The Ninth week.

Day 61 - Friday 30.5.14

Lovely day after last night's rain. Went to the Marvel to meet Lee Clements and his wife and children, they loved Poppy.

 We had a photo taken in memory of Steven Sutton. His family requested that people gave him a thumbs up during his vigil.









We went down to the beach for Poppy to have a swim, we sat and had a drink at Sharons Phil had his new drink of choice - Local Ginger beer.











Then we went back to the Marvel to say goodbye to Gill and Nigel. We sat and had a chat with Lynne, Gary, Joy and Cliff. They went off to go to eat - we came home and had homemade Chicken curry. Relaxing evening and early to bed for me.

Day 62 - Saturday 30.5.14






We went to the beach Poppy had a  swim with her lovely new stick.

Then we visited Sharons for lunch, we were joined by Joan, John, Lynne and Gary. Spent a lovely couple of hours chatting and people watching. Janis called by briefly after her walk up to Akrotiri. We met her lovely daughter Rachel and family, Poppy loved the boys as they played with her.

 This afternoon in the Coconut Perry's daughter Katerina and her dancing class friends gave a show - we missed it, but we did see them practicing one afternoon last week.

When we got back to the apartment Vasso was cleaning, so we had to go over to the Marvel for a drink - it's a hard life. This evening - The Worried Men were playing at Armourada. We went with Joy, Cliff, Lynne and Gary  - we had such a laugh. I was telling them about Leon drawing the size of the Saganaki on the tablecloth so we all started writing - there must have been about 20 silly comments written on it.

Day 63 - Sunday 1.6.14

20deg at 10am. It is 131 days today since I had a cigarette - well done me! I walked down to the Mirage to meet Christine and Bob. They had just arrived and she had brought Poppy some of her home made dog biscuits yum yum. I took Poppy for a swim while Phil watched the Rugby. This evening we went for a meal with Lynne, Gary, Joy and Cliff, to the new Quattro restaurant in San Stefanos NW - the food was superb and very reasonably priced. It is run by four friends, the chef makes all their pasta. The Tiramisu was home made - and to die for.  We could not fault anything, everything was excellent - food, wine, presentation and friendly, attentive but discreet staff. Will certainly be going back.

Tiramisu

Wine 

There were some amazing cloud formations tonight.

Day 64 - Monday 2.6.14

20 deg this morning - temperature is pretty consistent now. Had a lazy morning, Joy came for coffee and we had a good chat. We went to the Rainbow and met up with Paul and Denise (from the Grosvenor in Cleethorpes). We also met Marie Crawford and her husband - what a small world it is - they live in the same street that we did in Southampton 33 years ago. Then we walked down to meet up with Janice and her family as they are leaving today. Her grandsons took Poppy on the beach - she had a wonderful time. Also Joan and John are going home today.

5 Ladies having a lazy afternoon

 Lynne and Gary bought Poppy a squeaky, light up ball. Think she was a bit miffed when I made her sit for the photo.

We walked back up and decided to stay in tonight - we had a Pizza delivered, and it was delicious. There was an amazing sunset tonight.

Day 65 - Tuesday 3.6.14

22.8 deg at 12 o'clock.

 We have a White Oleander tree outside the kitchen window, the perfume wafting in is gorgeous. I didn't know it is very poisonous to humans and animals.











. I have taken some more photos in our garden - can you remember the tiny pomegranate from when we first came - well this is it now.

 We have the most beautiful rose arch leading into the garden. It has very small double flowers on it - I think I will try to take a cutting from it













Poppy is not too well today so we stayed in. She didn't eat her dinner and is lethargic.

       

                                     



  Tonight's unusual sunset - a straight line of clouds.

Portofino for dinner tonight and then called in at Coconut for 'just the one' - as if! The Splinter Band were playing again.








Day 66 -  Wednesday 4.6.14  
         
One year ago today since Phil had his heart by-pass. So pleased we have been able to make this journey.

Gorgeous hot, sunny day to welcome Dot - she is staying with us. Our friends Sheila and Keith picked her up from the airport. I did lunch for us when they got here. Then we walked down to the beach for Poppy to have a swim and for Dot to say hello to some friends. We stopped for a fresh orange juice in Ammos. Then back home for Dot to have a siesta as she has been up since 6am yesterday morning.

A few words about the Arillas community spirit
(and why we keep coming back)   (Taken from www.arillas.com)

The Arillas Business Association together with the local Councillors and people of Arillas have achieved to have the beach-front and the rest of the village in a good state before the season started .
In the winter months meetings and small conferences were taking place in order to keep everyone informed and able to contribute with their own opinions and ideas.
Having taken seriously under consideration the results of the Arillas Survey form 2012-13, we followed the rule to improve but not spoil our Arillas by choosing  carefully all actions and necessary developments.
The community spirit within the Arillas business-people is a vital fact that has to be kept going for the next years.
The work that this year has been done by the business-owners is:
Repairing and improving the look of the beach-front lights.
Creation of a wooden pedestrian at the left part of the beach-street.
Tiding up some of the private and public signs in order to give a good example of how signs should be.
Creation of more rubbish-bin-housings.
Planting more native trees, flowers and plants at the beach front. (These trees used to grow naturaly in Arillas beach before the hotels and bars where build.)
Creation and placement of 10 wooden small litter bins  at the beach that the business owners of the front would be caring for them.
Repairing the surface of the pier.
Repairing the beach Showers.
Maintenance of the Arillas trail.
All these actions have been initiated by the community spirit of the Arillas people who live and work in this area. It was the ultimate move to respond to the loyalty of all of you that keep coming year by year and to welcome the newcomers with respect.
We are trying to keep your holiday destination clean and tidy with our basic resources and very little help from the governmental services. I must say It WAS NOT EASY....
 It is important that more and more local business-owners should take part in this actions in the future. Our aim is to keep Arillas  AS IT IS .
The identity of our Arillas as a holiday destination is based on :
Our natural environment
The sea and sun
Family-run accommodation
Quality restaurants and good Greek food
Quality of the beach
High rate of repeating visitors
The hospitality of the local people
Beach quality
Recommendation from friends and family
The use of social media
The organisation of local events.
In order to keep this spirit going, it would be very nice of you to keep mentioning to every establishment that you visit in Arillas and the surrounding areas about the good impact that these initiatives have to your holidays.
Have a good time in Arillas!

Tonight we decided to stay home and have a pizza delivered, lots of wine, chatting and looking at photos.

Day 67 - Thursday 5.6.14

21.3 deg at Midday - We walked down to the beach, stopping to chat to Dimitri, Dr. Yanni,  everyone at Armourada including Verena and baby Angelos.and Yiota in her shop. Then we went to Portofino and had a drink with Spiros, while we were there Gary and Lynne arrived to say goodbye to Spiros as they go home tomorrow. Also Christine, Steve and friends came as they had just arrived. Poppy went for her swim and then we joined the 4 o'clock club at Sharons. I sat with Tracey and we chatted about our journey and her bringing her dog out at some point.

Tonight we went to Thalassa with Joy and Cliff for their last supper. Then one drink in Portofino, one drink in the Coconut.

Dot's 'apartment' she is loving her bed in the campervan. She says she is sleeping better and for longer than she does at home.










The end of another beautiful week - where does the time go?