To A Dear Uncle....R.I.P

Some of you may remember Geoff and I travelling across the island last summer to spend the day with my aunt and uncle who were holidaying in Agia Galini.
Sadly,I have received the news he died suddenly yesterday.
Paul was married to my mum's youngest sister and I've known him for many, many years. He was a quiet, gentle chap with a cheeky sense of humour and will be missed by everyone who knew him. My love goes out to Sue.
In respect, I shall not be blogging for a while.

Sue, Geoff and Paul in Agia Galini last summer.

Celebrations

See, I told you menopausalmusing, mad things...
Just to say, go look at John and his celebrations in France, looked like a wonderful time. Wine tasting and loads of fab food made by Lindsay. Congratulations John, looking forward to seeing you both at the do..

Friday Shoot-Outs.. Reflections.

I'm away from home working this week so I best be quick....

I'd have to have one of a pool!

Friday Shoot-Out. Yard Objects

My friend Jenny, visiting from England, relaxing in the shade, while I weed and water our kypos.
All important business is done over a Greek coffee. You can also buy anything you need for supper out of the back of a van while you're there...snails, raki?
A quiet,cool corner to relax and read.
Rather a bad photo but couldn't resist this al fresco area by the side of the road..
My neighbour Sofia, sitting outside her home, waiting to chat to anyone who has the time.
More important discussions.......notice the lack of women?? Probably, in the kitchens or working in the allotments.
A cool courtyard.

It's That Time of Year Again!

I've not posted much about the kypos, it's fine.. everything is growing fast and we spend an hour most evenings watering, weeding and gathering our lovely home grown produce..
But, as usual we have the glut of courgettes, too many to eat and I must say, I do get slightly fed up with eating them every day!!
So, I took Maria, Organically Cooked advice and did some batch cooking. I made 10, yes, 10 trays of boureki.

The longest job was slicing courgettes, courgettes and more courgettes and potatoes.
They are then layered, courgettes and potatoes. A layer of mizithra cheese, ( feta would be easier for anyone living outside Greece, I think.)with a handful of chopped mint. Then another layer of potatoes and courgettes. Top that with a layer of sliced tomatoes. Add some stock or water, some olive oil drizzled over the top and season with salt.
Bake until the potatoes are cooked, remember to check that they don't dry up, just add some more stock when needed.

They can be frozen uncooked or cooked.
No, I'm not the next Nigella. I promise I shall not make a habit of trying to run through recipes for you.. just thought this was worth a mention. Delicious!!

Lastly,couldn't resist showing this photogragh of these 2 enjoying a day on the beach, don't they look funny!! Geoff is looking out to sea...not leering at some bikini clad floozy!

Friday Shoot Out, Texture.

This is solid rock formations on the beach near us

My door knocker

A neighbours door.

Dooby, dooby, Dubai!!

Ok, I know, I visited Dubai in May..
You can imagine how many photograghs I took, 100s....
I've tried to make a blog of it but it just didn't work, I couldn't choose!
So, I've taken the easy way out.
The first collage is mainly in and around Dubai. There's some photos of the ski slope!! and the ice skating rink inside one of the malls.
It's so hot over there, one just doesn't wander around like I'm so used to, I felt like a fish out of water sometimes. We did go to the beach and swimming was out of this world, it was so warm.Unfortuneately, it is illegal to take photos on the beach.
We had some fabulous meals out, one at the Buddha Bar, very swish..
Another activity not to be missed if you ever go to Dubai is a 'Dubai Brunch'.. it started at 12.30 and we finally crawled out dragging our heavy stomaches with us after 3.00. We met friends of Bethan's and had views to die for from the 30th floor.

Then the one above is of 2 trips we did, one was on the Big Red Bus, well recommended, to see the souks and waterside.
My friend Liz and I also went dune dumping, the desert was amazing, I loved it, I had a henna tattoo, and we ventured off on a camel.
I think I'll gradually drop more photos into different posts, I wanted to get these out and to thank Bethan xx and Liz and Kev xx
I had a wonderful time
It felt like a completely different world.

Naughty Blogger!

I'm so so sorry, It was very rude of me, I forgot to post photographs of the lovely giveaways that have been winging their way to me in the last week or 2.
So, to Elizabeth Creates, who sent me the set of beautifully photograghed cards and that little bird, he happily sways in the breeze, though he looks as if he's talking to the wall now.. thank you.
to Soulbrush, for my South Africa tea towel, thank you.
and lastly, to Frieda Oxenham, who sent me my first ATC, it's gorgeous, all that work on such a tiny piece!!

Now, look, above, can you see the tree is laden with pomegranites and it right next to my back door!! I'll be keeping a very close, beady eye on them....... mind you, none of my neighbours seem terribly interested in them..

This, this little beauty is my absolute favourite at the moment.
I bought this when I lived on the boat and it was going dizzy growing around a wire hoop.
So, a few weeks ago, yes, only a matter of weeks, we gently unwound it and helped it up this trellis. Do you think it's happy? I think it's truly, truly estatic...it's running along.

And the perfume in the evening is exquisite!!
Sorry, for anyone who doesn't recognise it...stephanotis

A Quick Visit.

I'm still here, just!
Firstly, I've designed, made and posted the invitations to the wedding of Bethan and Matt.
We are now getting a steady flow of replies.

Then, I spent a week sleeping away from home with this stunning view from my bedroom. This is early morning, just as the sun was rising and I was going to swim in the pool. Just before you all get the wrong idea, no, I wasn't on holiday..I was working!! Ha, ha! What a life, hmm??

Here's Dewi, he came running in with this dangling from his jaws!!
The neighbour was plucking a cockeral and gave Dewi this to chew on. The puppy is having teething problems at the moment and at one time last week barely had a tooth in his mouth, so he's enjoying sucking this to bits.

Last, this gorgeous flower is the caper. It's rampant in the countryside. I've picked a jar full of the buds and pickled them. It's the first time I've done this so I'll let you know how they turn out.
It's rather warm now so I'm walking at 6.30 am. Dewi and I now do about 7 to 7.50kms and get back just in time to say bye to Geoff as he heads off for the day.
I've not blogged for a while but I've been popping in to see what's going on...
Take care.