Have your cake and eat it..

One thing is, I am drowning in is cakes. All the ladies around here are giving me cakes. Most of them are widowers and like to make cakes, they used to when  their husbands were alive, but on their own, the effort might not seem worth it. Today’s kind gift was a chocolate cake. At least I have someone else who can help me eat it now. All my shorts are getting a bit tight, which means I am putting weight on! But I think it’s stabilised and doing more walking is probably keeping it in check. 

I also had a visitor yesterday, with her families dog, who unbelievably is now five. She has the most amazing coat and a lovely nature. When she used to see me, she always used to go crazy, and this time was no different. Like a lot of dogs I know, I have known here since she was a puppy.  Sadly they are moving away in two weeks, but I will go and see them and hopefully dog sit both dogs, as they now have a German Shepherd puppy. Both the puppy and the elder state lady black Labrador do get on. Both this black Labrador and the chocolate one, I look after, love all food ( being Labradors) and carrots are a favourite and a non fattening treat.

My lodger spent most of Saturday on the garden. He cut back perennials, shrubs, hoovered the gravel, cleaned the paving slabs and heaven knows what else. I offered him money, but he said he loved doing the work, and what I was doing for him, was payment  enough. What he doesn’t know yet, is I don’t take no for an answer and my neighbour who hosts the family have told me what to do, which won’t insult their kindness. 

Sadly one of my neighbours has also been in hospital, but he is now out, and I saw him and his wife yesterday afternoon to see how he is doing. The answer is tired but ok. Because I am here and not Greece, means I can visit my neighbours when they are well or otherwise and support them. It was another factor which had me leaning towards the staying here decision.

As well as the borscht last night, we had a mushroom  stroganoff which was really nice, with rice and the usual salad. We also had the cheesecake made by another neighbour. I learnt that my lodger’s daughter is at school, doing what we would call general subjects, but will start a business course next year. His wife runs an online furniture company. In a funny twist as the dishwasher was full, I offered to show him how to operate the machine, but he has one just like ours! 

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