Sunday 30 October 2016

Lunch Out...

This Sunday mum and dad and John and I were being treated to lunch at Sheila and Klaus's - this is always a welcome invitation as Klaus is a great cook and we always have a nice time there and it is good that the six of us socialise well together even though we span different generations.

Mum and Dad were leaving Emba at about 11.30 so we had the morning to do a few bits and pieces and I wanted to spend a little time tidying the garden.

If we were in any doubt that it is now Autumn up in these hills the colours in the fields and trees give it away.

BigFoot and her foal have been moved and are now directly opposite our house so when we look down to the coast we can see them.  BigFoot is looking a little better - less skinny than she was so hopefully she is getting more nourishment or her foal is less demanding.  Anyway we see Sharon going over regularly so know that they are always near water and that she gives them a little treat!  John also goes and checks and ensures they get water.

At the moment the mornings are cool and damp but give way to beautiful days followed by clear nights when the temperature drops quite considerably.  We don't mind - winter no longer comes as a shock to us - we are prepared or at least as prepared as we can be, wood is on hand, the slow cooker and pressure cooker have been dusted off and we have electricity in the bank.

The additional moisture in the atmosphere means that I do not have to water to often and there is still colour in the garden - it needs to hang on just a couple more weeks for Sally and Tommy and then everything will be cut back and the covers on the gazebos will be taken down for another year - that is providing we dont get an unexpected storm in the meantime which rips them to shreds - that is what usually happens.

Anyway back to the flowers - the clockvine continues to bloom with its beautiful delicate purple blooms which hang down like bunches of grapes.  I have to keep on top of it as it is beginning to cause a bit of a mess with the dead flowers dropping and falling into the pool which drives John mad.

I went up onto the roof terrace and swept up all the debris from there and ensured the drain was clear (one year we didn't realise that a lightbulb had found its way into the drain and after heavy rain found we had a swimming pool sitting above our kitchen which was a tad worrying).  This year the flat roof has been tiled and hopefully this will ensure that we get no problems in that area - time will tell.


Another winner in the garden is the common passion flower that scrambles over the stone wall at the back of the property - it flowers all summer and is continuing to do so - it will get a severe haircut in due course but once again it is too soon.  This striking flower is full of reverence and symbolism.  Called "Espina de Cristo" (Christ's Thorns) by the Spanish Christian Missionaries who first discover it in South America, each part of the flower holds a symbolic meaning in recognition of the crucifixion story - the Passion of Christ.  Five sepals and five petals refer to the ten faithful apostles (excluding Judas and Peter).  The three stigma represent the three nails that held Christ to the cross, the five anthers represent his five sacred wounds.  The tendrils of the flower are said to resemble the whips used in the flagellation and the filaments (which can number in excess of a hundred) depict the crown of thorns.

Finally the marigold plants which Elaine gave me months and months ago have produced some flowers - it is clear by the size and shape of the plant and the size and shape of the flowers that these are what are known as Tagetes rather than the French of African marigolds with which I am more familiar.

The plants, where they survived, have grown to about two foot tall and only now have flowered.  Those that I planted in pots grew and grew, began to die off from the bottom and got removed before they had chance to bloom but the two or three that survived are now full of flower and providing some bright splashes of colour in the garden. I don't know if these are the perennial sort but they may well struggle with the conditions here if they are.

So that's about it for the garden at the moment.  I spent sometime cutting a few unruly bushes back and sweeping up the rubbish and then got ready for lunch before Mum and Dad arrived.  They said they had a nice quiet run until they got to Stroumbi - they didn't come Peyia way as it appears the road is still closed near the Old Cinema where they seem to be rebuilding a wall.


Lunch at Kafe Knipps did not disappoint.  How lovely to be able to sit outside and have our drinkies in October!!  It was lovely sat under the gazebo whilst poor Klaus toiled away in the kitchen!!!  We all think it is warmer this year than it was at the same time last year and no real rain seems to be forecast for a while at least - good news for tourists but bad news for the island as a whole.


We sat inside for our meal - a lovely three courses which tasted all the better for me not having to cook it!!!  We began with a halloumi starter which was followed by a delicious chicken in blankets dish with scrummy crushed potatoes and carrots and beans and then rounded off with a sweet made by Sheila which was delicious and which I will get to sample again tomorrow with a cuppa at art.

Before it got too late Mum and Dad returned home - next week the clocks will have changed and it will get darker so much quicker - then we need to make sure they are definitely travelling in daylight or staying over as we sorry about them doing that 30 minute winding drive back to Emba.

John and I enjoyed a snuggly night in watching the TV before retiring for an early night - too early for me as it happens - I struggled to get off to sleep!

1 comment:

  1. Lovely to have you all here. You are all very special to us.

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.