We get some rain...

Jan and Derek are due to arrive tomorrow but today saw a massive Air Traffic Control failure in the UK so flights have been disrupted or cancelled and there will be a knock on effect for a few days at least so we will just have to wait and see.  So in preparation for their arrival Gail, John and I sorted out their front garden which had become something of a wilderness.  Pete was supposed to be helping but he has been really poorly since we went round for drinkies.  Hopefully he will be fighting fit for his birthday party on Saturday.  

John also took the covers off of Jan and Derek's car and made sure that it started after 3 months of sitting on the drive and thankfully it fired up into life almost immediately.  It got a bit of a shower off and tyre inflation so it will be ready for them to use when (and if) they arrive.  We really aren't certain - so many people have had their flights and holidays cancelled completely.

When we were satisfied that the front garden looked ok I went to tackle ours.  The fruit trees have been a disappointment ever since we put them in - either the soil is too thin or they are in the wrong place but they don't produce any fruit and on closer inspection I realised that once again there was an infestation of mealy-bug which is the most disgusting of pests with squishy white bodies which release some horrible orange liquid if squished.  We think we may well take the trees out all together - they really don't add much to the garden but first they have been given a reprieve and a severe haircut.

I started on the lime tree which had been looking so well on the surface but deep down was being ravaged by bugs.  I cut everything and left just a couple of leaves - the Cypriots seem to do this, cut things back and leave a couple of leaves to feed the plant.  I then did exactly the same to the lemon tree which also looked great until inspected closely.  Such a shame but I can't have the mealy bug spreading.

We had been forecast rain which is unbelievable in August but blow me we blooming well got some - apparently in Paphos, according to Mum, it bucketed down, we only had about 10 minutes and then it was gone.  I hoped that this wasn't affecting Ellie's holiday and fortunately it didn't so it must have been quite localised.  Once we had had our shower it was sunshine and clouds and quite blustery but that was fine as I was gardening.

Tonight we were on a right make do and mend tea - we had some bits and pieces that needed eating up in the fridge and we hadn't been to do any shopping.  We managed to cobble together a sort of poor man's pizza with some thin bases that had been loafing in the cupboard, some sweet chili sauce rather than tomato base and cheese, roasted peppers and some lounza.  I wasn't hopeful but actually they were absolutely delicious!!!!