This is Charlie - he is the picture of contentment - for all his issues and his accident and his disabilities he is a happy cat - although a martyr to his stomach.  He has the sort of life that all cats should enjoy but sadly on this island, and in many other places this simply is not the case so today my cousin Michelle, who is a veterinary nurse in an all cat practice (save for the staff of course) and I were volunteering at the Tala Monastery Cat Park - we aimed to get there around 10.00am and finish at 2.00pm and then I was taking Michelle on a mini tour around that neck of the woods.

We reported for duty at exactly 10.00am on a muggy old day - in fact it poured with rain in Polis and John thought we might get rain in Droushia although in the end we avoided it.

We sort of knew what to expect with regard to the Cat Park which is now the home for hundreds of cats but nothing quite prepares you for the sight, sound and smell of that number of felines in captivity.  Our job was to clean out various of the 'cloisters' which included the area which houses the cats with disabilities and issues and the mummy and baby (with kittens in quarantine).  

So cleaning involves making sure all the bedding or newspaper is clean - anything soiled gets discarded.  All litter trays have to be sifted and topped up or if too full of shit emptied, cleaned and replaced.  All water bowls have to be emptied and topped up, all food bowls taken away and cleaned.  Cages have to be cleaned and disinfected and floors swept and mopped.  It is hard, dirty, back breaking and smelly work and, a little like painting the Forth Bridge because no sooner than you have cleaned a litter tray than some cat or cats want to use it.  

There were so many beautiful and loving cats and kittens it would have been impossible to chose one and even though I got the job of cleaning where the real tiny babies are housed, and some of them were no bigger than an apple and all just adorable even if they were a bit poorly I was not tempted.  

After we had been hard at it for 2 hours we both agreed that we couldn't do any more.  I take my hat off to those regulars who do this day in and day out with very little thanks and always battling numbers, prejudices and budgets.  If anyone reading this wants to help and live on the island please go and volunteer even if it is only once and if you are not on the island sponsor a cat.  They need all the help they can get.

We cleaned up and said our goodbyes and then went down to the Monastery Cafe for a drink before we headed up to the Monastery proper for a little wander around - I love this place just for a nice quiet walk and some time to contemplate.  

We could hear a cat crying on our arrival - it turned out to be a female, mainly white but with humongously big ears - so much so that she had the appearance of a Fennec Fox.  A little further down towards the bit where the caves are we bumped in to what must have been her offspring because there was a dark tabby and a ginger and white kitten with equally big ears.  The dark tabby was sat on a box and unafraid of anyone, the ginger and white was sat on a wall at the top of a long slope and shot off when some horrid little girl screamed at it nastily.  Afraid that it may have fallen a long way or hurt itself I looked to find it, which I did, and the tiny little thing allowed me to pick it up and place it back on the wall without a murmur or a hiss or a scratch.

From Tala we travelled across through Tremithousa, to Mesoghi and Mesa Chorio and then down the hill back onto the Mesoghi Avenue then across to the end of the motorway and down to the coast, then turned a left along where all the hotels are and turned round at the roundabout and stopped at Tea for Two below Gabors to have a snack which turned out to be much bigger than we had anticipated.  From there we drove along the Tombs of the Kings road and took a quick detour to show Michelle how the other half holiday at the Elysium.  We walked along the coastal path and then up through the gardens and out the front of the hotel.  We then meandered along Banana Bay and turned off for Coral Bay.

We called in at various places so that Michelle could see what the landscape was like.  In the past she has lived near the sea and it is in her blood so the pull to return is huge.  Some of the coastline on the island is so reminiscent of Cornwall, rugged and wild.  Tuesday I plan to take her from Polis up to Pachyamos - then she will see some truly spectacular scenery.

We called into Yiallos and then to Oniros where we walked along the front of the restaurant and up to the wreck where we got to see more than we bargained for as there was a man sunbathing in the all together, lying on his back, hands behind his head proud of what nature had given him!!!

From Oniros we drove along as far as Sea Caves and then back up to the main road and back to the roundabout at Coral Bay and then slowly made our way back up through Peyia and then home via Arodes, Inea and Pittikopos.  We were knackered but at least it had given Michelle a little taste of the island and where some of the properties are located which we are going to visit on Monday.  I hope she is enjoying the experience and that it is giving her food for thought.  As I said her move, if it is here, is not imminent but she is at least gathering as much information as she can.