Hello everyone. It has been some time since I was active on the blog and posting regularly. My excuse is probably somewhat weak but it is the best I can come up with!
Over the last nine months or so we have been quite distracted by a house renovation project. It commenced in February and was finished by our amazing builders in late July. Since then it has been a time of unpacking boxes and deciding where to hang the many pictures we have, an activity that is still not quite 100%. This is one of the most challenging of decisions, even perhaps more so than some of the architectural or building decisions (and there seemed to be at least two per day), that needed to be made!
Alongside that there has been a job change and the house move plus a whole host of other things. Matters are now much more settled and I am very much hoping to recommence posting here. as autumn closes in. I do have quite a lot of material and certainly want to tidy up some things which no longer work such as broken links for external things that have disappeared.
I am looking forward to posting on here and my Byzantine blog which has been neglected for even longer. Please do keep in touch and if you have suggestions or content to post please send it to me!
Patrick Leigh Fermor 
That’s great news, Tom! I really look forward to reading whatever you have got. And congratulations on achieving so much in what is a relatively short period of time!
Thanks for the update….
Many thanks for the update.
Quick question: ANY ideas about how Paddy’s notebooks got returned to him after the death of his Romanian lover in’76. As I understand it, the Cold War prevented any communication between them. Best, William Holland. Wholland68@yahoo.com
Hello William—As far as I know, the only notebook that got returned was the “Green Book” and Artemis Cooper explains in her biography that PLF did indeed visit Romania in 1965 when Balasha Cantacuzene was able to return it to him. I’m sure Tom has told us but, for those who may not know, the Green Book has been digitised by the National Library of Scotland. The download is of excellent quality and I’m sure there are people working on it now. It’s readable but it’s best to have a good knowledge of place names and a basic knowledge of some of the languages. https://digital.nls.uk/patrick-leigh-fermors-1933-travel-diary/archive/101267026#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=120&xywh=-73%2C-222%2C2645%2C1961
Stefan
(And keep on keeping on, Tom.)
Very good luck with the “building project” .Always a nightmare! Very pleased you haven’t forgotten about us though…..
Glad you’re still around.
😁
As recently as two days ago I was telling an American friend in Tanzania about Paddy, his books and his exploits.
As I left grad school a decade ago (as the world’s oldest student) I contemplated following his journey from Holland to Constantinople and documenting it photographically. I’m so glad that you’re helping keep the memory of this great man alive.
Thank you for your efforts.
Hans
Thank you Hans. Why not do it?
Bravo, here’s hoping that our encouragements will suffice to bring you renewed energy for posting.
Thanks for the update; good luck in all your projects; cheers
Thanks. Looking forward to the new stuff.