June 24th...

Being allowed outside had opened up a whole new world for little Charlie Farley - he loves it even though he can't understand why Chivers and MM are sometimes less than pleased to have him follow them round like a shadow.

It is so much nicer for us to be able to have the doors and windows open - we are no longer living in a pressure cooker!  Charlie is fearless so we have to keep a close eye on him because if he watches Chivers closely enough he will see how Chivers gets up over the fence and away into the field.

Fortunately he seems to know his name so normally appears when called which is a bonus.  John is at great pains to remind me that he is currently only in our foster care because his long term position as a member of the Wiseman clan depends on how Chivers and Minnie Mou get on with him.  Chivers is getting better, Minnie Mou not and she can be a bit strange at the best of times.  I have my fingers crossed because as I watch Charlie now flaked out on the lounge carpet having had the time of his life chasing ants and leaves I really hope we can keep him.

I know that every parent and/or pet owner thinks that their offspring or charge is a potential brain surgeon and can speak five languages but Charlie has already been in and out of the catflap albeit with the door propped open having watched Chivers do it once!  I am signing him up for the International School shortly!

It was Monday but today I wasn't going to Art with Sheila because Mum and I had been invited to Marmalade Annie's for lunch.  Lunch and to celebrate Annie's birthday which she very nearly didn't mention.  So Mum was coming up to us for coffee and then she and I were off to Argaka and John was going to play badminton.

I agonised over what to wear because I knew it would be hot down on the coast.  I like this parachute dress but I struggle with shoestring straps because I hate having bra straps showing and cannot go bra-less and couldn't find my only strapless bra.  I fail to understand why any woman would voluntarily choose to have a breast enlargement and I can see that gravity is taking its toll - before long I shall be tripping over the bloody things.  John tries to make me feel better and I just want to cry.  I managed to find a bra in the end but wasn't completely happy.

We gave Rosie from the village a lift and the three of us set off for Annies.  It was a beautiful day and it was very hot down at the coast as I had suspected.  Annie looked cool calm and collected even though she must have been slaving over the cooker!

She liked the doorstop that I had made for her which was great - there is a lot of blue around her house so the little blue beach-hut should fit in well!

Mum had made a lovely parchment craft birthday card and Annie seems to have really got into her parchment craft and had several pictures of projects she had managed to complete since Mum went round to give her some instruction.

One by one the ladies began to arrive and I was amazed that I knew everyone including Varvara who I have not seen since I sat next to her on the Crafty day out in Limassol about 18 months ago!  

It is nice for Mum because she gets to meet some new people and to put a face to names of people that I mention.  Today she got to meet Jeannette - yes Mosaic Jeannette from Neo Chorio Wednesday Craft fame and her dog Dooley

We sat down to a lovely lunch outside on the patio, Curry Rival Chris, Varvara, Carol, Mosaic Jeannette, Marmalade Annie, Rosie, Prodromi Pam, Scottish Irene, Mum, Me, Dooley and Annie's dog Wilfie.

This is the same spot where I sat patiently waiting to photograph baby birds being fed in the nest a couple of months ago and would you believe it there is a second lot in the same nest which are equally vocal and demanding.  The poor parent birds had to ignore the fact that we were sat underneath and carry on with their feeding missions.

Annie put on a marvellous spread with a number of salads, pastichio, chicken and spare ribs and then some of Varvara's scrummy pud.

Before we knew it it was nearly 4.00pm and time to go home!

I am delighted that the wedding album I ordered for Elaine and Paul of their second ceremony has arrived and many thanks to Jane Page for forwarding it on to me so promptly.  Elaine and Paul should be back from their honeymoon now so we will be taking a trip to Akourdaleia to drop it off.  Once again Vistaprint have done a fabulous job and I am really impressed with the quality.  Shame I don't seem to be able to get them to deliver here direct.