Thank you Marianna...

Sundays seem to come round mega quickly - fortunately today we had decided to go out for lunch so I didn't have to think about what to cook.

We had been invited up to Marianna's for coffee and cake.  She does this most years just before Christmas.  Originally we thought it was a charm offensive as her father in law was standing for Mukhtar but she has continued to do it and she really puts in a lot of effort so this year both John and I were going along.  There was some confusion about timings but Marianna had said 10.00 till 10.30 to us and John was only going because Di was dragging Rob along and she had been told 10.30 - 11.00 so in the end we missed one another.  

Marianna's house is vast and you can access the lounge either via a lift or up a staircase which John said reminded him of being in Debenhams - all it needed was some Muzak!!

I have no idea how she manages it all but she had put on a fabulous spread and had made all the cakes herself.  She had also decorated ready for Christmas and this year had changed the location of the tree and the colour scheme and it was stunning.  She also had the heating on and a roaring log fire making it all seem really homely.

Kelly was there when we arrived and she is the font of all knowledge - it helps that her time in the States means that she speaks pretty good English.  We learned today that she is actually Marianna's aunt because Marianna's dad (who died when she was only seven) was brother to Dimitri (Kelly's husband).  I knew they were related but never knew what the relationship actually was.  Then the lady who cleans the community office is actually the Mukhtar's sister in law and her son married Alkisti's daughter Christiana!  Just goes to show you never know who you are talking to and who they might be related to!

It had been Marianna's Dad's memorial service at the church this morning so she had been there before entertaining the masses and according to Kelly they were off to a funeral a bit later for a distant relative who lived in Yialia.

We stayed around an hour but because we were eating out for lunch couldn't really dig into all the lovely cakes and pastries that were on offer.  Marianna had made some really lovely apple muffin things where the slices of apple had been arranged so that each cake looked like a rose - they were scrummy as were the pumpkin and oat muffins.

As we said our goodbyes and left to go and meet up with Mum we bumped in to Rob and Di arriving - it was a shame we couldn't really stay any longer so we could have a chat with them.

Now it is getting cooler we have decided to get the rugs out in the conservatory as the tiled floor can feel chilly.  We had stored the rugs in my shed but somehow or another they had got some water damage - either a leak in the roof or condensation so our big rug had a nasty stain on it which was disappointing as it was new last year.  

Undeterred John managed to get it into the washing machine and we waited until the cycle had finished and got it out on the line so that it could dry whilst we were out eating lunch which is did fortunately and we laid it out hoping that any sun we get tomorrow will help to iron out the rucks that it currently has because we don't want it to become a trip hazard especially when Mum is here.  Blow me if I didn't find fresh blood on the other runner which we have put down - I don't know if it was a squashed tick or whether one or other of the cats has some injury - fortunately the stain remover got it out.

We took Mum to Maria's in Kathikas, proper name To Stekki Tou Panai which is the smallest of the tavernas in Kathikas and, when we first came to Droushia, was a shop - in fact we bought bread there once!  Since it has been turned into a taverna it has gone from strength to strength and retains a traditional feel but is cosy.  Even though the wood burner was not lit today it still felt warm - well we thought it did but Mum feels the cold so her hands were icy.  By the time our food came the place was full and it has a nice atmosphere.  John plumped for a pork chop, I had the salmon and Mum had a chicken kebab and it made a nice change to come somewhere different.

When we got back home Mum managed to get a video call with my sister and with great grandson Jack which I know always puts a smile on her face as he is a cutie and full of beans.  Now that he can talk it is just so funny to hear what he has to say.

We are approaching the shortest day and this afternoon clouded over so we are always conscious that Mum has that journey back to Emba so we like for her to get off in good time and in good light and then wait for the call to say she is home safe and sound which came and then we could relax, kick off our shoes and have a glass of wine.