven't heard the last of this.

Day 5 Kefelonia - Chauffer Driven & Mini-bars

After my small complaint yesterday re the elevation above our apartment that the restaurants are, I have discovered that our "private suite" status comes with more perks than I first envisaged.

A quick call to 0 will summon forth the previously mentioned Georgi and his Club Car buggy. Destination - anywhere we want on the complex. Oh yes, no more hill climbing for me in search of sustenance.

On a roll from this discovery I enquired about the status of the fully stocked mini-bars (yes really 2, one in the lounge and one in the bedroom for when you really cannot be arsed to walk to the first one). "As you are in a private suite, the contents of the mini-bars are yours to enjoy as part of the package". Sod being 30m from the pool bar I now have beer at the end of the bed!

Perhaps I should now enquire as to why there isn't also a bar in the bathroom. Or is that just taking it too far?

Day 4.1 Kefalonia - Moving Day and Step-er-cise

After Mrs CT's negotiations with our holiday rep and the hotel management, the day of our move to "private suite and pool" is upon us.

However, this morning we conducted a thorough pros and cons exercise on the transaction and decided to stay put and spend the extra money on something else.

That was until we went to reception to report on our findings. On the way there we bumped into the Head of Housekeeping who was delighted that we were taking a suite and that she was supervising the handover personally. Our reputation has obviously spread locally!

This sentiment was echoed by the receptionist who said that we should view the accomodation first before making any hasty decisions. Georgi and his golf buggy was summonsed hence and within 5 minutes we were viewing suit 812.

From the initial look on Mrs CT's face it was evident that our early decision had been overturned. The large bedroom, living room and bathroom bigger than the whole of our previous room were the deciding factors not to mention the private pool with airjets and garden area with sofa and chairs.

Here are a few pictures. Some of the inside tomorrow.

There are a couple of downsides to this move. 1) I am now considerably further than 30m from the pool bar and with no personal beer button and 2) it is now 176 steps up to the restaurants. With 3 meals a day that is 1056 steps per day. Surely that is compensation enough for not going to the gym?

Day 3.2 Kefalonia - Dwindling Hotel Guests

Further to my earlier blog, I am starting to get concerned about the ever decreasing numbers of guests in this hotel.

For example I am sitting in the main hotel bar at 19.30, prime time for a pre dinner drink, and look.....

Yup, me and the barman Nikos. Greece is in the sh1t and make no mistake about it.

Either that or we have come to a hotel that everyone avoids but we didn't know about it......

......or maybe there is another reason? Suggestions please.

In the meantime I will carry on as usual.

Oh that's my other bar friend in the background, the lovely Dina who always has a smile. (PS does my beer glass look drunk in that picture or is it my eyes?)

Day 2.1 Kefalonia -Early mornings and Beer Button

Alarm went off at 6.30 as Mrs CT wanted to go to the gym. Result - Mrs CT rolls over and goes back to sleep leaving me wide awake at silly o'clock whilst on holiday.

As it happens we were first to breakfast and then had the pick of any two of the 128 sunbeds. That exercise took at least 10 minutes as Mrs CT made me calculate the passing trajectory of the sun in relation to all four corners of the pool. Just in case anyone is interested we are lying in the NE end of the pool area.

Look at this. I don't even have to walk the 30m to the pool bar. One press of the button shall summon forth the lovely Poli with beer in hand!

Day 1.3 Kefalonia - numb bum

As per our normal practice we booked extra leg-room seats for our 3.5 hour flight to Greece. My experience this year was numbing, literally.

When Thomson merged with First Choice they inherited the latter's ageing Airbus fleet. Whilst I am sure they are mechanically sound the interiors I can only describe as tired.

When taking my seat, 13a, I assumed that the internal stuffing had collapsed causing my well padded nether regions to be in contact with the 2 steel cross members of the seat frame.

"No that's not a fault" declared Tracy, "we take all the stuffing out of seats 12a, 13a, 12f and 13f because it makes you sit lower next to the emergency exit and therefore making escape easier".

Is she pulling my wotsit? Sitting on 2 metal bars for 3 hours AND charging me an extra £40 for the priveledge is taking the pi$$..

I lost all feeling in my left buttock just over Luxembourg with my entire rear end going missing in Croatian airspace!

Refits needed Thomson Fly, please take note.

Anyone paying for these seats, also please take note.

Day 1.2 Kefalonia - early morning dickhead

Now I know I am prone to the odd rant on these holiday blogs but this usually doesn't occur until day 5 or 6.

For the arrogant prick in the check-in queue this morning, I am going to make an exception.

After what appeared to be a one sided heated discussion with the Thomson lady at the desk he turned to the whole queue and announced that she was very rude and everyone should move to the other desk. At which point he picked up his bags, his wife,who was steadily chewing on a wasp, and barged into the other line.

Our turn was next only to find the poor girl in floods of tears. She pulled through this and gave us the courtesy and professionalism that we have always received from Thomson's.

As for you big man, I just hope that you are not in our hotel......for your sake.....because if one more wrong utterance comes out of your mouth, you may find yourself taking an unplanned swim with the turtles.

Ok, rant over.

Day 1 - Kefalonia

It may only be 6am at Stansted but nothing is going to get in the way of Mrs CT and her ever growing collection of handbags.

Smudge, I know you like Peter Kay but sitting that near will hurt your eyes. Nothing to do with the heat coming off the 39in!

Plants went in late this you due to the building work but here is the first of the crop. Hope Mrs CT is not too hungry!

Nice and quenching on a muggy day. Waiting for our Deli Italiano pizza. Ooh a posh one.

Taken at Pizza Hut

Tonight's dinner, yum. To be served with an ice cold cheeky little white number.

Time for bed!

My sister-in-laws new pussy, Flora

Hard at work in the proper office today. At least it's Friday

Taken at Keuco UK

View from the bridge at Stanwick Lakes

Same bridge same field but 4 months apart

See the full gallery on Posterous

Stanwick Lakes - another beautiful morning

Mrs CT's Pie (not MyPy)

Mrs CT is very proud of her morning's work - Lancashire Cheese & Onion Pie.

To be consumed at this evenings Oundle Music & Fireworks.

Google+ Will it Work?

Woaa, now that's a low Balloon

Hope he doesn't land in the lakes at the bottom of the road!

Beautiful Morning at Stanwick Lakes

Audi A5 - Latest addition to our car pool

Well, Mrs CT's new car has just been delivered - nice!
Naturally I will have to read the manual for her as all she is interested in is the cream leather and the sun glasses holder.
I think I will look good in this on Saturdays at Waitrose.

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Location:Wellingborough,United Kingdom

New Baby Range Rover

Very nice! Spotted at recent car show in Canary Wharf. Due for release in September but already a big waiting list.

Afternoon at KEUCO

The ‘Graveyard’ session has begun! After a nice lunch & when everyone would prefer to grab a quick snooze, it’s time for our clients to get creative! The point of the day they all look forward to???

another day, another trip to the KEUCO factory in Hemer

Ok… here we are for round 1 - the morning session, at least everyone’s reasonably awake at this point!!!

Sunny (and very warm) Germany

Having a cold one on the way back from another trip with customers out to our factory in Germany. Yes the sun does shine over there and probably even more than it does in the UK

Sani Beach Gourmet Week

Unbeknown to us when booking, 13-22 May is a special event at Sani Beach. Some of Greece's top chefs visit and takeover the restaurants around the Marina providing a tasting menu showing off their skills at a price that would be vulgar of me to mention.



Tonight we are eating at Tomata which won the accolade last year of being one of the top 25 restaurants in Europe. Looking forward to our last night's dinner in style.

Sani Gourmet Week

In the meantime those pesky ball swatting types mentioned earlier in the week have gone home - hurrah - only to be replaced by an even bigger and more gauche group - boo. If you are seriously thinking of coming to Sani Beach, I would strongly advise against picking a "tennis week".

Lovely view at breakfast however with not a tennis racket in site.



This was followed by a 2 mile walk to the otherside of the resort before 9am and not a sole in site.







Last day tomorrow so will be taking every opportunity to see how red I can get my legs and other bits!



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Location:Περιμετρική Κασσάνδρας,Kassandra,Greece