A small snippet of holiday

Sunday afternoon and it's a very breezy one as I sit here getting started on this update. I've got a fair few pictures to go through as we've had a wonderful few days that have been very like a holiday for A and I.

Friday

It seems so long ago right now, and it isn't easy to remember back after our busy weekend. I know that I spent the morning typing the blog and didn't go outside to do anything useful around the place and that I got it done much later than planned, half way through the afternoon.

The back wall is now dust-proof I hope

The very last edging tile is fitted in the kitchen

Sally doing the final touches around the door

Sorting through the lintel wood

A very mucky puppy indeed

Other than typing the update the morning was a bit of a rush as we had plans for the day and would need to leave the house for 9am or shortly after. Bekir and Sally were straight on with their tasks without any hesitation. Sally had made really good progress the night before on the back wall and now we'll not have quite so much dust production from there. He asked what I wanted him to do so I told him to support Bekir as a priority and finish off in the entrance when he had time. Bekir was in the kitchen putting the final edging tile in place; it had broken the day before so he'd fixed it with superglue (we have none of these tiles left) and it was perfect. Sally was actually drawn away from the entrance immediately as Bekir wanted the utility room door, fitted the previous day, to be finished with cement and plaster around the inside where it was still bare brick on the arch. While Sally worked on that Bekir sorted through the wooden frames to finish the other doors. We were nearly ready to leave so we called Thelma and Louise inside and had to laugh at just how filthy Thelma was after digging in the garden. She was very happy though.

All the horses ready for us

The stables really are a very well presented place

They use this jeep to conduct sight seeing tours

Me, many years ago

Dad mounts his horse

Dad is pretending here

Looking good!

And so we were in Thomas and A drove us down the road back to the stables to attempt once more to have a horse ride. When we got there it was immediately apparent that they were ready for us this time as the horses were already saddled up. We waited a little bit, not that long, enjoying again the location and then Mitko turned up grinning and ready to help us get on the horses and go. To put this into perspective I have only ever ridden a horse once in America and it was around a stable, my parents both last rode horses when they were kids, and A (the experienced one among us) hadn't ridden for 20 years. Fortunately they are used to beginners and had a mounting post. My dad was the first to be put on his horse and he did very well indeed. He was given the palomino which was a very placid looking creature and I think the white knuckles that I took a picture of were more for show than anything. Dad did very well indeed as while the rest of us were getting mounted his decided to wander off down behind the office to a section of lush grass and there was no panic at all.

This is how you ride a horse

Mitko loves his horses

My mum proudly astride her horse

Mitko trying, the horse refusing

I stole A's mount

Next it was A's turn and she had spotted the biggest horse and wanted it for herself and she showed us just how it was done, not even needing the mounting post. She walked hers off out of the way while my mum was offered the grey and mounted without any trouble but then it was my turn and of course I ended up being offered the awkward young horse who didn't want to have a saddle, didn't want to be mounted and had no interested in being helpful at all. After watching the struggle A came to my rescue and volunteered to swap and so I went on her horse without any trouble while she was left struggling to control the flighty one. Oh well, at least we were mounted and it was time for the off.

The Greek mountains in the distance

Villagers cutting their hay

Look at me pretending I'm a horseman

Climbing the switchbacks up the ridge

Taking a drink, and a mouthful of grass

My mum admiring the view across the valley

We made our way down the driveway into the stables and then, very carefully, across the main road. This was made more interesting by the fact that everyone knows Mitko and the idiots thought it was sensible to beep their horns as they drove past to say hello. Fortunately the horses were all very calm (other than A's, but she managed to keep it under control) and after getting off the main road, only a few metres, it was much easier. We walked along tarmacked village roads past frutiful gardens and beautiful views, climbing all the time towards a ridge ahead of us. After a short while on the tarmac we turned off up a stony path that had quite sketchy footing and climbed even steeper. Mitko had an assistant with him, the person who was not around the day before obviously, and my parents were both being halter led however they had left me on my own so I had a fast learning curve. It was a lovely ride but I think we were all glad to reach the top, and a little fenced paddock, where we could stretch our legs and rest before riding back. I was certain that my stirrups were too short and my knees were a little sore. It was an absolutely beautiful place to stop and we all took time to admire the view.

Where Mitko fishes before his BBQs

No more horses allowed past here

A cabin in the woods, and an awesome place it was

An old cannon hanging in the roof

One of a pair of pistols

Imagine this charging you

Back in the saddle

And we have got back

After a few minutes Mitko asked if we wanted to go for a walk and we agreed so off we went down a little trail and further into the woods. This was not a safe track for horseriding as it had crumbled in quite a few places but it was very safe for us. After a little while walking through beautiful old woodland we reached another little camp that he had built, this one a BBQ and hunting lodge, stuffed full of cool old items and pictures. There were old guns, a stuffed boars head and skulls, amongst other things. We stayed there for a while then walked back, where Mitko picked various herbs from the side of the path that could be mixed to make a very healthy tea. When we got back up to the paddock we mounted up immediately to head back. I managed to get on my horse without the mounting post which I was quite proud of but then, as I was the first on, I had to control the animal which just wanted to go home. He headed off down the path and was very hard to stop, at one point sidling towards the steep drop down the other side of the valley, but eventually I got him to settle and then shortly after we all rode back down to the stables again, happier as we'd had our stirrups adjusted and my knees at least were far less sore. What an awesome adventure!

Bekir surveying his work

Sassy's run back in its best place

The back wall is done

Corridor tiles are completed

A load of stones for Chaz and Ivan

When we got back it was around lunch time so we had a bite to eat. Bekir and Sally had both been busy during the morning and Bekir was just putting the nails in around the kitchen door frame while Sally was finishing the plastering in the utility room. We were pretty tired after our ride but I was determined to get my next chore completed which was to move Sassy's run back into her original position. It had got very hot by this time (which is why I'm moving her) so I worked very slowly and steadily and then, with help from my Dad to move it away, and then my mum and A joined us when we shifted it back round the corner, we got her into the shade and a more comfortable location for her. I then sat down to have a brew with every intention of getting on with my next job and ended up not moving again all afternoon. Whoops. Sally had moved back into the entrance hall as I'd asked him to and by the end of the day he was starting to put cement in around the doorway, with the back wall complete. Bekir had really cracked on and all of the grouting in the rooms and corridor is done so on Monday he can start in the bathroom! I took them home, with no dramas, and then when I got back I filled the back of Thomas with stones to take up to Chaz for his rockery.

All set on the roof terrace for our BBQ

Thelma is sparko

Louise also having a snooze

After dinner relax

Enjoying the evening air

A slightly hazy sunset

I came back in the house to find the BBQ already lit on the roof terrace and I was told to take charge of the meat so off I went with my chicken (always the first thing to cook) and got it going. My parents joined me and we settled down to a lovely evening. By the time our food was ready, which wasn't immediate by any means, the puppies were fast asleep on either side of my chair; both of them were suffering a little from the second injection they had received at the vets. The food was superb though, the highlight being A's homemade burgers which went very well indeed with the Kilchoman BBQ sauce. We stayed sitting upstairs for a little while after we finished, enjoying the sunset, but then the breeze became a little chillier so we headed in and after washing up it was an early night for all of us as the morning would be starting sooner than anyone really wanted.

Saturday

The alarm was set for 5.30am on Saturday which is a very unpleasant time on a weekend however we had a good reason; we were going to see our friends Chaz and Ivan at their hotel and finally their swimming pool was ready for use.

Very early dawn sky

Just before the sun rose

Thelma starts the day off right

Sassy has a hop around as well

A very green orchard

When the alarm went off I got up and got started doing the watering round on the balcony while A went to do the outside beds. We had to give everything a good soaking as the forecast was for hot weather and we'd be away all day and until midday on Sunday probably. The sun was not yet up while I was doing this and I got some crack pictures as the colours changed. Thelma was in good form as well and found her ball so she got that thrown for her, while Sassy came out to see what was happening and jumped around for us. I also got a picture of the orchard, young as it is, showing how it has already grown so much this year. We had previously said we would leave at 7.30 however now we had to take the puppies past the vets on our way I'd brought this leaving time forwards to 7am. It was only 10 minutes late that we pulled out of the drive and headed on our way.

Back to the stone mushrooms

Dad's arty picture through the gap

"Let's have a picture together"

There, isn't that lovely

And now for my parents

The view from the top

The visit to the vets went without a hitch, though I think when I rang him I did wake the poor man up, and then I drove relatively fast up into the mountains heading towards the Stone Mushrooms that my Dad wanted to see as there was a Geocache there. We managed to not take any wrong turns and this time we had the place to ourselves. It was lovely to see it, and without kids running around, and my Dad very quickly found his cache. We spent a nice ten to fifteen minutes wandering around before we piled back into Thomas and I rushed us off to our destination.

The height of sartorial excellence

Straight into the pool

It was rather cold

Pulling shapes as I jump in

Jumping into a swimming pool

My mum jumps in as well

A resting on the side

Ivan in the hydro massage pool

I'd driven all the way wearing my swimming costume and a vest so I would be able to go straight into the pool when I arrived without having to go and get changed. My plan worked perfectly and as soon as I had parked I was making my way into the unheated water. After taking it easy for a little while I gave up and just dived in and after that it was OK. It was wonderful to be able to swim again, and to have the pool on our own. Chaz and Ivan came out and laughed at me being in the pool without even knocking on their door, but I was happy. I also got to jump in while both A and my Dad ran the cameras in sport mode to catch me in mid air. My mum is also a big swimmer and she didn't waste much time in joining me and also jumping in. A was also in the pool and later on Ivan went in and was so overwhelmingly happy as this is the first time they have got to swim in it also.

All saying "potato" for the picture

A plate of superb food

Butterfly sunning itself on the towel

Thelma swims for dry ground

One of four owls that live at their hotel

Chaz was ready with a huge fried breakfast for us which we ate very shortly after arriving, I was still dripping wet as we sat down to eat it. As per usual it was awesome and filled us up completely. As we were sat at the table we spotted a beautiful butterfly on one of the towels and A was able to get a great picture of it. The rest of the afternoon was filled with fun in the pool with Thelma chasing her ball continuously and attempting to avoid coming in the water. We, of course, kept trying to get her to come in and she did swim a bit. Towards the evening we could hear an owl and when we looked we saw it sat on one of the window surrounds. My Dad got an excellent picture of it, mine didn't come out nearly as well.

Chaz gets the meat onto the BBQ

Homemade chicken tikka skewers

Ivan in charge of the BBQ

The pool all lit up

Disco lights at the end

The sun set in all its glory

We'd been fed a small lunch at about 4pm which we didn't really need after that breakfast, and I then went and had a half hour snooze which I really needed. Now, however, it was time for the BBQ and they brought oodlees of food down, all of it amazing, and we sat out on the terrace and ate as much as we could before calling it a night. The pool lights had been put on and I went with the camera to get as good a shot of that as I could with a long exposure and no tripod. Unfortunately I was too full to swim after dinner and not long after that we all headed to bed to sleep off what had been a wonderful relaxing day and a taste of a holiday not just for my parents, but for A and I as well.

Sunday

And finally we get to today. Sorry this has been such a long update, I've had many pictures to share and we've got up to a lot of things. I hope you've made it this far; not long left now.

7am and in the pool already

The storm we drove through, threatening but it never arrived

It was quite warm in our room until I got up and opened a window wide and after that I slept much better but still we both woke up at about 6am and couldn't get back to sleep. It wasn't long before I was back in the pool and having a wonderful morning swim. I was doing full lengths under water without coming up for air then swimming gently back and I did about fifteen of these reps before breakfast. We weren't planning on staying that long in the morning and before we left Chaz treated us to really lovely poached eggs. It was then time to go and I drove us back, via a short shopping trip where we picked up a new wardrobe for our bedroom, and then home. The weather changed across country and we drove through a short rain shower though the clouds threatened much worse and when we got here the wind was howling and whipping the trees. I did a watering round while A got lunch together then everyone else got some sleep while I looked at the pictures, then opened one of the boxes for the wardrobe before deciding that was far too complicated and could wait.

The view from our table

My main course, and it was wonderful

A enjoying her main course

Taken by the waitress, all of us at our table

Dramatic sky behind the tree lined ridge

A friendly little dog that followed us to the car

Sunset from the road leading away from the restaurant

Because of tiredness none of our plans for the afternoon happened, like cleaning the kitchen or me putting the wardrobe up, and I just spent the afternoon typing this epic update before it was time for a quick shower and to go out for a meal. We had chosen to go to probably the best restaurant for food in the area and A drove us there and back which was lovely. The food was, as usual, superb and the views from there over the lake are marvelous. It was a wonderful evening with good company, great food and perfect weather and when we left, after three courses, we didn't feel bloated but just pleasantly full.