At Home

We had a day at home today so it was to be spent doing things in and around the house.  First off washing and I was amazed that I managed to get three loads washed out and dried today. Remarkable because two of the loads were bulky items - one a thick fleece throw which we have on our bed and the other our duck down duvet.  I wasn't bothered if the throw didn't dry as we have a spare on the guest bed but I wanted the duvet to dry.  Miss Minnie was singularly unimpressed that we had stripped the bed when she wanted to sleep on it.  The only trouble with a successful wash day is that it is followed by a need to iron and I really don't like ironing!  On the plus side as the washing dried well and was mainly bedding it went straight back on the bed.

Next I was on to the cleaning.  I like the house to look nice but I am not a lover of dusting because it makes me sneeze - well that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.  When I look around the house I am so glad that our renovation journey here started 12 years ago.  I don't think I could embark on that now.  Having said that we really do need to paint the kitchen area this year so once we stop burning that will be a job we will tackle.

I have ideas for the house, John raises his eyes to the heavens when I say that but generally they are quite small scale nowadays.  I have recently been left some money by a dear friend and I want to put that towards something special but that is likely to be something in the garden.  Something striking and long lasting - not sure what but I will know it when I see it.

John was on panel cleaning and bird watching this morning.  We have heard birds on the roof in the mornings - we think they are confused since Jan and Derek blocked their nesting spots in the curves of the roof tiles.  We don't think there is anywhere on our roof they can utilise but John wanted to be certain.  He also took the opportunity to give the photovoltaic panels a clean.  In the photograph he is pulling up the hose with his hook and rope.  You can see what a glorious day it was as there was not a cloud in the sky.

We have had some good generation so far in January but rain is forecast from tomorrow and for most of the following week.  I don't know why we are surprised but we have got used to the nice sunny weather and being able to make plans and for the rain not to stymie them.  

We have said to Mum that if the weather is not good on Sunday then we will drive down to her and take our Sunday meal with us - I am planning something that will travel and which can be easily heated up at hers.  I am down with her tomorrow as she has an appointment at the dentists which she wants me to take her to.  A wise move as this will mean negotiating the middle of Paphos which ressembles a war zone.  So many roads are closed and it changes daily so you think you know how to get somewhere and then you set out and your route is blocked.

I tackled the fruit trees at Pam and George's - they had both grown quite unruly so I thought they would benefit from a good haircut.  When fruit trees are a tangle of growth it is a breeding ground for mealy-bug so I wanted to create some air flow to try and ensure that the trees avoid this rather nasty bug.  I had company in the form of a lovely preying mantis - a juvenile Empusa Fasciata.

I also got to see my first lady bird of the season.  I am just hoping that these will not suffer if we have a cold snap.

We had a super warming supper - I did some lamb meatballs in a spicy sauce and it just about blew our heads off - who needs external heating when you can have it internally!