Rethymnon Embroidery - A New Perspective!
From out of the dark days of World War II, some colour was brought into the lives of the Rethymnon
people. This took the form of a new style of embroidery, with designs adapted from those traditionally
woven on a loom. The unique technique that developed became known as the Rethymnon Stitch. The style
involving geometric patterns of diamonds, triangles and crosses is still used today on tablecloths and
towels. Unfortunately only a few patterns were ever published, with women learning the intricate designs
by heart. But now Maria Hoffmeister, who has worked for many years as a lace making teacher and designer,
has developed a special diagram for recording the old designs and creating new ones. She is planning to
run a two day workshop on this remarkable and beautiful art form, in February or March. If you are
interested in attending or require any further information, please contact Maria by e-mail,
hemahoff@web.de or by phone, 28250 22331 (14.00—17.00 and 20.00-22.00).
Crete Kennels - February Update
As we reported in our January edition of the Bugle, Crete Kennels had a successful (if busy!) festive season. So far, New Year has also got off to a good start for our friends out at Armeni. Peter and Kimberley have already been welcoming return clients—and they are particularly gratified that the Kennels are proving to be as popular with local Greeks as they are with expatriates. As Peter and Kimberley note, despite commonly held stereotypes, the Greeks pet owners they have come across are as concerned about the well-being of their animals (if not more so) as any ‘Dog – loving Brit’. And, of course, interacting with local pets (and their owners!) helps when seeking to try and integrate with the local community!
Looking after dogs is a full-time job of course, and always a learning process. Each dog that boards at Crete Kennels is assessed in a variety of ways throughout the duration of their stay. Assessment includes the standard physical checks — for example monitoring weight, activity levels and feeding patterns — and also observations of social behaviour to build up a personal profile for each dog. Having such details on file is obviously useful when welcoming returning (canine!) visitors to the Kennels. However, Peter and Kimberly also hope that this type of information will in time prove useful in contributing to the global body of knowledge about canine welfare and behaviour. To find out more about Crete Kennels, or to make a booking, get in touch using the contact details given below!