Monday

John was up ever so early today because he was going on a full-day first aid course at Kamares for the Badminton Club - he had left before 8.00am to get there on time so his early morning dip was very early morning! And because I want to make sure that every minute I am in that cold pool is captured for posterity I got up pretty soon afterwards to get my dip in.  I am sure that had I not gone in before John had left I might not have gone in at all!   Anyway we are still doing it and will continue to do it for a little while longer - the target is the end of the month but we are only half way through so to be honest I don't see that happening.

As I was up so early I took a quick trip down to Polis to get some bits and pieces which we needed - although sadly no liver for Mr Boo and Minnie Mou - they will have to make do with what we have in the freezer until I go back down again on Wednesday.

I was back for Art and my picture of the hyacinth in the vase - although it doesn't look like I managed to do much I did get the butterfly completed and the two bottom flowers are beginning to take shape.  Sheila has finished her lovely picture of the Madonna holding the baby and a lamb and I think it is one of the best she has done recently.  Her new project is something completely different.

This afternoon I went to meet a lady who is holidaying here in Droushia on her own and who contacted me via the internet - her name is Annie and she has a very long association with the island but is now a kitchen designer living in London.  She comes to the village several times and year and stays at the Akamas Spa staying in an apartment in one of the top-most blocks which is privately owned.  The Spa could have been the jewel in Droushia's crown but sadly it looks a bit neglected and tired.  The tennis court is unusable and she says the sauna and steam room no longer function.  Some of the jacuzzi's in the penthouse apartments are no longer in use and the restaurant rarely seems to be operating.  It is such a shame - she has stayed her on many occasions so knows exactly what she is getting and likes the fact that she more or less has the place to herself.

I had thought we were just going to go for a coffee in the village but she wanted to go for a bit of a walk down by the coast so we headed for the Baths of Aphrodite which I haven't visited for some time - generally passing by and going to the campsite nearby or taking the road which you can drive to the Blue Lagoon.

Strangely the baths seemed larger than I remember them - I thought they were more like a bidet when I went about 30 years ago and I hadn't remembered how nice the gardens were and the views from their out to sea are absolutely stunning.  October is turning out to be absolutely glorious and anyone taking a late holiday (like Annie) will be having such a great time.  When the clocks change at the end of the month so too does the weather and the days are so much shorter and winter is just around the corner so we really should be making the most of these beautiful autumn days.

We didn't stop for a drink at the cafe which is there - we just took in the view and decided to make our way slowly back to La Plage so that Annie could have a frozen yoghurt before we went back to Droushia and I got myself ready for belly dancing.  Annie is a huge quiz fan and was asking if I knew anyone who might like to accompany her when she goes out this week to exercise the old grey matter.  I say I would put a shout out for her as it is always nicer to do these things with someone rather than on your own.

We took in the last of the sunshine at La Plage before returning to Droushia.  Annie leaves early next week and with a busy week ahead of me I am not sure our paths will cross again this visit.  John turned up just as I was about to leave for bellydancing - he passed his course scoring 100% (really???  no there is a surprise - NOT).