Just another day...

I didn't post this picture earlier this week - John and Robert enjoying the simple things in life, warm sunshine, a good coffee and copious football chat - both are long suffering supporters of their respective clubs - Rob a Charlton Athletic man and boy and John a Sheffield United man and boy - both teams in the same league and both teams which should be in much higher echelons.  It gives them plenty to discuss, to sympathise and empathise unless of course they are playing one another!!  This was taken before Roberto had the pin inserted in his poorly digit - he was going the next day.

Living here I am often a recipient of someone's excess fruit and/or veg and currently the kumquats must be in season as I have been given some from someone that John plays badminton with and also from someone Mum knows.  They are great for adding a nice bit of orangey tartness to sweet and savoury dishes and are eaten whole save for the pips which should be removed - when I did a sausage casserole the other week I put a few in with that and when I cleaned out my cupboards I found a jar that I had preserved in salt which apparently are very good for sore throats - I haven't tested this out but may do if the need arises.

We went down to Emba via Peyia and Coral Bay today.  We are trying to find somewhere to go for a meal with Jackie and Costas at the beginning of February when hopefully more of the eating establishments will be open.  We were pleased to see work being done at Phideas Taverna and spoke to the guy there who said he thought it was reopening the first week in February which will be perfect.  We also had to go down to the Crown Resort to collect some money which is being given to Bassam and the kids by the woman who paints pebbles and who painted one called the Goddess of the Hills which someone bought in memory of Elena and paid three times the price for it so that the extra could go to the children - I shall take the money to them on Sunday as Bassam indicated they were out on Saturday.


An this is a picture of me with my new haircut and before I got my new lenses in the old frames as I am having transition lenses so in the sunshine they would have been dark.

It was much sunnier on the coast but the wind was keen to say the least so I was wrapped up in my layers so that I kept warm - at least having tidied all my drawers I can at least locate the clothes I want to wear with more ease!

We didn't have pickleball today but I went down to Emba anyway to spend a bit of time with Mum and Dad.  Mum was taking her friend Mary out for a cuppa and Dad was going to sit with Brian later this afternoon.

We will be tackling the Dubai trip booking on Sunday as Mum and Dad have decided that they will be up for the trip to see Matthew get married.  We need to get it sorted now before prices increase or the accommodation gets booked up.  It is going to be a costly four days but it may be the last time they get to see their daughters, their grandchildren and their great grandson all together in the same place.

We went down to old town so that I could get my new prescription lenses.  It is beginning to look less like a bomb site but there is still a lot to do before it is finished.  

I think when it is it will be great just so long as the refurbishment hasn't sanitised the character of the old town - so many of the shops have closed down which was hardly surprising as people couldn't get to them without taking their lives in their hands.

The opening ceremony for the European City of Culture is only a week away - bloody hell they are going to have to pull their fingers out (sorry for the digit reference Bobby as I know that is a sore point! pun pun pun).

We were out this evening with Di and Bobby big-finger.  We were sampling an indian buffet at the Farmyard and the entertainment was a Robbie Williams tribute act.  The entertainer was entertaining but a Robbie Williams tribute act he was not - he sang songs which were never ever in a million years covered by Robbie Williams not even during his pissed and high as a kite years.  We enjoyed ourselves though and had a right old laugh - stiff upper lip in the face of adversity!!