Sunday - sunshine!!

We actually had another bright start to the day and today we were lucky that the weather remained dry and fine all day for once.  With that in mind John cleaned off the outside furniture and put the umbrella up so that we could sit outside and enjoy a bit of warmth.  We actually got the new cushions out and the ones which Mum bought me look really nice - got to love a flamingo (or two!!).

Mum was coming up for lunch today as she normally does on Sunday and I had cooked a Stifado in advance and was busy getting the potatoes sorted - Hasselback today and some minted garden peas which were to be followed by a Greek Filo Pastry Orange Cake served with cream and/or strawberries - not bad really for an amateur.

Kenna has not had the best of weather whilst she has been here well at least not what we would normally expect for this time of year so the opportunity to spend the morning outside was very welcome so whilst I was busying myself in the kitchen she and John spent some time enjoying the fresh air.

Mum arrived safe and sound - it is always a relief when she pitches up although there is rarely much traffic to trouble her which is good.  She is having an issue with trigger finger on her right hand but has arranged to go and see a specialist tomorrow to see what her options are - ideally she would like another injection but doesn't know if he will be prepared to do it again and she really doesn't want an operation.  Fingers crossed that she will get some good news tomorrow.

So here we are all enjoying our Sunday lunch - we decided to err on the side of caution and eat indoors.  I had to do a clothing change midway through as I managed to cover myself when my peas shot of the plate loaded in red wine gravy which made a bit of a mess.  Stifado is always my go-to meal and it meant that Mum could take a dinner home with her for in the week.

It was so much more spring-like today - the temperatures don't lie but there is such a difference depending on where you are sitting.

In the lounge it was a heady 19.4 degrees but compared to recently that was positively balmy! whilst outside the kitchen it was  24.4 degrees and in the conservatory it reached 32 degrees and we were moaning that it was too warm - well I was but Mum said it was just comfortable.  Mum was going out this evening to see Sleeping Beauty being beamed from Russia to the Multiplex cinema in the Mall so as she left earlier than normal so she could get herself ready and apparently it was the best one that she and her friends have been to see so that is good.

Kenna took the opportunity to check out Wendy and Bill corner and give the Steamers their first occupant of the year (save for the cats).  She will at least go home with a little colour on her face from the sun rather than rust!

It is always lovely to have visitors but our 'normal' life gets put on hold so I am conscious that I haven't done any cleaning for a few days and the garden is getting overrun with weeds and if we are one hundred percent honest our little house is really not big enough.  We have one shower room and one toilet so when we have visitors it would be much nicer if we had two bathrooms.  We could do it but Wendy and Bill corner would have to go and that would be a bit of a shame and in the future when there is just the two of us we only need a shower room and that is what we have got.

This makes me think of the lovely Trish and Alan who sadly passed away together (as they had been in life) shortly after Dad died.  They used to invite us to go and stay at their home in the North East at any time but, as Trish would be at pains to emphasise, only for two days.  We used to ask her why and she used to say she could only stand sharing her house with visitors for two days max.  It was a bit forthright but you have to admire her honesty.  God bless them both - may they rest in peace.

Our house seems a little strange without Chivers but some of the cats are making the most of John's vacant lap.  Mr Boo is Mr Flop - he just gets on your lap and makes himself comfortable!!!

John was trying to finish his Chris Wilder biography which was a Christmas Present and Boris wanted to be close by.  He is one cool cat!!!  He tickles me when he comes onto the bed in the morning and lifts the duvet cover and then gets into bed and snuggles up with me - he generally drapes himself as an arc over my body and snoozes - he is calming and gentle and any angst you might have disappears as he gives you his unconditional love and attention - why do people cause these animals harm?

After Mum had gone home we cleared the kitchen and had some quiet time before we watched this evening's film which was Kenna's choice - A 2007 American spy thriller film which is based on a true story about Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent convicted of spying for the Soviet Unioin for more than two decades.  It was a very good film.