January 3rd

January continues to be somewhat wet and miserable but we aren't too bothered as we are used to it and to be fair we have always known January and February to be the worst months here although on the occasions we have had visitors in February they have actually enjoyed some reasonable weather.  The authorities are reporting that the damns are filling nicely which is good news as the island does need the rain.  It is just a shame that we cannot divert some of it down to Australia where there is currently an ecological, environmental and humanitarian crisis due to the high temperatures and bush fires which are raging.  We hope that any family and friends down under are safe and will remain safe and that the island will recover from this tragedy.

By no means belittling what is happening in Australia but we have our own crisis at the moment with Mouse-Gate.  The cats are in disgrace as they have failed miserably in their duties.  I am now paranoid that we have missed one so am turning everything upside down for signs of activity much to the amusement of Charlie who spent the morning peering at me through the back of the dining chair and to be fair why would he eat common or garden rodent when Aunty P down the road pitches up with all sorts of goodies.  Charlie is less than happy that she has not been here over the festive season so we are expecting her to be here at the weekend.

We had to return to Paphos today to collect John's car.  We got given a couple of different times as to when it would be ready but didn't want to pitch up and just sit waiting so decided to go down and call in and see Mum.  We stopped en route at Cycleband to stock up on cat food (as clearly they weren't going to eat the mouse) and bumped into Nicky and Mark so were able to catch up as we hadn't seen them over the festive season.  Mark is looking fabulous which is great news - the stent is clearly doing its job.  Mum was all warm and cosy in the sunroom with Freddo and was watching a DVD which Kaye had sent her for Christmas - Fisherman's Friends - a great film but, as Mum now appreciates, better watched in colour!!!  Not sure what had been going on with her TV/DVD combo but for some reason it was showing the films in black and white so we resolved that for her before setting off to the industrial estate in Geroskipou.

So hold that thought - industrial estate in Geroskipou... where some madman is building a massive housing development which looks not dissimilar to a prison block - on a grey wet day the buildings looked exactly that - grey and wet.  Who in their right mind is going to want to live here slap bang in the middle of a messy, noisy industrial estate.  When you see these partially built buildings sodden from the torrential rain you wonder if they will ever dryout and then you realise that they don't.  Anyway I am pleased to report that John's car was ready when we got there and all done so he now has a non-wibbly bumper and a nice new number plate and they even polished the headlights.

I wanted to call into the large Chrysanthou shoe shop on the dual carriageway just before AlphaMega and John said he was happy to go there too and as we were in separate cars I said I would follow him from the industrial estate back to the shoe shop.  I have no idea what John was thinking about save that he thought I was desperate for a whirlwind tour of Geroskipou and it's sculpture park but we went all round the houses to get back to the Debenhams roundabout!!!  Anyway I pulled his leg about it mercilessly it was only fair that I should.

I had a result in Chrysanthou because they have their sale on at the moment and I wanted a pair of flat black boots to replace the ones I currently have which are falling apart.  I chose a pair which was reduced to 14 euros and John chose me a different pair (with a heel) which were reduced to 12 euros!!!  woo hoo now that is what I call a bargain!!