Making New Friends...

GREAT NEWS...

... we had a text last night from Laura to say she had booked her flight over for the end of March - that is fantastic news first Vix and then Laura - John and I are both excited and are busy planning what we will do when they are over - unlikely in February that sunbathing will be possible for Vix (not that she is bothered) but maybe the end of March will bring that opportunity for Laura.

Anyway back to today we had a second day of Sunday routine even though it was a Saturday.

Today were were going to do something which, if we were kids or juveniles, you would say we were crazy to do - meet total strangers that had got in touch with us via the internet.

Through the wonders of technology or more specifically this blog we have been contacted by one of my followers. Wendy and her husband Bill currently have a holiday home in Pissouri Village.  Wendy has been following my ramblings because she has been interested in hearing about all our different experiences moving from England to Cyprus. It could be that in the future she and Bill might do the same and as I found out the more research you do the better and learning from others is the best homework you can do.

Anyway we had agreed to meet at Faros at 12.30 for lunch as they are both familiar with the taverna and like Latchi.  As a result we didn't rush to get up we just let the cats in for an early morning cuddle and snooze on the bed before showering and setting off for the coast.  The forecast had been really bad for today but it was just overcast and very very windy (so windy it blew the guttering off of the flat roof).

We had managed to find Wendy and Bill on Facebook so we were pretty sure we would recognise them if they were there before us or when they arrived.  We knew a little about them from snippets that Wendy had emailed but apart from that we were meeting two strangers for lunch - we wondered whether the same thoughts were running through their minds like 'what if we have nothing in common?' or 'what if we can't find anything to talk about?'

We arrived first - but then we would wouldn't we because you all know what John is like about time-keeping (ex-military and all that!).  We opted to sit inside because it was only about 15 degrees out and overcast and inside they had loads of patio and kerosene heaters kicking out plenty of heat.  There were some mad souls though sitting outside but they were probably smokers because along with everywhere else the tavernas are supposed to enforce the smoking ban although to be honest there are plenty of places that don't.

John nipped outside to take a look at the works they are doing outside to tidy up the marina walkways and make them more disabled friendly and at that point Bill and Wendy arrived.  Any thoughts of this being an awkward meeting just went out of the window because right from the outset it felt like we had known them for years - but like they said they already felt they new us having read all our exploits on the blog.

We were talking so much that it was quite some time before Assen could take our order for lunch!  I am mortified that I took such a poor photograph of them after Wendy had commented on how good my photographs usually are!  My excuse is that I know people get fed up with me and my camera snapping away all the time, the light was behind them and we had better things to do!!!

After a very pleasant and relaxes lunch we invited them back to Droushia so that they could see exactly what they had been reading about and drove the scenic route back through the village so that they could see just how rural it is up here.

En route we passed by the Droushia Heights Hotel which is now well and truly under serious refurbishment.  The old swimming pool (as featured in the old photograph on the left) is completely gone - we understand that it is to be an exclusive 'boutique' hotel which may have an indoor pool rather than an outdoor one.  

We are delighted to see the hotel being restored - it can only be good for the village and it had started to become quite an eyesore.  It will be really interesting to see how it progresses and what it eventually becomes.

I am not sure that Wendy and Bill were quite prepared for how much colder it is up here in the hills and the weather had started to take a turn for the worse.  Bill had forgotten his glasses so wanted to leave whilst it was still daylight as it is probably a good hour plus drive back to Pissouri.  They seemed to really like our home and its location which is really lovely to hear - you never think about things in the same way when they are your own.

Initially Chivers and Minnie Mou were singularly unimpressed by another set of visitors and stuck quite firmly to their bed until Minnie resorted to the tart that she is and rubbed and squirmed all round Bill's hand!  As the weather worsened and the skies darkened it really was time for them to go - just as well really as we were treated to thunder, lightening and torrential rain within minutes of their departure.  If it wasn't for Bill's glasses I think we could have chatted for ages so we have taken them up on their offer to meet up again before they return to the UK and we are going over to Pissouri on Monday for lunch.

I would like to think we have made a new set of friends and we will look forward to meeting up with them during their regular visits to Cyprus.  

Wendy as I am running a couple of days behind with my postings you may not get to read this until you return home - if so I hope you had an uneventful trip and that all is good at home.  John and I will be watching out for the Foxes results - so be prepared for a ribbing Bill.

Until the next time xxx