Friday starts at Anna's Workshop

As the lyrics of the song go...

It's Friday again, then Saturday, Sunday what?

Let's get Friday sorted then - this morning I had booked myself to go back to Neo Chorio to Anna's Workshop because I wanted to decoupage another vase.   Her craft days are now very busy but she was happy to squeeze me in because I would be able to do most of the work myself and not have to occupy her time too much which was fine by me.

This time I managed to get to the right place in Neo Chorio to park up and walk the short walk to Anna's studio. En route you pass lots of lovely village buildings and one in particular has an impressive array of plants outside - equally impressive are the things which have been used as containers.  This golden elder was in what looked like an ancient milk churn.

Bad weather is forecast this weekend so I had wondered about any wet weather contingency arrangements - Anna has a table inside which is why she limits numbers because it the weather was to turn wet we were all going to decamp inside.

This was to be today's project.  I had purchased the vase in Jumbos earlier in the week.  Mum had liked the one I had done previously and asked if it was her Christmas Present so that gave me the idea that I would do one for her.  Please don't anyone reading this let on.

I tucked myself onto the end of a table and loads of 'crafters' started to pitch up.  Some I recognised from when I went with Jackie and Janet and others I did not know and then there were three people I know quite well including Norma who used to live in Droushia who sat next to me and we chatted catching up on what had happened since we had seen each other last - I am not sure we even know when that was!

I went in a chose the serviettes I was going to use to decorate the vase - basically similar to what I had done the last time but I had some ideas about putting butterflies around the rim at the top as this is taller than the one I had done before.

Anna gave me everything I needed to get on with my project and I just got on with it - asking a bit of advice now and again and chatting with the people who were sitting next to me.

I have assumed that Anna's workshop is held at her home - it is a fascinating traditional Cypriot house and in the garden is 'stuff', lovely bits and pieces from a bygone age, old shutters, old tables a few old wooden wine crates and what looks like a sweet little wardrobe (minus the doors).  The stuff all adds to the charm.

I finished my project - Anna took some official photographs of me working at the project and then the finished item so when I get them later I will post them.  I have signed up to go again next week - I want to make something for my sister to take home with her.

Fired up with creativity when I got home I asked John to get my sewing machine out because I had an idea for our 'downstairs' loo.  We tend to use that toilet for contemplative time so it has a toilet book or two and I wanted to make a magazine rack which I did out of an old table runner which had seen  better days.  I am not sure John will appreciate my choice of reading material but it can be changed.

Janet next door made me think of doing this.  I had lent her some magazines and she had poked them over our adjoining wall along with a bag of lemons.  I had reciprocated with some replacement magazines and an avocado!  That seemed like a fair exchange to me.  

We didn't do much else during the day as when I returned home John was about three quarters of the way through treating our stone wall so it will be sealed against any inclement weather.  It wasn't an easy job for him as he still is nursing a bad back and a bad arm which severely curtails what he can manage.

We popped round to see Richard this evening and partake in his 5pm sundowner which he has with his mum Ellen.  He is such a nice guy and he makes me laugh.  I have offered to go and trim the plants in his garden as he hasn't got a clue and has studiously nurtured a solanum which is in desperate need of a haircut plus he has some tree at the back which has some sort of disease and needs attention.

Our supper this evening was our take on peking duck.  The duck was courtesy of Naz and we had wraps rather than the pancakes - I would have tried making them but I don't have one of those bamboo steamers.  Then we had some egg fried rice to just top up the meal.

It was delicious.  Actually too much for the two of us - we are trying not to eat such big meals.

I decided to go to bed quite early as I am up tomorrow and walking with Nicky as we want to get back into the habit of doing that a couple of mornings a week.