A Big Fire

Yesterday had been exhausting trying to sort Isabel so that she returned safe and sound to Scotland and cooking for, and entertaining, Mum, Jackie and Costas so it was nice to know that (a) Isabel made it back and (b) Jackie and Costas enjoyed their meal - never too sure about Mum and she didn't eat much but that is not out of the ordinary.

John got up this morning to take Kenny back to Andreas because it was still rattling so we think there was one more engine mount that could have been changed which now needed to.  I went in to make sure that George and Pam's was reasonable for their arrival on Wednesday.  To be fair Caroline and Andrew had made sure that it was tidy and had done the washing but we had put the second load out for them.  Everything was clean and folded but not ironed so sorry Pam I made the bed for you but the linen was not as crisp looking as it could or should have been but I bet you sleep the same!

I checked the aircon unit was working and turned it to 21 which is the temperature that Savvas the Electrician always recommends - he always snorts with laughter that people set a ridiculously low temperature thinking the room will cool down quicker!  I opened windows in most rooms and cracked the shutters so that some fresh air will be allowed in.  I checked out the fridge and will get milk and bread tomorrow.  George and Pam are due to arrive sometime in the afternoon on Wednesday and we will be here if they need anything.

I felt really tired today so did nothing much all afternoon save bob around in the pool and make a birthday card for Rob's birthday later this week.  Today the men were here bagging up the grain which has been drying on the road next to us, they normally do it on a Sunday and it takes all day normally when we have visitors and we are sitting outside trying to have a quiet lunch!  

I realised when I was in the pool that I could hear the sound of the fire spotting plane and the hum of the water helicopters.  I couldn't smell fire but when I went up onto the roof terrace I could see that some of the 'cloud' formation looked more grey and yellow than white which normally indicates that it is smoke.

The photo to the right is not mine but is one taken from further down the hill.  There were two fires burning, one between Pelethousa and Prodromi and the other towards Argaka.  The first fire was major and as it was windy the fire-fighters were struggling to keep it under control and it was edging towards houses - in fact we later learned that one property was destroyed in the fire.

John had planned to go and have his hair cut in the village with Lakis this evening.  Lakis and Argy had been out all day trying to get Lakis's birth certificate sorted so that all his details were correct - he has been wanting to get this regularised because he doesn't have a Cypriot Passport and this would, since Brexit, make his toing and froing infinitely easier.

We realised when we read the reports which said all local fire engines and fighters had been rallied to tackle the blazes that our friendly neighbourhood barber, Crystakis, would be unlikely to be in the village cutting hair as he is a fire-fighter.  We decided we would walk down and check out the barber shop and were not surprised to see it shut up.  John and Lakis will try again tomorrow.

Funnily enough we had suggested last night, and Lakis and Argy were about to suggest that, after the barbers we ate in the village.  We decided to do exactly that and we went to Kaponas as this would be a first for L&A.  We had a really lovely chilled evening and the food was good.  L&A seemed to enjoy it which is great and it was only a short downhill walk to Lordos 1 when we had finished.  L&A came into ours for a nightcap.  It had, by our standards, turned chilly and actually showers were forecast so we sat inside the conservatory and not our in the garden with the creepy crawlies as Lakis calls them!