Cretan-homes, Crete property estate agents

Ann Lisney’s curriculum vitae reads like a careers convention; secretary, manager at a veterinary practice, swimming teacher, Oxfam shop leader, charity fundraiser, partner in a firm of landscape architects, and journalist.

In her final ten-year career as a journalist she worked on a daily newspaper which was part of the Southern Echo group. During that time she wrote about the property market, compiled the weekly motoring supplement (the highspots of which were pillion riding a Honda Goldwing on the Isle of Man TT circuit and test driving dozens of new cars) and travel items – including a series about buying land in Crete and building a new home. She eventually became sub-editor, before taking early retirement in 2004.

Since moving to Crete, she has taken up physical labour in her new garden, carving out terraces, pruning olive trees and building stone walls. In her quieter moments she reviews books that have a Greek or Cretan connection for Cretanvista, and is learning Greek.