Monday Monday = More Friends...

Chivers has truly become a hunter and this morning I woke to find him playing with a fledgling - they are everywhere at the moment but this one looked suspiciously like the one we rescued from Minnie Mou last night although I am guessing that one died from shock after John moved it to a place of safety.  I know that this is what cats do but I still don't like to see the way they torment their pray.

This was the weather which greeted us this morning rain, and dirty rain at that, accompanied by thunder and lightening - and I thought it had settled - still it is bound to settle from Wednesday for at least two weeks because my sister arrives then and you can practically bank on her having good weather whenever and wherever she goes on holiday.  It rained on and off for most of the morning but began to brighten up in the afternoon.

Although running a bit late I managed to get to art by abut 10.30 and my project is going well.  I am really enjoying the challenge of this new subject matter and I know it looks like I must sit and chat with Sheila and Klaus all the time but this really is nearly seven hours work!  There is so much blending that you have to do to get the depth of colour - I know I say it every week but I just couldn't do it without Sheila who patiently points me in the right direction.

My Greek continues apace and I was very glad that I had done my homework this week because there is so much to remember.  Sam is equally as patient at Sheila - I must be lucky with my mentors!!  I have been left with more verbs to learn this week and I am going to struggle to fit it in what with visitors and the like.  Still I got the opportunity to practice some of what I learned this evening - but that is another story - which I will go into later!

Our great friends Hils and Keith joined us this afternoon - they were having a well earned rest from playing with the Rat Pack and the Barry Rowe Big Band.  It was warm enough to sit out under the gazebo and let them unwind.  The weather gradually improved as we sank a couple of pre-dinner drinkies - we had planned to eat in at about 7.00pm and were having a mini meze.  Some bright spark (Keith) decided he fancied a walk into the village for a drink and so we decided to go to Christos's tavernas where John had been extolling the virtues of her rather large gins and tonic!  This is where I got the chance to practice my Greek with Alkisti who encourages me but speaks far too quickly at times!  Our g's and t's were accompanied by some little tit-bits which helped to stave off any rumbling tums.  As we sat under the vines we were joined by three other members of the band, Nathan who has the job of keeping them all in check, Jo or Malcolm as I called him as he bore a striking resemblance to Malcolm MacDonald who was featured on his T-shirt and Small Paul the drummer.  They too joined us in our gin-fest and were very pleased that I had left my dreaded camera at home.  At 10.00pm after several very very large g's and t's, brandy and coffee we all admitted defeat and made our way back to our respective homes.

I cooked apparently - producing lounza and halloumi to accompany the remainder of last night's stifado, dips, salad and pittas followed by what was left of John's lovely cheesecake.  I didn't burn the house down thankfully and we even managed between us to wash up, lock up and make it to bed!