Enjoying glorious weather...

Today was simply glorious as witnessed by the fabulous blue sky with tiny little puffy clouds.  It is the middle of December for goodness sakes and I was in shorts and flip flops and there was a definite warmth to the sun.  I was out on a hunt for some fir cones for a little project I had in mind.  The builder was here working on the 8s and Charlie decided he would come with me for a walk.  I am never keen as he is so useless with cars - hence the fact he got knocked over last year.

I managed to give Charlie the slip when he was rolling around on his back in the sunshine - he looked like a Weeble or a turtle that had flipped onto its back and was trying to right itself.  By the time he had done so I had disappeared out of sight so he didn't try to find me.  I walked right round the block.  It was so stunning looking across to the coast.  I passed by Andreas's house - the little dog is nowhere to be seen so we are hopeful that because she was pregnant Andreas has taken her inside somewhere or given her somewhere safe on his land for her to give birth.  We do hope so - she had such a gentle face and was constantly searching for the vehicle which had dumped her.

I didn't fare too well in my search for fir cones - the traditional type were conspicuous by their absence and so I only managed to find the round ones.  In amongst some Christmas bits and pieces which Mum had given me was a candle holder which was a bit rusty so I thought I would tart it up with some cones, maybe some berries or something but there was nothing much on offer.

This was the best I could manage with what I could find around and about - it will look fine in the dark when it is lit I am sure and I realise that you get what you pay for in terms of glue guns - my lovely old Bostik one met its maker and I bought one from Jumbo - it is OK but I ended up with more glue on me and the kitchen work surface than on the cones.  I would suggest that people do not allow children to be let loose with one from Jumbo they could end up glued to something they weren't expecting!

My lovely friend Sonia was coming up today - she had suggested meeting for a drink at the Hotel but I had suggested she have a spot of lunch with me and I had made some 'Random Vegetable Soup'.  Random because it was made with whatever veggies were lurking in the cupboard - today swede, sweet potato, carrot, onion and ginger with some seasoning and then blitzed and a slug of cream added!!  It was lovely to catch up with her and she very kindly brought me a gift of some handmade Italian Biscotti and some Cypriot biscuits.

John did not join us - he was going out for a spot of lunch with the other John.  They like the Pizza Box in Kathikas and Paris was open today so they got their wish.  I dropped them off before Sonia arrived and then went back and picked them up after she had gone.  They were busy giving Paris advice on his plans to expand the business - it felt more like an episode from the Apprentice - the other John was grilling him about how he intended to ensure that the quality of the food and the experience would be the same in every establishment and poor Paris was foundering a bit so then I half expected the other John to lift his finger, wave it at Paris and declare "you're fired!"  Fortunately Paris takes it all on board with good humour.  As I herded the boys towards the car the sun was beginning to slip down below the houses leaving a beautiful view of the cobbled street and the old buildings.

Once back home John decided that we would have the fire lit - his newly adopted 'top down burning' method of lighting means that it gets going really quickly and so the house is soon toasty warm.  The lovely day and the clear blue skies meant that this evening it was pretty chilly outside.