In 2006 when Gillian and John chose to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary with friends here on Zakynthos, little did they know it would be the catalyst to building a brand new life abroad.

Both were self-employed and work commitments meant flying separately.  Gillian arrived a few days earlier than John who, had booked on one of those unearthly crack-of-dawn arrivals.  The ill-tempered taxi driver refused to take John any further than Lithakia crossroads.  Tired, travel weary and totally disorientated; John found himself deserted in the half morning light and stood next to the only familiar object – his suitcase.  His first impressions of Zakynthos were not positive.  A bleary-eyed Gillian drove out to collect him, tempers flared, Gillian retired to bed and John sat on the balcony raddled and alone for the second time that morning, it did not bode well for the day ahead.

All that was to change with the new dawn, and those of us that live here know the spreading glow of a summer’s morning, the up-lifting chorus of Zakynthian birdsong is one of the many special features of this isle...ah well, it worked its magic on John and Gillian.  In Johns, own words “it was a defining moment”.  Over breakfast John impulsively said, “Let’s move here” to which Gillian intuitively replied “I’ve been thinking the same” – in that instant a pact to change their lifestyle was made.  The couple both in their fifties, are true adventurers, they welcome change with open arms and laugh in the mocking face of challenge.  It is no surprise that they decided to jump straight in and build a house – on the side of a mountain.

Gillian vividly recalls viewing the plot of land and knowing instinctively that it was the perfect location for their new home, “it sounds very clichéd but it felt right and the views took my breath away”.  Both agree that they were lucky to have native speaking friend Mathew to assist with the purchase and the building legalities – so far, the new build has been relatively trouble-free with no peculiar  stories to report though, when they were completing the sale, the steely vender, a minuscule old widow insisted on cash – in her hand!  They withdrew the money from the National Bank in town and took it to the Notaries office (in Lidls carrier bags) where it was handed over to the old lady and then taken immediately back up the street to the same bank and given back to the very same teller to deposit in the vender’s account – not before he was instructed to recount it!

Continuing on the subject of money, during the course of renovating a stone cottage that occupies the land, they discovered an early 5000-drachma note folded tightly and stashed inside a crevice in the wall.  Someone, but surely not the canny old widow, had forgotten it long ago.

John and Gillian are eager to move into their new home and much of the internal work John intends to do himself, for now he will just have to be contented with the fact that at least one des res is complete – the hen house!

Zante Magazine will chart the progress of John and Gillian’s new build, reporting on the trials (few we hope) and tribulations that they will face to move into their finished home and begin living their dream.