A Favourite Walk

After an unusually late night for us last night we were up early to walk.  Good job as the Saharan sand in the atmosphere is quite unpleasant and meant that it got pretty hot quite early.  We were doing the Agia Paraskevi walk in Akourdaleia with Louise, Malcolm and Alysia and I had forgotten what a bunch of fitties they are so although I did that walk a couple of weeks ago with Rachel and felt fine I really struggled to keep up today.  Let's just say I was grateful for the opportunity to be taking photographs and shouting for people to stop and look because there were orchids to be seen or asparagus to be picked.  My fitness levels seem to be diminishing which is a shame because during lockdown I did so well but recently time and the weather have conspired to stop me.

 

It is a glorious walk to Agia Paraskevi, particularly at this time of the year and one has to wonder exactly why this church is located seemingly in the middle of nowhere save for the fact we think there are the remains of an old mill there.  The church was open and we went in - I wanted to light a candle for quite a number of people, not least for Kia who is uppermost in our thoughts.  We all took time to reflect - it was quiet, peaceful and appropriate.

We managed to pick a large amount of wild asparagus which George was going to prepare as part of his massive family salad later this evening.  We also managed to find some lentil greens and fennel to add to the pot.  If you look closely at the top of photograph you can just about make out a couple of houses.  This is where we had parked the car and we had to head down this hill and then peel off right up a very steep hill before cutting across and finding the main Akourdaleia/Miliou main road.

I had factored in a loop at the end of the walk to extend it if people wanted - it was getting quite hot by this time and the loop has a long uphill section at the start.  We decided that we were all ready to return to the car but found that they were digging up the road where we needed to go and installing massive pipes.  Initially we thought we would not be able to pass through which meant navigating the loop but fortunately some workmen pitched up and assured us we would be able to get across by standing on the pipes and avoiding the reinforcing rods.  We were pretty grateful that we could because we were ready to get to the car!

On my return home it was a quick shower before going off to see Dr Manolis for an ultrasound.  I was a bit perturbed when I checked in and the girl on reception said that the clinic didn't do ultrasounds there but as it was being done by Dr Manolis himself that was ok.  He always keeps his door open which can be a bit disconcerting but I have worked out that he keeps tabs on who comes in and when to ensure that there is no gratuitous queue jumping with the Cypriots are brilliant at!  Anyway he does at least put a curtain around the bed in his office when he is doing something so that was ok and he was able to tell me that my gall bladder and liver were ok but that I have fledgling stones in my kidneys and so I must increase my water intake because currently they would flush out.  He was happy that there was nothing else causing my 'sticky' throat issue other than the suspected hernia so I am to continue on my medication, drink more water and go back and see him in a few weeks' time.

John and I were both shattered this afternoon so after a bit of tidying up we decided to go and check out eyelids for pinholes.  Not before I had done a circuit of the garden and was thrilled to see that my Magnolia shrub is in flower with not one, not two but three blooms which are sadly very short lived.  Dad was determined to by me this plant when Lidl had it for sale so it must be at least four years old and last year was the first time it flowered although with only one so each year it looks to be getting stronger.

We had a lovely evening at home - I made lime and chili stir fry chicken with noodles which was absolutely lovely although the chili was nowhere near as strong as I had anticipated it would be - you can never tell when you buy fresh ones.

We then settled down to watch the last episode of the previous season of Peaky Blinders to familiarise ourselves with the story line before embarking on the new, and sadly final, season which has just finished airing on TV.

It is like catching up with an old friend.  We wondered just how they were going to deal with the untimely passing of the fabulous actress Helen McCrory who played the matriarchal figure Polly Gray but they did.  Actually watching the last episode of Season 5 neither John nor I thought that she looked particularly well but maybe that was only because we knew that she had subsequently passed away.

I am off to Mum's tomorrow to make sure we are organised for her operation which will take place in Limassol on Tuesday.  She has concerns about stupid things like making sure her rubbish bin goes out twice a week (she doesn't actually generate enough to do that) and dealing with the cat's litter tray.  It will all get sorted but I know she will feel better if we discuss it together.