A sad anniversary...

Today it is two years since my lovely Dad passed away, sometimes it feels like it was only yesterday.

The photograph on the right was taken on his 86th birthday when we had organised a special meal for him because he and John shared the same birthday and John was having special celebrations for his 50th so we had arranged that the following day a group of us would get together specifically to celebrate Dad's birthday and we had a lovely meal together at Elaine's house in Akourdaleia.  The picture on the left shows Dad and Freddo, before Freddo was put on a diet.  I think it is fair to say that Dad spoiled Fred and Fred lapped it up and we thought he would fret terribly when Dad passed away but let's just say Fred just loves the hand that feeds him and so now he just adores Mum and Mum adores him back!!

Mum came up today so that we could go to the cemetery together and then out for lunch in memory of Dad.  This threw us into complete confusion because all day I thought it was Sunday!!!

We put the newly planted up trough back into its place and it looked nice and smart and was joined shortly afterwards by a lovely plant from Rob and Di.  It appears that someone had put a candle there too - not sure who but if someone did so in memory of Dad then thank you very much.

It was the most glorious day today thank goodness because it absolutely bucketed down with rain last night.  Dad would always say that the sun shone on the righteous!!

We paid our respects, made sure all was neat and tidy and then made our way to Fitos for lunch - this would have got Dad's seal of approval - he used to like going to traditional grill houses and we had many a good meal in there together.

We had booked to sit in the corner table because you have control of the sliding doors for which I was rather grateful because it started getting warmer and warmer in there!!!

We raised a glass of Dad's favourite Agios Onoufrious and Mum and I opted for the cod and chips - Lord knows where Joanna gets her fillets of fish - they are enormous and I thought Mum would be completely over faced but she made a really valiant attempt and both she and I left the majority of the batter, not that is wasn't nice but it would have just been too much.

Not only is it the anniversary of Dad's passing but it is also Jack's birthday (Mum and Dad's great grandson).

Today Jack was five and he had his birthday celebrations at the weekend with family and friends.

He is a delightful child, full of beans and mischief.  It was so wonderful that Dad got to meet him just four months before he passed away - their first encounter at the airport was a truly special moment.  I know it is on Mum's bucket list to get to see him again face to face.  Let's hope we can get that organised at some point in the not to distant future.