Day Five of Hazel's holiday

After what had been rather a late night for us last night, we had a quiet start to the day and as John was going to physio Hazel and I decided to join him on a trip down to Polis so that Hazel could complete her gift shopping having seen a number of likely presents in the various gift shops in and around Polis Square.

Hazel very kindly bought me the little 'love' plaque from the new Blue Oyster gift shop which will go in the bedroom as it is exactly the right colours for there and from The Arches I chose a hanging thing which will go onto the singing ringing tree in due course.

With purchases complete and having spent a very pleasant hour perusing what was on offer we then headed back to Paps to get some shopping and to meet back up with John.

Whilst deciding upon our sandwich fillings for the remainder of the week we were concerned by one pack of cheese we saw on the shelves.  What, we wondered, do Vegans taste like???  Vegan flavored cheese is a new one on us!  This tickled us and is up there with the Yorkshire Terrier biscuits I spotted the other day - so all you Yorkshire Terriers and Vegans out there must beware!

John was coming out from Physio just as we arrived at the supermarket so that was good and he is feeling a bit more confident about his knee - a month's rest from all sport (after Friday's last game of pickleball before we have a break) should do him the world of good and with his family coming over more swimming with them should also help.

We completed our shopping and emerged from the nicely air conditioned environment of the supermarket to the hot and sticky air outside.   We decided a drink was in order and John was keen to check out the new coffee shop that has opened up opposite the bowling alley where they have recently cleared a huge plot of land and renovated and old building.

We sat in the shade and each had a frappe which at €1.50 each was a billy-bargain - it is a bit rustic in there - Hazel decided maybe checking out the toilets could be a step too far but the coffee was good.

We spent the remainder of the day at home.  We had decided to go for a pizza in Kathikas this evening as the ability to chose exactly what you want on board meant Hazel could have what she wanted and so could we.  We planned to nip down to show Hazel the waterfalls at Kritou Terra before eating but I am sorry to report that this once lovely little tucked away beauty spot has been added to the dreaded Jeep Safari Tours.  The little track down to the water has been widened and lost its charm and at the bottom it was chaos with jeeps everywhere and people jostling to get a view, not to mention various families picnic-ing at the benches and kids swimming in the water plus a complete knobhead who parked his massive Chelsea tractor so John struggled to turn the car.  We didn't stop - we are hoping that it is only like this because it is tourist silly season but fear that this once little known gem will be changed for good.

Disappointed we headed to Kathikas where Hazel and I drowned our sorrows with a gin.  The Kathikas Square cafe/bar has a right old menu of offerings both in terms of the gin and the mixers - and at a reasonable price - we will definitely have to bring John's mum and her friend Jackie here when they are over.  I opted for a Greenhalls Wild Berries which was like drinking pop!  John was driver tonight so it was nice for me to be able to indulge!

Kathikas is looking really lovely and the old house which they have been restoring right in the centre looks absolutely fabulous.  It will be interesting to see whether this is just someone's home or if it is to be turned into something else.  It is right next door to the Pizza Box and Imogenes Restaurant which was where we were heading.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our supper - the pizzas were excellent and the house wine very palatable.  I just cannot believe that tomorrow will be Hazel's last full day and the weather has become quite changeable - I think all the sunshine has gone to the UK!