It is Wednesday, it is hot and there are weather warnings being issued for the end of the week however the last couple of evenings have been much cooler and slightly damp.  I don't want it to be like that this evening as we have the Bobster and Di coming for a meal and we are hoping to eat outside.

John took his breakfast outside to eat under the newly erected camouflage nets.  He was joined by Charlie who was taking some interest in his toast and ginger jam.  It is at these times we feel the absence of Chivers as he used to love a little lick of melted butter if it was offered but as Charlie is a martyr to his hips he wasn't going to get anything.

John also misses picking up Chivers and having him ride home on his shoulders, front paws resting on Johns arm and back legs swinging away quite comfortable - Charlie wriggles like a greased up pig and Boris is learning although a little nervous.

We had not planned to do too much today save get ready for this evening and as it was hot spent most of the day dipping in and out of the pool.

Last night there had been an horrendous explosion in Beirut - shockwaves were felt here in Cyprus (although not by us).  John went out to see Bassam to check to see if his family were all ok but couldn't find him and when he rang got no reply - we hope that doesn't mean bad news.  It would appear that this was an accident borne out of negligence and our hearts go out to those who have been affected.

We were keeping things simple for supper tonight - cooking for Di and Rob is easy as they eat mostly anything and it is always a joy to prepare food which people enjoy.

I don't have my Cypriot Roast Potato mentor here with me - so I had to wing it a bit but I think Argy would have been proud of my effort and Rob said they were to die for.  It took over two hours to produce those iconic spuds and half-way through I thought they were never going to take on any colour.

I also did some baked halloumi tonight.  This was because I needed to use the hob for the chicken kebabs and my microwave is playing up again.  Today I did it with honey and toasted sesame seeds but I found a recipe for Crispy Potato and Halloumi Bake which I am planning to try one night - I am not sure that there will be any potatoes left from tonight though.


Last week we ordered a mixed box of Ales from Nicosia which John and Bobby were going to share.  The box arrived at the Akis point in Paphos but then seemed to sit there and we couldn't get a satisfactory answer as to when it would arrive.  The initial text said within two working days.  A phonecall yesterday said by 5pm today but nothing appeared.

My initial call to Akis this evening involved holding for a very long time before being cut off so, as I was trying to get supper organised, I put John on the case and he inadvertently rang the wrong number getting the guy who delivered our first box last week rather than the office.

Bless this guy, he was on the road from Nicosia to Limassol at the time but he remember us and said he would try and track the parcel down and if he could find it he would pick it up and deliver it to us because he would pass Droushia on his way home to Latchi.   True to his word he pitched up at our house at around 7pm complete with box of beer.  We never got his name but wow what a great guy going above and beyond for us.

It was a lovely evening, good food, good company and ideal temperatures for sitting out.  It had been a week since we had last socialised with the Veaseys so we had plenty to talk about and before we knew it Wednesday was slipping into Thursday.  We never got round to sampling the seedless water-melon we had bought specifically for Bobby, nor did we eat the sweetcorn which were in the microwave and unfortunately stayed there but I think we had enough food.

When all this Covid-19 madness has settled down we plan to resurrect our Droushia Days Out.