An awesome day of working, tidying and going out with friends

Hello again from both of us here and what has been another perfect evening and following day. I know that not every day can be like this one has been but when you get them you got to enjoy them, right?

The most exclusive restaurant in the world

While I was finishing the blog last night I was also cooking the famous Spicy Pork Pasta dish. This was something I made up out of random items last year which stuck as a particular favourite to eat here and also back in England over the winter. It's not too much trouble to cook but tastes amazing. When it was ready (which was actually before the blog was done) we decided that eating on the roof terrace was a good idea and so I carried the pan up, covered with a cloth, and all the things we needed to eat it with and we proceeded to spend the next hour or so enjoying the food, sipping beer and watching as the sun set behind the distant clouds. It really was heavenly and when we went back downstairs we continued chatting and sipping our beer until we ran out of drink and then went to bed.

Slowly taking shape

I remembered to ask A to turn her alarm off so we would avoid the unwelcome shock of a noisy phone shouting at us at 6.30am and this was a good thing as we both had a tiny amount too much to drink and both snored which disturbed the other in turn. I did sleep enough though and so did she (I hope) and when we decided that getting out of bed was a good idea (mainly influenced by Louise deciding she wanted up) I for one wasn't too shattered. Coffee and tea was brewed (by me this time) while I solved a problem with my paid work which had been bugging me the night before and then we decided to get out and do another panel for the humanure collection point. A helped me and it was really good to have her assistance with measuring and the assembly and so now we are only one panel (the middle divider) and the top dog-proof fence away from having a completed collection point.

A with Sassy doing her antiseptic for her bald spot

It was still early when we finished this and so we made more brews and I decided I was hungry and so made myself a butty. A wasn't hungry so she didn't get one though of course I would have made her one if she had asked. She was working hard today but took a short morning break to go and fuss Sassy who does get a lot of attention and I realised I haven't yet put a picture up of her since returning so here she is. She is doing so well and is very big indeed; much larger than I remember her though of course I could just have a bad memory for this as well.

This is how you relax

After this it was pretty much work for us most of the morning. At one point, as the heat built, we both went out to see Rambo and let the puppies have a run and I jumped onto the swinging chair in the porch just before A could get to it. This is again the first time I've got to sit on it since I got back. The girls jumped up with me and I must admit I could have fallen asleep right then and almost did. This was just about lunch time and when A shouted down that it was ready (the cold rice from the other day with some bacon bits added - nom!) I had to shake myself to drag myself back up the stairs to join her for food.

Storage room is much cleaner now

After lunch I did more paid work but was waiting a bit for a reply about a job I was doing so I took the opportunity to get into the pile of boxes in the other spare bedroom and sort them out. I ended up completing this task over the afternoon and now we have all the things for the new kitchen down in the little room off the corridor downstairs, all the train set stuff is in the roof, I've broken up all the empty boxes that were taking up space and just generally the room is clearer in preparation for when Bekir and Sally come back to finish off the guest bedroom and bathroom.

I had dug out the pictures and frames for said pictures while doing the tidying and so was really pleased to be able to finally frame the poster for the studio which my friend did for us years ago which was in danger of getting damaged as it is just done on card. This will be put on the wall soon and I'll be sure to get a picture for you. Another task which needed doing this afternoon was emptying some of the buckets for the humanure so I did this, into the old collection point, which is pretty much full now; our new one will not be ready too soon.

Having fun in the pool

S and S had been in touch earlier in the day to suggest they come past with their guest and interns and so just before I'd had a chance to have a shower they arrived. It was lovely to show new people around again and we ended up sat on the roof terrace for a bit until it was decided it was time to go out. They had found a hotel with a swimming pool and restaurant up on the lake north of the main town and so off we set. It was easy to find and really an amazing spot. The pool was a good temperature for the heat of the day however it was not open for much longer after we arrived so we made the most of it getting some good swimming in and also larking around as you can see.

My meal above and A's below

After a quick rinse and changing we found the restaurant and settled ourselves for our meal. This was served by a really lovely waiter who had a great sense of humour and patience in explaining to us about the food they were serving. We all ordered different things and once everyone's food had arrived we were all happy with our choices, I think. It was excellent food, probably the best I've had over here so far, and I think we'll definitely be returning, maybe with the parents in August. Hugs all round were in order before we headed off listening to Cat Empire and commenting on what a lovely evening it had been.

When we got back just now a car was parked up by our vehicle gate and getting out of it was the cousin from the farm who had been so friendly last year. We stopped to say hello and he said he is here until Mid July and then is going to go to Merthyr to work which just shows how the backward migration goes. I certainly know where I would rather be! He opened and closed the gate for us which was really helpful and I hope I get to see him before he leaves again.

And so the animals have mainly been fed; Rambo first, then the puppies (just getting to the end of their bowls) and finally Sassy who is currently rattling her cage in irritation at not being fed. I'll post this and then it'll be bed time and the end of another fantastic day in heaven.