Storm Oresti from Greece is still doing its stuff although the weather has been nowhere near as terrible as forecast.  Today was very breezy and sometimes overcast with a few heavy downpours.  Looking back at previous years this would seem to be the pattern for the end of October and John has been making some unsubtle hints about putting on the 4.5 tog duvet.  It would appear that this is around the time that we do make the bedding change but currently I am still in cover on, cover off mode - that is unlikely to change I guess so I will find out our next heaviest throw as a concession.

So with little planned for today and not wishing to go out into the very damp garden the world was our lobster.  The first real tangible sign that we have embraced Autumn was this morning when porridge was deemed to be the order of the day.  Actually we would both eat porridge at any time of the year but now it is most definitely a comforting start to the day.  We have ours completely different - of course!!!  John likes to heat up his meusli with a bit of milk which I think is disgusting - I have the good old fashioned porridge oats with a touch of honey, cinnamon and sultanas.

We had a very important parcel to post and so decided to nip down to Polis to sort it out.  Our lovely neighbour George celebrates his 80th birthday on Armistice Day.  He has been unable to come out to Droushia this year due to ill health so we thought we would send a bit of Droushia to him as a present.  We have been collecting together some bits and pieces and filling a shoe box (makes him sound like one of those charity cases!!!).  At the post office I was greeted by Kleopa who, in his spare time, also works at the Droushia Heights Hotel.  "Ah Jilly-Mou" he shouted "I am tired and I want to retire!" and then he whisked away my parcel trying to find the cheapest way to send it as it was over 2kg which we knew as we had already weighed it.  Job done we then popped into the bank to make arrangements for a transaction which needs to take place tomorrow.  Fitos has moved into the back office for "Gold" customers but on seeing us rushed out to pass the time of day.  On enquiring as to the current interest rates which are abysmal we told him that they were the reason why we could never join the heady ranks of Gold customers and he laughed.  In Paps we were dealt with by a really cheery new girl on the tills - so smiles all round.  I remarked to John that the staff in the businesses in Polis make it such a personal and pleasant experience I really couldn't imagine shopping anywhere else.  To cap it all the sun came out as we drove home!

Once back at home it was an ideal day to get on with things indoors and Mum had given me some sewing which she wanted doing - she had cut up some large throws to make smaller throws for her lounge furniture to spare it from Freddo's fur

It was a bit awkward as some of the material was in multiple layers and some had sort of fluffy filling which got right up my nose!

The cats came in one by one to try and thwart my enterprises as they all found the material warm and comforting and always managed to sit on the piece I was trying to sew rather than any already done or waiting to be done.

We have been thoroughly entertained by the building work going on at 3a and 3b because cutting costs and cutting corners is an understatement to say the least and this afternoon during a sharp downpour we could see and hear Mohammed up on the roof with a chainsaw cutting off the wood at the end of the roof joists upon which the tiles sit and ensure that the rain water doesn't just gush down the walls.  Why would you do that????  He has done it all over the place and not always flush so that the roof on 3b is beginning to look a right dog's dinner.  When it rains, because of this odd roof configuration the newly created walls of the extension of 3a are absolutely soaking and if they are painted anytime soon (which is likely) will simply seal in the damp as there is no way those internal rooms will have any chance to dry out completely.It is all style over substance so it will look good to the naked eye but then scratch the surface and you will open up a right old can of worms.  Lots of mixed metaphors going on there I know!!!

We spent the afternoon cosied up in the conservatory.  What sun we had today had warmed it up beautifully and we have put the small TV in the corner so we can watch out there as it is currently more pleasant to do so.  The cats love it and this afternoon we were ALL in together.  John had but in a request for a chili this evening so that was bubbling away on the stove when Di and Rob called in to say Hello - they returned late last night after a successful trip back to the UK to see family and friends.

A good chili requires a good red wine so we finished off our evening, warm and well fed with a glass or two of Agios Onoufrios.  I really quite like days like today when we are better off indoors and cant do any gardening or outside DIY.  John is in firm agreement - it is idea of heaven.