Two garbage-collecting mules mysteriously “disappeared” and rubbish remained uncollected in certain areas of Hydra the day after our new mayor, Mr Kotronis, took office. It quickly transpired that the mules had been “re-possessed” by our former Mayor Mr Anastopoulos, who claimed them as his private property. Mr Kotronis argued that they belonged to the municipality…Further fuel was added to the heated dispute when, on entering the Mayor’s office, Mr Kotronis discovered that the Mayoral chair, or “throne” had also taken flight – together with many paintings.

After an initial lively shouting match in the port, (gleefully witnessed by many), over ownership of the mules, the paintings and the “throne”, the dispute is now being conducted through the rather more genteel means of written correspondence.

Unsurprisingly, even here there is further friction … for although Mr Kotronis addresses his adversary by his surname and writes to him using the politely formal plural, Mr Anastopoulos replies using the colloquial single form and addresses Mr Kotronis by only his first name ... thus raising the latter Mayor’s written objection to the former Mayor’s over-familiar tone … as well as to his apparent lack of receipts…

All locks on all mayoral doors have now been changed … a classic example, perhaps, of “closing the stable door after the horse has bolted”.

Contribution and photo from CS - 04/05/07