Shopping for a special birthday

I had a trip down to Paphos today - a few errands to run and a quest to find a little gift for Hazel's forthcoming birthday and then cuppa and a biscuit with Mum.  After all the awful weather since before Christmas today was a very, very welcome change with clear blue cloudless skies and sunshine.  John was not coming with me - he was tackling his 'To-Do' list so I took the opportunity to have a quiet run down to the coast and to stop and take a look at my surroundings.  I was joined by a little ginger fluffy kitten - seemingly homeless save for the fact that he/she was not thin and super friendly so I assume he/she probably came from one of the houses across the road.

The island looks awful when the weather is bad - scruffy and unkempt - but when the sun shines all of that seems to melt into the background.  There was some definite warmth in the winter sunshine - I was beginning to feel over dressed in my jeans and boots and some hardy tourists were out and about in their t-shirts and shorts - no-one in the sea though!!

I called into a couple of 'gift' shops before ending up in the Mall because my search thus far, save for a birthday card,  had been fruitless and I scoured the Mall for inspiration before plumping for Pandora - you cannot go wrong with a bit of Pandora and I found a lovely little pair of heart earrings which I thought Hazel would like so that was job done.

As I was near the new Alpha-Mega I decided to pop in and see whether there were any Ales for John - his team were involved in a really key match tonight against arch-rivals West Scam - a rivalry which stretches back to the 'Tevez' incident and the subsequent relegation of the Blades from the Premier League.  I didn't go for a wander around the shop although I must say it is beautifully light and airy and modern.  I managed to find some beer and then had a right old palaver at the 'self checkout' which had a mind of its own!

I then called in to see Mum - normally we meet up at Pickleball on a Friday but we didn't have enough this week so I thought I would drop by and have a cuppa with her and sort out any issues she had.  We spent a pleasant hour or so together and I got her car taxed online which was good - it proves the system works with her login and bank card.

John had had a productive day at home and his reward was some beer to help him through his footballing ups and downs tonight and next week when there is a massive game against Arsenal.  If the Mighty Blades were to win tonight they would, by virtue of the fact that they are the only game on a Friday, be fifth in the Premier League - who would have thought it???

I did not watch the match because (a) it didn't start until 10.00pm which meant it would be gone midnight before it finished what with injury time and the inevitable extra quarter of an hour for every VAR decision and (b) I knew John would be particularly animated over this game!!!  The cats clearly did not have the same issue and settled down in the comfort of the lounge where it was toasty warm.

I took myself off to bed but not without my phone which gives me the goal flash some 30 seconds before John sees it on the 'live' game.  So I knew that the Mighty Blades took the lead and then I knew that the Shammers snuck an equaliser in the 94+ minute and could hear John going ballistic and then I knew that VAR had ruled it out due to hand-ball.  By the letter of the law it clearly was hand-ball - watching the replay you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a game of Australian Rules what with all the barging and the hand contact.

John came to bed a happy man!!!