A Lochmaben man has returned home after spending the last 18 months on a Greek island due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dennis McCallum arrived at Poros in March, 2020, on the very day the Greek Prime Minister locked down the country.
He had travelled to Greece to be with wife Frances who has owned a home on the little island in the heart of the Saronic Gulf for the last 15 years.
He finally returned to Scotland alone last week while Frances remained on Poros to look after the couple’s rescue cat.
Dennis, who will move back to Greece next month, has compared his life on sun-kissed island during the crisis to life at home in Lochmaben.
He said: “On returning home I had to switch to a completely different mindset.
“When Covid struck, the Greek Government shut down the country swiftly and effectively to contain any spread. The rules were strict with no dubiety and the vast majority of the population obeyed.
“Over there, hugs and kisses were also banned and you could see the awkward eyes of the friendly Greek’s peering over the top of their facemasks totally at a loss of how to greet you, or each other for that matter.
“They are a very touchy-feely race and very sociable. Most Greeks speak good English so I do have a social life of sorts over there.
“The English language is a priority and until the end of lockdown I missed meeting my friends for our early morning small cup of strong Greek coffee sitting outside the small cafes or a glass of sweet Ouzo, with a small meze.
“The virus had put an end to this and the closure of tavernas and cafes was compounded by restrictions on movement.
“A text hotline was set up to allow maximum two hour slots for permission to leave the house for only essentials such as shopping, exercise or medical care and no travel outside the local area.
“Over the winter especially our small town was a sad deserted looking place but thankfully we largely escaped the virus.
“To relieve the boredom, Frances and I spent a lot of time developing our courtyard garden as the ‘coolness’ of a Greek winter allows the growth of plants only found in the summer in Scotland.
“Whilst watering a flower bed with a hose one day I heard the faint wails of cats. When I stopped watering, the sounds stopped and when I began again they returned.
“Parting the plants at the back of the bed I discovered a young terrified mother cat with her three newly born kittens, all soaking wet. Of course we fed and nurtured them until she moved them on to another place.
“This little timid feral cat crept back regularly for food and became our Covid diversion with her own cat house to sleep in and toys to play with. We had her neutered and over the following months she has become very attached to my wife.
“Greece is now becoming a much happier and joyous place but with very few British visitors. A big loss as it’s a fact that their spending contributes significantly to the economy.”
While there, Dennis and Frances received their Covid vaccines.
But “itching” to get home, Dennis was relieved when he could fly back to Scotland recently.
Frances has stayed on the island looking after their rescue cat BooBoo–Greek for little lady.
He said: “I managed, at last, to return to Lochmaben only for a month to see friends and relatives and to attend to the maintenance of my house.
“It was quite a relief because the summers are far too hot on Poros.
“At 40 degrees, there’s not much you can do but sit in the shade.
“At least in Scotland when it’s too cold you can put a jumper on.”
And Dennis has been disappointed to find Dumfries isn’t the place he was “so proud of” 20 years ago.
He said: “I’m now actually looking forward to returning to Greece because it’s much more relaxed there.
“Here, all I can see in people’s eyes is fear.
“Everybody is scared of bumping into someone in case they catch the virus and I don’t like it.
“On Poros, I can walk down the street and stop and talk to about 20 people.
“Here, you can walk down Dumfries High Street and hardly see a soul.
