Friends made: 9 (50:50 verbal v non-verbal relationships)
ABBA streams: 9,373,393 (pls send help or new playlist)
Books read: Wide Sargasso Sea, Still Life, Ex-Wife (hermit book club coming soon)
Freckle Count: 924 (hopefully will turn into one mega freckle ie tan?!)
No, surely not, Greek gods above, please tell me this isn’t the halfway point?!
If week one was about softening and slowing then week two has morphed into a week long exercise in re-connection.
On the one hand, inwardly, with me, myself and I. Emotions, feelings, thoughts - all the good stuff. Dissecting the past 24 months (who am I kidding, 29 years) and starting to piece everything back together.
But also externally in the form of suncream samaritans. New (and nude) beach friends. Mastiha bearing waiters.
Reconnecting
This week, I’ve found myself repeatedly struck by the joy of small human interactions. The quiet ones. The absurd ones. The non-verbal ones.
It’s easy, in London, to be surrounded by people all day. Shoved into a stranger’s armpit on the tube. Going through your sun salutations in a studio full of 30 yoga girlies. Waiting in the queue for the self-service check-outs.
And yet should someone smile, or (heaven forbid!!) attempt to start a conversation, we look away. Become instantly distracted in the v v important message that needs replying to ASAP on our phone.
It’s easy to forget how good it feels to be part of a shared social ecosystem, even if only fleetingly.






Out here, I’ve remembered.
Remembered just how nice people are. How good it feels to learn a stranger’s name. To smile with people you don’t know and probably won’t see again. Remembered just how touching a seemingly simple act of kindness can be.
And maybe that’s what’s surprised me most. I came here craving solitude which I’ve had in spades. But I’ve also found something else.
Community. A fleeting little hermit community of island dwellers, expats and fellow off-grid explorers. It’s kinda weird but completely lovely.
So in honour of this (v accidental) social renaissance, here are this week’s Hermit Highlights:
Flower picking my way to childhood wonder
Watching two Americans go from boardshorts to beach bums (Ian and Bridgid, welcome to la famiglia)
The solo date night of dreams
Pure running bliss (until ankle incident)
Collecting shells and emotional clarity
The unexpected joy of reading deprivation
Making birthday suit friends
Surprise mastiha bearing visitors
Seeing the stars at night
Enjoying eating with no distractions, just savouring
Writing love letters to the girls who are there every step of the way
Maybe, just maybe, becoming a hat person
The pink colour of the sky post-tempest
So here’s to week two, the week I realised you can be a hermit and a bit of a social butterfly too. Hmm, well maybe moth would be more apt. But you get the picture.
Week three, much more of the same please. Just preferably with fewer running injuries and storms.









Isn’t it interesting how when we make space in our lives the most beautiful insights unfold in the most unexpected ways. I look forward to Week 3 insights - thank you!
As an expat, I know how important the feeling of belonging and community are. This was a beautiful ready, thank you :)