Spring has Sprung...

It has been a very hot and very muggy day today although the humidity is remaining fairly low in the house thanks goodness.  The thundery atmosphere has meant I have been blessed with a thumping headache all day.  I have suffered with debilitating headaches since measles severely affected my eyesight at about the age of three which is also the reason why I wear glasses.  However, since we moved over here I am pleased to say that I have had less and less headaches but a heavy atmosphere is guaranteed to give me a blinder.  Why is it that those who never suffer from them (i.e. John) don't quite appreciate how bad a weather-induced headache can be? "Was it because it had been a full moon last night?" he enquired tentatively - "no" I replied because I am NOT a bloody werewolf I just have a thumping head, stiff neck and attention span of a flea although John would argue that the third symptom is quite normal.  It has eased - I have found that a little bit of chocolate has helped to take my mind of things!

Anyway back to today, and as the title says Spring has Sprung - well it has in the Wiseman household as today we decided that we would have a 'grand clear-out' This is a 'grand clear-out TOGETHER' as John's concentration meanders if left to his own devices so he likes to have me by his side - great!  In order to gather enough strength for the task in hand we started with a hearty breakfast.  Yesterday in Chillies we treated ourselves to some rather wonderful smoked back bacon.  We do try to eat local but there is nothing quite like British Back Bacon in a Butty before a grand clear-out.  Since Chillies have taken back the shop in Polis from the two South African lads that were running it, no offence but the shop has improved - for a start it looks cleaner and more organised and they are stocking different products.  Had I had room in the freezer (which I don't because as you know we are on an eating out of the freezer programme at the moment) I could have bought a whole turkey for Easter for only €12!

The main focus for our clear-out was clothes.  Having been here now nearly a year we have a much better idea of what we need and what we will or will not wear from what we brought with us.  Also both John and I seem to have lost a little bit of weight since we arrived so some things just no longer fit.  Irene will benefit from this exercise as we will donate anything reasonable to her to sell.  John is very excited that he can now open and close his sock drawer without the contents spilling out like a self-inflatable dingy!

That job completed we decided to remove all the rugs and return to the tiled floors as they will be cooler as the temperature continues to rise.  The Tregunna/Hazzell/Pamment/Spiers bed has been stripped of the 15 tog duvet, duck down topper and electric blanket and replaced with a wafer thin layer and the bedspread just in case!

I have just said to John that last winter was probably akin to childbirth (not that I would know) but painful whilst it was happening then soon forgotten.  In fact I have had to start watering one or two of the plants as things are beginning to get a little baked out in the front garden.  On that subject I have added a new page to the blog as an aide memoire to me as to what survives and what doesn't up here and to record those things that look like they died but have now started to spring to life - that way I hope not to make any expensive mistakes and warn others who might try and grow something up here which is just going to perish.

Anyway it was only a matter of time before someone found the freshly laundered beds.  Minnie the Minx snuck in and made herself very much at home on the guest bed - this is a big old NO-NO so she was scooted out and she retired in a huff onto our bed where regrettably she is allowed.  We try to be strict with them but she has a way of just wrapping you round her little paw!  She now rarely goes beyond our garden and if the cat litter tray was still indoors she probably wouldn't even bother to wander outside for the loo - lazy little thing.

Chivers, on the other hand, is the great explorer and hunter - as his tally of two mice, a bird, several geckos/skinks and the rat proves.  He disappears for long periods at a time although is rarely very far because if John rattles the wet food bowls he is there like a shot.  We think he may be suffering from hay fever though as when he returns from the field he has very watery eyes and his third eyelid on his left eye is visible.  It doesn't seem to be causing him any discomfort so we are just keeping an eye on it and have some eye drops just in case.

Both he and Minnie Mou are in at the moment and for the first time in ages they are in the basket together - it probably wont last as they will get too hot and go off in search of somewhere cooler.

We have only been out to water our neighbours plants and to pick some lavender so that I can make up some bags once it has dried.  It being Easter in the UK there is wall to wall football on the TV not to mention the Masters Golf and as the football season is drawing to a close John's nerves are taking a right old battering - it is no easy thing being a life-long supporter of the Mighty Blades...

...I might just be well enough to try a little gin and tonic in a minute - Dr John tells me that the quinine would be good for me - who am I to argue?