Just another day in paradise!

The heatwave continues but looking at the weather forecast there is talk of us catching the tail end of the terrible storms that have been lashing Greece.  The cats are on a constant search for some shade and Mr Boo has adopted the day bed where, when the curtain is closed, provides a sanctuary against the blaring heat of the sun.  Mr Boo is still a little poorly - he has been involved in a fight again and lost his lovely collar (I am now coming to an end of the one's I brought back from the UK) has a head covered in scuds and is limping as a result of an injury to one of his front paws.

We got ourselves ready for a trip down to the village to check the post and then on down to Polis to do some grocery shopping before it got too hot.  John has been making friends with the pony which is in the field next to the Scrimmers.  She is visited every day by her owners and at least this year they have provided her with a water bowl which it is less likely to be kicked over but in this heat isn't filled often enough so we try and do it whenever we are passing and today John fished out some cucumbers from the fridge to give her so at least she will have some moisture in her mouth.  Thankfully she is tethered so that she can get some shade under one of the massive fig trees.  Her poor face is bothered by flies but generally she appears to be in reasonable condition and is quite gentle when John approaches her.  When we were down in Paps we bought her a selection of goodies to munch on (having checked first on the internet if they were suitable to be fed to a horse - she is a little confused by the kindness but at least we feel we are doing our bit).

We did actually see a digger in the village today although it seemed to just make its way slowly from Christos's Taverna down to Stathmos and back without actually doing anything.  Sadly Despina is no longer in the Akamas Coffee Shop next to Stathmos - apparently the rental period came to an end and there was a sealed bid system for the renewal.  The Coffee Shop is currently empty and closed but we believe it is being taken on by Bambos so whether this is in addition to or instead of Stathmos we have no idea.  We have also heard rumours about the fabulous building opposite Stathmos but will keep that under wraps until we have it confirmed.

We collected our post today and also got Di and Rob's and their neighbours and delivered it.  I had a parcel which contained half a dozen strings of led solar lights which I wanted to wrap round the lantern I got in Jumbos which I want to hang under the gazebo out the front where the day bed is located.

It took me ages to complete the exercise but it kept me busy whilst John watched the cricket world cup semi-final Australia v England which was the most exciting match I have watched in ages - if you have never enjoyed a cricket match I would defy you not to have been gripped by this - I think the final may well be somewhat of an anti-climax.  Anyway I completed the job and put the lantern out in the sun to charge and then John hung it up for me and it looks great.  I know it looks great because it was so hot tonight that at one point John and I went outside to have a sleep on the day bed which was ok until I got bitten on the lip and ended up looking like I had had fillers and John decided to call me Daffy Duck - at this point I gave up and went back to bed proper.

After I had finished my lantern project I decided I would make a little gift for Clare as it is her birthday Sunday and we have been invited round to her and Les's place tomorrow with Di and Rob.

I know that she is quite artistic and their lovely house has a definite style made up of some beautiful items from Hong Kong so I don't know whether she will like what I made but Hazel bought me something similar from the Blue Oyster Gift Shop last year and I love it.

It was a good opportunity to use up the modeling clay that I have - it was just about pliable enough but I couldn't afford to make any mistakes - which I did and then I had to try and make it all over again!!!

I am trying to use up craft things from my cupboard so now there is a little bit more room.  In fact clearing cupboards became the theme for the afternoon as we did the linen cupboard, the drinks cupboard and the food cupboards from which I removed some pretty ancient stuff which has been sitting there unused and slowly becoming antiques and the ancient liquer loafing in the lounge did wonders cleaning out my drains!!

I had been so taken by the lovely pear and brie salad I had at the Herb Garden that I decided to try and recreate something similar for tea tonight.  Not quite the same because I wasn't prepared to shell out for a pomegranate as John isn't keen and currently they are super expensive not being in season.  John did enjoy though as did I.

There was a change in the weather tonight, it became very windy with dark clouds racing across the sky - much much cooler outside but inside still like a furnace.