At last I have some time to stop for a peppermint tea. The whirlwind trip to the southern part of Cyprus seems ages ago. In fact it was only a week. We ticked the boxes, and saw Aya Napa, Larnica, zipped through Limassol and on to Pafos via the Troodos mountains. All so contrasting, from exquisite seascapes at Ayia Napa

to the freezing peak of Mount Olympus, where I had bemused looks from skiers as I trudged through the snow in my flip flops.

Very oddly’ as my leg disappeared down a hole’ I came face to face with a branch on which two ladybirds were mating!

The highlight for me in the south was the village of Neo Chorio… situated North West of Pafos and built high on a hill. So quaint and beautiful, and we ate lunch on the steps of a church just along a track. It so happened to be Easter Sunday.

The Greek part of the island had road signs, litter warnings (a fine of 854 euros, such a strange number), and seemed to be more orderly, but I did miss Kyrenia and the Karpaz and Famagusta and our cycle runs through the field.

We got home, and were immediately off again to Lerwick on the Shetland Isles. This picture is real… though I don’t know why, as we were constantly bombarded by wind and sleet!

The little toy plane bounced its way down, missing the sea by inches. All thrilling stuff, I’m sure, but dear God, these pilots must have nerves of steel. When the door opened we nearly blew down the stairs, being bombarded by sleet, and doubled up, we ran across the tarmac to the arrivals hall. I felt like a French resistance worker, like Violette Szabo or Odette Churchill or someone brave like that. John just felt like Billy Connelly bent over double and walking into the wind.

The occasion for this wild odyssey was the wedding of Greg and Catherine.

Greg is the son of Sheila and Les. Sheila and I go back many moons to our school days in Morrisons in Crieff.

Anyway, the wind blew, the clouds scurried in black and grey puffs, and the guests were treated to a magical mystery bus tour on the way to the church, passing exquisitely dramatic scenery, but NO trees. There were miles of dry stone diking, neat and tidy crofts, sheep everywhere, and this wide flat land that ran down to the inevitable sea. We saw fat seals sunbathing on the rocks just down from Tescos. They weren’t in the least bit shy, and just waved their flippers at passers-by.

The wedding was beautiful, the bride barely clothed, and I was in awe of her standing outside the church, her arms a lovely shade of tartan. I’m sure she was relieved to get into the warmth of the Town Hall for the reception and revel in central heating. I know we were!

I loved the Grand March where Greg and Catherine led us all in the dancing, and we strutted around under beautiful stained glass windows before pairing off and dancing to the familiar tunes of the Ceilidh band.

Here is the youngest bridesmaid, Ruby (Sheila’s granddaughter). Obviously tired out from wearing such fashionable head gear!

Next day we walked (!) about Lerwick, and visited the museum, and learnt about the effect of oil to the islands, and of course the history of the Highland Clearances. They left with their Shetland wool jumpers and knitting skills, and I was unaware until now, that Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were wearing Shetland jumpers on their climb up Everest. Now there we go! Always good to learn something new. And I posed beside a woman who once lived 5,000 years ago. She looked pretty good, aged well.

It is so good to be home, and I never want to go to an airport again. The garden is full of birds, my trillium is in flower,

and I just love being back with British TV! I watched the documentary about the 1970s the other night, and it was wonderful. I shall be hooked on everything until the novelty wears off!