Meeting New People and Earning our Badges...

There has been a major breakthrough in the division of labour in the Wiseman Household because today John managed to make our bed all on his own - something which I do regularly without passing comment - but which, when John is involved, we normally have to do 'together'.  Not only did he make the bed but he also put all the pillows and cushions back on top (they are normally given a stiff ignoring and left on the floor because that is where they end up when we go to sleep so he is simply cutting out the middle-man so he says).  Even more impressive my letter cushions actually spell out the word 'LOVE' and not 'VOLE' or some other anagram!  His domestic goddessry did not extent as far as breakfast when he 'nuked' his porridge in the microwave before filling the bowl with cold water and watching the bottom crack  - there goes yet another of my glass dishes - I think I am down to one now - a visit to Orphanides is in order for some replacements - or maybe Ikea if we go with Vix next week.

John completes his Scout Housekeeper's Badge task!

We were a little late getting up this morning.  We had had a couple of bad night's sleep and last night I went to bed early with my book and John decided to stay up and watch the footie.  I don't know how much he watched because I woke in the early hours and realised that he was still in the lounge and had fallen asleep.  I could have left him there but never do so I had to run across the buildings in my nightie and encourage him off of the sofa!  Anyway as a result it was sometime around 9.00 when we got up and I was due out for coffee at 10.00!

When I went to the Ladies Lunch last week at Palates I met a lady called Sheila who lives in Droushia with her husband Klaus and their house is next to the Cemetery.  Apparently I am not to eat any fruit or veg grown in her garden because the locals believe it will have been fed by the blood of the buried corpses!!!  Anyway Sheila is a very accomplished artist specialising in African art (having lived in Africa for many years) and she invited me over for coffee.   Anyway I was quite excited to meet somebody new from the village and was going to walk but the weather was rubbish so John dropped me off.

At the gate I was greeted by what I think you call a 'destruction' of cats and beautiful ones at that, apparently Sheila and Klaus look after a number of feral cats but they are not allowed into the house because they have two dogs.

Benji

Charlie

Anyone who knows me knows that my first love is cats and that I am a bit nervous around dogs but these two were so friendly and gentle you couldn't fail to fall in love with them.  Sheila tells me that she was expecting a delivery of cabbages but that the guy delivered two puppies instead saying that he had seen how well they looked after the dog they had at the time and felt they would look after them properly.  I guess it would be hard to say no under those circumstances!!

Anyway I had a lovely morning.  Sheila is interested in the craft group that I attend and is also interested in photography so I said I would get some information on the club that Nicky and Liz attend.

Sheila and Klaus have a lovely home that they have taken the last five years to renovate - corpses or no corpses they can certainly say that their neighbours are quiet!!  I am hoping to scrounge some plants from the garden because if they will grow there then there is a chance they will survive at ours as we are only just up the hill from them.  It will be nice to return the coffee favour in a week or so and it has been really nice to meet some new people from the village.  John would have been most jealous as we had some lovely shortbread biscuits and they are his favourites!

Pickle-ball was cancelled today - just as well really as we had quite a lot of water to deal with after a lot of rain last night and heavy rain again throughout the course of today, when will it ever end?????  We are desperately trying to get tidy for Vix's visit.  The weekend was so lovely and now when I need to get washing dried there is no chance.  I have had towels hanging around for days - I could use the tumble-dryer but with the cost of electricity there is no way if there is the slightest chance they might dry outside.

We have done a lot of tidying and so now I am happy that Vix has a clean bed and tidy room for Saturday.  I have made some vegetable and herb soup for us to have when we get back from the airport which will be quite late on Saturday night and a boiled orange cake (no calories honest Guv) to have as a treat whenever we feel like it!  John says I have successfully done the necessary to achieve my Girl Guide Home Economics Badge!  We are now getting quite excited about her arrival because whatever doesn't get done tomorrow wont get done!

Another day draws to an end and John has successfully earned his Boy Scout Firestarter - Twisted Firestarter badge by the looks of the wood burner.  I have warned him to check the logs carefully as Sheila and Klaus had a lucky escape when they burned a log with a live bullet in it which shot through the toughened glass of the door and shattered it - they are changing to a gas fire and who can blame them!!!

Time to close as tea beckons and probably my bed shortly afterwards - Dad is improving but Mum has now gone down with a cold which will lay her low for a while - I will go down and see them both on Saturday before I go and pick up Vix.