Well, it will come as no surprise that my time here is coming to an early end. Marianthi and I agreed that I’ll head off on Thursday morning, as Mike has Tuesdays and Wednesdays off and it just makes sense. Until then, I’ll be sorting out my own meals or eating out.
The final nudge? Yesterday she asked me to cut up a butternut squash for her. Easy enough. But when I placed the slices in a clean glass bowl to soak, she insisted they go into an old plastic paint container… one that still had dried paint stuck inside it. I’m all for rustic charm, but paint-flavoured pumpkin isn’t quite my style.
I also mentioned the mould and sludge building up in the kitchen sink and gently suggested it might not be helping her autoimmune condition. The next day she thanked me and said, “As a doctor I know this, I just don’t think it.” It’s honestly a very sad situation.
Mike might leave the day after I do—earlier than planned—as he’s applied for a paid job and, understandably, needs to take it if it comes through. So Marianthi may be without volunteers for a few days. We’re both hoping she’ll manage okay.
As for me, I’ll be heading to Athens next for some much-needed sightseeing and fresh air—preferably the kind not filtered through mould.
This was how the sink was, It was bad when Mike arrived and had never been cleaned, until I cleaned it Saturday. You can imagine my reaction …