A Beautiful Day...

A bright and breezy morning meant that I dragged out the laundry basket and got several loads washed and dried but unfortunately not ironed - I can save that bit of excitement for later in the week!!  John spent the morning with his head down the loo - not for any other reason than our flush has stopped functioning and so he had to drain the cistern and dismantle it - he wanted to get it sorted before we have Kaye and Co round.  Our treat for a heavy morning was to have brunch (we were going out for a meal round at Marian and Chris's later).  Bacon, brie and cranberry pittas - yum yum - and thanks Mum for picking up some bargain brie from Carrefour - it is heaven!

We had to take a trip down to Polis and Latchi with a list of things to get sorted.  Latchi was looking particularly stunning this morning - the sea was the most incredible colour and they have really done some tidying up at the beach.  Our first stop was to sort out a boat trip for Kaye and Co.  We opted to go for an exclusive charter with someone else piloting the boat.  We opted for the charter company at the end of the harbourside which is called Aquaplanet.  Sophia was really helpful and for a half day's hire it will cost €20 to be a passenger, and extra €10 per person is charged for full snorkelling gear and if anyone fancies a 10 minute scuba taster that is also €10.  No doubt there are cheaper places but we liked their attitude so that's what swung it for us.

We stopped off at Faros for a quick drink and to book a table for dinner for the whole clan on Saturday night. We have opted for a table indoors as it is still chilly in the evening and we none of us like to eat cold food and tavernas in Cyprus rarely, if ever, serve food on hot plates.  As we were driving down to Latchi this morning John said he never tired of the view and on days like today you have to admit that it all looks rather stunning.  I know that the economy here could probably do with more tourists but we rather like it when it isn't too crowded although there will be quite an influx this weekend as it is a bank holiday on Monday when they celebrate Kataclismos (the great flood).

Our next port of call was into Polis to get some cash (forgot we would need to pay a deposit for the boat trip!) and to try and find somewhere that was open to get a pipe for the toilet but as it was gone 1.00pm we had no chance - there was nothing for it but to go to Paps to pick up the few bits of food we needed and waste some time hoping that Maria at Glykkis might be open at 2.00pm.  It must have been our lucky day because we didn't really want to have to hang around until 3.00pm just for a pipe!  We now have a fully flushing toilet once again which is great because the clan will be around tomorrow for drinkies before we go down to Faros.  It does however have a bit of a knack to it as you have to push the plunger so that most of your hand disappears and then it rewards you with a flush!

We finished off a couple more jobs around the house before a very welcome shower and change of clothes and then we sat down for half an hour in the late afternoon sun with a gin and tonic.  That really is the best time of day.  We generally have a bit of a breeze up here but by about 5.00pm any breeze we have had dies down and the builders will have gone home so it is nice and quiet.  We were going round to our neighbours Marian and Chris tonight along with Helen (yes Wheelie Cyprus Helen) and her husband Alaistair.  I decided for once I would leave the camera at home - I know that people can get fed up with me happy snapping!

Marian had been worried about it being too cool to sit out for pre-dinner drinks but the gods had been kind to her and we were able to enjoy the last of the day's sunshine outside on their terrace before moving indoors to a really lovely french themed meal with a duck breast salad starter, country chicken mains (without the champignons for John) and delicately poached pears and ice-cream for dessert.

After a lovely evening we left to walk home and were confronted by rolling mists sweeping along the road - it was like a scene from American Wherewolf in London!