The wanderer is about to return...

John returns home tomorrow so I am getting ready and as I have to be up early tomorrow to take Mum to immigration and then go and sort out closing the bank accounts that still have Dad's name on them I am not sure how much time I will have tomorrow so my first task was to put 'fresh hay' on the bed and tonight I will have to lie very still so that it remains fresh for tomorrow although I am guessing he will be too tired to notice.  As it was sunny the cats were out so I took the opportunity to make it unhindered and to get the laundry washed and out on the line and actually got it ironed later in the day so good job done.

The Herb Garden in Akourdaleia has re-opened under new management so I thought I would investigate as it might be a nice place for a light lunch and somewhere Mum could go with Sue and Fran for her birthday.  I had suggested Mina might like to join me as she knows the newbies running it and had asked Di if she fancied joining us but she said that she and Rob were a bit busy so will drag her along next time.  This morning I had thought I might be Billy No Mates and go on my own but Mina did say she should have time to come along.

When I arrived Gillian, Sonia and Christine were there being 'Ladies wot Lunch'  I know Gillian had been last week so it must have been good for her to return again so soon.  They had taken a table in the shade but I decided to sit out in what sun there was (it had decided to turn cloudy at this point) and wait for Mina to hopefully arrive.  

The Herb Garden had previously been run by Elaine but shortly after taking it on they decided to dig up the roads in Akourdaleia to cobble them and so there was no chance of her being able to run it as a viable business.  That work is now done and looks very nice and it is a lovely spot so hopefully these new people will be able to make a go of it.

I opted for one of the day's specials which was a home made ciabatta served with brie and bacon and homemade cranberry and Mina had a ham salad sandwich on poppy seed bread.  Apparently there are great plans ahead for theme evenings and for the famers' market to return and based on the food and the costs it is somewhere I would consider if I wanted a nice snack - in fact Jane and John are coming next week and we are planning to go to Kritou Terra and walk and this isn't too far to come for some sustenance.

The chips were fabulous and our two meals, chips, coffee, mineral water and bottle of ordinary water came to €14.50 which I thought was very reasonable.  I shall definitely be recommending it as somewhere for mum to go with Sue and Fran.

It was ok in the sun but when it hid behind a cloud it was decidedly chilly and Mina had pitched up in shorts!!  Anyway we had a nice catch up and nice food and I will be in touch with Natalie about organising Mum's little birthday get-together.

I returned home to my ironing and some frantic phone calls from John because yesterday I had realised I had lost the large stone out of the ring I wear all the time.  It was a particular favourite of mine and I had had it for years and I had lost the stone once before and had it replaced but this time I had no idea where it might be and with our shingled garden if it was there then there would be no hope.  John had decided to pop into town and buy me a ring but there was no internet there so we were doing everything blind.  He thought I had lost the large stone out of Weighty Katy which is a large sapphire surrounded by diamonds and looks like Lady Diana's engagement ring but this was not the right ring.  It didn't matter though because he had chosen something lovely which hopefully will fit and which I will wear but remove when I am sleeping or gardening which I had not done with the other one.

I was conscious that I had to get up mega-early tomorrow so had an early night, only to wake with a start because I realised I needed to take my passport with me tomorrow and I hadn't got it out!!!  I also realised that in my rush to get to bed I had forgotten to post the blog - sorry readers!