John is 50 - my dad is 86...

Today John reached his half century and after meticulous planning for a special birthday celebration things started to unravel last night when we started to put together the party bag/packed lunch gifts for the people attending and realised we couldn't find all the contents - with very little time before Paps shut John had to shoot off - divorce proceedings would just have to wait on this occasion.  We got the bags completed - carefully checking each one and then wondering how we were going to transport them all - it all looked so simple when the Jumbos brown carriers were new and flat but now stuffed with a cup, bottle of wine, bottle of water/beer and nibbles their volume had grown ten fold.

I thought it would be best, given it was going to be a long, alcohol themed day, to give the birthday boy and his mum a good lining to their stomachs so we all sat down to a good old fashioned English fry-up to set us up for the day.

The plan was that we would start the celebrations off at the Droushia Heights Hotel and our guests would meet us there save for Jackie and Costas (Tea for Two) who, with the businesses to keep an eye on were likely to be late and so I had told them where they were to meet us and when so that if they were delayed it wouldn't matter - we were just glad that they were able to come given their very busy schedules.

Somehow although I had lists and lists of lists and checklists for the lists things started to slide plus it was hot and I was bothered - I so wanted it all to be perfect for John and we seemingly had so much time and then it all started to slip away and my seven P's turned into 3 S's (shitty, shoddy scheduling) and I could have kicked myself for not taking a deep breath and making sure everything was accounted for but I didn't and I really only have myself to blame - that and the bloody driver - but more of that later.

John opened the cards and gifts he had received so far and then received a visit from John (no Liselotte but she had been up since the crack of sparrows baking special Danish Bread for him).  John brought a hamper of Danish goodies with him and in return my John introduced him to that age-old Cypriot custom of a slug of Zivania to start the day - not familiar with that one?  No nor was I and nor was the other John but gave it a crack!

We set off for the Hotel where we had the little terrace to ourselves for pre-outing drinkies - the intention was to limit that to wine and water but that went out the window when I forgot and asked for a lime and soda!!!  We had hired an old fashioned village bus as a surprise to take us to our destination.  On its arrival it was involved in an accident involving a rather nice sporty Mercedes.  This necessitated a change of driver who had to come from Paphos and time was ticking on as we needed to leave at 12.30pm sharp.  In the panic which ensued I managed to get the gift bags on the bus but the driver stowed one in a place I didn't look in.  I also left behind the bag containing the ipod, selfie stick, mum's tonics, the extension lead and my spare shoes.  I was just about to have a complete melt-down and John was about to start driving the bus himself when Matthew our replacement driver arrived at 12.31 and we literally shoved people on the bus.  I didn't find the four missing gift bags until on the way home but as Jackie and Costas didn't make the bus and John and I gave up our bags all the other guests got theirs.

The road trip was an experience to say the least - the inability to find 2nd gear was worrying and when we ground to a halt just outside Droushia I was about to throw my toys well and truly out of the pram but John showed Matthew the error of his double declutching technique and eventually we got going through fabulous countryside with everyone trying to guess our destination - if they had only cottoned on that their small bottle of wine were from Tsangarides Winery they might have worked it out sooner.

We arrived to one of the most beautiful settings you could imagine just at the same time as Costas and Jackie which was excellent and we quickly got people seated.  Mum, Janet and I were the table clippies and so wearing our badges we were responsible for making sure the people on our tables had everything they needed - apparently I failed to tell our table that they could go on a wine tour after the food but by that time I was so relieved the day had sorted itself out I think I just forgot.

We had hired a singer and guitarist to entertain us whilst we ate - we hadn't actually heard him before but had seen a few videos on the internet - in fact I hadn't actually managed to get to meet him either plus I had left the spare extension lead back in the car.  As it turned out none of this mattered - he was excellent - actually better than excellent and was just so right for the occasion - he even got us up and dancing!!  Four people visiting the winery from Letymbou couldn't believe their luck to have chosen to go when 30 mad people pitched up to celebrate - there was nothing for it but to include them in the afternoon and we soon became 34 - I had put a postcard in each party bag asking that the diverse group we had invited left having made new friends and that certainly happened.

We had concocted a 'just for fun' quiz all about John that had people guessing and sidling up trying to get me to divulge the answers - we had done the same for his 40th and didn't think people would bother but they all got in the swing and the people at the celebration today did exactly the same.

So we wined and dined our guests, some did the wine tour - we plan to return on another day to do it in peace, we had musical entertainment, a bit of a quiz and a rather hair raising ride to and from Droushia in a bus which was over 60 years old.  We made friends with four complete strangers from Letymbou and generally I think everyone that came had a good time.  It is difficult to think of something that would appeal to a wide range of ages but we hope that this provided a bit of a unique day for people.  By the time we were due to leave I had calmed down and was beginning to enjoy myself too.

Before we knew it, it was time to get back on the coach and wend our way back to Droushia with Matthew honking his horn madly and blaring out typical Cypriot music with Mina declaring her undying love for just about everyone on the bus and me happy when the four missing goodie bags were found because it proved I hadn't been going mad after all.

Lou who gets very travel sick was happy to be let out at the Oaks with Mina and Clare whilst H travelled back to collect his car.  The return journey was without incident thank goodness and its arrival back during the late afternoon sunshine
provided us with some great photo opportunities, even some of the guests staying at the hotel rushed out with their cameras to get some shots.  These lovely lovely buses which used to be such a common site in and around the villages are now a rarity and I am guessing that it wont be too long before they disappear completely if the state of this one's gearbox is anything to go by!

We said goodbye to some of our party at that point - and the remainder of us went back to the terrace to finish off the carafes of wine we had started beforehand and for John to open the cards and presents which we had left there for safekeeping.  It all got a bit sketchy as to exactly who gave John what as he got very excited opening his gifts!There was a massive Gin theme or Sheffield United theme going on!

We decided to finish our evening by having what was supposed to one last drink in Finnikas in the village but that is fatal as having consumed quite a bit of alcohol the remaining group got the munchies and so we ended up ordering a mini-meze!!  Bless Marina and her family - they just put on their pinnies and got stuck in and delivered some of the most amazing food you could wish for when you aren't expecting anything.

We love it there and we love the fact that we probably made their evening even if we were a bit loud.  It felt like about midnight when we got in there but I think it was probably only about 8.00pm!  10 euros a head later with very very full stomachs and a nice warm glow we all admitted defeat and made our way home to bed.  All that planning and it was over - just so long as everyone had a good time that was all that mattered.

John was asleep before his head touched the pillow, Janet's fit bit thingy shows she had a good 8+ hours sleep, I fretted over the whereabouts of Boo and Charlie so got up to find them in the early hours - happy once they had pitched up.

Boo's injury isn't looking so good and it is right next to his eye - I don't want a repeat of last time so plan to take him to the vets on Monday just to be on the safe side.

We have a special lunch planned tomorrow for my Dad - it was his birthday today too but it all got a bit over shadowed so we wanted to make a bit of a fuss of him tomorrow instead.