A Fruitless Shopping Trip...

The forecasters were right about our weather today - we are indeed under the blanket of a sandstorm which has preceded the Coptic storm due tomorrow 26th November and called El Mickness which is apparently a 'Broom Storm' whatever that might be but conjures up all sorts of images of Halloween type figures losing their modes of transport!!!  Rain is forecast tomorrow and if it does then it will be dirty as it will bring down the sand with it.

Before I went off to Art this morning I looked up some recipes so that I could make something with these beautiful Kumquats which Lilian brought with her yesterday.  These are huge by kumquat standards and fresh and juicy.  They will last in the fridge for several weeks but in the meantime I want to find some nice recipes starting with a pickle or Achaar to accompany the Indian meal I am making later this week.  I found one and it is pretty straightforward so will give it a go tomorrow.

Although John and I had both been to the cemetery yesterday I called in again today as thought Dad just might get a bit confused as to which day of the week it was.  I am sure people might think it a bit disrespectful but I like to have a sit on the marble and have a chat with him so he knows what is going on.

I am continuing with my picture of the house leek - actually it is two house leeks, mummy and baby.  It is slow progress and today I didn't think it looked like I had achieved very much at all.  

I have persuaded John to go for a little Christmas retail therapy down in Paphos this afternoon so I will check to see if Jumbo have the nice black frames that I like because I am going to need one soon.  It will also give me the chance to try and find a little present or two for Mum to open on Christmas Day - she has given me two things on her list - neither of which is particularly exciting so I want to find a couple of nice surprises if I can.  I don't have anything for John nor he for me - not that either of us are overly bothered as we tend to buy things as and when we need them.

As we drove down towards Paphos the weather improved.  It had been very overcast and cool in Droushia.  Even here though you could see the sunshine was not clear - it was warmer which was good - both John and I were in shorts but I had relented and put on a long sleeved top which I came to regret after being in the Mall!!

We took the opportunity to call into the fruit and veg shop at Tsada so that John could swap out his Leon crate of empties for a crate of full and whilst there managed to get a fresh pork leg bone to give to the little stray dog at Andreas's who I think shows signs of being pregnant.  I do hope not for her sake and for the sake of any puppies she might have.  We can do no more than just ensure she has water and some food now and again as we aren't entirely sure how much of either she receives on a regular basis.

We also called into Smart (for peanuts), Cycleband (for Ginger Jam) and Lidl (for Prosecco) before driving down through Town where they have now erected the Paphos Christmas Decorations which are really quite impressive particularly for a nation whose most important religious celebrations used to take place at Easter and Christmas was almost unknown to them.

Jumbos is a cornucopia of all things Christmassy - everything in every size and every colour is there.  The scale is staggering, the choice mind blowing and in the back of my mind the niggle that these things are made in sweat shops and discarded into the environment when people tire of them.  I love Christmas and I love to trim up the house but this year have finally realised that enough is enough - we have limited storage space for all the niff naff and tat accumulated over the years so we will be creating festive cheer with our old decorations but plenty of new candles - they provide a fabulous atmosphere and additional warmth - a win win situation!!

The Mall is all trimmed up but with the same decorations as last year and I am guessing that, it being Monday and it still being November, festive shopping frenzy has not yet gripped the good people of Paphos and surrounding areas - the Mall was pretty quiet as were the tills in Jumbos - only two people in front of us and John was in generous spirit as he let the Russian lady behind us fast track through as she only had a couple of items.

It was a nice way to spend a couple of hours but in terms of a successful shopping trip it fell very short.  I found nothing for Mum and nothing for John and even worse nothing for me.  Back to the drawing board then!!!!   Even worse there were a couple of shops I was going to call into on our way home which were bloomin' well shut and I don't know whether this was because it was a Monday or whether it is because it is the end of the tourist season.

There was rather a stunning sunset as we made our way back home which augurs well for tomorrow so maybe we will avoid the rain.  My garden needs it though - I am still having to water some of the pots to ensure that things survive.  I am also looking after Di and Rob's plants whilst they are away - I have only brought one up here to keep an eye on 24/7 - that is Rob's beloved cyclamen (a gift from John's mum).  When we went to water on Saturday they were without water but everything looked fine - I am going tomorrow to look again.