Discovering somewhere new...

November is turning into a really beautiful month and this morning was just gorgeous.  The sun was streaming into the garden first thing and this was good, very good, because we had arranged to have George and Pam's garden sorted.

Lisamarie, Darren and their boys, who actually live in Droushia and who have a gardening and landscaping business, were coming to cut back all the shrubs in the back garden and clear the front completely.

In the back the bay tree is now double John's height and then some and is the home to at least one wasps nest that we know of and as John found out to his cost when we last tried to give it a haircut!!!  and in the front there is a cactus which is about 6 foot tall with vicious spikes. 

We have tried to keep on top of it for George and Pam but we have now waved the white flag - it isn't so much the cutting back that is a problem it is the getting rid of the rubbish - we would need a truck and we would need somewhere to put it without getting into trouble.   It is also something with George and Pam simply do not need to worry about.  We will get it cleared and then when they are able to come out they can decide what they want to do with it on a permanent basis.



The gardening crew arrived at 8.30am - good job we were up as they had said they would be with us closer to 9.00am but that was better really because we were going out at 12.00 to go and see Dip and Karen down in Universal. 

They worked like Trojans and were very neat and tidy.  In fact it is the best I have seen the back garden look in a long time.  The bay tree is now manageable and a uniform shape and in the front everything has gone and been replaced by two massive cat toilets.  We shall get some black membrane to ward off the cats and suppress the weeds because they will, given half a chance, return with a vengeance.

We set off for Universal and were surprised to see that the horse is back but still with a broken tether so we don't know whether she has just wandered back of her own accord or the boys brought her back but haven't tied her up - we reckon on the former.  She recognised the sound of Kenny and came trotting down to poke her head through the window to have a cuddle with John and then having slobbered all over the window she wandered back up the path and back to the area she was in before the bloody hunter came along last Wednesday.

It was great to catch up with Dip and Karen - they return to the UK shortly and have been here a while but this was the first and only opportunity we had to get together.  Opposite where they have their apartment in Universal there has been a big holiday complex built called Elysia Park and it is where Andy and Nicky stayed the other week.  It is impressive and has a nice restaurant.  That particular area of Universal was a little lacking in amenities when they bought a couple of years ago but it has improved no end and the complex is actually a very positive edition.

It was very very pleasant sitting out on the terrace and the menu is very extensive and the food is a bit more upmarket than most regular tavernas.

Ok so it is a bit more expensive than we normally go for but it is in prime tourist area so you expect to have to pay a bit more.

I had a cocktail - it was called a Hugo and was a mix of Prosecco, Elderflower cordial, mint and lime and it was lovely.  There really was quite a range in the menu - Dip had a meal of sea bass and sea bream fillets on fresh veg, Karen had a pork dish, John had tandori kebabs and I had a special burger.

Before we knew it we had whiled away 3 hours, eating, drinking and chatting.  They will be back in the Spring and we will endeavour to make sure we do not make it only the once when we see them.  We had planned a trip to the Mall but by the time we said our goodbyes we were conscious that the cats would be ravenous and nothing was so desperate that it could not wait so we made our way back home.

After the most beautiful of days we had a stunning sunset to watch as we drove home.  We were prepared for a chilly evening as the sky was clear and the stars bright but it wasn't cold at all.  We managed to watch a bit of TV but have another early start tomorrow.  We need to get the lounge sorted because I have arranged to have the two sofas and the rug cleaned.