Sunday routine on a Monday

John often complains to me that I don't wear enough of my jewelry and it languishes in a box so periodically I do ring the changes but this is probably the thing that he likes the least!

Years ago I was looking for a gold necklace and went to a second hand shop in Castle Cary and bought one.  On it was the locket in the photograph which the jeweler through in free of charge.  It is what is known as a 'Mourning Locket' because it contains a lock of hair from someone who has died.  John thought it was creepy but I think it is amazing.

It is tiny - less than 1 centimetre in diameter and is beautifully engraved around the edge with a name and a date which is so small it is nearly impossible to read even with a Jeweller's eye glass but we can make out J B N October 19th 1863.  This miniature work of art is very nearly 150 years old!

So we start a new week.  After our very lazy day yesterday we were  having Mum up today and we had arranged to go to the Garden Centre for a spot of light lunch and then a bit of shopping at Paps.  It was going to be a very hot day so going out to Agia Marina was a good choice and we had to wait for her to collect her Easy Meals delivery before setting off so we had a bit of spare time in the morning.

I decided that I should sort out the fruit we had been given so washed and checked through all the plums leaving some in the fridge for us to eat and taking any which were blemished or looked a bit iffy to make some spicy plum chutney.  I have absolutely no idea if we like this but it was better to do something with it rather than through any away.  I ended up with two mason jars full so I hope it tastes nice - will know in a week or so because the recipe recommended leaving it to mature.

I was feeling a bit dizzy this morning - I think it was just the heat but decided it was time to try out the snazzy new blood pressure monitor that Lakis and Argy had brought over for us.

We set it up and did the test which actually proved that both mine and John's blood pressure was 'norma' - we know it was 'norma' because the monitor speaks to you - we have a jolly Chinese girlie who tells us what it going on but she doesn't finish off her words so she declares that you are either 'norma' or 'abnorma' - it is very endearing.

I actually read the manual which is a ridiculous thing to do obviously but found out that I should not have done the test having just had breakfast and coffee - duh, and that the equipment could cause accidental strangulation if not used properly - there is a sobering thought!

Anyway we are glad to have the kit to hand because you never know when you might need to use it, for which many thanks Argy and Lakis.

So armed with the knowledge that we were 'norma' we waited for Mum to arrive which she did safe and sound and we set off for the Garden Centre in Mrs Kirby as if we were going out on a Sunday afternoon family on a Monday - I almost expected Mum to ask 'are we there yet?'.  We very nearly didn't get any further than the outskirts of the village as they were tarmac-ing the area by Philippos's museum which had begun to disintegrate badly.  It was complete chaos as no-one seemed to be taking control of traffic flow and we came face to face with a road roller.  John wasn't too happy about driving on fresh tarmac either but luckily it didn't get flicked up onto the car.

The Garden Centre was quiet - to be fair at this time of year and in this heat there isn't much you can do in the garden but I had asked Marianna to put me back a plant and it was an opportunity to take mum somewhere where she might find something she liked to eat.

The cafe has been extended along the verandah and it looks beautiful and was quite cool - we even had the benefit of a nice big fan contraption to add an additional waft of cool air.

It was lovely sitting there and Marianna and Emily are so welcoming.  We were even given an enormous slice of home made key lime pie which John managed to finish off even though he had already had a piece of her triple ginger cake!

We had a wander in the poly tunnel but it was too hot to stay in there for long even with the regular washes from the misting machines.  John wanted to find a trough for the herbs we keep out the back by the kitchen door because he doesn't like the tub they are currently in because it takes up too much room.  We found one and I got my plant and we made our way back home via a quick spin around Paps where we were rather grateful for the air conditioning.

On our return Mum and I sat outside to have a cup of tea and a final chat before she made her way back home and John and I sat down to enjoy the final hour or so of the test match between India and England.  It is all very exciting.