17th January

January always seems to be the longest month ever - we are just over half way through but the end seems to be about three months' away!  The weather is due to improve tomorrow which is encouraging.  Today was ok to start but deteriorated.  

John managed to get a ride in with Pete and Richard.  It was, apparently, an extended version of the one they did yesterday and he wasn't sure what time they would be back.  Gail, Ellen, Nicky and I were going out for a girlie's lunch at the Stone Lion in Goudi.  I was driving.  I can't work out what it is that aggravates my hiatal hernia but think that maybe alcohol isn't helping and it can't do me any harm to abstain now and again particularly as I think I have put on weight and the calories that are in alcohol are probably a big contributing factor!

Before going out I got together some bits and pieces for our bitch and stitch/knit and natter meet we are having on Thursday when the boys go to Fitos for lunch.  They have to go to Fitos because unfortunately Eleni at Kaponas is still recovering from her knee operation so is closed, Bambos doesn't open early enough and Finnikas will be a little chilly this time of year.

I also wanted to try something I had seen on a 'reel' on tintyweb to create string trees as a Christmas decoration.  I was using one of the ceramic trees which had been a gift from Liselotte one year as my cone shape.  I covered this with cling film and then wrapped it with string which had been soaked in glue.  This is my first attempt.  The idea is that it will dry and stiffen and then I can remove it from the cone and paint it or decorate it.  

I wasn't sure how successful this was going to be - actually it was ok but the cling film clung too strongly to the ceramic cone underneath so it was almost impossible to remove and I didn't use enough string or enough glue to get a nice stiff shape one it had dried but it was only my first attempt and now I think I have a better understanding of what I need to do.

Tomorrow Gail is coming but not knitting or stitching because she is still recovering from her operation.  Nicky is coming and we had planned to make some Christmas cards using potato prints - we will probably just natter and bitch!!!

The boys returned home just as we girlies were leaving.  As I said I drove out to the Stone Lion - it was relatively busy for a Tuesday in January - we were inside in the original building which is ok but not the most cosy environment and there was only a kerosene heater for warmth plus the door to the curtained outside area was open so that was a bit chilly.

Fortunately they had Becks Blue in so whilst the others all had a glass of wine I was able to have one of those to go with my meal.

We had a lovely afternoon.  This is Ellen's photo - you might have thought she had been drinking already but I don't think she had even had a sip - but I am at a rather odd angle and out of focus!!!  I made the wrong food choice - the others all had ribs and I was going to go for that but didn't and opted for the pork and mushroom special because I only ever get to eat mushrooms when John isn't around.  The ribs looked amazing and the others all confirmed that they were but my pork was a bit tough and salty - the trouble was that they had already salted the chips before it got to the table and I don't take much salt.   Still lesson learned - go with your initial thoughts.  It wont stop me going again but it just means that isn't something I will chose to eat.