Feeling better...

We are both slowly beginning to feel a bit more human at last.  The weather has been helping although this morning it was a bit grey to start off with but then started to improve.  We had some really excellent news today - my absolutely amazing Aunty Joyce and equally fabulous Uncle David (seen here with Mum and I last year) are coming to Cyprus in May for Mum's 85th birthday.  After the terrible health problems that my Aunt unexpectedly suffered on her return last year we never expected them to return - in fact, I think it is true to day, we actually didn't expect her to survive!!!  I am so thrilled that (a) they feel able to make the trip again and (b) that they will be here for Mum's special birthday.  I have offered to do an afternoon tea for Mum on the day - it is really difficult to buy her anything as she says there is nothing she needs but we really want to make it a little bit special - after all 85 is quite a milestone and she deserves to be spoilt!!

John was keen to get the panelling stained this morning but we had somehow forgotten that The Pug needed an MOT today - not sure how that happened but over here MOTs are every two years and sometimes we get a text reminding us and sometimes we don't - this must have been a 'dont' year!!!  Anyway we shot down to Andreas's first thing and John explained in his Gringlish that he hadn't remembered (the verb to remember θυμάμαι thymámai is a darn sight easier to pronounce than the verb to forget ξεχνάμε xechnáme!!!!!).    We needn't have worried - they always fit the MOTs in and the check is done and dusted pretty quickly - €35 euros gets handed over and we get the certificate - Bomba!!!

So we left The Pug and returned to tackle the staining which we got finished - the smell is a bit strong but we are happy with it.  It was a toss up as to whether we would paint the panelling white or stain it to match the other wood - the stain won and actually it gives the room a lovely warm feeling.

Mark and Nicky called in briefly - Mark needed a hand to take down a rotten tree at the back of their house and to look at the roof tiles which it had cracked when the winds decided to make it lean at a very jaunty angle.

I am trying to be a bit ruthless around the house, sorting stuff and getting rid and after a lot of soul searching I decided that my beloved Flokati rugs really needed a new home.  They are lovely but they really don't fit down the sides of our bed and John keeps moaning that they are going to be the death of me I agreed but I loved them so much - anyway I managed to get them washed and dried and wondered if Nicky might like them as I know she is keen on having a neutral palette in the little house.  I hoped that she would because I wanted them to go to someone that might appreciate them.

I am so pleased that she was keen to take them.  I feel so much better when something I have known and loved goes to a good home and will be loved a second time.  John and i are starting on our wardrobes and drawers tomorrow - that is going to be a challenge but we need to be sensible - there is no point hanging on to stuff that no longer fits and I know that bodyshape has expanded over the years we have been living here.

Our reward for a busy day (once we had gone and retrieved The Pug) was to have a little beer in the last of the sunshine.

We are a little bit sad because it would appear that Little Dog over the road now only has one of her puppies with her - we are hopeful that maybe the other puppy has been found of home - it was the nicer looking of the two, slightly smaller, cuter and paler in colour.  We like to be positive about Little Dog and the puppies because Andreas is an animal lover and Little Dog has been living in his garden for a very long time.