Happy Early Birthday John

 Mum's hospital days this week have been changed which is typical of our luck really as Thursday is John's birthday (and it would have been my Dad's 90th) and originally we were going to be staying at the Almyra for the night and then because I would have been at Mum's on the Thursday to take her to the hospital on Friday we shelved our plans and John was going to be Billy No-Mates home alone until an old Navy mate contacted him to say he was going to be on the island briefly and they arranged a reunion on John's birthday but as it now happens Mum's appointment has been brought forward from Friday to Thursday so I will be going home after all!!!

So back to this morning before I set off for Mum's Nicky and I nipped down to the Droushia Heights to have a farewell coffee with Belinda.  Sadly she has does not think her future lies here in Cyprus and she is going back to the UK where she left a large family and here since she does not drive and gave up working at the Gravity Road she has been somewhat isolated.  I had been out with her a couple of times but since Mum's accident I haven't had the opportunity to do so.  I know she needs to decide what is best for her and wish her well whatever she does decide - I am gutted we never got to do our Island Bus Trip but who knows maybe some other time.

We had rain this morning - briefly but it woke me as I could hear it falling on the pool cover - it has been forecast for a few days so didn't come as a surprise but wasn't enough to do anything save make a mess - not enough for John not to have to water this evening - he will be disappointed because I know he really doesn't like that job.

We had arranged to go out for lunch with Mum and Lilian for John/Dad's birthday and with the way the appointments fell I had to stay the night anyway so I drove down to collect Mum and John drove down and picked up Lilian en route.  I have made a promise to myself that if Mum is ever in need of a wheelchair on a permanent basis I am going to treat her/me to a lightweight one as I really struggle to get the one we have borrowed in and out of the boot.  It is heavy and awkward and I end up pinching my fingers and even though Mum weighs next to nothing I find pushing the chair really hard work - my back is testament to that!  Anyway we were going to Porto Antico and I parked up and then it was relatively flat going into the restaurant thank goodness.  

This really is a lovely restaurant and Mum can happily find a starter she likes as long as someone shares some chips with her so we don't have to panic about her.  John had promised himself that he would tackle the mega-big pork chop and Lilian and I both opted for the baby calamari.  What is nice about this place is that you can pick two sides to go with your main so dont have to ask for a salad if the meal was coming with veg and vice versa.

This was the pork chop and the photograph doesn't really give you any idea of how massive it was but it was clearly from a Tyrannosaurus Rex Pig.  John said it was beautifully cooked and came with a basket of chips and salad which were almost surplus to requirements.  We all had a lovely lunch and it was cooler than of late so I could have sat there for hours but I know John wanted to get back as did Lilian as she has visitors and had left them to come for lunch.

My afternoon was quiet - I did a bit of shopping that Mum needed - walking down to Paps and back for a bit of exercise and then we settled down to watch some TV - I had managed to find a historical drama for her in three parts - only trouble was she had to ignore the Romanian sub-titles!!!  Fingers crossed we see more progress with her leg tomorrow.  I managed to excuse myself and go to bed about 10.00pm but that is still late for me!!!