The first Coptic Storm of 2021

El Kahira is doing its job - the regular first coptic storm of the year which is a five day gale has arrived and the weather is cold, wet and stormy.  Les is in hospital having tests and we have no idea how long he will remain there so we are just on hand to collect him if and when they release him.  We really hope that this time they get to the bottom of what is going on as it is only two months since he was in hospital with very similar symptoms.  John went to his house to make sure it was all secure and to have a quick look at Les's car which refused to start yesterday.  He then took down a bag of things to Paphos General which Les might need including a phone charger which he was desperate for.  We are concerned about him and as I say hope that they can get to the bottom of what is ailing him.

All our plans for today sort of went out to the window and the change in the weather meant that the bit of DIY we were going to tackle didn't even get started.  We have some sheets of polystyrene which we are going to use as insulation in the lounge - placing it between the wall and the wood paneling.  The sheets need cutting to size so this needs to be done outside otherwise I will be forever picking up little polystyrene beads but with it being so windy I could envisage John sailing away grabbing hold for dear life to an insulated sail.  It can wait!

Instead we have hunkered down and lit the woodburner much to the delight of the cats who often stare long and hard at the unlit stove and then long and hard at John wondering if and when the beast is to be awakened!!  Charlie has eventually shed the scab he had on his shredded ear and it has left him with a small hole which we think is the best it is going to be.  He seems unconcerned by it which is good.

I was absolved from cooking duties this evening when we ordered a takeaway from Fitos.  We both decided to plump for the cod in batter with chips (and you get a large box of salad thrown in).  We were gobsmacked by the amount of fish we had in our trays - a portion and a half EACH!!!  Oh but it was so delicious and we were so stuffed by the end of it all that we even allowed Charlie to sample a bit to give it his paw of approval - the other two are not interested thankfully.

Our little sortie out to collect the food meant we encountered a massive bit of  machinery at the top of the Egyptian's Road so we had to shoot down the other way to avoid the hold up as it was trying to negotiate its way down the road and had met a car negotiating its way up the road and there was an impasse.  We couldn't work out what the massive bit of machinery was for but later realised that across the road from us and on the edge of where they had planned to put a retirement village they have now erected a new telecoms mast which hopefully will mean we no longer get black spots in the house where we get no signal.  I hope it can withstand the ravages of the wind tonight!!

We rounded off our day with a film - recommended by Nicky this afternoon.  It was a gentle film about two boys who form a friendship across the divide in Northern Ireland during the troubles.  I had hoped it might be ok for Mum but as I struggled with the accents at times knew she would miss most of it so sadly not one for her.