Wall to Wall sunshine...

Today has been an unbelievably beautiful day for so early in February.  It would seem so far that our winter which is usually January and February came early and was December and January.  The PhotoVoltaic monitoring has borne this out (so far) and if things go on as they have done the last few days February this year will have provided us with more electricity than last February - this is good news.  We are preoccupied with all things electrical at the moment, cost, usage, equipment and we are getting to the bottom of things - I have ordered a replacement microwave and it should be with me later this week thank goodness as I hadn't realised just how much I rely on the bloody thing.

Anyway back to today and the weather gives me itchy fingers - itchy to do some gardening but I have to curb my enthusiasm because February could still have a sting in its tail.  My solanums look like they have come off second best with a flame thrower because of the snow the other week.  My yesterday, today, tomorrow plant also looks very sad - it had better buck its ideas up as it was so beautiful when Sheila and Klaus gave it to us for our anniversary last July.

We are preparing lists for the spring - but there is only a small window of opportunity before the summer comes with a bang and it is too hot to do work if you are being sensible (take note Bobby!!).

The wet conditions of December mixed with strong winds means that the walls of the house which face the prevailing weather have taken a right old battering and so we have some damp problems which will need addressing.  The first year we were here I was so upset and embarrassed about the damp - I felt like we lived in the world's most poor little hovel until I realised that just about every house in Cyprus suffers with damp in one form or another.

We have an issue around our bedroom window sill where water has managed to find its way and is now leaving a trail on the inside - we 1thought we had sorted it the year before last - clearly the winter that year was nowhere near as wet as we had no problem but this year it has come back.

We also have an issue with the back wall of the toilet next to the kitchen and John has decided that he is going to tile it from floor to ceiling which should deal with that particular problem.

We get blue skies like you wouldn't believe when we get a sunny day this early in the year - it must be because the sun is lower in the sky and things haven't been washed out by its rays.  The island is beginning to wake up and put on its gladrags.  It is now most definitely warmer outside than it is inside so the conservatory is lovely and the place to sit during the day (if you have time that is!).

We had planned to go for a walk tomorrow with Diana and Rob to get some fresh air and take advantage of the lovely weather - sadly Diana and Rob are going to a funeral in the afternoon - their neighbour Bill sadly passed away at the weekend.  I didn't know him although I do know his wife Judi but as she initially didn't want anyone at the service we wont go but will make sure that we will be available to help her in the future if she needs us.