A Chilly Start...

The weather forecasters did not get it wrong and we have embarked on a very cold snap of weather.  There was still some evidence of overnight snowfall when I got up - our neighbours had taken a photograph of their car covered - they must have got up earlier than me!!!  Anyway it wasn't much - just a smattering but it is enough to make you feel chilly and the wind reinforced that as it was definitely northerly and cutting.

The fire had stayed in all night so John chucked some guff in first thing to keep it going and the cats really appreciated it!!!  Charlie is better but still not 100 percent.  I am hoping it is just the residual effects of being on anti-biotics and having tonsillitis.  He is running to eat but then only has a few bits which is not like him so hopefully it is the sore throat that is doing that.  He has commandeered Boo's bed so Boo has been relegated to the other one which he falls out of.

I was going to Mum's for lunch today and wanted to time it so that I avoided one of the many snow or hail flurries which we had in Droushia this morning.  As I was preparing to go the skies were leadened and looking very threatening.  We have been so lucky not to have had to cope with a hard winter or even a particularly wet one like the last couple of years.  Even so I do thank my lucky stars that we have joined our two buildings and do not have to run from one to the other braving the elements.

I chose my moment when things started to brighten up and set off for Mum's - I had no other errands to run so whatever time I had left out of my three hours after traveling was all for her.  As I came down the concrete road I could see that one of the mountains in the distance had a fair covering of snow and this is well below the mountains of the Troodos so I am guessing that finally there is now some decent snow up there - just a shame no-one is allowed to go and see it (although I bet that there will be plenty that do!).

I had a nice hour or so with Mum, nothing fancy for lunch just a sandwich and some fruit and we had a chat and I sorted out her car insurance on JCC (online payment) and we finished a jigsaw that she had started and then before I knew it I had to get back in the car and return home.  Still it breaks the day up for her and I have seen her in the flesh and know that she is ok or as ok as she can be under the circumstances.  Still she has Freddo for company, has been fully vaccinated, has central heating to keep her warm, food in the fridge and freezer and can go out for exercise and out to shop or visit the hairdresser or her friend Lilian so in many ways she is better of than some.  John and I will go down again with a meal on Sunday - sausage casserole has been requested so sausage casserole is what it will be.

During my time at Mum's the weather began to clear and in the sunroom out of the wind when the sun was shining it was really very pleasant.  It made for a lovely drive home.  I went along Banana Bay where they are currently replacing the rusty old barriers and as I was sat waiting for the little man to wave his GO sign I quickly took a snap of the sea as the colours were amazing.

I stopped very quickly at the top of the Peyia Hill to take this last picture.  After a grim start to the day it had turned out pretty nice even though it was cold.  I got home to John and we hunkered down for the remainder of the afternoon.  I had some of Sunday's beef casserole set aside for this evening and I made some dauphinoise potatoes and we had peas to go with it.  We are both walking in the morning if the weather is good and although we had a heavy shower late evening that looks to be the last of it for a day or so.