Bye Bye visitors...

We said goodbye to our visitors today (seen here at John's 50th birthday celebrations).  We had a bit of a lazy morning and then a spot of brunch before they went off back down to Emba for what remains of their holiday.  It is amazing to think that they have been here almost a month and they have been so unlucky with the weather, it never seems to phase them and they make the most of it.

Today was bright and breezy and we managed to get a day almost without rain which is a bit of a novelty.  Who would have thought it this close to the end of March that we are unable to plan anything at the moment because of the bloody weather.

Everything looks so much better when the sun shines but at least some things in the garden are enjoying the conditions - the bulbs in particular!!!  I think the UK are enjoying better weather than we are at the moment but that is probably a welcome distraction with all the BREXIT debacle that is happening.  The UK should have been exiting tomorrow but that is not going to happen and we are all left worndering what is going to happen and how this is going to to affect us - one thing is for sure we can't change what now happens and so we just have to get on with it - whatever 'it' might be!!!

John and I got ourselves ready as we were having our six monthly check up at the Dentist.  We go to Perfect Smile in Peyia and see Dr Haris who is a lovely guy and must be good as John used to hate going to the dentist but doesn't mind now.  We pay for our dental treatment and then claim it back from our private insurance - a thorough checkup and clean costs us €40 each - I have no idea if that is reasonable or not compared to what you have to pay in the UK.  The surgery is bright and modern and Dr Haris always sends us home with some samples.

Perfect Smile has had a recent redecoration - I would love to know what happened to the large picture they had of a boat which was in reception as I always liked that - it has been replaced with a floral display of beautiful Phalaenopsis orchids - maybe someone has suggested that these are more calming than the picture of the boat!  Anyway we had arrived a little early and sat down to await our appointments.  John went in first and came out clutching his sample tube of new toothpaste but I got my free tube and a handful of those tiny little brushes for in between your teeth.  All was good and we don't have to return for six months - so that is John's birthday present sorted as this was mine!!!  I must remember to sort out my claim form and ask Jane if she will post it for me on her return.


We called into the post office prior to going to Peyia and I had a parcel which I didn't open until my return.

I was pleased that it included my new candle sconces which are for either side of the guest bed.

I had thought that John would hate them but actually he thought they looked good and as the Hilti nails were already in place they could be hung straight away.  I am hoping Kenna will appreciate the romantic ambience when she arrived next week!!

By the time we arrived home we were greeted by some ravenous felines.  The cold weather seems to make them constantly hungry - I had thought they needed worming but that doesn't seem to have made any change to their constant requests.

We got ourselves sorted before settling down for a meal and some TV before calling it a day.  We love to have visitors and Jane and John have heralded the start of our season with people coming off and on now until late in the autumn.

This evening we were having the leftover Balti I made the other day.  John was Mr Poppadom tonight got the cook-in-the-microwave ones we had to rise by using his engineering background, the microwave and a stand for the poppadom and I made some dips to accompany our meal and pad it out a bit because there wasn't a huge amount left.

I made the Balti from one of the mixes that Laura and Mark had sent over.  It was nice but I think I prefer the two others that I used previously - they had a nicer flavour in my opinion.

We always sit at the dining table for our meal - whatever we are eating - it just makes a bit of an occasion of it even if what we are having is leftovers or surprise.

We decided to catch up on MasterChef - we are particularly liking the Greek contestant Irini.  In the episode we watched tonight she made a pudding which was the same orange syrup cake as I had made the other week using dried filo pastry.  John and Greg were blown away by it, never having eating it before.  Clever Irini because that pud is amazing but easy and she upped hers a level by adding a citrus gel and citrus mousse.  She is in the final - I shall be rooting for her or Delia the copper - John thinks Gilly (aka Breanne from Game of Thrones) is in with a shout.