Day 104...

So last night then...

I dont think that I had pointed out that John and I had gone for an early tea and had demolished a rather large home made chicken curry before our neighbours called in and landed the bombshell that Philippos might want to see us all for a meal.  I hadnt been quick enough to say that maybe we could do it another time as we were fit to burst and had missed John's signals to that effect but part of me thought that (a) we should go and get to know our neighbours and (b) accept Philippos's kind invitation as he has been pretty good to John and I and is clearly a man in the know who might prove helpful in the future - he has fingers in many many pies!!

So sure enough just as the music outside was ramping up (neighbour at 12a as it turns out and not the hot-shot singer) Gregory called round to say that we had to be down at the Elia Village immediately so we did a quick change and jumped in the car with Gregory and Theodora and headed down into Latchi.

We cant quite work out what the connection is between the Elia Village and Philippos - we surmise that he is there in some sort of consultant capacity to get the village full and profitable.  He is clearly very enthusiastic about the potential of the village because it is in an excellent location and set in 65 acres of gardens with panoramic views all over the bay (these are not my photos by the way - I have taken them from the Elia Village website).

When we arrived at the Village and eventually found Philippos he was like a whirlwind - running around in his shorts herding us to the upstairs dining room where the food was 'on the table' and on the table it was!!  We were treated to a village salad (without tomatoes much to Philippos's disgust because he is, in his own words, a tomato man!!) halloumi, sheftalia, potatoes and souvla chicken and pork.  All rather nice as it happens and John and I did a reasonable job at eating some despite the curry earlier!!

Philippos, Gregory and Theodora proved to be great company and outside of work Philippos is an absolute hoot - he has obviously got a new phrase of "I was pissed off" or the American "I was pissed" which regularly cropped up in our conversations.  Bless them they spoke English all night so that we would not feel at a disadvantage.  We retired to another bar for coffee which was ultimately made by Gregory and Philippos and could do with a little work!!  In this bar the evening entertainment was in full flow (a little too 18-30esque for our liking) - culminating in a challenge for participants to get as many T-shirts from the audience as possible.  The withering look Philippos gave some chavvy girl holidaymaker as she screamed "get your shirts off NOWWWWWWWW" was worthy of an Oscar!!!

Evening finally over we returned home - this time the hot-shot singer was in full flow and I mean full flow - there was nothing for it but to try and ignore him and watch Match of the Day and the Football League show which as you will realise is 2 hours later here in Cyprus and of course now we have to wait until the Championship reports are over before getting to Sheffield United meaning that we didnt get to bed until 2.00 am - hot-shot man still singing his lungs out - we think he finished sometime between 2.30am and 3.00am!!

Needless to say that meant we didnt rise too early this morning.  We were planning a little DIY but nothing too strenuous or noisy as we are conscious that we have neighbours now!  That sort of went out the window when John unpacked the new loo to find that the waste did not, as agreed, go straight down but was in fact designed to go through a wall.  Bugger-it we will have to change it and you can bet that shop is now on its annual holidays.

So we decided to do a lazy Sunday thing and I set about making some birthday cards as Kaye's is early September so I will need to take it back to England with me.  Dad, John and Uncle David all have their birthday on 16th September and will be here together, Nicky's Mark has his birthday the next day as does Suzie who will be well into her 90's.  (Cant show you the handiwork as I know some of the recipients dutifully read the blog!).

John took the opportunity to clean the pool and the solar panels - they needed doing and although the photo doesnt really give the impression it is a lot cooler up here than it has been.  In fact last night we didnt need the fan on in the bedroom.  Philippos tells us that normally the weather gradually cools from August 15th (the bank holiday).  We certainly hope that it doesnt cool too much or Trevor and Vix and Laura and Mark will have to come in thermals!!  The pool is remaining a fairly constant 28 degrees celsius at the moment which is really quite pleasant and refreshing and with the temperatures in Yeovil being reported at around 20 degrees celsius is considerably warmer than there!!! 

Just had to publish this series of photographs which is not John dancing to YMCA.

In actual fact he is trying to get one of the beautiful humming-bird moths out of the kitchen so that I could get on with cooking tea...

...Massive pork chops tonight which will please John no end - they are his favourite and even I will eat them now providing they aren't overcooked.  So pork chops, merrydown cider and two footie matches on Sky TV - what more could a man want?? (Answers on a postcard please and only clean ones!!).

Vix just to let you know that I am testing out the pseudo-Cinzano before you come over and so far so good!!!  In fact so good we may have to purchase a second bottle!!