Walking up on Cardiac Hill

Sunrise is getting later and later but it is still spectacular when it does arrive. Now that we have the bit between our teeth with regard to getting the garden sorted we were up and about early enough to witness today's.   There was a weather warning in place for today so anything we wanted to do outside needed to be done whilst it was still cool.

It was so beautiful this morning, with a warm wind keeping the temperatures up, that our day kicked off with sunrise and a swim.  The water temperature had gone back up a couple of degrees but there is still that initial shock when you dip in under and then you realise it actually isn't cold at all.

I am in two minds as to whether I shall try and recreate my swimming escapades of 2017 when John and I continued to go in every morning until the water temperature dipped down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit by which time it was so cold you couldn't really feel it!!!

Refreshed and invigorated I was ready to tackle the garden and John was going down to help Les remove a vine or at least that was the plan although his first attempt was thwarted by the roadworks as he couldn't get anywhere near Les's house - his second attempt later in the day proved to be more successful and he was able to get there, with his tools, and get back out again.  John is uncertain as to whether the hatchet job he did on the vine fitted Clare's brief to Les but it is gone.

I had decided that the passion flower that stretches along the back wall needed to be cut back.  It has just about finished flowering and the border in underneath was strewn with dead flowers.  I had intended only to give it a 'tidy' but got rather carried away and by the time I had finished the majority of it was gone and I then spent time doing a Bobster shingle clean which was more like a half Bobster shingle clean as it would not have reached his exacting standards!!

Here is the finished article - a drastically reduced passion flower and a clean border underneath and now you can see the beautiful stone wall behind.  Actually with that as the backdrop I don't mind when we do the cut back because I love the wall and for most of the year it is difficult to see it because it is covered up.

I had a gift today from one of my lovely Cypriot neighbours.  Galatia is up and she had brought with her a bag of dates picked from her garden and a new Ikea catalogue.  Both are very welcome.  Every year we get a bag of these golden fruit which we freeze as instructed and then use as we need.  I have a great recipe for sticky toffee pudding which is always a winner (and vegan). The Ikea catalogue fills me with ideas and John with dread!!!  Great to have one now that I know I can get home delivery and I expect Liselotte will like to have a look.

This evening we had a very nice evening down with Rob and Di.  It was probably the warmest most balmy night I have ever had in Droushia and the company, drink and food was fabulous.  We sat and talked for a while as we have not seen each other for a bit and then we had our meal.  Di had made some olive bread which she served with a sort of oven risotto of rice, chicken, prawn and chorizo which was delicious.  Pud was a banoffee pie which was gorgeous but so rich that I had to wave my white flag early doors!!!

A great night - it was just before midnight when we finally walked home - cardiac hill very nearly lived up to its name!!