Day 81...

I obviously wasn't thinking straight last night when we got in late.  I did my little blog post to inform you all that it was late and I would catch up today and then I actually forgot to publish it so sorry for any confusion.  Just to clarify today is Friday 22nd July 2011 and it is our 81st day in Cyprus.

Yesterday was unbelievably hot and sticky even in Droushia and we weren't sure whether or not we were going to get a powercut in the morning as usual so we got up and did our early morning fitness regime - me on the Wii doing 30 minutes of step and running and balance, John (still in dispute with the machine's assessment of his BMI and weight) honing his golfing skills.  Still I suppose that is better than nothing!!

No power cut so we had brunch and then set off down to Paphos because I was (madly) going to play pickleball with the menfolk and John was going to do some DIY shopping and spend the afternoon with Mum and Dad.

It must have been hot because even the pickle-ball hardened menfolk decided that it was too hot to play for the whole hour and a half so we finished early and I cant say I was sorry - I was absolutely dripping - most unpleasant I can tell you.  John said that if anyone had cockroaches they only needed to throw one of my trainers into the mix and they would scarper quick-time!

Back at Mum and Dad's they had a powercut and it was sweltering plus I was supposed to be giving Rosie and Jim (Dave) nextdoor a computer lesson and of course I couldnt.  The pool was a warm and sticky 92 degrees so gave no respite from the heat but still we managed a lovely barbeque tea before collecting Ray and Janice and headed off for the quiz at Sid's.  Once again we didn't disgrace ourselves but neither did we win (unlikely when the winning team had 12-13 members!!).  The jackpot prize didnt go either so next week will be a very healthy €800!!!

As we were expecting the electricity inspection early this morning I drove back from Paphos after the quiz.  On pulling up on the drive we were surprised to see that during the course of the afternoon someone had been in and tidied up our neighbouring villa - and blimey they must have worked like trojans because it was very overgrown and now looks quite neat and tidy - dont know if that means we are going to have neighbours or whether the owner is just coming during the holiday period in August.

Anyway onto today and we were expecting our electricity inspection at around 10.00am so that we could be switched over to our own meter - you can tell by the word expecting that things didnt exactly go to plan.  Savvas, our electrician of few words, arrived early and slapped this very attractive sign on the kitchen unit door that covers the fuse panel - telling us that we could remove it once the inspection was completed.

He then looked at the tiling in the kitchen and announced 'problema' - deep joy...  the 'problema' was the fact that we have a fused spur and a socket which is right next to the draining board and so water could get into them.  Bugger - they didn't really need to be there we had moved them for aesthetics before the sink was installed.  Savvas left telling us that he would return when Mr Laisides arrived at 10.00am for the inspection.  John and I ran round like blue-assed flies removing any unwanted electrical items from sockets and multiple sockets and sat and waited... and waited... and waited...

Eventually Savvas returned with his brother-in-law (who we think is called Stelios) to explain that Mr Laisides was delayed with a problema in Lissos and so would not be coming until Tritti (Tuesday) but that Stelios would come on Deftera (Monday) to install some waterproof sockets so that there would be no problema.  He is such a great guy to know so if anyone in Cyprus is looking for an electrician let us know and we will give you his phone number.

I forgot to mention that we had the most fantastic e-card for our anniversary from our dear friends Roger and Joani.  It featured beautiful tropical flowers and inspired us to try and find a Bird of Paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae) to plant in the garden as a reminder of two very very special friends (plus their dog Daisy).

We went down into Polis to do our shopping and I had asked John to go to the garden centre/nursery that I had seen just past the supermarkets but for some reason he headed off to the Farmer's Union trading estate and the nursery that is opposite.  I am really glad that he did because it was manned by the most fantastic old and weathered Cypriot guy.  I had taken a photograph of what I wanted and he asked me the name - I said to him Bird of Paradise and he said no what was the proper name which I made a reasonable stab at and he was well impressed and so I think I became his friend for life!!!  I will certainly use that place again - the one downside is that he had cages of some really lovely looking rabbits and when I asked him if they were for eating he said "of course!"  When I turned my nose up he asked me if I ate lamp (lamb) or beef or chicken or fish and I guess he had a point!

We spent a couple of hours in Polis doing our shopping.  The picture to the left is to show you that supermarket shopping is much the same the world over.  This is Orphanides supermarket which is new to Polis - we shop here or Papantonious across the road and supplement the shop with goods from Chillies (frozen) or GB's (clue in the title - imported goods not available elsewhere). 

So far we have found shopping fairly reasonable and we are embracing lots of local produce and experiencing different tastes and flavours.

The trip back from Polis (and to Polis for that matter) takes us on a stretch of road which has a strange phenomenon in that you think you are going uphill when in fact you are going downhill and vice versa.  Looking at the photograph - are we travelling uphill or downhill???  When you are on this bit of road it quite definitely looks like you are travelling uphill but in fact it is downhill!

On this road is a good taverna, Karithea.  There is a quiz there on August 25th but we will be back in England then getting ready for Ellie's wedding so we wont be able to attend that one.

Just thought you would like to get a feel for the views on the road back to Droushia.  We stopped at Karithea (which is right next to this goat farm) to take these shots - below you can see Droushia nestled up in the hills - when we first started coming to this area none of the developments in the hills were there but things move on and on the whole the development has been reasonably sympathetic.

Back home I have spent the afternoon cooking.  The weather has been much different today with quite a bit of cloud.  We can hear the water bearing helicopters in the distance - there must be fires across towards Polis - not surprising when you see how dry everything has become.

John has just been off to invite our Nicosian neighbours round for drinks - they are coming Sunday night.  Special tea and movie tonight for us as it is Friday... shall we watch "In her Shoes" (chick flick) or "Tristan and Isolde"????