Not the news we were expecting...

For the last couple of days, which have been beautiful by the way, we have been taking things easy and just doing jobs that will help 'winterise' the house and garden.

Everything seemed to grow like wildfire during the brief time I was in the UK - either that or I just looked at the garden with a fresh pair of eyes when I got back.

Apparently I am an Anthophile, a lover of plants, and so I struggle to pull up anything which has actually done me the honour of growing and surviving in my garden whether I like it or not.  I don't mind the shingle being dotted with colourful annuals which self seed.  John does mind and, to be fair, it is nice to see some areas of clean shingle in the garden, clean shingle and clear pathways.

We have cleared the area near the outside shower which also necessitated taking the last two fruits off my golden raspberry bush (which looks like it has holidayed in Chernobyl).  That area now looks clean and tidy, for five minutes, but it has spurred me on to tackle other areas and be a brave bunny and pull out some seedlings which have cropped up in places where I really don't need them.  It is hard but I have pulled up my big girl pants and just done it!!!

We took John's car to be cleaned inside and out at the local petrol station where the lovely smiley Joyce works.  There is now a rather stylish coffee shop attached to it and we decided to sit there and have a drink whilst waiting.  The young lad that serves there is very nice and polite and the drinks are reasonably priced - there are snacks available too and it is clearly a spot well frequented by local drivers who pull up outside (rather than park in the car park) and shout their orders across!!!

I managed to leave my handbag on my seat when John and I went back to the filling station to await the end of the car wash and bless the lad he walked it round for me.  There wasn't much in there but I was very pleased it hadn't gone missing.

Finally we had some very sad news today that Argy had had a fall whilst in Athens and would be needing an operation.  We spoke to Lakis who was, understandably, devastated.  This was not the way their family holiday was supposed to have gone.  Our hearts go out to them - we await an update as to how things are going and how long they will need to remain in Greece before they can get home.