Two sides to the island (in terms of the weather)

 

Jesus this January must be the longest and the coldest we have known since we moved here.  In fact December was grey and quite grim compared to many in the past but January has taken the biscuit.  When Miss Minnie came in for a cuddle this morning she was slightly damp but strangely damp like someone had lightly sprayed her with a hose and it suddenly clicked that it was probably snowing outside.

It was indeed snowing and it was bloody freezing.  We try and busy ourselves during the day so that we don't light the woodburner too early because otherwise you get really dependent on it.  We had several things that we wanted to get sorted down in Paphos and Mum had contacted us to tell us that her outside lights had stopped working so if we had time we planned to swing by and get them sorted (which we did).

As we made out way down to Paphos via Stroumbi the weather started to improve.  John and I were dressed in layer upon layer to keep warm with hats and scarves for extra measure - true Hicks from the Sticks!!!  As Paphos got closer we were beginning to rue our wardrobe choices as it was probably 20 degrees warmer there than in Droushia.

Our first port of call was to the bank and then we went to the glass man at the workshop which is opposite the big Paps in the centre of town.  We have a large mirror over the fireplace in the lounge - we have had it for about 25 years - I bought it from the Co-op in Yeovil when it was closing down if anyone reading can remember that far back.  I noticed a little crack over Christmas and the little crack ended up splitting the mirror in half.  We think it was lighting too many candles below it.  We were gutted and found a replacement on the Market Place which was about 40 euros but had been sold.  We had no idea how much it would be to replace the glass but we knew that buying another mirror that size was going to be quite expensive so I was prepared to go up to about 100 euros.  As it happens the mirrored glass will be replaced for the princely sum of 20 euros!!!

We picked up a few bits in Jumbos and then called by Mum's (she was doing her stint in the charity shop) and John sorted out the lights that weren't working and we also had a look at the shower head in her en-suite because she has recently had a problem with that.  We swapped it for the head in the family bathroom - she doesn't use that one because it is over the bath and she can no longer negotiate the climb in and out safely.  

We drove home via Oniros which is currently closed for the season.  The sea was quite stormy but there was glorious sunshine and it was really warm - such a difference to dear old Droushia.

We called in to see Bassam and Lola before getting home.  John is organising for Bassam to do some work at 11b when the weather improves but building costs are rocketing so we wanted to ensure that Bassam could honour his quote from last year as far as possible.  My Lola is growing up into a lovely girl.  She looks a cross between her mum Elena and her sister Amoura and is enjoying life at the 'big' school in Polis where she loves Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Harry Styles!  She has now achieved her ambition of being taller than me.  She is an entertaining, personable and intelligent young lady and Elena would have been so proud of her.  Lola double checked that she is to have our house when we no longer want it as she says she loves it!

We did not realise what a wild night was ahead of us when we returned home - probably just as well so I will end with a pleasant photograph of blue skies and sunshine!