Getting Cooler...

The weather is most definitely on the change up here in the mountains.  It is the last day of September and the pool is just about hovering above the 70 degree Fahrenheit cut off point.  I made it in eventually after breaking the ice and a lot of fuss - I am not sure that it is even 'lovely once you get in' John came in just to say he had been and almost immediately got back out for a warm shower - that is the price we pay for living up in the cool clean air our pool is a luxury which is only really usable for six months' of the year.  I would be interested to learn whether the heating system Angela has installed really makes a difference.

Today we await the arrival of this little man - my great nephew Jack along with his mum and dad, my niece Elena and her husband Andrew and my sister Kaye.  My dad has not met Jack yet, they were supposed to meet in Dubai at my nephew's wedding but sadly Jack got chicken pox just before he was due to fly.  Needless to say there is great excitement here and we have managed to secure a lovely little two bed apartment with swimming pool on a complex a mere spit from where Mum and Dad used to have their own house.  It is ideal, clean, modern and above all cheap.

We also say goodbye to George and Pam - cannot believe how quickly their holiday has come to an end and it will be strange not to have them next door but one although our livers and stomachs will be the better for it.  Both Charlie and Chivers are going to be gutted as they have both spent a considerable amount of time around 11b being spoilt.  Winter really is approaching once all the neighbours have gone.  Initially I don't like it and then it becomes the norm and then it is strange once they all start returning.

It is lovely having visitors but I have found this year just exhausting when you add the 50th birthday celebrations into the mix - our visitors have been a bit like buses - you don't see any for a while and then they all come at once.

Whilst John was watching the Mighty Blades playing Forest I took to the conservatory to have a bit of a snooze with Mr Boo.  He has returned home every night for about 2 weeks sporting a new scar - fortunately none of them as bad as the one over the eye which necessitated a trip to the vets but I reckon that his system is still pretty full of antibiotics so the new war wounds are not allowed to develop into anything nasty.

The football match did not go the Blades way and so my snooze was interrupted by John complaining vociferously at the team at every opportunity even though they had managed to take the lead in the third minute.

Mid afternoon we got a photograph of the Cockerill family boarding the plane.  Jack seemed completely at ease even though this was his first flight.  Unfortunately they were delayed but having read the papers it would appear they were lucky to have even got a flight as Monarch are in serious trouble and it is probably a good thing that Ellie, Andy and Jack are flying back with Thomson - Kaye on the other hand may well have to find an alternative flight but at least she isn't bound by work or deadlines.

John and I said our goodbyes to George and Pam - ensuring that neither Charlie nor Chivers were locked in once they had left and then we made our way down to Mum and Dad's to collect them before setting off in convoy to the airport.  The plan was that I would take Andy, Ellie and Jack (a car-seat has been fitted in Kenny) and John would take Mum, Dad and Kaye to their accommodation, settle them in and then leave them to get sorted because we are all going to lunch tomorrow at Sonny's.

Although their flight was delayed and loads of flights came in at the same time they weren't too long coming through with their bags.  Baby Jack got to meet Great Grandad Ron for the first time - not sure who was the most excited and I have a feeling GGR is quite possibly the oldest man Jack has ever met!!!

Apparently he was good as gold on the flight, taking it all in and good as gold in the car on the way to the apartment.  They seemed happy with their accommodation which is good, to be fair the apartment has everything they could need including a 'welcome pack' in the price - BARGAIN.

We left them to get sorted and returned home.  Di and Rob have also been to the airport today - Larnaca as they are flying to Malta to visit Di's parents for a week.  We had a message to say they had arrived safe and sound which is good as Di had a bit of an issue with the car yesterday and we were on stand-by to get them to Larnaca if needs be.

We have a lie-in tomorrow - we have informed the cats and hope that they have taken it on board.