A Good Day...

What another beautiful day here in Droushia and we were in cleaning and tidying mode because we were having visitors this afternoon.  Marian and Sheila were coming up this afternoon to do some card making.  That's like having members of the Royal family dropping in for tea so everything had a clean and polish or at least a squirt of polish because as John says 'remember the three B's' (bullshit baffles brains) so if you can smell polish you think things have been polished - he says this is the approach they adopted on board ship at times so if it was good enough for the RN it is good enough for me.  On the subject to the RN both John and I have everything crossed for Geordie (Steven Wilson) who is currently sitting his Chief's Board and if there was ever a guy who deserved it then it is Geordie.

Whilst cleaning we had a visit from Mariana from the community office.  John nearly knocked her out as we could hear voices in the alleyway leading to our gate and so John opened it and she was right by the door!  We thought she was reading the water meter but she had come for some identification as it transpires that we are after all going to get some winter heating allowance after the Government made a U turn.  We are well chuffed - whatever it is - because we weren't expecting anything having been told it had been scrapped.

Cleaning complete John disappeared and came back sporting his summer haircut - back to a number one all over (apart from the TinTin quiff he always manages to leave at the back and which I have to remove).  It takes me a couple of days to stop thinking I am living with a convict but it is practical and I do get used to it.  

It obviously didn't phase Chivers as the two of them took in the early morning sunshine sitting on the sofa out in the garden.  This will probably be one of the few times that John sits in the sun as he doesn't 'do' sunbathing and gets easily bored - attention span of a goldfish at times!!  He is much more interested in doing practical things like DIY rather than lazing around or reading.

On the subject of reading I took time this afternoon to sit in the sun and finish the book that Marian lent me.  It is funny - not sure if it is still available to purchase but any woman who has ever been to Greece or Cyprus would find it a hoot - Excuse Me Miss, Have You Seen the Acropolis? A Foreign Woman's Guide to Greek Gods by S Joseph and D White - if you can get hold of a copy then do.

It was so hot today that I actually caught the sun sitting outside and had to move from the front garden as it was too hot to sit there in what I was wearing and I didn't really want to get changed as it is considerably cooler indoors which is where we were going to be crafting.  In fact I had John's permission to light the gas fire if it got too chilly when my visitors were here.

I got myself organised and put together a selection of cards for inspiration, some blank cards and all sorts of bits and pieces for card creation.  It all looked fairly neat and tidy at the outset but minutes in it was all a bit more chaotic!  After a couple of hours Sheila had made Christmas cards for her daughters and Marian had made an Easter card for her mother and a birthday card. I hope they both enjoyed themselves.  I have arranged with Marian to do it again in two weeks' time (not next week as Laura is with us).  Sheila wont be able to join us as she will be back in the UK for a visit.

John took himself off for the afternoon on the bike as it was in need of a run and he fancied exploring a bit - he returned just as Marian was leaving.  He said that he had been down to the coffee shop in the village and found out that the owner who had died recently (only in his 50s) had been the father of George the young lad who had come with Savvas to sort out our electricity.  As a mark of respect George had grown a beard for his father.  We had no idea that they were related but then why would we have.  John shared a coffee with him and passed on our condolences.

We rounded off a pretty good day with John's favourite meal - salad!  It is so lovely that the weather has improved sufficiently to want to eat salad and we had the works - dips and flat bread, salad, poached chicken, crispy bacon, haloumi, hasselback potatoes and roasted red peppers - DEEEEEELISH!!

What makes you think that our boy is feeling the heat this evening?  He has dragged himself almost out of the basket and is stretched along the floor where I guess he gets a bit of cool.  

Minnie Mou is cuddled with her dad - the little floosie - look at her with legs akimbo!  I can't think John will let her stay there very long - not with her propensity for surreptitiously breaking wind!

Day's like today make me realise how very lucky I am to be here!