What is our surprise today?

 Sounds a bit like Play School back in the 60s up till 1988!  

Every day they asked the question to the eager young things sitting hopefully at home….. which window will we look through today children.  ( there were four different shaped windows.)

Next came the Teletubbies.  Absolute rubbish, but a big hit for the children who could sing along with their song.  “We are the Tubbies, happy boys and girls “ or some such thing.

My goodness,  I feel a much better way for infants to have fun whilst subliminally learning something.  

For about the last three weeks we have a surprises every day.  A lot of really lovely ones, and some not so great.  The not so great ones usually hit the bank account one way or another.

One such account was my daughter came to Cyprus for a flying visit and stayed in a place in Latchi.  She was here with a friend, but she set a lunch date for just us two to get some mother/daughter time.  Fabulous.

We arranged to meet a a restaurant in Latch.  I arrived early and ordered a cappuccino and told the waiter I was waiting for some.  He hovered around the table and when daughter arrived he almost jumped on her to take order.  She ordered an express coffee.

We were chatting 19 to the dozen after not seeing each other for about a year.

Two minutes later he was back. “Are you ready to order”.  One his THIRD stop at the table I said to him to go away and we would let him ‘now when we would like to order.

The owner was seeing that everything was ok.  Yes, and should like to order now.

Waiter was there in a shot.  Daughters order was simple.  I asked if there was a Cypriot starter with dips and pitta bread.  I had to explain to him what I meant, small dishes with various dips served with some pitta.

When it was served the were three almost cereal size dishes filled with various dips and two plates piled with pitta that was as hard a leather.

I did not complain because it would have been a blot on our lunch.

When we had finished lunch we sat chatting, and eventually asked for the bill.

I said I would be paying by card.  He gave me the bill and the card machine.  After a few goes by him to process the payment he told me my card had been declined and I would have to pay cash.

There was a substantial amount in our account.

Thank goodness my daughter had cash to pay the €60.10 amount.

I told her I would pay her back when we met up the next day.

She works incredibly hard for her money and I wanted it to be a ‘mum’ treat.

When I got home I relayed the story to my husband.  He gets electronic notifications when there is a transaction at our bank, and he said the payment had gone through, and it was pending.

I telephoned the venue and spoke with the owner.  He apparently checked his bank account and said the payment had not reached his bank, but if it does he will refund my money.

Ok, by the following day it was still showing’pending’ so I decided to ring the bank.

The meal was on the 29th March, I phoned the bank 31st.  The bank told me the payment might take up until the 7th April to clear.

Well, today is the 6th April and the payment is still pending.

I have tried ringing the venue but the number seems out if action.

My plan is to ring the bank again on Friday. If the payment has not gone through I will ask them to cancel it. (What’s the betting we get charged for that if they do it.)

If the bank don’t do it, it will mean that cash is on hold.p and we cannot access it.

I think we may need to make a visit to the venue with our Cypriot landlord to try and redeem our money.

What do you think.

One thing for sure is I will not be going there again.

My daughter and her friend continued with their break and we all had a great time.

Here’s to her next visit.  I think I may make a picnic.