My picture finds a new home

After a very enjoyable evening and what turned into a rather early morning we woke a little jaded and so we had a rather subdued breakfast outside.  Who would have thought that it would be warm enough to be in shorts and tea-shirts in the second week in November up here in Droushia!!!

It has been lovely to catch up with Bill and Wendy again.  We have always felt so very blessed to have become friends with our Number 1 Stalkers and it was this blog that brought us together.  We never seem to be at a loss for something to talk about and amazingly it has been 8 years since we had that first meal in Faros.  They are a really great couple and although no longer living here we are sure we will still get to see them regularly - we certainly hope so.



Today was Remembrance Sunday.  I think that when you have military connections this seems to have an even greater significance.  I am always so very thankful that John returned home safe and sound when he was sent away to areas of conflict when we know others who were not so lucky or who were badly affected by what they had witnessed.  People do not understand the bonds that are forged by military personnel borne out of shared experiences and the fact that their lives depend upon one another.

Wendy and Bill were coming with us to the cemetery because they wanted to pay their respects to Dad and to catch up with Mum.  When Dad was alive we would get dressed up, don our poppies and go and have a drink at the hotel before having lunch and today we were going to do exactly that.  Mum was already at the cemetery by the time we arrived.  I shall bring my secateurs tomorrow and give the flowers a bit of a haircut as they are beginning to look a little straggly.

Wendy and Bill had not seen the inside of the Droushia Heights since it had a refurb at the end of last year so were keen to have a little look round and thought that it looked fabulous - which it does.  It is now much quieter so we got a nice seat on the comfy sofas and had a little drink with a special nod to Dad.  We laughed because Dad would always offer to pay and then realise he only had his 5 euro note on him or somehow miraculously conjure up enough funds to pay.  We said our goodbyes to Wendy and Bill who were going off down to catch up with Di and Rob and we were going back for lunch.

Wendy and Bill are taking back a little bit of Cyprus to have in their home back in the UK.  Some years ago I gave them one of my pictures which hung in their home in Pissouri and which Bill says they took back with them when they sold up - it was a picture I did of lilies using one of Klaus and Sheila's place mats as my inspiration .

I have a couple of pictures I have done recently which haven't found a home, one of which is the one I did of the fading clematis which I love but which does not fit in one of the nice black frames I get from Jumbos.  I am more than happy that it will find a fitting home back with Wendy and Bill and Bill if you are reading this I am looking forward to seeing some of your watercolour creations!

Wendy has also taken one of the 'Welcome' stepping stones which Mum gave me.  I have one, John's mum has one and now Wendy will have one.

Mum, John and I returned home and had our lunch.  I had done a sausage and apple casserole with mashed potato and veggies which I really enjoyed and we followed this with apple strudel and cream.  There was enough for Mum to take a meal home - we always try and make sure there is, not that she is unable to sort her own meals out but it is nice to know we have helped a little in that respect.

It now starts to get dark quiet early although as the weather today has been glorious it was as bright as it could be for as long as it could be.  We do worry about Mum driving home particularly as she has the sun in her eyes for some of the way.  Boris came with me and John to see her leave.  We don't really relax until she has text to say she is home safe and sound!