Not the best of days...

Today I was accompanying Isabel on a trip to the customs department in Paphos.  Isabel doesn't know her way around Paphos.  I am not overly familiar with the inner sanctum and even less so now that there are roadworks everywhere.

Isabel had got directions from the girl at Peter Morton and she was to pitch up at the cafeteria and then the Peter Morton representative would take her up to the same little office I had to go to when I was bringing in some batteries for John.  The cafeteria furnishes all the attendees to the offices there which includes customs, tax and land registry and it is quite amusing to see how many people set up their offices inside and conduct their business over a cup of coffee.  Everyone knows the cafeteria.

I am not a brilliant passenger at the best of times and I find other people's driving makes me nervous and I particularly do not like the road system around the roundabout which is at the end of the motorway.  Unfortunately we had to go that way having come along the dual carriageway that goes past the Electricity Board.  I had given instructions that at the roundabout we were going to take the third exit which was dual carriageway and we wanted to be coming off the roundabout onto the right hand side of the dual carriageway and to stay in the lane all the way down to the next roundabout.  Sadly we did not - Isabel came off the roundabout at a jaunty angle onto the left hand side of the dual carriageway nearly wiping out a small car which had come off the motorway and was turning left.  I learned some hand gestures I hadn't encountered previously as well as some which I had from the driver of said small car.  Isabel said she had a blind spot caused by the door jamb - I asked why she wasn't using her mirrors - she said that they weren't adjusted for her and she didn't know how to change them - I politely suggested that we should sort that out sooner rather than later!

We made it to the designated car park without further incident and made our way to the cafeteria and didn't have to wait long before the representative pitched up and took Isabel upstairs where I waited for her - it took no longer than 5 minutes but is at least another tick in the box and progress towards finally getting back to Scotland which should be in the next couple of weeks.

John returned to badminton this afternoon leaving me home alone.  I think he was a bit worried how his knee and elbow would hold up but he was only planning to play a little and then he was helping Liselotte with the development of two younger lads who are showing potential.  I am glad he is going back because I know how much he used to enjoy it and how he wants to get some more exercise.  I am a bit gutted really because I used to really enjoy going to pickleball.  It was one of the only racquet sports I was quite good at and since that folded and since it is too hot to walk I don't get any exercise at the moment and boy does it notice.  I am feeling a bit down at the moment what with my poorly arm which has made swimming difficult and the extra weight and just a bit tired all round - that fourth jab really knocked me about.

We were catching up with Liselotte and John this evening - we haven't seen them for months as they have had a steady stream of visitors and they are always quite careful to make sure that they do not pose any sort of health risk to others when they have been in contact with visitors.

They are both lovers of pizza and now we struggle to find a good place for a pizza.  They had been with visitors to the Brewery and it had been awful so they suggested trying the Pizza Box in Kathikas as it had reopened and John and John used to like going there.

We started out at the Gin Bar which has had a lovely living walls courtesy of Marinos and Marianna at the garden centre.  We had a quick drink in there before crossing the road to go to Imogen's courtyard for our pizza.  I had booked a table because I know that at this time of year restaurants everywhere are busy particularly as we run up to the main holiday fortnight on the island.

The restaurant was busy so we sat down at our table to peruse the menu.  As is true of just about everywhere the prices have gone up.  When the pizzas first started they were €6.50 and that included two toppings - they are considerably more than that now but still hand made and still with the toppings of your choice although several of the ones we used to go for have been removed but there was still plenty to chose from and even better Paris was back from university - he used to run the Pizza Box and made a damn fine pizza!

It was a lovely atmosphere in the courtyard but that was where it ended unfortunately.  It took forever to get our pizzas - about an hour and a half after we had sat down even though we kept being told they were on their way and when they arrived they came somewhat cremated to say the least.  We weren't impressed and we weren't impressed by the attitude of the management.  Let's just say we wont be going back there again.