Another walk to Agia Paraskevi

Today, Saturday, started out gloriously with blue skies and warm temperatures - so much so that midway through my walk with Rachel we both stripped off our long sleeved tops and as a result Rachel, who is much more fair skinned than me, got caught by the sun!!!

We were walking the walk which passes by Agia Paraskevi in Akourdaleia but I had mixed up the route so that it would not be exactly the same as when I did it with Nicky and then with Liselotte earlier in the week.  It is a stunning walk so I don't mind how often I do it.  Poor Rachel was in need of some fresh air and space as she and Savvas are reeling from the announcement yesterday which will make it nigh on impossible for them to reopen the Gin Bar or the Farmyard.  The restrictions just mean it wont be financially viable.

It is probably the best medicine when things are looking bleak to be able to get out into the wilds and breath clean fresh air.  I had known about exercise producing the 'feel-good' hormone Serotonin but this week there was an interesting article in the Daily Mail which indicates that exercise produces Cannabis like chemicals and it is this that produces the good vibes. 

When we walk we have a laugh, today Rachel was explaining that her young son has just discovered he is a little man.  I found her a magnificent example of Orchis Italica - this is also known as the Naked Man Orchid because each of the little flowers that makes up the whole ressemble a naked man with his arms and legs stretched out in all his glory and if you look closely you can even see his head with eyes and a smile - Rachel was amazed.  I said I would take a photograph so she could show this to her son and maybe it might help her in her anatomical explanations!!!

Interestingly, or not, the Greek word for testicles is όρχεις  (pronounced Orchis) and there is an amusing anecdote in one of Sheila Hawkins' books (she and her husband lived in Neo Chorio and she wrote several books about her experiences) when she set off into a field to see wild orchids and when asked by the farmer what she was doing she replied in Greek thinking she was saying "I have come to see your orchids" when, in fact, she had said "I have come to see your testicles"!!!

As we were approaching the end of the walk we decided to omit the final little loop as it was beginning to get extremely warm and we were getting close to the end of our 'reasonable time' allowance.

Back home John and I spent a little time out in the garden - we have finally made a decision about the 'shutters'.  One has been put on the potting bench and houses my lovely trowel and fork from Mark and Laura.

Two have been put on the stone wall around the furniture at the back of the kitchen - the plan is to get some hanging pot plants and grow something in them but until I feel like tackling Jumbos that will have to wait - in the meantime I have decorated them with some bits and pieces around the house.

The garden is very very dry and I decided I would have to water today even though mid afternoon the skies darkened and it looked and felt like rain.  I don't think we got any and I wasn't going to take the chance that we might - I watered and John had to top up the pool at the same time.

John has been keeping an eye on the news - as a Mighty Blades supporter he has been awaiting the announcement about the Manager Chris Wilder.  There was supposed to be something said last night but it was delayed so all day today he has been checking the news - it seems 99% certain that Wilder is, or has, gone but the 1% rumour mill indicates that the delay in the announcement is due to the club trying to negotiate his staying - I think that is just romantic wishful thinking and actually later on I was proved right.  Now the rumour mill is in overload - whatever happens the not so Mighty Blades have a game tomorrow against Leicester.