Helicopter

According to Wiki; from the Greek words helix (έλιξ) = spiral and ptero (πτερόν) = wing
According to Tivoli; from the Greek words helix (έλιξ) = spiral and copto (κόπτω) = cut
Hence the nickname 'chopper'

Earlier in the day we had witnessed the most unusual sight of a single rotor helicopter passing across our view carrying beneath it what we could only imagine was a fire-dousing bucket. Unusual because when we have forest fires here it is far more usual to use the fixed-wing Canadairs scooping up seawater in the bay of Skiathos. At that moment we had only just arrived home from a more complicated than usual change-over at the cottage and I was unable to retrieve my camera before said whirlybird disappeared behind the trees to our right.

The change-over was more complicated than usual because during the night the pool pump had burnt out and had to be swapped for a new one forthwith. Thankfully the old pump had been making dreadful noises for long enough for a replacement to have been ordered and was just waiting for the perfect moment. The perfect moment would have been in another three weeks from now but the old pump wasn't having it. Swapping the pumps over involved closing all of the valves so that the pool didn't lose any water but we knew that one valve was leaking and so for the duration of the procedure we would be constantly losing water onto whomsoever was carrying out the work in the pump-room. As it turned out it was the drain at the bottom of the deep end causing the problem and it was possible to cover that with plastic bags and pebbles.

As a 'better-safe-than-sorry' decision we called out Kostas the plumbtrician to assist and a jolly good job we had too because some of the connections required more than the strength of a single man to undo. But in the event the pump was swapped and the pool topped up again in time for the arrival of the new guests.

And then later still we heard a chopper approaching from far enough away for me to get my camera at the ready. Not the best shot in the world but these are awfully difficult to catch. It does look suspiciously ratty to me with pointy nose, whiskers and glinting teeth.