Storms

Today started out so well and then just deteriorated - we got up and had a leisurely breakfast which Charlie was extremely interested in.  Looking at the photograph I hadn't realised just how cross-eyed he had become since the car accident which was two years ago.

Anyway we ate our breakfast and were waiting for the immersion to heat the water so we could have a shower.  The weather was appalling and there was thunder and lightning and heavy rain but we were warm and cosy until the electric went off which it always seems to do when we have a power cut.

Power cuts in themselves are not too much of a problem when you are prepared for them but just about everything we have is dependent upon electric - even the gas fire because it has some whizzy computer thingy on board and needs electric to light.

There was nothing for it but to sit it out and wait.  The one good thing was that this was another massive test of the waterproofing John had done to the conservatory roof and what he had done was holding fast which was a blessing.  The weather did highlight the need to dig the rugs out of the shed and get them laid down as the tiles on our toes were just a tad cold!

When there looked like there was to be no quick fix to the power outage we found our handy little 'camping' burner which sits by the fridge 'just in case' and we set about getting ourselves a hot cup of coffee.  Just about then the electricity made a come-back but we soon realised that there was something wrong as the lights all seemed to be about as bright as a Toc-H lamp and various other things didn't seem to have power at all.  We realised when we dug out our gizmo that we had electricity but at very very reduced voltage and the last time that happened nearly everything we had with a motor began to burn out.  We rang to warn Nicky, Das, Sonia and Lakis that things were not as they should be although Lakis was convinced that their electricity was ok even though Argy couldn't work out why the oven was not getting hot.  Anyway shortly after the power made a brief appearance it disappeared again and when it did return was at full strength thank goodness.

I had arranged to have a master class in Avgolemoni soup cookery with Argy this afternoon but the weather, the lack of power, a trip down to Paphos with Sonia for a check up on her wrist (all was good) served to stymie us so Argy did the preparation of the chicken stock and I turned up for the remainder of the prep.   We were to have the soup as a starter and then we were having pork fillet with Argy's fabulous roast potatoes and salad.

The food was fabulous.  The soup has been a revelation to me and I am determined to have a go at making it - Argy's recipe uses just the chicken stock but she did say that if she was making it as the main part of a meal she would add shredded chicken to it to make it more substantial.  Her roast potatoes are legendary and the pork was flavoursome and tender - what's not to like????  Argy and Lakis's stay here is swiftly coming to an end as they are to leave on Saturday.