Getting ready for a dip Dip?

We were having a lie-in this morning - except we didn't!!!! The water for George's pool was supposed to be delivered on Saturday morning and Pani said he would ring John to confirm the directions nearer the time but he rang this morning (Friday) to say he was on his way.  John had to go meet him at the Droushia Heights Hotel and get him to follow up to Lordos 1.

It is fascinating to see that once the water went into the pool which has been lined with a sand coloured liner the water looks blue!!!  In fact at the top of the steps it looks like a bit of beach with the water lapping up to it.  I know it is the reflection of the sky and that in changing weather conditions it will look different but I can now see what Louise and Malcolm were trying to achieve.  Pools today are so much more diverse than what was available previously (you can have any colour you want as long as it is blue!!!) and they have achieved a modern look with clean lines.  Once the rest of the garden is tackled that area is going to look pretty stunning.  It is amazing what a difference these changes make.

I think it is all a bit overwhelming for George and Pam but I know that they can appreciate that their lovely house will benefit from having some TLC and updating - they would have done it bit by bit over the last four and a half years but circumstances conspired to keep them away.

Dip came up this lunchtime - it was our opportunity to say goodbye to him as he is going back to the UK on Sunday having spent time doing maintenance on and updating his and Karen's apartment.  We had decided to take him to Fitos - he likes to eat somewhere different each time he eats out and he likes local - Fitos did not disappoint.  John had a pork chop, Dip had the beef pie and I had Moby Dick on a plate.  The fish was delicious - I haven't had much since my rash problem but fish wasn't the problem and now I can enjoy it and today I really did.  I didn't eat it all, I had to leave quite a bit of the lovely batter and part of the fish and most of the chips.

We came back home for a coffee and a chat.  I had prepared the area outside the kitchen to sit and enjoy the sun but actually it was a bit too warm for Dip in his jeans and so we ended up sitting around outside dining table.  Dip said that he hoped he and Karen would come out more often.  He is returning in June to see what that month is like.  I think Dip has warmed to the island even though the weather when he arrived was appalling - he is now going back to similar weather in the UK!!

It was a glorious day today - real Summer weather and I have started to pack away throws and rugs in readiness for Summer proper and I had to water the garden today - what is that all about?  The pots and hanging baskets were dry as a bone so if I am going to encourage them to put on a bit of a display for me I need to nurture them.

Charlie is very happy that his chair is back in business.  That was always the chair that my Dad would retire to after Sunday Lunch.  Bless him, it would have been his and Mum's 67th wedding anniversary tomorrow.  We gave Mum the option to come tomorrow for lunch or Sunday but as she is having her blown double glazed units replaced tomorrow she said she would prefer to come Sunday.  I know she doesn't like Sundays at home as it is still a day here when some things remain shut at least on a Saturday the shops are open.

She tells me that poor Lilian has returned to the UK to celebrate her 70th birthday and attend a christening and she has caught Covid so will not be able to do the things she had hoped to.  What a bummer as she went back at Christmas and the same thing happened.  I guess this is the price that people in the UK are paying for all the restrictions being lifted.  We still have restrictions here - not that you would notice as very few people seem to adhere to the mask wearing in public places.

We invited George and Pam to come round to us this evening so that we could catch up with them properly.  We thought they would be pretty exhausted after the journey and the emotion of being back here so left them to it until this evening.

They were interested to see the changes in our house since they were last here - not that many save for the things we did during lockdown.  George was particularly keen to see Charlie.  To be fair Charlie has been very quiet the last couple of days and we know that Persephone is here and so he will probably take a mooch down to say hello to her.  Charlie is going to have to get used to George being back - I doubt it will take him long because Pam tells me she has brought him over some treats!  I have told her that we are trying to keep him to a diet as he keeps putting on weight which cannot be that good for him and even Persephone commented on the fact that he was looking chubby - I cannot blame that all on his fur.  

All the cats put in an appearance this evening but as we were at home they were just passing through either to go eat or to go to bed!!!