Our Day out in Paphos...

Well Laura and my parents will be pleased to know that we had a problem with my camera today (looks like it is a period when lots of things go wrong - microwave, chainsaw, camera) and so we have limited photographs on the blog.  Shame really as the one's which John took down at the harbour would have been lovely as it was such a beautiful day and considerably less windy than the last time we took Laura down there when she did a reasonable impersonation of Marilyn Munro in that white dress (well less the cleavage!).

Anyway we started off today by all getting up reasonably early.  John was first as usual at about 7.00am and I then rose to find him sat up on the roof terrace with the two cats drinking a coffee.  I went and joined him as it was so beautiful and peaceful - i.e. no builders in the vicinity.  We saw the lady that takes the bouncy black and white rescue hunting dog for a walk along the road every morning.  She must think I have nothing else to wear but my fluffy brown dressing gown - one day I am going to surprise her!

Laura was up shortly afterwards and after a quick shit, shave and shower (and that was just Laura!!) we set off down to Paphos to sample the Duck Pond Market for the first time.  

Laura, Mark, John and I are past masters of people watching at boot sales and auctions - we used to frequent Vickery's near Ash on a Saturday morning and we used to have to tell Laura to stop staring - now she hides behind her Radley Sunglasses but we still have to tell her to stop catching flies.  If you have ever been to Vickery's you would know why - most of the people there are never seen in daylight anywhere else!!!

We were pleasantly surprised by the market as there is a mixture of carboot type stalls and more permanent traders.  Our first bargain was to purchase two bags - Laura's is the bright green and mine the other. We think the stall holder may have used them to transport his goods to the market but he sold us one each for €3 - BARGAIN.  We then found a stall selling pet products so the kids have got some goodies and some flea spray to look forward to! We shall certainly go down again at some point for a mooch about - you just never know what you might find and someone else's rubbish is another's treasure!

We went from there to a lovely new coffee shop that Mum has found called St Georgio's which is opposite the UKCA and down a side street.  We had coffees all round and ours came with a lovely warm blueberry muffin.  We left Mum and Dad to show Laura the delights of Lidl's in Paphos as she has now moved across town in Yeovil and uses the Lidl there.  We were pleased to see that the Australian Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon is back in stock because at €2.99 it is a real bargain.

We went off down to the harbour and walked round to the fort calling into En Plo to see Jeanette who was exhibiting and selling her mosaics along with other crafters and their wares.  Watch out Mark because this has fired up Laura's enthusiasm for doing some mosaic work!! Wednesday Craft Lunch at Jeanette's resumes next week and I can't wait to hear all about her trip to Namibia or wherever it was that she has been!

When Laura was out the last time she spotted a steak and prawn place in Paphos offering anyone who paid in sterling an exchange rate of €2 to the £!!!  This is a bit of a bargain so we decided we would try it today.  If you go be warned that there are two menus - a lunchtime snack one which didn't appear to have much in the way of steak or prawns and the I love Steak and Prawns one.  Laura and I had decided to have a selection of starters for our meal and plumped for a king prawn and asparagus dish, scallops, lobster and mango salad, bruschetta and a plate of chips.  John had the fillet steak with chilli sauce, chips and salad.  It was absolutely delicious and I mean absolutely delicious - the sauces on our prawns and scallops was to die for and to begin with we thought we had ordered too much but we made a valiant attempt and to be honest it is so nice to see Laura enjoy her food.

It was a very nice place and we really like the decor- it was giving Laura loads of ideas for her new home!  When it came to puddings they were a real winner with John opting for a walnut chocolate brownie with icecream which he said was DIVS and I had the pannacotta with cherry sauce and a freshly made caramel snap thingy.  Laura refrained as she had her eyes on a yoghurt icecream with summer fruits from the front.  Just realised due to the problem we had with the camera we haven't got the picture of us stood next to the Easter Carrot - strange but true!

We came home to Droushia as it was clouding over.  I have been in the conservatory checking my eyelids for pinholes!  We thought we would scare the life out of Mark and Skype him on Laura's IPad which she had left logged in.  

John has just poured Laura a rather large Archers.  She has been off the booze since her Christmas Do when she ended up with her head down the loo for about a week and Mark kindly posted her photograph on Facebook!

We have missed not having Mark here with us to share in all the various experiences - apparently his To Do list is as long as ever and he hasn't shaved since Laura left - she is singularly unimpressed!!

We are now sitting in the Conservatory and it is nearly 8.00pm and we have managed to persuade John that he does not need to light the fire yet as we are not going indoors to watch TV for a while.  It is a lovely space to sit and relax and have a drink.

The cats are bombing around outside moth-catching and having a whale of a time - Laura thinks that Min needs the exercise to try and get rid of her pot-belly - she is turning into a bit of a weeble - John doesn't agree and just says she is 'stocky' which I think is like saying 'heavy boned'.

I have had a lovely present from Laura today - she bought me a bangle whilst we were out and it is very pretty and it was very kind of her.

Her week is racing by.  Tomorrow we are 'at leisure' and we plan to do a bit of crafting and a bit of cooking although I am steering well clear of the microwave for a bit!

The frogs are out doing their frog-chorus, John has skulked into the lounge and is lighting the fire no-doubt!