All Roads lead to Droushia...

We took this video on the Bloody Blackberry when we first arrived in Cyprus in May and were travelling back and forth to Droushia on a daily basis getting the house ready to move into.  We had forgotten all about it but found it last night so thought you might be interested in it.  For us, it reminds us of what the area looks like in the spring and we are really looking forward to spring arriving again although we think we have the worst couple of months to come - we have seen a list of the coptic storms and it looks as though there are loads in January and February - deep joy.

Today however, was another bright day with plenty of sunshine although cooler than yesterday as the weather was coming from Turkey across the sea bringing a chill to the wind.  Bright days inspire us to get up and get on with stuff keen to knock things off of our 'to-do' list.

My mum was going into hospital today to have the carpal tunnels in her right hand sorted - she was in and out in no time and rang to let us know all was ok - this evening she has been texting me left handed!!  She is expecting the local anaesthetic to wear off during the course of today and so she will probably experience more pain tomorrow - no pickle-ball for her then!

This picture is for all those of you who doubted that I could grown my potatoes in the bag.  Here is proof!!!  

Not ready in time for Christmas unfortunately and I should have waited a bit longer plus the cost of the compost far outweighed the yield but hey-ho I did it and I shall probably do it again later in the year at the right time because there is nothing quite like fresh new potatoes in a salad!  I probably wont bother with growing much of anything else. 

One of the many jobs we tackled today was putting a protective coat of paint on the flat roof.  Although we had the flat roof done just before we came over we thought it would do no harm to put extra protection up there.  

As usual I always get covered in paint but today John leant across it when it was wet and it dries like a flexible plastic so he ended up peeling it off and removing the arm hairs underneath - he says he doesn't know what we women moan about when we have our bits waxed!!  We worked well together again today so well in fact that I have been permanently promoted to an AB1 and my reward is that I get to watch the footie on the TV tonight!

I had an urge for some domestic goddessry this afternoon particularly as I had some fruit and veg that needed dealing with before it was too late.  I have preserved some lemons - I see a number of recipes (particularly Moroccan) that ask for preserved lemons so I have found a recipe and am giving it a go.  The remainder of the citrus fruit that is past its best has been turned into a large batch of marmalade and the rather sad veg has been made into a very tasty soup which we had for tea tonight and had quite a kick to it courtesy of the coriander.  Then I did a load of ironing - managed to get washing on the line today but wasn't too sure that it was 100% dry - John thinks I got swapped in the night for someone who likes doing laundry - I haven't the heart to tell him it is only so I can be sure that it is all dry before it gets puts away - still he thinks himself very lucky that he has ironed pants and, can you believe it, socks!!!

I couldn't resist putting this photograph in - it is a bit of a happy accident that looks better in black and white because I got the exposure wrong!!  Just wanted to show you that our little boy - that scrawny kitten that was near to death in the garden next door is growing into a right old bruiser and stretches almost the length of John's legs like our old cat Sam used to do!

Minnie seems better today after being knocked of her paws yesterday with the injection - they are now both in and out of the cat flap like a fiddler's elbow and we have managed to move the cat litter outside - progress is being made.