Σονάτα των Χριστουγέννων

 

Από νηνεμία, μια φουρτούνα στο πέλαγος

To all my friends and family far and wide my Christmas message to you. I can't respond so please don't think I'm being ignorant. I wanted to respond to all notifications but I can't at the moment. 

We have had no Internet connection since Wednesday as a storm took out all the phone lines in the village. Including ours. We have no idea when this will be fixed. So I'm typing this  offline and I'll post it very quickly when I get back on mobile data. 

Despite several phone calls and requests about when it's likely to be fixed (thanks to Greg and Leslie for listening to glorious music for about 2 hours waiting for an answer), there has been no update from anyone. I've been unable to do very much this week without the Internet as EVERYTHING happens online now. So here's a list of what I should have done but couldn't. If you're on this list I sincerely apologise as I really do always try my best:-

I couldn't send any Moonpig cards to my special best friends Brenda Smith and Alyson Allen on their 70th Birthdays. I couldn't send a Christmas card to my last surviving auntie Joan. 

I couldn't send my neice Christine Collins a Birthday gift as she gets missed out due to being born at Christmas. 

I couldn't transfer any money over to my Greek bank. 

I can't pay my bills and can't renew my car tax unless I go  bank or post office. 

I can't drive due to an injury in November so they'll have to wait as I'm unable to stand up or walk far due to previous injury. 

I can't respond to your kind Christmas wishes on Facebook notifications. 

We can't watch Christmas Specials and films on the TV. (That could be a bonus, but we do it to get Christmas spirit into the house). 

Can't go out as need cash until we can get money transferred. 

Can't use Google translate. 

Can't pick up any potential bookings for our guest house. 

Can't report some spurious bookings to Greek tourist authority as think they might be people wanting a visa so therefore need a booking. We've had 10 of these recently including one which we confirmed and was expected on 21st to 23rd Dec. But emails came back as non deliverable after first confirmation of booking. 

Can't pick up any bookings on booking sites so might get double booked. Accidentally. 

I can't get my creative items, (patchwork cushion covers and quilts) on marketplace, or eBay. 

Can't Google info online and even if its trivia I still want to know as memory not as good as before and there's no encyclopedias anymore. 

Can't watch any videos or load any photos which have come from friends and family online on Facebook or Instergerm etc, due to mobile data issues and restrictions. We can't ring anyone to catch up on their lives or Christmas festivities. 

Can't believe that the Internet restricts you so much, but these last few days have hamstrung us seriously. 

Not wishing to sound like a conspiracy theorist (any more than I usually do). But this is the future. If the Internet isn't around we are truly up shit creek without the proverbial paddle. I'm not looking for sympathy, but just let this be a warning not to become so reliant on the Internet for everything. 

So I truly apologise. I'm using mobile data as no WiFi and I can't afford it, so only on very quickly and reluctantly, as I'm also paying for WiFi and a landline which I can't use. 

PS. We couldn't send money for Christmas presents to the grandkids, great nephew or neices etc. but we'll make it up to them later. 

In the meantime Happy Christmas to you all. Hope you have a fab time. We have chocolate oranges and some bubbly so we'll be fine. We might even talk to each other. φτωχικά: την θεϊκή μοναξιά του.

 
Μέσ’ από ζεστές καρδιές, η καρδιά του
που γοργόφτερη πάντα χτυπά,
Σιωπηλά κινούσε την έναστρη νύχτα
Ντυμένη πάντα, μια πλειάδα, αστέρια γιορτινά.
 
Έμοιαζε σονάτα, του Ύψιστου, σεληνόφωτος
Σόλο σονάτα, με τρία μαγικά εξαπτέρυγα
Μια οπτασία, Ω! υπέροχη θεϊκή γαλήνη,
Σε μια φάτνη, τρείς: τρία πρόσωπα στολίζουν.
 
Στα φανάρια οι μάγοι στέκονται με λουλούδια
Για ένα κέρμα, πλούσιο σαν αστέρι
Αποζητούν - έστωσαν γεύμα, μια σούπα
Που σ’ ευχητήριες κάρτες, άτυχης καταιγίδας.
 
Είναι μάγοι φτωχοί, με γλώσσα που καίει
Διάφανη γλώσσα, ενός βουβού κάματου
Για μια κόρα ψωμί, το ουράνιο σώμα τους
Κι ας σιδερικό, το αστερι στο μέτωπό τους.
 
Ήταν όλοι μάγοι σε κάρτες, ντυμένοι λαμπερά
ευχετήριες κάρτες, που άλλοτε ηχούσαν
πρίγκιπα μου, πρίγκιπα, Ω! ψηλά - ξεχασμένε
με ύμνους που τώρα, ξεσκίζουν, την καρδιά.
 
Kostis nil – Σονάτα των Χριστουγέννων – Δεκέμβριος 2020