A Bit of Peace and Quiet...

My sister and her clan got home safely and we were having a bit of a quiet day after all the excitement of the past two weeks.  It is lovely having visitors but we have to return to normality at some point and our waistlines will appreciate it if nothing else.

As a thank-you for all that John and I did towards their holiday Kaye and Co have us a stunning Gerbera.  Now I don't know whether this would survive a winter up here if we plant it outside so I am not taking any chances - based on my experiences of last winter - and am going to keep it in a pot so that it can be brought inside.  In the end we decided that we will plant it up in the enormous cup and saucer that Mum and Dad found for us after we had seen some at Maria's Tea Rooms in Souni.  I think it will look champion in that and currently it has pride of place in the conservatory on the dining room table and I will do my best not to kill it with kindness!

The temperature has now ramped up and apparently we are in for a mini heatwave this weekend according to Helen (Wheelie Cyprus Helen) who called round this morning with some chilli plants and some fresh apricots.

John and I went round to neighbours Marian and Chris who are returning to France to try and sell their house there.  Not sure how long they are going to be but they are travelling with the cats - two of which go as hand luggage - we have never heard of this before and are fascinated by the prospect so watch out if you are on a flight sat next to the Steele's you might just get more than you bargained for!

I am taking over the organisation of the events for the Droushia Ladies Club.  As it is so hot then I thought I might try for something different rather than a heavy lunch so for July I have organised High Tea at the Spa with a swim and tour of the facilities thrown in.

On our return from the Steele's we decided to go for a dip now that the pool has reached the dizzy heights of 84 degrees and it is beautiful.  Although John had a bit of an issue with the filter the other day and the water went cloudy it seems to be ok now and although we have contemplated getting rid of the pool on a day like today there is nowhere nicer to be.  We are continuing to cover the pool at night to keep the temperature up and the bugs out!  I have asked Debra when she comes if she might be able to bring over some cheap costumes because the chemicals and the sun wreak havoc with the lycra and they are an arm and a leg out here.

Although it is very hot it is not too hot for the cats to continue to snuggle up together now and again - they must be boiling in that basket!  They are finding it warm now and not eating as much and beginning to look a bit lean and come home from their daily sorties covered in burrs and grass seeds.  One of them obviously slept out under the gazebo last night and spent it picking his/her feet if the state of the cushions is anything to go by!  Bless them!!!  Just a word of warning to anyone coming to visit - be prepared to get covered in cat's hairs.

We have made a decision that if we are being sensible it is too hot to play pickleball for an hour and a half of an afternoon so we are giving it a rest until the weather cools.  We were still going down to Paphos to have tea with Mum and Dad and Aunty Joyce and Uncle David - in fact we were having what was left of the Stifado from Tuesday night and, as I didn't eat any then, I was looking forward to it.  Beforehand though we had to play a couple of rounds of nomination whist with Dad making a pathetic attempt at scoring being closely scrutinised by his sister!

Kaye and Co also bought Mum and Dad a plant by way of a thank-you - it was a dipladenia and looking very healthy too.  They wanted a pot for it which they found and which was paid for by my aunt and uncle.  It is looking resplendent in the corner of the patio.  I expect it will survive much better down there than the ones we planted in the garden up here which took a right old hammering in the winter.

Whilst we were down in Emba Mum had news regarding her second carpel operation. It looks as though she will be able to have the operation in the next couple of weeks which will be good for her - she recovered well from the first one so fingers crossed.