Tired, sticky, saddened

Tired because I really need my eight hours sleep every night. Unlike Cypriots I don't seem able to siesta in the afternoons. My ideal sleep-time is about 10.30pm - 6.30pm. Or maybe half an hour later at each end.

Unfortunately Sophia (Daniel's cat) has been waking me every morning about 5am. Sometimes it's to inform me that an intruder cat has stolen their food. Sometimes she just wants a lot of attention and affection. She seems convinced that it's daytime and that I should get up, so I go to feed her and cuddle her. Then I can't get back to sleep because daylight slowly appears and the cicadas get chattering.

This has happened five mornings out of seven since Richard went to the UK last week. One morning I did manage to get back to sleep, and on one occasion she didn't wake me. Which of course made me worried for a few minutes, just as I worried the first time either of my sons slept through the night.

So I reckon I've lost at least eight hours' sleep this week. A whole night's worth...and I'm TIRED.

Sticky because although we haven't had any serious heatwaves this Summer (so far, anyway) it's really humid today. Lots of people were complaining about it at church this morning. We shouldn't really, as it's actually not been too humid at all this year, compared to usual. I just looked at the weather site, and learned that although it's only 31C, there's 75% humidity at present. Ugh. No wonder I'm sticky.

Saddened because of this news story. The worst air crash in Greek history, with a plane that left our local airport this morning. Helios Air have only recently started doing flights from Cyprus. What a terrible tragedy. Somehow it feels worse when it's so close to home. As just about everyone here seems to be related to everyone else - albeit by complex arrangements sometimes - it's likely that we might know someone who's been bereaved by this disaster.