Happy 70th Birthday Bill...

Today we had been invited down to Peyia to celebrate Bill's 70th birthday.  Having had what for us was a very late night (actually an early morning) we struggled to wake up and show willing.  I struggled even more so because yesterday I had swapped the electric blankets over so that Mum and Dad have the under-blanket ready and waiting on their bed for Christmas and we have the over-blanket on our bed.  The over-blanket has two separate remote controls, both of which require their own timer.  The two new timers made a bloody clicky whirry noise all night which didn't bother John at all but which drove me NUTS!!!  These are going to have to be changed if I am to remain sane.

It was a stormy day up here in the hills with heavy cloud and bursts of rain but I am pleased to say that the polythene covering over the pergola between the buildings is holding up well.  The protection that it provides from the rain and the wind is fantastic and means that I have somewhere I can put the airer to freshen up towels or dry off washing even when it is raining.

The cloud formations over the mountains were stunning and I know I say it every time but the mountains are magnificent whatever the season, whatever the weather.

Mum had rung earlier in the morning to say that the weather down on the coast was, surprise surprise, warm and bright - it does make it difficult to know what to wear - last night I was layered up like Michelin Man to go to Mel and Simon's and it was so warm in their house I had to start stripping off what I could whilst retaining my decency!  

Mum also said that Dad had had a fall yesterday - she was obviously going for the insurance as she had plugged in a heater in the bedroom and wheeled it into the bathroom inadvertently leaving a loop in the cable. Dad found the loop and then went flying narrowly avoiding a more catastrophic accident as he didn't go through the shower cabinet glass doors he did however badly bang his arm and leg and was generally shaken but not stirred.  

Mum was right about the weather down on the coast - it was beautiful - we picked up Dad and took him with us to Bill and Liz's whilst Mum went and picked up Eileen.  I took this photograph as John was driving along the stretch of road from the old Banana Bar to Coral Bay.  

We noticed that the old Banana Bar has been gutted and is being done up.  Although they always threatened that they would go neither Keith nor John ever got to go there and sample the delights of the dubious ladies that were purported to frequent it!

We made our way up the hill in Peyia to Liz and Bill's bungalow.  As you can see the view is stunning and how lovely to see people sat outside enjoying the sunshine on December 18th - cant be bad can it?  

Today gave us the opportunity to catch up with Nicky and Mark (Liz being Nicky's mum) and make arrangements as we want to see them before Christmas.  We will all be together on Boxing Day as Liz, Bill, Nicky and Mark will be walking at Latchi and partaking of pasties and mulled wine as we have done on a number of Boxing Days previously.

We had a lovely afternoon with some scrummy food all made by Liz's fair hands and finished off with a cake made by Nicky accompanied by some bubbly - I am sure that birthday boy Bill had a nice day although he might have preferred to have been out on his beloved motor bike instead!!  I am not sure that at 70 he plans to quieten down!