Visitors

No explanation needed for these two photographs - the personal challenge continues!  We had expected a bit of a lie-in this morning but were awoken by John's phone ringing - he always looks at me in total disbelief when his phone rings and by the time he got to it, it had stopped ringing.  He looked at the missed call to see it was Bassam so rang him back by which time my phone was ringing and that was Bassam on that line.  What we didn't realise was that he was actually outside - for some reason he never rings the doorbell - I think because he cannot hear it ringing from where he is he assumes it isn't ringing anywhere!  Anyway John finally opened the gate to him to have two packets of Marks and Sparks crumpets thrust into his hands.

Bless Bassam, he had been to Nicosia, and got some for us.  When Elena was very poorly and having her Chemo in Nicosia she always like to go to M&S and would always ask me if there was something I wanted and I would always ask for crumpets and even when she was at her most poorly she would bring some back.

How kind of Bassam to remember, unbelievably it is nearly a year since Elena passed away - I just cannot believe it but when I look back at photographs of her this time last year you can see just how poorly she had become - we will make sure that we mark the date with something special - her grave looks forelorn but I think they have to wait a year before anything permanent can be put in place.

We were just getting ready for our early morning dip with Mike came in to say goodbye although you would think that he is texting his words to John and John is reading them!  I can't remember what they were investigating but they look like a couple of teenagers sat on the sofa.

John plans to return to the UK for a family wedding in the spring and Mike has very kindly offered to pick him up from any number of airports which means that John can broaden his search - at the moment Jet2 into East Midlands is a non-starter for the price they are asking together with a hire car.  Mike has suggested trying Manchester or Luton so John is going to investigate tomorrow and hopefully he will be able to find something more affordable.

Dip and Karen were coming up today for some lunch and to spend the afternoon in the frozen North - we were glad to see they came armed with hoodies to fight off the cold!

Actually it was quite cloudy today - when the sun was out it was lovely but in the shade it was cool - we opted to eat under the gazebo and might have been wiser to use the table outside the kitchen but the recent rain has brought all the flies out.

We did a sort of mini-meze for them - dips, salads, olives, breads, halloumi, lounza, koupa and pastourma which they loved.  They are so adventurous that I didn't have to worry too much about what I served them.

We erred on the side of caution and went to sit in the front garden after lunch.  We get the afternoon sun there if there is any and it was quite pleasant and we don't use that part very often.

Dip and Karen return next week - they have had a successful trip getting their apartment ready and I know that Karen will have it spotless and tastefully decorated in no time whatsoever.  They haven't been phased by finding things in Paphos and have managed to get some bargains en route.

We shall go and say our goodbyes on Friday and shall see them regularly in the future I am sure and I have to thank Karen for taking back the few Christmas Cards I send along with those Mum has written and to John's mum for posting them for me.

Karen and Dip very kindly brought a cake with them - We have introduced them to the delights of Paps Bakery on the top of the Mesoghi Avenue and they chose a Black Forest Gateau ensemble for us to eat.

We had a lovely few hours with them here - it is clearly much colder up in the hills than they have experienced in Universal and our home is our home so it is decorated accordingly - I still reckon that if they come often enough even they will succumb to the cold of the winter!  Dip was impressed with my little space heater which soon took the chill off of the conservatory - I think he may be investing in one soon!