Easter Sunday - the start of our 11th Year Here

It is Easter Sunday.  We have fabulous friends and neighbours who have, over the last couple of days, showered us with lovely homemade goodies.  On checking the post the other day we were given two Flaouna (Easter cheesy bread things) from Marina in the Post Office.  Then on Good Friday Nicky had made a spectacular batch of Hot Crossless Buns and gave us two - they were lovely - so light and tasty and without the dreaded peel that I dislike.  Then Sonia had tried her hand at Flaouna and hers is in the picture on the right.  She asked around for a good recipe but we think they are a closely guarded family secret so in the end Sonia did her own thing - she said hers were a bit more like a Yorkshire Curd Tart - whatever they were they were very tasty indeed.  Finally late last night my lovely neighbour Persephone brought me some Easter Soup.  In the past I have had Avgolemono soup at Easter made by Argi and which is absolutely delicious although doesn't, to an English palate, sound like it should be as it is an egg and lemon soup with rice but the way Argi makes it it is way beyond that.  Anyway what Persephone brought was Magiritsa which is completely different and made to be eaten after midnight to signify the break in fasting using up leftover parts of lamb or goat with foraged greens and dill and the same egg-lemon stock I am familiar with.  I liked the flavour but wasn't so keen on the goat's liver in the bottom.

The relaxations in the restrictions meant we were legally able to have Mum and Lilian come and eat with us and they could put in two requests so that they could stay a reasonable amount of time.  We had planned a barbeque.  We were a little later getting up and getting organised than planned but as the celebrations had gone on through the night with the accompanying bangs and crashes and explosive noises that we had not got to sleep until very late.

Lilian had very kindly offered to bring a pudding which was great because those of you who know me know I don't really go a bundle on making puddings as I am now very firmly a savoury kind of girl whereas in my youth I would skip straight to desserts on a menu!!!  Lilian brought a jolly festively decorated fruit trifle and a generous portion of tiramasu for John and I to have in the week - there was an explanation - she had  had a disaster dahling with the whipping of cream yesterday so had the trifle as a contingency and then the tiramasu decided to behave itself this morning!!

I think it is fair to say that we had a splendid barbeque.  We had kept it simple with little onion and lemon roasted potatoes which were delicious and just coleslaw which meant I didn't have to make anything special for Mum as she loves coleslaw.  Mum had made her famous and delicious barbeque sauce and this was served with grilled village halloumi, baby New Zealand lamb chops, pork fillet, pork sausages and chicken skewers which had been marinading and tenderising in the fridge overnight in lemon, cinnamon and yoghurt.  John cooked the meat to perfection and it obviously went down a storm because there was little left over which is what we like to see.

After Mum and Lilian had text to say they had both got home safely and we had cleared up and packed everything away so as not to give the bloody ants a smorgasbord for their supper we decided to enjoy the last of the sunshine up on the roof terrace whilst we are still fit and able to do so!!!  We were joined by all three of the cats who seem to like to be with us up there - I guess they are particularly safe there.  We had to kick them off the sofa when Nicky and Mark popped in for a quick drink together to celebrate Easter and tomorrow the restrictions go back to being strict once more and we will not be able to mix.