Lost in time
Anyone who has ever been on Corfu, will probably have noticed that road construction on this beautiful Greek island has not the highest priority. Holes the size of mature lunar craters are more rule than exception on Corfu's extensive road network. While a layer of asphalt is generally still poured on most main roads, on which later sometimes even some white lines are chalked, this practice is quite unknown on back roads and in the backward areas in the interior of Corfu.
Also with our friend Frank. To reach his pleasant house in the outskirts of our village, preferably use a car that has completed the Dakar Rally at least once, to successfully overcome all rocky obstacles, potholes and muddy surfaces. And so Frank eventually came up with the brilliant idea to hire a road builder, in order to cover the distance to his home in a comfortable way in the future.
Since he is from Holland he first wanted to calculate the costs. So he made an appointment with a road builder named Spyros, recommended by a broker friend. It is agreed that the road expert will take a look at the case and draw up a quotation on the basis of this.
After agreeing date and time with the professional, Frank put down the phone with a satisfied sigh, reassured that his bumpy road would soon be a thing of the past.
On the big day, Frank is waiting in anticipation with coffee and biscuits to appease the asphalt contractor Spyros. By appointment, he will appear at eleven o'clock, to use his expert eye and thus determine a reasonable price.
Our friend Frank is not alarmed when the clock shows 11:15 in digital numbers and his visitor has not yet arrived. After all, he is aware that a Greek minute can be as long as ten minutes in Holland. He still does not panic when another quarter of an hour passes without the appearance of his guest. Ha, this is Corfu, different rules apply there than in the stressed Netherlands!
At a quarter to twelve there is still nothing to indicate that an asphalt paver is approaching. And then he gets itchy. Do I hear the siren of the ambulance there? Surely nothing happened? Maybe I made a mistake in the date? Doubt sets in, and he resolves to call if no one has arrived at exactly twelve o'clock.
In the next quarter of an hour, a tortoise is the only living creature that Frank sees crawling by, and he decides to make a phone call. With a trembling hand, he dials Spyros's number. After three rings, the phone is picked up.
'Nai' (Greek for Yes)?, it sounds. Frank breathes a sigh of relief, his road builder is apparently still in good health.
The following conversation develops something like this:
F – Hi Spyros, this is Frank!
S – Hey, how are you doing?
F – I'm fine, how are you?
S – Not too bad, thanks for asking.
F – Didn't we have an appointment for today?
S – Yes, sure!
H - Wasn't you supposed to be here at eleven?
S – Absolutely!
F – But now it is already twelve o' clock.
S – Yes, twelve O five, to be precise.
F – Aha! But you are not at my house?
S – Nope, I'm in Lefkimmi (utmost Southern Corfu).
F – Ah, that is at least an hour and a half drive to our village, right?
S – One hour, yes.
F – So you will not be here today, for an estimate to fix our road?
S – No, that is impossible unfortunately. I will be in Lefkimmi all day.
F – OK, so we have to make another appointment?
S – Yes, we have to make another appointment.
F – Shall I call you then?
S – Yes, please call me!
F – Alright, will do. Bye Spyros...
S – Yiasou (Greek for Bye)!
Click
Frank stared at his phone for at least another fifteen minutes in a daze. A Dutch fifteen minutes, that is.
