Just another Manic Monday...

The weather is apparently supposed to be getting cooler on Wednesday but for the moment we are in the grips of a heatwave and it is bloody hot.  It makes me feel tired and a little nauseous and I am not sleeping terribly well because I need a punkerwaller lovely boy.

Our annual debate about what a luxury the pool is and how much it costs to run and how little we use it goes out the window - I don't care that it is a luxury, that it costs money to run and in Droushia the swimming season is much shorter than down on the coast - at this particular moment in time it is bliss and I would not change it for the world and even better my lovely mother-in-law kindly sent me some new swimming costumes because two of my old faithfuls had become knackered by the chemicals and the sun so that I got in the pool and then got out looking like I was wearing a nappy because the lycra had gone in the bum.

My new swim wear is lush - a great fit and I am loving the colour - all very co-ordinated with the pool tiles so cheers Janet you are the bestest xxx

It is a great start to the day, and this week, to jump into the pool with a water temperature of about 30 degrees and wake yourself up - my poor night's sleep is a thing of the past and I am ready to face the day.

I had my regular visit to the cemetery.  I know Mum had been yesterday so there were no suprises.  The flowers in the trough are looking good and have flowered ever since we put them in.  They were a good choice.  I am not entirely sure what the plant is but it looks to be a flowering Purslane or Portulaca.  I think the two plants cost about 50 cents each and if I have to replace them with something else in the winter then that is no hardship.

At art this week both Sheila and I were tackling new projects - Sheila has chosen a Mouflon as her subject matter.

The mouflon "Ovis Orientalis Ophion" is unique to Cyprus and found only within the mountainous state forest of Paphos. It is believed to be descended from wild sheep brought over to the island from Asia by the prehistoric people who lived here around 9000-8000 B.C.

I, on the other hand, have been persuaded by John to try and do an Artichoke in flower to partner the picture of the poppy seed head.  It was a good suggestion and I am already enjoying it because it is instantly recognisable and I am muting the colours so that it will match the other picture.

For most of the morning it was just Sheila and I as Klaus is kindly helping their friend Maggie with the paperwork resulting from her husband Bob's recent death.  I know what that feels like so have offered to help with anything that I can.

We decided to go out this afternoon - we were going to try out Marios's new bar in the village but he was waiting for the electricity board to connect him up and was hoping that might happen before Thursday which is a major bank holiday and then everything seems to shut down for a couple of weeks as the majority of the Cypriots take their annual holiday.

Unable to have a cool drink at his we wandered across to Kathikas so that John could have a nice glass of Ale and I could have a smoothie.  It was very pleasant and we could have quite happily sat there for hours had we not been engaged in conversation by one of the local resident Brits who did nothing but moan!

We had water and cucumbers in the car so that we could stop at the horse on our way home.  Initially we thought she had been moved right away but then located her on the wasteland next to the Peyiotis's house.  She had plenty of water which is good and for once her tether wasn't caught on something so she could reach it.  She cannot resist a cucumber bless her!