Friday 2nd March 2012

Giant Ball of string - hardly used!

The wind has gone although not a lot warmer with temps barely reaching 60F. With forecasts into the mid upper 60s at the weekend and higher after that perhaps our last few days in Pervolia will be good before returning to the world of work.

With at least the sun shining it was back into the garden for ‘fence building’.  I have quite taken to cutting my own bamboo and weaving it between the bougainvillea and leylandi hedging.  It is taking time but It is making for a sturdy hedge / fence even though I am cutting and scratching my hands with the sharp thorns on the bougainvillea.  As I tie I remember being in the Boy Scouts and learning how to tie a clove hitch and complete a round turn and two half hitches.  Those skills learnt so long ago are coming into use.

A walk into the village was needed to the hardware store for some more string.  You have to imagine the scene with me with no greek and the man in the shop with no english.  “I want some string”.  Hmm he has a worried look.  This soon turns into a game of charades as I rush around the store, followed by the man, finding anything but string.  At last I find some nylon cord which I grab, give a thumbs up but then a frown and say ‘No’.  ‘Oh’ he says in greek ‘You want string!’  Well that is what he must have said as he goes behind a counter and appears with a giant ball of string!  ‘Got anything smaller? I say  ...... a worried and puzzled look appears on his face .... thumbs up .....‘That will do nicely’ and I pay for the giant ball of string.

Back home Dan the Plumbing Man from Essex has called and is in the middle of knocking a hole in the wall to change the single plug socket to a double.  He does a good job and even fits a new disposal tube to the dishwasher.  We will get him back when we eventually sort our lighting for the lounge and replacements for above the mirror lighting in the bathroom, which are fairly cheap looking plastic.  Which is what they are cheap and plastic.

With Dan the Plumbing Man gone, Lillian armed with a paintbrush not only touches up the filling around the new plug fitting, but scours the house looking for areas to dab.  She says she is looking for perfection.  If anybody can make it she can.

As the afternoon turns to dusk we realise there are no street lights.  With all the ‘antics’ at the residents meeting yesterday it seems to save costs the maintenance company have turned them off!  There was discussion about the pool lights but this is a step too far.  I will need to report it to my newly elected committee member.  

I sit and look out onto our garden whilst having an early evening beer watching our solar lights come on.  I like to sit and watch the colour flowers changing, which I find very relaxing.  We have one new light which is a dragonfly which Lillian bought for me in the hardware store in Lefkosia earlier this week.  I sit and Lillian reads although getting up occasionally to sort the dinner.  She reminds me that I haven’ t even made her a coffee today.  Opps will do better tomorrow.  With the coffee that is ..... not the dinner.

Two episodes of Prison Break - Season 3.  Such a good series.