Lovely friends...

Today was a day for reminding me that we have some lovely friends - friends who do things for us and expect nothing in return, friends that you can quickly ask to do you a favour and they do so without any hesitation.

One of my intentions (rather than resolutions) for this year is to treat others as I would like to be treated myself and maybe if people don't do that they aren't actually worth my precious time and effort!!  I also think it is important to let people know how much you appreciate them going out of their way.

I was at home today, home alone as John was out this afternoon watching the mighty ENAD playing in Polis.  I enjoyed the few hours I had to myself and began by reading the Good Housekeeping magazine that Jane Page had kindly left me after her visit here.

British magazines are inordinately expensive over here so it a real treat to have one to read particularly one which was current and not several years old - Jane had promised me that she would leave it and she did so thanks Jane it is very much appreciated.

I also had a call this morning from Mina who was visiting the physio here in Droushia this morning.  She and Claire have just returned from a brief visit to the UK for a christening and I had asked if they might be able to bring John back some mints.  He is a man who loves a good mint and his Mum had brought a tub of these over last Summer - I haven't been able to find any here in Cyprus so asked if they got the opportunity if they could bring some back.  We guessed that John's mum might have found them at the airport - Mina and Claire searched but couldn't find a tub so brought back half a dozen packets instead and gave them to John as a gift so thanks Mina and Claire it is very much appreciated.

Whilst John was at footie Bobby Big-Finger and his sidekick Di very kindly brought up my post from the village.  The picture isn't exactly the same as the contents of the parcel they delivered but similar and is for someone who has a birthday shortly.

I was worried that maybe the parcel wouldn't arrive in time so was grateful that the Veaseys had picked it up and brought it up to me even though I nearly gave BBF a heart attack when he rang the bell thinking I would be out and then I opened the gate nearly squashing him against Gregoris's fencing!!  So thanks BBF and Di it is very much appreciated.

My lovely lovely lovely neighbour Galatia gave me a ring today - I had been looking for someone who was going to Ikea to get me a new peg octopus and some normal pegs.  She rang me on Thursday to say she was in Ikea and would get them although she was concerned about the colour particularly as the pegs and the octopus were different - this clearly offended her sense of order!!!  Anyway she got them for me and told me they were a gift for the New Year - I think she worries about us living up here in Droushia where it is considerably harder than in Nicosia!!!  So thanks Galatia it is very much appreciated.

Finally our Stifado supper was accompanied by a really lovely bottle of wine which Peter brought up when he came to stay overnight the other week.  He is the lovely guy who sadly lost his wife unexpectedly last year.  He and Maureen were members of the badminton club in Emba where John plays and it was to his house that we went this week when he invited all the people who had made him feel welcome over the festive period for a thank-you meal.

This bottle of Tsangarides Mratheftiko 2014 was a particularly fine bottle of wine which was the perfect accompaniment to our supper.  We hadn't expected him to bring anything with him when he came to stay we were just glad that he felt he wanted to come and he was good company but thanks Peter is was very much appreciated.

A good day all round filled with good things, sunshine, friends, food and wine - what more could I ask for and as I know I say very often Ain't we lucky Roberto?  Ain't we lucky!