When expectation fades in the setting sun …… new stories from Kefalonia

It had all the hall marks of those traditional Greek tavernas.

Good fresh food, slow but easy-going service and an abundance of house wine, which is the memory from many island holidays.

But last Thursday evening even we were challenged……. Things we asked for never arrived, and things we said we didn’t want, we got.

Did it matter?  No, I don’t think it did.

Our friend Maria said the place “served simple, traditional food” which it did, and it was set in an idyllic spot, surrounded by trees, heaps of flowers and the constant sound of insects.

Added to which there was the magic of watching as the sun set out across the sea.

We were told that we didn’t have to book but plenty of people had, and they all seemed content with the night, and in fairness we weren’t charged for the mistakes.

As ever being veggie I chose from the starter menu and for once the dishes arrived at the same time as Tina’s main course of assorted fish, only slightly spoilt by the absence of two things we asked for.

But it will be a more memorable meal because it was the night the Queen died.

The couple next to us, like us were checking the internet chatter and like us stumbled across the announcement.

Other groups were totally oblivious and carried on their meal amid a mix of silly jokes, comments about the food and exchanges about work and stories of previous sunshine adventures.

We pondered on telling them, but that smacked of “Brits abroad sharing home news", and we reckoned they would get to know soon enough.

As evenings go it was memorable if only because it was not what we had expected.

Location; Lourdas Bay

Pictures; The fish place, 2022, from the collections of Andrew Simpson and Balzano