Stressful Saturday - Come On SUFC...

The best laid plans of mice and men as Robbie Burns would say...

John had it all sorted for today - a crucial Saturday if you are a Sheffield United supporter - a 'must win' day apparently and one when I should be rustling up a delicious roast beef dinner and John would be cheering on the mighty Blades to that all important win.  He hadn't factored in the fact that I am a total lightweight when it comes to an afternoon drink and so when I should be sorting out the dinner I have been catching flies.  This is the result of two beers - two beers!!! - what sort of Navy wife does that make me???

It has been exceptionally hot today - as you can see the temperature in the conservatory this morning is in the mid 30s.  It certainly wasn't this warm at the same time last year - we remember have quite a bit of rain when we came over in May. 

We have fingers crossed that all our visitors enjoy warm and settled weather because when you only get a week or so for a holiday you just want to be able to enjoy it without worrying about it raining on your parade.  Our neighbours Sharon and Sean arrive tomorrow, then Aunty V from Canada with her friend,  followed by Gemma and family from Sherborne and at the end of the month my sister and her clan.  We had an email yesterday from my friend Deb who goes way back to my Westland days and she is hoping to come out around the end of June beginning of July - we have warned her that it could be scorchio by then.

Our swimming pool roller needed some repair today - we inherited it from Mum and Dad when they replaced theirs.  I was helping John put the cover over the pool last night and the roller construction just fell apart.  John shot down to Glykkis to see his mate Maria and got some bolts so that it will last us a little bit longer.

John has worked hard to get the pool looking really inviting - whilst Mum and Dad's pool is reaching the dizzy heights of 80 degrees ours is only just at 70 but I did manage to get my feet and legs in and I think that in a day or so it will be warm enough to get in without too much moaning and groaning - this bodes well for Kaye and Co - we have been worrying that they might find their pool at the Villa in Kathikas quite chilly but if it continues to warm as it has done and if the weather in the UK continues to be as sh*te as it has been then they will probably think it is like a bath!

If we were going to give our home a name it would have to be Eublepharis Villa - Eublepharis being the generic name for geckos.  Vix started something when she brought me the one she had decorated for me when she visited in February.  

I have now made a new one which I constructed out of the green garden wire we had loafing around in one of the sheds and some of the green glass nuggets I had bought on one of my shopping trips to Jumbo's.  We had a hole in the wall where we used to pin back the wooden shutter that we either needed to disguise or remove, fill and paint and so opted for the former and placed the wire and bead constructed creature over the hole.  Not sure how long he will last but we have plenty of green wire and nuggets if I need to make another one!

The Tick Express has been here again today.  Whilst John was down in Polis getting DIY bits and pieces the goats were back in the field next door.

Chivers was less than impressed.  He was out somewhere when they arrived and then he was under my feet wailing and making that strange open mouthed face that he does.  Within minutes he was up and over the fence and in the field making a bee-line for the goats.  At the moment the adolescent males are rutting, rutting and farting and probably don't appreciate being stalked by a ginger whinger.  One rather fearsome looking one with curly horns caught sight of Chivers and for a minute there was a bit of a stand off before Chivers took the cowards way out and beat a hasty retreat - probably wise under the circumstances.

Having completed our jobs John and I went for a walk and had decided to call into Stathmos and/or Christos's for a beer before settling down to the beef and football evening I mentioned above.  Our walk to the 'pub' is certainly more scenic than it used to be when we meandered to the Standard on Larkhill for the meat draw and a game of Crib!  

We spent quite some time taking in the scenery and looking at the wild flowers before we ended up at Stathmos.

Whilst we were sitting there one of the local guys arrived with what we think must have been his grandsons Stelios and Andreas.  This mode of transport is all too common in Cyprus - several people on a bike and not one wearing any sort of protection.  

The boys were fascinated because John and I had taken our little crib board with us and were playing a heated best of three - apparently I am a spawny git who owes everything to luck and nothing to skill - I don't suppose I can argue against that when I had a very healthy 24 in my box although I couldn't use it as John had already gone out.  We had just one drink there and walked up the hill to have one more at Christos's where we were joined by Alkisti and a rather sweet but mangey looking cat.  The second beer went absolutely straight to my head so the walk home seemed miles and I had to have a little snooze on the sofa on my return - which is where this blog started!