The Sun has got its Hat on...

I don't want to rub it in too much but for those of you reading this who are freezing your bits off in the cold weather that has most of Europe in its grip but today is the second day in a row that I have caught the sun and even John is sporting two white lines on the side of his face where his sunglasses have been.  We are just watching Stoke v Sunderland on the TV and can see snow (or very heavy frost) on the pitch and the players playing in what looks like a blizzard.

This morning I was woken by the sound of a horse whinnying nearby which was a bit random and unexpected!  It transpires that Andreas has brought his back to the field opposite where he is having his house built for a change of scenery.  The cats were slightly freaked out by the noise and the size of the horse which they could see  in the distance - this was a new experience for them and not a pleasant one at that!

We spent the morning gardening, firstly at ours where I wanted to complete the weeding in readiness for Queen Vic and then round at Gregoris and Theodora's (10a) because it was looking a bit unloved and John wants to put some green stuff up along their boundary where it adjoins the green area which has become a bit of a dumping ground for garden waste.  

It was no hardship to be outside because, as you can see, the temperature today at 11.31 was a very pleasant 23.4 degrees.  This also meant another opportunity to get washing done, on the line and dried.

We spent several hours next door, although it probably doesn't look like it.  Everything has grown so much over the winter and, as Gregoris and Theodora live in Nicosia and can only come at weekends when they are able, things had got a little overgrown.  All the bushes got a good old haircut and we cut down the grass which has sprung up everywhere.  

It is probably a bit of a waste of time as I have a sneaky feeling that a couple of days of sunshine and a lot of the weeds will die anyway!  Still it makes things look a bit tidier and loved and it is better for us as we walk past on the way in and out of our villa.  

We have placed one of our old tables and chairs in their garden - hope they don't mind but we saw they were lacking some outside furniture when they were over in the summer.

Both Chivers and Minnie Mou love next door's garden and spend hours playing in it - lord knows what they are going to do when there is someone actually staying in that villa as it will frighten them to death.  At the moment they are so used to having the run of the place and rarely meet up with strangers.

Chivers disappeared off somewhere and the next time I saw him he was sat on the concrete next to the pool sporting his original collar which had attached itself by the magnet to the one he is currently wearing!!!  Wherever he had lost it must be somewhere he goes regularly and I bet is where the second black and white collar is hiding.  I am not so bothered about the collar itself as it seemed to come off far too easily but I am glad to have the magnet back.

Having spent several hours bending over gardening we were both knackered and felt we deserved a bit of a treat and a chance to sit in the sunshine, after all that was one of the reasons why we decided to move here in the first place.

Paps have been selling some large cans of German Beer quite cheaply and John particularly likes the dark one but that is a bit heavy for mid-afternoon drinking so we opted for a can of the light version planning to make it into a shandy but having tasted it we decided it was rather nice on its own.  John had to move seats shortly after this as he was getting too hot!!!

Jobs done for the day John decided he would check out the water in the outside shower, Bear Grylls eat your heart out!!!  His expression will tell you that the initial flow of water was a little on the cool side but it did warm up and he got in and showered.  Trev when you are luxuriating in the Nicosia Hilton the week after next think yourself lucky mate!

Another lovely day all round and the weather for tomorrow is supposed to be dry and fine.  John started up the bike for the first time in ages and it could do with a spin so we may take it out for a little ride.

As you know a clear, dry and sunny day leads to a cool, clear night so the burner has been lit and dinner is on the stove.  John is trying to decide whether he is going to watch footie or six nations (decisions decisions), I am tip-tapping at the blog and the kids are in and about to have a little treat for Saturday - a share of a pouch of wet cat food which they absolutely love but which is most definitely a treat and really not to be encouraged.

Outside it is a very still evening and after an absence of some weeks the frogs are back or at least one or two can be heard in the distance.