A meal at the Page's

We have, by our standards, a busy weekend ahead as it is my birthday and we have arranged to go out with Di and Rob on Friday and then John has promised to spoil me on Saturday and then we are meeting up with Mum, Jane and John for lunch on Sunday.  I do not remember anything about my birthday last year - it was, after all, only a few days after Dad's funeral so I am guessing we did nothing and I would have wanted to do nothing but life goes on and so this year I think John wants to make up for it.  He had better get his thinking cap on for next year because that is to be a milestone for me.  Anyway so today we were having a quiet day at home before going down to Emba this evening, picking up Mum and then going on to Jane and John's for a meal there.

We did lots of bits and pieces some of which involved John contemplating his packing as he is going back to the UK for a visit on Monday - for a man who spent most of his working life living out of a suitcase he absolutely hates packing!!

I am pleased to report that the weather has bucked up its ideas which is good for Jane and John who are keen walkers and who have an early start tomorrow when they will be walking around Letimbou.  Our car, which had been sitting under the carport, showed an internal temperature of 27 degrees when we got inside but once we started it soon dropped to a more realistic 19 degrees but this is very pleasant and always leaves us with a dilemma about what to wear when we are leaving the chilly hills to go down to the warmer coastline.  Jane and John's rented apartment has aircon units which can also provide heat although not when she is cooking otherwise it all causes too much strain on their electricity supply!!



By the look of the sun as it set this evening we should be treated to another fine and warm day tomorrow.  In fact as the sun slipped down to the horizon it was absolutely enormous but sadly too far away for me to get a decent picture.  We arrived at Mum's in time for John to try and tackle her ongoing ant problem.  Ants are an issue over here in Cyprus - they just seem to find their way in anywhere.  The problem is exacerbated by the fact that they are making their way into the kitchen via the sunroom which was originally outside space so there are all sorts of nooks and crannies for them to investigate.  It is an ongoing battle but one which we are determined to win!

Hats off to Jane who, despite her protestations, produced a very nice meal from what is not an easy kitchen to work in, not least because the markings on the hob and knobs have been worn off.  Jane and John have been coming to Cyprus for years and were friends of Mum and Dad back in their Keinton Mandeville days which Mum and Dad left around 30 years ago.  It was sad but fitting that they were here when Dad died and it was they that we called to keep Mum company when we were racing down from Droushia on that fateful morning.  We were so grateful that they were there and still thank them for their help and support at such a difficult time.

Hats off to Mum too.  I know that this has been a very difficult week for her.  Anniversaries are hard as is revisiting places or re-doing things which we would have done previously with Dad but as I said earlier life goes on and we can still have, and will have, good times and fun together.  We had a giggle trying to do this selfie!!