A cool walk around the village

It had been a late night for us so we were slow in getting started today!  I wanted to get our meal for tomorrow underway.  We were having the gammon joint that Ellen had given us.  Gammon is generally not my favourite so I had searched for a recipe which meant that it was slow cooked in honey, mustard and orange.  To make my life simple I was serving it with paprika chips and coleslaw but using the red and white cabbage left from our Thai meal yesterday which would give it a colourful appearance.

When I ventured out this morning I was gutted to see my lime tree looking like it had been attacked by a flame thrower.  The recent cold nights with accompanying frosts had taken their toll.  All the new growth (and blossom sadly) was scorched brown and the floor was a carpet of leaves.  You would have thought that tucked in the front the fruit trees would be protected but I think that they get git with a bit of frost and then if we get sunshine that scorches the leaves which still have some frost on them.  

It was going to be my job this afternoon (if it remained fine) to clear up the front of the garden doing a Bobby shingle clean so that it looked tidy and then possibly give the tree a trim but unless I can be sure that there is no further threat of frost it might be sensible just to leave the brown crispy bits there.  I had been so hopeful that after 11 years we might just get some lemons on our lemon tree but once again I think we have been thwarted.

Nicky and I decided to go out for a walk whilst the sun was shining and before we had got ourselves settled into chores for the day.  She was interested in looking at the Scrimmers house which has been empty for about 10 years to my knowledge - we were the last suckers to get lumbered with looking after it whilst they were away for a 'few' weeks (which has turned into 10 years).  

The house itself is not open but there is access to the garden so that you can see the extent of the plot.  Whoever takes this on has got a job and a half because the plants have been left untouched in all that time and the variagated agaves in back (there are two) are now massive - over 2 meters high and possibly about 2 meters wide - there will be one hell of a root system from those needing to be excavated because they are blooming difficult to get rid of.

John and I have been amazed that anyone could leave an asset like that untouched for so long.  We had seen it up for sale for a ridiculous amount of money and then saw it flagged as 'under offer' but nothing happened and over the years it has just deteriorated.  It would be good to see someone take it on and make it look good - there is a lot of potential but boy there is a lot of work looking at it today.

As it had rained last night and rained hard we decided to keep to roads today rather than do the walk we did last Saturday which takes us along the side of a field.  We went out past the amphitheatre and down the road which takes us along the bottom of the property that Nicky and Mark once looked at for Mark's mum and dad.  The views were spectacular as the sun was shining on Chrysochou Bay down below us.  It was clear that we had rain last night and have had plenty of it previously as the road was running like a river and the concrete was rather slippy.

This walk takes us near to some of the iconic stones for which Droushia is famous.  The start of the walk is all downhill so it goes without saying that the second half is uphill and some of that quite steep.  We took the first road back into the village which brings us to Stathmos (Palates) coffee shop but turned off right before that and skirted round the back of the church heading out towards Palates Hotel before taking a left and coming back up near the Community Office and back home.  A good walk and we were fortunate that we did it when we had lovely sunshine because the weather got rather iffy afterwards and it kept threatening to rain.

I did my garden tidy at the front and a bit of snipping and clipping elsewhere but really it is a bit too early to do too much - I need to see if we have had casualties this year which wont come back - the hibiscus in the pots look terrible but I hope they will not have perished - particularly the red one which was a gift from Lakis and Argy when I was unwell.

When John was having a chat with his Mum she was talking about her forthcoming birthday - we have bought her tuned windchimes because she likes the ones which we have got (for which thanks to Rob and Di as they were a Christmas gift one year).  She also mentioned that she has some watering cans with solar lights and I suddenly realised that John had ordered me one for my birthday and it was ready for collection - we had planned to do it when I had to go to the bank and try and sort out Mum's missing pension and had totally forgotten about it.

I had about 40 minutes to get down to the collection place in Paphos before it shut so decided to shoot down and get it otherwise I would end up forgetting it again.  

I couldn't decide exactly where it should go.  It came with a stand which I thought was a great idea but then the string of solar lights was too long and it looked messy so it is currently in our 'peace garden' which is appropriate because it is the anniversary of Dad's passing this coming week.  Where has that time gone?

We waited to make sure that it was working and eventually when it got dark enough the lights came on.  It may well stay there permanently because I quite like it.  I really want to get out and do some more work in the garden.  The chairs in the front garden need to be re-chalk painted and the blue pots need to be cleared out and replanted.  We have a week earmarked for DIY and maintenance - the week after next so hope to do it then - that is if we can get the lounge, kitchen and toilet painted, at least we have the paint so really we have no excuse.

The remainder of the day was dedicated to sport (well at least it was for John) as his beloved SUFC were playing and then there was a big boxing match later.  

I dealt with the gammon.  It was removed from the slow cooker and the liquor was put in a pan to thicken - I will baste the joint tomorrow and grill it so that it takes on some colour and caramelises - welll that is the plan!!!

John was ecstatic with the football - a 4-0 win by the Blades which elevated them into the play-off places.  After such an abject start this season that is something of a miracle and let's be fair Hecky might not have been everyone's choice but he seems to have got the team playing once again.