Love our village

 I did not sleep too well last night because I was worried about John getting Kenny down to the garage safe and sound but as he said it was more or less downhill all the way so he could freewheel if needs be.  He got there and the mechanic started work on it straight away and Andreas shot off to Polis to get a replacement hose.  All in all it took just over an hour for the car to be fixed, an hour and 30 euros.  John gave them an extra 10 so they could have a couple of beers each.  We are now satisfied that Kenny is a sound as it could be unless of course another ancient hose perishes.

Whilst I was waiting for John to return I wandered around the garden doing some dead-heading and found that we have a hawk moth caterpillar nestled in a leaf going through its metamorphosis.  I thought they dropped to the floor and buried themselves but this one has made a cocoon in a leaf - this makes it easier for me to check its process.

When John came back he was delighted with the car fix and the cost - we were pretty lucky just to be able to pitch up and get it sorted straight away.  Kenny lives to fight another day and that is excellent news.

We had planned to go for breakfast with Argy and Lakis today but the car issue delayed things and then they had a workman come and do a job for them so it was lunchtime before we took a walk up the village.  We couldn't believe it when Gregoris told us that Kaponas was closed (we had thought to have Cyprus breakfast there) but Eleni was on a Back to School mission for her son or sons!  We wandered down into the village and decided to have a light lunch at Finikas instead.

We had a lovely 'light' lunch but even that was too much food and Lakis and Argy really enjoyed it.  We had salad and dips and olives and pastourmas and loukaniko and eggs and courgette and fries, a few beers and some lovely fresh grapes and at half the price of our disappointing meal on Saturday.  John helped a poor tourist in need who was Slovakian and had taken the bus to Polis from Paphos and got off at the wrong stop and ended up in the village.  He managed to sort her out with some food and a lift with Philippos's daughter Andri down to Polis when she was ready.

We had a slow walk back - popping into show Lakis and Argy the beautiful garden and pool area which is at the back of Sappho Manor - they had no idea that this existed.  As we were heading home a car approached us from behind, slowed down and beeped.  Inside was Bassam's daughter Amora - she had passed her test and he had bought her a car - she had Rabia and Lola inside and they were off to the beach.  It made me feel old - she was about 7 or 8 when we first met her!  Elena would have been so proud of how the children have turned out - they are grounded and engaging and bright and they will always stop and speak no matter where they are and no matter who they are with.

A quiet evening followed - I have an early start tomorrow as I am taking mum to the doctors as she has to have her sodium levels checked again.