Friday - supper with good friends...

So we had some time this morning before we went down for pickleball so we had our normal gym session which doesn't seem to get any more enjoyable.  I go and I do and then I really really really enjoy my cup of lemon tea and biscuit!!!  I shall continue to do it because on Tuesday Janice said I looked like I had lost weight and we do soooooo much eating that cannot be a bad thing!!

I have some of my card making stuff out - it is there as a reminder that I need to get some cards made and I have set aside tomorrow to get started.  It would be so lovely if I had a craft room or a studio so that I could leave my stuff out rather than take up the dining table but I don't so I need to be disciplined about it!!!

John and I took time to have a look around the garden and have a think about how we want it to look once the last bit of the pool tiling has been completed.  Everything has started to grow at an alarming rate and the Solanums need a haircut before they get leggy - I managed the two small ones but will need to enlist John's help for the biggy as it is now considerably taller than me!!!

I have managed to find a home for the yellow collection of bulbs that Mum bought me for my birthday but I have a second lot which are pink that need to be found a place in the garden. Bulbs do really well up here and at the moment we have a mix of narcissi and anemones all doing well.  Shame they are short-lived.

On the subject of bulbs I can confirm that the crocuses Mum gave me on Valentine's day are now in full bloom and look lovely.  Once they have finished I will move them and plant them in the garden - as I said above bulbs do well here!!!

John decided to have a pre-game knockabout using the pool as a sort of mini squash court!!!

Charlie and Chivers formed a sort of partially interested audience although Chivers seems to be looking at something else and Charlie was clearly only passing through en route to the food bowl!!!

Boris on the other hand was chilling in the conservatory and not bothered by the activity outside - how comfortable does he look asleep in his favourite chair!

I bought some plants when I was out with Mum on Tuesday - some whirlygig Osteospurmum and some French lavender and I managed to get them planted out and watered in before we set off for Paphos.

It is a bank holiday here and John was expecting to pick up his car from the garage but we weren't sure if it was going to be open.  As it happens it was busier than on a normal day!!!

Friday afternoon PickleBall is a workout and a half and we love it.  Mum does exceptionally well and we all seem to up our game - today we started at 1.00 because badminton for John was starting earlier.

I thought that we would start early and therefore finish early but oooooooooh nooooooooo we played until 3.00 as normal and I was knackered!!!   I wonder whether I will be anything like as fit at 80 as Mum is - I hope it is in the genes - it had better be!!!!

John and I were out early this evening.  Fortunately John had his own car to make his way back to Droushia from badminton so I didn't need to wait for him to finish which meant that Mum and I could still go for a cuppa together before I went home.

This time we went to the bar at Sea Caves to check it out - we are always looking for new venues for when we have visitors like John's mum and dad who are regular visitors.

Mum said she had been here years ago and was amazed by the changes - it was quite nice although not quite as stunning as Oniros which is just down the coast.  We checked that out too but it isn't open and doesn't look like it is opening anytime real soon.

So this evening John and I, Di and Rob, Lou and H were meeting up at Fitos for a meal - and we couldn't wait as we love Fitos and we were starving and we haven't seen Lou and H for ages...

It was a brilliant evening - great food and great company and because we went out early we were home for 8.30!!!  We are all going out for a curry next week - that is if we ever find the place - the map drawing was probably at only GCSE standard!!!

Sampling Beer...

On the left is my everlasting rose, the rose which I was given on March 8th at Molos when we went to celebrate my birthday and it was International Woman's Day.  The rose looks as good now as when I was given it and shows no signs of withering.

On the right is my beautiful orchid which John and Jane gave me for organising Jane's birthday - it is the most beautiful colour and so far, so good, it is looking healthy which is good because my track record with orchids isn't too good!!  I shall be asking Sheila about its care in the future because when it comes to keeping orchids she does exceptionally well, either that or I shall be calling on my lovely friend Joani whose father is the guru of all things to do with Orchids!!!

 I am also pleased to announce that my crocuses or should that be croci are just about to burst into flower and it looks as though they are. all going to be a lovely purply blue colour which will go well in the garden afterwards.  Everything is beginning to burst into life now and with warmer days and slightly warmer evenings everything feels so much better.  I did say to mum that with everything beginning to reopen after the winter break the island feels more like itself.

We were having a bit of a quiet morning because lunchtime we were going to the Brewery with Susan and John for lunch - they have not been there since they have started to do food.  Clearly we were not having such a quiet morning as Charlie and Minnie who, unusually, were snuggled up together like Ying and Yang on our bed.

Rob called round this morning as he had picked up our post and John and Susan's post after he and Diana had checked out of the Hotel having spent the night there.  He said that it was a great experience and that the hotel did them proud - he even rated the breakfast.  That was good news - we love the hotel and we love the fact it is in the village even though we haven't stayed there ourselves we use it as often as we can.

We can tell that spring is here as the goats have returned - we love to have them in the field next door even though they will herald an increase in ticks on the cats.  They are, if you pardon the pun, having a field day with all the fresh green that is available to them!

I had booked a table today which was indoors but as it was such a lovely day we opted to sit outside (thank god for dressing in layers is all I can say).  The Brewery was packed and we bumped into Mina and Claire, Jane Fellows and her husband from Droushia, Jacky Holt and her husband Kevin and the man from Mandria who is a Sheffield United supporter who we bump into periodically but generally at the Brewery!!

I have been asked to go and take some photographs of the food for the Brewery to use in some advertising bumph and have arranged to go next week so the ones today are just a precursor to the properly staged ones I shall do then.  John opted for ham, egg and chips which he said was very nice and exactly what it said on the tin.  John always says that the food looks very clean when it is presented.

John Read opted for one of the pies served with mustard mash and green beans.  He said it was delicious and really enjoyed it - not sure why I didn't take a photograph of Susan's chicken salad because it looked really nice!!

I opted for a pulled pork wrap with chips and coleslaw - I am a sucker for coleslaw and this was particularly good - you can't see my wrap as it is hidden behind the fabulous chips - not to self for next week make sure when you are taking a photograph that the main event is to the forefront of the photograph otherwise people wont have any idea what the photograph is all about!!!

It was absolutely scorching at the Brewery but by the time we were about the leave the clouds had gathered and the wind began to pick up which was the start of the bad weather we were about to experience all through the night.  We had a lovely lunch with John and Susan - we haven't seen them for a while and always enjoy their company so it was great to catch up.

We were greeted by a quartet of ginger whingers when we got home - they were all hungry and waiting to be fed - Charlie is facing the kitchen for a quick getaway!!!  It was a quiet evening indoors but wild one outside!!!

Poogate...

There was a glorious sunrise this morning and I wondered what it would herald - I did not for one minute think it would herald and overly wet wetroom and John with his hand up a blocked drain!!!!  Our track record with people doing work in our house is not good and numpty brain that did the bathroom failed to cover over the toilet waste pipe when he was smashing the room to bits even though John kept mentioning it and as a result bits of tile had fallen down and were blocking up the flow.  We realised when I was mid-shower and paddling around ankle deep in water and there was a bubbling noise emanating from the toilet and when flushed nothing happened. Poor John tracked down the issue and took up the manhole cover swallowed hard, held his breath, began to gag and then shoved his hand in the murk and pulled out shitty broken tiles amongst other things.   Problem partially solved because until he can investigate further we don't know if there is any more down there - a job for another day.

After that lovely start to the morning John decided to crack on with scrutinising the pool tiling and filling any little air bubbles in the grout and replacing the wrong grout with the right grout.  We know that once the pool is filled with water we will never see any of this again but whilst we have the opportunity we might as well take it to make sure it is as good as it is ever going to be.  This of course plays havoc with John's fingers as the grout is causing the skin to split and havoc with his bones as lying or kneeling on the tiles isn't good even with a kneeling mat.

We travelled down to Paphos separately today as John was dropping the Peugeot off to have the dints ironed out.  They were there when we purchased it and we just haven't got round to taking it in to be done but the last time we had it washed we noticed a repair place at the garage and they took a look and gave us a very good price for the work so we decided to get it done.

I had to call in to the St Michael's charity shop in Peyia because I have been chosen to trial some Aloe Vera skin products - I have never had nice skin, having acne from an early age so I never really valued it and now I am regretting that a little - still apparently it is never too late to start and with the opportunity to try something for a couple of weeks I should be able to tell whether (a) I like it and it doesn't make me itch and (b) it is actually doing  some good.  There is certainly a comprehensive range for me to try and the prices haven't given me too much of a heart attack so tonight I will start my new regime and see what happens.

I also remembered to stop at the Peyia Laundry and pick up the tablecloths and napkins which Elena leant us for Jane's birthday and which took a bit of a hammering as we were eating in the dark!!!  I cannot believe that they washed them paying special attention to the stains and ironed them and charged me €5!!!  At that price there was little point in me trying to wash them and I certainly would never have been able to press them so they looked anything like as good as this and I couldn't expect Elena's mum to do them even though she is here at the moment!

Chores done, my car washed and John's dropped off for its little facelift we set off for Mum and Dads and Mum and I went on to play pickleball.  No Liz this week so there were only five of us which means that we have less time to sit out and now it is getting warmer the ball seems to fly quicker so we get more of a work-out although I have to say not as much of a work-out as we get when we play on a Friday which leaves me exhausted!!!

 Mum wanted to go down to Swanky Wags afterwards because apparently she and Dad will have a powercut most of the day on Thursday and she wants Dad to go and try the new Restaurant which is attached to the gift shop.   This is a new Gluten Free venture and has quite a comprehensive lunch time menu so she and Dad should be able to find something they like the look of.

Mum and I just had a cup of tea and a piece of the gluten-free carrot cake which was quite nice although I think I prefer the cake at Tala Monastery because I find the consistency of gluten free cakes a bit on the wet side - still I am lucky I don't have to worry about gluten because I know from my lovely friend Joani how awful it is if you are a coeliac - which is a disease and not some sort of dietary fad.

They have got seating indoors and out - it was nice enough this afternoon to sit outside but the decor inside is very  nice - a blue beach theme - it all looks nice and clean and inviting and we wish them luck with this new venture.  I shall wait to hear Mum and Dad's opinion until after they have sampled a spot of lunch on Thursday.

Mum and I had a little mooch around Swanky Wags which sells all sorts of gifts and crafts and second hand clothing.  It is a nicely laid out shop and now I do think it is better than the original one which was in Chloraka - the only trouble is that now it is located beyond Philippos's supermarket at Coral Bay it is not somewhere I pass and it has to be a special trip still if you are out that way it is worth a visit.

The woman who has all the paintings displayed at the back of the shop was busy working outside tarting up the windows painting flowers on the outside.  She has already done one set of windows and it looks fantastic and although you can't really see from the photograph the blue flowers set off the blue cushions for the seating area outside.

So a lovely day was followed by a really lovely evening.  We joined Rob and Diana for dinner at the Droushia Heights Hotel because they were staying there courtesy of their Alpha Mega discount voucher.  All the standard rooms were fully booked so they had been allocated (for a little extra money) a Junior Suite which was delightful and had views over the pool and across to the bay and the mountains.

We opted to eat from the a la carte menu and I have to say I was really quite impressed bearing in mind that the hotel was full and they were also running their buffet service.  A couple of carafe's of Kolios Red and we were well away.  Big big big big thank-you to the Veasey's for our dinner which was unexpected but very welcome. 

Monday Monday

It was a beautiful morning to walk down through the village for my Art morning with Sheila.  Spring has definitely sprung and the island's countryside is resplendent with wild flowers.  Many are recognisable as being the same in an English countryside but others are unknowns - I am not sure what this pretty purple plant is - the flowers are similar to Ragged Robin but the foliage is not and it doesnt have that distinctive geraniumy smell.

At this point I had to return back home as I realised Charlie had decided to follow me on my walk and as he has no road sense at all I didn't want him to come.  I took him back and John kept hold of him.

I walked past what we refer to the Australian's house.  When we first moved over an old gentleman lived there and he would always acknowledge us when we walked by.  We believe he has subsequently died either that or he has been moved into a home.  Every year family members return to the house from Australia for three months.  They clear the garden which is now covered with yellow weeds which are about five to six feet high.  They clear all of this and plant up the garden with vegetables and embrace a very rural existence whilst they are here.  The old thunderbox gets fully utilised - I am guessing that maybe it is the only toilet that there is at this dwelling.  It seems so amazing that they do this every year - well at least the woman does - not so sure about the man!!

As I walked past Ktima I remembered that Sheila said there were people staying there.  I took a peak through the gate and was face to face with a local cat who was staring back at me.  He or she seemed very comfortable on the chair and I am guessing that if there is anyone staying there at the moment this cat is going to be well and truly spoilt!

Ktima is a lovely little holiday development where some old buildings in the village have been very sympathetically renovated to provide five beautifully decorated 'cottages' for self catering all kitted out with wood burners for anyone staying this time of year and there is a lovely little swimming pool there too.

The only downside is that it is located right next door to the local school so quite possibly at times it can be a little noisy and of course the local children have a massive fascination for swimming pools so they have been known to go and help themselves sometimes.

I needed to go in to the Droushia Heights Hotel en route to change Diana and Rob's meal reservation.  They are taking advantage of the Alpha Mega voucher scheme and staying over tomorrow night and they have asked us to join them for dinner.  Originally we said we would go for a drink after they had eaten but then decided it would be nice to spend the evening with them.

The Hotel is taking advantage of the beautiful wild flowers too and have them dotted around the hotel.  I like the hessian sacks that they use to display them.  Kelly seems to think they came from Ikea - they are a great way of hiding an ordinary boring pot and I would like to find some to cover up some of my pots outside now that we are getting ready to sort the garden out after the disruption from the pool project.

John is about to give the tiling the once over using his critical eye and then when he is happy we can get the white goods installed and the water added and then it will be ready for our first visitor Debra who is coming in May.  I seem to think she has only been in the early spring before so there will be a lot more places open to take her this time.  Checking back the last time was February 2014!

Having missed Art last week because it was Green Monday it was good to get back to my picture which I guess is about two thirds completed as the reflection of the little boy will not need to be so precise as the boy himself.  This is a cute little picture and I shall have to ask my friend Marie if she will be kind enough to cut me a suitable mount before I frame it.  Sheila asked me what I was planning to do next and that is a good point - I haven't looked for anything yet so will need to get my thinking cap on and take a look.  Green Monday has given me the idea of doing something with Kites!

We were back belly dancing this evening after a break of two weeks, one sadly for a funeral and the other for Green Monday.

Apparently we are approaching a lunar eclipse and the moon is looking enormous this evening even though it is not quite full or at least doesn't appear to be.

The moon was accompanied by quite a stunning sunset as I could see the sun slipping away as I went to pick up Diana.  It was a hard session at BD this evening although Sofi makes it look so effortless and the introduction of resistance bands took it to a whole new level.  I know that I will be paying for it tomorrow when I crawl out of bed and make my way to the gym!!!  No pain no gain apparently.

Dinner with Sheila and Klaus

I am going to start this post with a photograph of the rose that I was given a week ago last Tuesday at Molos for International Women's Day.  It is as fresh as it was all those days ago and all I did was split the stem and shove it into a vase -  normally my track record with keeping cut roses is poor - they generally wilt at the neck, the bud never opens and then it falls off.

So whilst I am on the subject of flowers Dad has been able to grow some plants from the seeds of the moonflower we saw when we did our Boxing Day walk down near the King Evelthon hotel.  I have the indigenous white ones in the garden which John is not too keen on because they get leggy, I like them because they grow big, fill and space and smell fantastic!!! These however are more shrubby and boast a beautiful purple double flower.

Dad has given me four plants, one for me, one for Diana, one for Sheila and one for Elaine who I was supposed to be catching up with tomorrow but she is having her new kitchen installed so we are postponing the cat photoshoot planned so that she can identify the cats in the Amarakos colony that she looks out for.

My final flower photograph is of the crocus bulbs which Mum gave me when she did the last Tregunna/Knips/Wiseman meal on Valentine's Day.

These look like they are just about to burst into flower and when they have finished i will find a spot for them in the garden somewhere.

So enough of plants - Mum and Dad came up and we all went off to Sheila and Klaus's for a lovely lunch.  To celebrate the forthcoming English Easter we were treated to a selection of chocolate goodies presented on a pretty plate which Klaus had made himself from a gourd.   Mum was so taken by them that she asked to take them home with her!

As always we had a lovely meal although poor Klaus is suffering with his teeth and can only eat soft food and he had made such lovely crunchy roast potatoes it seemed unfair.  John wasn't complaining as he went home with a takeaway of lamb and roasties and some of the tiramasu that Klaus had made.  My turn next in April so I need to get my thinking cap on...

When we got home it was really toasty warm in the conservatory and that, combined with the full tummies and glasses of wine consumed, left some of us feeling a little bit sleepy although I don't know what Chiver's excuse is!!!

Boris on the other hand was out and about in the garden and had found a sheltered patch of sunshine on the barbeque and was making himself comfortable.  This must have been just before he consumed something that disagreed with his tummy because after that he was most definitely not himself.  I couldn't find any evidence of half eaten lizards - they are normally left under the dining table!

It was the Manchester Derby this evening and we had asked Diana and Rob to come up and watch it with us if they wanted to.  We hadn't expected Rob to come - I jokingly call him the Olympic Torch because he never goes out but he did come with Diana and although the footie was a bit disrupted (popular game and too many people trying to watch it) we had a bit of a laugh.  I have absolutely no idea why Rob is showing off his muscles at this point!

A poor footie weekend all round with Sheffield United losing, Charlton losing, ENAD losing, Yeovil Town losing and tonight Manchester City losing.