9th January

We had visitors today which we have not seen in months.  The goats are back and doing us a favour by keeping the weeds down in the green area.  This is good because otherwise someone on the estate will get the weed killer out which is not good as our cats love to go to the green area.  Last year after the weed killing Minnie was very poorly with pancreatitis which may have been just an unfortunately coincidence but I fear not.  We do believe that it was weed killer which Chivers ingested as that was the only thing around on the day that he became seriously ill.

These are my knees - it is 9th January and in Droushia it was sunny and warm so we were going down to do some shopping but wanted to go for a walk along the coastal path beforehand to get a bit of exercise and a bit of fresh air.  The weather is due to change towards the middle of this week so we wanted to make the most of it.  John is hoping to get two bike rides in this week but I don't think that is likely to happen.

It was blowing a gale down on the coast which is so odd but it had been the same last time we went.  The sky was cloudless and the sun warm but the wind was chilly and I didn't have a sweater or hoodie!!!  This just meant we had to walk a bit quicker than we might have done otherwise.  It was quite empty on the coast but perfect for blowing the cobwebs away.

John and I are impressed by the work that has been carried out in Latchi.  There is a great area for working out which has all sorts of pieces of equipment just there for you use - untouched from vandalism and, amazingly, graffiti - or at least they are so far.  Next to this area is a small five a side footie pitch although no-one was playing on it today.

Next there is a child's play area which is a bit like an assault course - what a view from here!  We messed around on the equipment en route to the Coffee Shop where we had planned to grab a vanilla milk shake to share - you can sit inside or out - the outside area is sheltered from the wind but is the smokers corner however we were the only takers today.

We made a friend today.  One of the port cats was wanting some love and attention which she got from us.  She was little and sweet and so so soft and affectionate.  Had we not got our monstrous bunch she would have been given a home with us but she is a port cat and probably would hate being up in the hills away from the sea and the volunteers who tend to the health and safety of the port cats do a marvelous job.  But just in case anyone is looking for a pretty little grey cat she is adorable - and done - you can tell by the neutering nick in her ear.

We had a fabulous supper tonight - a brie and cranberry filo pastry crinkle pie.  Well only half was cranberry - my half, John's had my home made lemon pickle because he isn't a lover of cranberry.  It is made by buttering sheets of filo and then crinkling them up and layering them along the length of the dish then you push slivers of brie into the gaps, spread the top with the cranberry or lemon pickle and then make an egg custard and bake.  It was lovely and we had it with a nice fresh salad.