Canoe Companions

Had the pleasure this morning of the company of Ersin, Florence, and their daughter, Melissa (over from London), in their canoe, and us in our kayak. We went up an arm of the Lake that we discovered last year, and it did not disappoint - birds everywhere; the cormorant tree in extra. Plus we saw an otter's footprint, but still no otter.

(For those on my WhatsApp, I've posted some videos.)

The remainder of the day has been spent mostly indoors, trying to survive the extreme heat, which is abating slightly now at gone ten.

Gratefuls:
- our air con; honestly don't know what I'd do without it
- a swim after the paddling, lovely to chat in the cool of the water
- a mini picnic to end with: smoked salmon and cream cheese rolls, radishes, crisps, cherries and chocolate, washed down with an icy Sagres beer with Portuguese sea salt 
- and my first taste of "Dubai chocolate" - very nice, with a creamy pistachio and crispy kadayif filling - no gold leaf, though!