Maggie & Mal's Adventures in North Cyprus, the UK and Beyond
I was saddened to learn from the News that John Dankworth has died. We spent many a happy evening at the Stables at Wavendon, in the grounds of his and Cleo Laine’s house. We had also seen them perform many times. A huge loss to jazz music.
I watched the Chelsea v Arsenal game , a predictable result I feel, Chelsea are back at the top of the table.
The photo is Scarlet and Jack on the webcam yesterday.
No surprise that when Rosie and I went out there was frost and frozen puddles! It was so cold during the night and to coin a phrase from one of the bulletin boards, it serves us right for buying ‘concrete tents’.
The sun came out later and so I decided it was far warmer to be outside in the sun and so gave the main gates a coat of Hammerite. The gates haven’t been there that long but are covered in rust. They never seem to paint them properly anyway.
Torin rang in the afternoon and put Scarlet and Jack on the webcam. They are so sweet.
In the evening Robin, Gary, Christa and I went to Buffavento Restaurant in the Besparmak Mountains. It has been extended and much improved and it felt as though we were walking inside a swiss chalet with log fires roaring. Christa and I had brandy sours which were excellent and Christa and I are very fussy about our brandy sours! Main courses were an average of 25tl but everything else is included, including a large bottle of water! I had kleftico, which I didn’t have to order in advance and the others all had mixed kebab which were huge . In fact Rosie did well as Christa couldn’t eat all of hers, well we did have a lot of mezes first and a huge puffy freshly cooked bread. Having eaten our main courses and being totally full, there then arrived a bowl of nuts, a plate of fruit AND a plate of popcorn! It was so warm and cosy in there, I think we could have all just fallen asleep at the table. A very enjoyable evening and highly recommended. The service was very good too. Fehran told us that next weekend they are having live music.
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It was such a cold day, the log burner was alight from first thing but I just couldn’t get warm as there was a bitter wind and it was howling round the house. No way, apart form walking Rosie, was I going out. Even indoors the wind was howling through gaps around the house. So cold! Jill told me she was in her living room wrapped in a blanket. Thank goodness for the electric blanket at bedtime. A good thing that Rosie has her winter coat on.
I was so impressed by Tango to Buddha that Robin, Christa and I decided to book a table there for Saturday night, so I rang in the morning and they told me they were fully booked……obviously it is going to be a very popular place.
It was 5 degrees when Rosie and I walked into the mountains but I didn’t see any frost. According to Google weather it is going to be warmer in Margate where Mal is overnight than it will be in Girne!
Jill came round during the day to catch up.
In the evening we (Res, Olcay, Robin, Christa and myself) went to the Malpas for a Nina Simone tribute.
On the way we stopped at Tango to Buddha for a drink…wow, what a place. When you are in there, you could be mistaken thinking you were still in the TRNC. Very swish.
First of all we couldn’t find where it was being held (no signs) and when we found the right place it was so cold in there and apart from the barman and one other couple, at 1/4 to 10, we were the only ones in there. We thought the musicians who were due to start at 10, would at least be tuning up. No, no sign of them. Eventually more people arrived and the band. They started playing at 11.15pm!!! The music was good but it was still very cold.
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Well, to say the weather is changeable I think is an understatement. It rained heavily over night and was cold in the morning and the forecast was frost overnight! Not only was it cold but we had rain and HAIL stones.
Best place was indoors with the log burner blazing away.
Christa and Robin are here at the moment, Christa is waiting to put her sunbed out and sunbathe……I think she will have a while to wait!
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Another lovely day so Rosie and I went for a walk in the ravine. I noticed some pine caterpillars nests in David and Kenny’s trees in front of their house, so had to tell them. We had one in one of our trees last year. They should be sprayed with hair spray and cut out of the tree carefully and burnt. The hairspray stops the hairs from the caterpillars flying off and doing any damage.
“If you have pine trees in your garden, keep an eye out for processionary pine caterpillars!
All types of pine tree in the mediterranean region can suffer from the processionary caterpillar which make their nests in pine trees. The nests are similar to white candy floss and if possible should be pruned from the tree and destroyed.
It is necessary to use caution when dealing with these caterpillars as they are covered in lots of irritating hairs. If the hairs come in contact with skin or are in inhaled can cause acute allergic reactions in some people, including irritation of the skin and eyes and effects on the respiratory system. They can be fatal if ingested by pets.
If you have come into contact with these caterpillars and become affected it is advisable to seek medical advice.”
BE AWARE!!
Another lovely day in paradise. I don’t think it is quite the same story for Mal in the UK. He is in the cottage and said he feels as though he is home as workmen were outside and he had no water nor electricty, so it doesn’t just happen in North Cyprus!
What a difference the sun makes. Mal and I bought some hyacinth bulbe in Mr Pound a while back and they are all blooming.
