Inaugural Droushia Ladies Wot Lunch Day...

First of all I have to thank my Dad for saving my bacon earlier this evening and publishing my blog for me.  We have been without internet for most of the day and I had to talk him through and he did it without problem.

I am a little late getting pen to paper or rather keys to keyboard tonight so I might ramble at bit as it is getting near my bedtime!  So what has happened today??? Well when we woke this morning it was a real 'gorrilla in the mist' day - couldn't see your hand in front of your face and the poor old sun was going to have a right job burning that off.  Mind you having seen the weather conditions all over Europe with very sub zero temperatures we should think ourselves lucky really but the temperatures at night are cold and the mists make it cold and damp which can be a bit depressing.

We have made a bit of a monumental decision today as Chivers has been taking rather an unhealthy interest in Minnie to the point where she keeps her bum very firmly planted on the ground because otherwise Chivers has got his nose up it.  She runs off for a bit of respite but then we don't know if she is running anywhere near another unneutered Tom as she is obviously giving off delightful smells.  She had a close encounter of the not so friendly kind with one of the slappers up the road and we don't know which one of them was squealing but guess it was her (Minnie).  So as Chivers was sitting on the sofa licking his balls and proudly waving his lipstick at us we decided that now was the time for them to take a little visit to the vets.  They are off for their pre-operation health check on Monday and then we should know whether Dr Inna thinks MM and Chivs are ready for the chop.  Our little babies will be babies no longer.

Today I was going to the inaugural Droushia Ladies lunch which was being held at the Palates Hotel in the village.  John was very kindly dropping me off on his way down to the woodyard.  Unbelievably the sun had managed to burn off the mist and it was turning into a bright and sunny day but chilly with a cold wind.  It made quite a nice change to have an occasion to get a bit dressed up.  I wasn't sure I would know anyone there (other than Irene) so I wanted to make sure that I didnt smell like a smoked kipper thanks to the wood burner!  First impressions can be very important!

The Palates Hotel is owned and run by Bambos and Sylvia who also have the Stathmos Taverna in the centre of the village.  It is quite an attractive small complex with a lovely swimming pool and absolutely stunning view over the hills down to the Bay.  

As I arrived at the Hotel John noticed that the woman from the Cream House next to us had arrived at the same time.  I had been invited to the lunch by someone called Marion and this turned out to be the woman from the Cream House.  I have seen her husband (Chris) on several occasions as he scours the field next to us for wood but had not realised that I had already met Marion when we had been at Marianna's before Christmas.  As we had arrived early it gave us the opportunity to get to know one another and would you believe it some years ago Marion worked for someone that I knew!!!  Marion used to work for a guy called Alistair Brown - I knew him as Alistair Aberdeen Angus Brown (because he was Scottish and his initials were AAAB) and I also knew his daughter Shona.  It's such a small world isn't it???

There was a really good turn out at the lunch with a really diverse group of women - in this photograph is Marion (on the right) and the Reverend Kay Watters (on the left).  Kay knows Sue Plaice whose son-in-law Tim did our building work before we came out in May!  It was also good to see Kelly and Marianna representing the local ladies - hopefully in the future some more might come along as this is a Droushia ladies group and not exclusively for ex-pats.

I met some really interesting people and have signed John up for some poker playing and a walk in the spring to see the wild orchids around the Kritou Terra area.  The ladies on the left are Ann and Irene.  You will have heard me talk about Irene on numerous occasions as she is the feral cat feeding lady to whom we give all our unwanted goods so that she can raise funds.  Ann tells me that she knows all about me because her friend Lizzie in Bognor reads my blog on a regularly basis - Lizzie you really ought to get out a bit more!!!  Anyway as the subject of blogs arose I have agreed to give Irene a lesson on how to set one up for herself.  

Hopefully one of the aims of the club is that people share interests or experiences or knowledge or just know a little more about one another so that we develop a bit more of a community - who knows we may even find some people who fancy playing Cribbage with us every now and again.  The next lunch is on March 7th (just before my birthday) and I am looking forward to it already.  Marion and I walked home together as it was a very pleasant afternoon if not a little chilly.  It is really nice to have met our neighbours.

When I got home John had been busy bless him and had got the wood so that he could insulate the 'downstairs' toilet ceiling.  In keeping with the other ceilings he has put up wood panelling (and for once I didn't have to do the staining).  This has been lagged with the fibreglass insulation we bought.  It is not quite finished as John wants to put some trim either side of the panels to tidy up the edges and an ornamental trim to go on top of the newly painted tongue in groove.

Vix you will be relieved that when you come you will be able to pee in peace as the door has been put back on.  We haven't finished the door surround after the termite infestation - John has nearly completed the repairs and we have stripped back all the paint - we are getting rather used to the distressed look!

Tomorrow the mighty Spyro's Neighbours take to the Quiz again - let's hope we don't disgrace ourselves.