Christmas is coming...

I am feeling the effects of my last three days' manual labour - my bum aches and my arms ache - it was, however, a small price to pay in return for my rugs.

Our rug has been ironed and now has pride of place in the corridor between the two bedrooms.  I just hope to God that Mum doesn't trip up on it when she is staying - I have put some non-slip stuff underneath to try and make sure it is as safe as it can be.

It was just the right size by luck rather than judgment but looking at it I realise that some of the rows are tighter than others and that is because we didn't use a measuring stick to make sure that the width was the same throughout.  The fabrics were different too with some much more stretchy than others which also had an effect on the overall size and shape but I am chuffed with it.

The other rug, which is a present, needs to be completed.  I have decided not to add the coloured fringes at the ends I am going to knot the cottons instead which I think looks just as nice.

We were up early as John was supervising some fencing being put up at Lakis and Argy's house and whilst he was doing that I went off down to Polis to do a bit of shopping, meet my friend Gillian for a coffee and do our weekly shop.

As you can see from the photographs it was a glorious day with clear blue skies - I was in shorts and a short sleeved top even before I headed down to the coast which is generally several degrees warmer than Droushia.  It is quite hard to think that Christmas is only four weeks away expect that Polis is preparing for that event and putting the decorations out in readiness.  We shall have to start thinking about what we are going to put up.

I had a little wander around the square and looked in some of the shops as I am after some little gifts but I was a bit early for meeting Gillian so took a walk down the gardens which look out to the sea.  I know John's mum used to like to walk down here when she and Hadge used to come on holiday and I can see why as it was peaceful sat looking across the fields and warm in the sunshine.

I checked my shopping list - we have decided to go out for lunch tomorrow because I haven't really had much chance to think about what to cook for Mum and we have been invited to Marianna's annual Christmas coffee and cake morning which John and I want to go to but it isn't easy if you have food in the oven needing to be looked at.  Mum has always said that she likes Maria's in Kathikas and I have checked she is open tomorrow lunchtime and booked a table.  I hope that it wont be too cold in there for Mum and that she will find something she likes.

I planned to make some soup this afternoon and freeze it so that when Mum is staying over at Christmas we can have it lunchtimes - we are a bit useless about lunches and I know she has to eat regularly.

It was lovely in the Courtyard of the Art Cafe and it became very busy which is good to see.  Tina is remaining open for a couple more weeks.  I was due to meet Gillian at 11.00pm but she was delayed so I just enjoyed the sunshine and people watched until she arrived.  She had been to have her nails done and didn't get out as quickly as she had hoped.  We meet periodically and she has recently taken up paint pouring with alcoholic inks and I really like her work so planned to get my secret santa gift for Ladies Lunch from her - I would rather give her the five euros and buy something handmade than get a bit of tat from Jumbos.

When she arrived we decided that we would have a bit of lunch - there was pumpkin and ginger soup on the menu which I chose and it was delicious and this gave me some inspiration as to the soup I was going to make for when Mum is with us as I know she likes ginger.

We spent a very pleasant hour or so chatting and eating before we went our separate ways.  I headed off to Paps and did my shopping and then returned to John who was, by that time, screaming at the TV because the Blades were scraping their way to a very lucky draw against Rotherham.

I really cannot bear to sit with him when he is watching the Mighty Blades so I took the opportunity to make my soup and to make some Thai fishcakes for our supper.  I had some mashed potato that needed using up and some salmon and crab sticks in the freezer which had been there a bit too long.  I got in a right mess with the breadcrumbing bit and had flour and egg and breadcrumbs all over the place!  I have to say though that they were delicious when served with my proper chips!!!