Day NinetySeven

Tuesday

and my mum invites us

for sushi by the beach.

It's a place we go

occasionally

for some sushi and some sunshine.

We get there 

and it feels like summer.

It's hard to believe it's 

mid April.

We sit

at the all white 

sushi restaurant

and the beach is a few metres

away from us.

The sushi is great

and none of us can wait to move on

to the water.

The girls pick sunbeds

right on the shore

and I join them

reluctantly taking off

the layers of clothes

I'm wearing.

I've been ill

and it's April.

The girls are from Sweden

and I'm from Cyprus.

Hanna

walks to the water and puts her feet in.

'AAA!!!'

'Whaaaat!'

'It's so warm Eleeena!!'

'Noo, you're kidding. I'll tell you 

if it's warm.'

I walk to the water.

My skin sensors are 

scared

of a frozen water

and I know I'm not Elsa.

I touch the water with my toes.

It's

warm.

I can't believe it myself.

Alex has gone for an infamous pee

and she returns right on time

for the warm water hype.

She comes to the water

and 

realising how warm it is

runs and jumps and splashes 

water on us

like a Kellogg's K 

advert

in the more authentic

version.

I'm loving it

but I start making my way back 

to the sunbed.

I watch team Finland

enjoying their swim

and consider 

the crazies of life.

I would freeze in Finland.

Anyhow,

coats off;

first swim of the year

done!

Day NinetyFour

Team Finland

are arriving today!

Super excited and feeling much better.

I have a shower,

wash off the illness 

and head to the airport.

I'm excited!

And nervous.

Hanna and I had been having these dreams in Beirut

where we felt out of place in our hometowns.

I was dreading the reality of this.

I arrive on Cypriot time;

similar to Lebanese time;

i. e. ten minutes late

and stand with a colourful

'Team Finland'

sign

at arrivals.

I can't see the girls

so I wonder if I was THAT late

that they headed outside.

Or if they missed the flight,

I don't think we ever confirmed they caught

that plane.

I sit at a distance

and observe the faces of the people who arrive.

I notice some cool pants

and an overall cool travelling style.

I make positive judgments in my head 

and then look up to the face.

It's Alex!!

Oh and there's Hanna!

Team Finland has arrived-

I slide off my seat and rush

to greet them.

We hug strongly

and 

reunite.

It's nice to see them again

and rock the girl gang attitude again.

We head to the car.

A children's birthday party is eating for us

in a forest house.

They compliment my pants

and I say I've dressed up

as a godmother

seeing that it's my godson's

birthday!

Girl gang on godmother vibes

lego.