It's Official - I am in TROUBLE...

I had a text this afternoon from Galadia who had just read my blog and she says I was right when I said that she would kill me for going to Nicosia without letting her know.  It was a miracle that we didn't bump into her because she goes to the gym in the Hilton every day - she may even have been in there when Trev was working out.  I have solemnly promised - cross my heart and hope to die - that when we see them next we will arrange a day when we will go to Nicosia and see them, we really do want to and it will be easier to do so when we have nothing else planned and the Israeli Prime Minister is not in town!  I will be doing some serious grovelling this weekend.

So back to today then...

We woke early this morning after a brilliant night's sleep and were greeted by sunshine and lots of it and it was actually warm even at 7.30am when I took the opportunity to chill in T&V corner before shoving in another load of washing - it's those pegs from Ikea - I just can't wait to use them again!  We are hoping, as Sharon and Sean arrive tomorrow for a week, that this weather will last for them because it wasn't very good last time they were here if I remember rightly.

We were having a day of DIY today - poor John still has a list as long as your arm of things we want to get done - some of which are more urgent than others and we have had a phone call from the aluminium people today to say they are ready to do the conservatory next week so we know what we are up against.  However John's priority for today was to get the extractor fan vented to the outside in our bid to win the battle against condensation.

I have had the feeling of deja vu today looking at the kitchen cleared and ready to go.  Never underestimate how much dust and mess one small hole for a pipe going through the wall can make - or how long it can take to make and make the correct size.  Still John managed to get it done and tonight I have had the opportunity to test it out.  

It works brilliantly and now all the steam generated from pans on the hob is directed up into the extractor and out into the garden - this must help with reducing condensation surely!

My kitchen is now back to normal and has benefited from a deep clean!  My collection of preserves is multiplying and I could put them in a cupboard but they look so colourful and inviting!  

I am looking forward to the kumquats in brandy - I think they will probably go very nicely with some natural yoghurt or vanilla ice-cream!

On the subject of food I have tonight made an apple and yoghurt cake with cinnamon swirl - mine is still in the oven so I cant take a photograph but I am hoping that it comes out looking something like the picture as I am planning to take some with me tomorrow when I go to Sheila and Klaus's for my pastel drawing lesson.  My subject matter is going to be apples - strangely that was the first thing I painted in my water colour classes years and years ago and which hang majestically in the kitchen of Hilary and Keith in Cookham!

Our little lovelies continue to provide us with hours of entertainment - they have both now mastered the art of getting onto the roof (and back down again) and then onto the conservatory where they watch the birds nesting in the house behind us.  

Today I was trying to make an insulated jacket for our hot water tank using an old blanket and some of the rockwall sheets and Chivs and MM thought I had made them a big old bed which must have been so cosy and warm!  They can be such a pain but we wouldn't be without them and MM has become much more cuddly and loving since her little op.

One last picture just to prove what a lovely day it has been today - a day for getting jobs done and washing done and ironed and cakes made!