3rd February

It was a brighter day today for a while and I was feeling a bit better so I wanted to (a) go down to Polis to check in with Dr Manolis who I should have seen at the beginning of the week and (b) go and see the rug that I had seen advertised for sale which was in Latchi.  John was more than happy to do that except we were hoping that CYTA would put in an appearance to sort out whatever fault it is that they have identified which is outside the house.  We rang the support department to say we were going out and they said that if the engineers were coming they would ring first anyway.  We didn't get a call and they didn't come.

Driving down the hill out of Droushia is was a hive of activity.  They (whoever they are) are cutting back all the hedges, trees and shrubs along that route.  This is presumably because this road is now the main route down into Polis because for about the fourth time since we have lived here the main road is closed due to subsidence.  The increased traffic on our village road will take its toll on the surface so let's hope that this time they will resurface once the main road it reopened.

I had been given instructions as to where we had to go in Latchi to see the rug.  It had been advertised previously at a much higher price.  It is wool and old and looked to be perfect for the conservatory as one of our other ones has become something of a trip hazard.  Initially I had dismissed it because it looked very red and was too expensive but once it had been reduced I thought there wasn't any harm going to look at it.  We had no idea what to expect and had, quite uncharitably, already formed an opinion of our destination, scabby and with smelly dogs.  Nothing could have been further from the truth as we approached a fabulous house in the hills above Latchi with a drive longer than our run from Droushia to Prodromi!!!  We were met by a lovely man who we picture as having been the CEO (at the very least) of some amazing multinational corporation - the house was vast and beautiful and with a view to die for.  The rug was absolutely perfect for the money - bless him he had no idea how much his wife had advertised it for and she was away.  I told him, he said I could have told him anything but I said I couldn't as that was not in my nature and he smiled at me and said he could see that.  John and I would love to return to that house at night, if only to see the dozens of lights lighting up the drive.

We took a quick snap on our way past the Latchi Family Resort which closed in a hurry at the end of the season and everyone anticipated that would be it but apparently some Israeli chain has purchased it and is turning it into a 5* resort.  A hell of a lot of work is going on.  We can see that all the accommodation to the left of the restaurant in the upper right of this picture have been gutted.  It will be really interesting to see how this turns out and must surely be positive for the area.

I walked into the Doctors and was able to see Dr Manolis straight away to explain that I had not been in earlier to report on the effectiveness of the medication he had given me for my painful muscles.  He said that there were four or five flu or cold bugs ravaging the island at the moment.  I told him that I had no idea which one had struck me down except that I knew it wasn't covid having tested.  He has told me to go back to normal activities once I am over the cold and report back on what is happening as any muscular pain now may be as a result of the cold.

A brief bright spell on our return allowed me to quickly go out and take a snap of the only successful rose I have in the garden - this one we bought in memory of Hadge and it flowers nearly all year round (save for the occasions when it gets a severe pruning).  It is a welcome splash of colour in a garden currently ravaged by hail and dipping temperatures.

The rug has been installed - exactly where we had hoped it would fit and the colours match in with our existing colour scheme which is brilliant.  It needs to settle down a bit but once it has been on the cold tiled floor for a couple of days will be flat.  I am really pleased with it.