Maggie & Mal's Adventures in North Cyprus, the UK and Beyond
Down into the ravine for our morning walk and the stream is still running much to Rosie’s delight so that she could get us muddy as possible. I still find it difficult to believe that prior to the February floods this was all a footpath. The power of water!
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It was good to see a favourable write up on North Cyprus
Let’s hope CTA keep on flying!
It was very weird weather, warm but cloudy here in the mountains and almost looked like rain but only a few spots all day. Lovely for swimming though as the pool has really warmed up and I don’t gasp when I jump in any more.
In the afternoon I was wondering which premier game they would show on Dodgy Turk and of course it was Chelsea with them just flipping to Man U when a goal was scored. Chelsea won this season’s premiership with a resounding 8-0 win against Wigan. Torin will be happy anyway.
The Jacaranda tree is now in blossom, I love the colour.
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Rosie and I were up early and went to the beach. The sea was so calm and as we walked along a secluded bay, Rosie noticed it first, a peculiar groan from the sea. I then noticed circles of about 2 meters, meaning something was just under the surface. I expected to see a fin or something but nothing but the circles on the surface kept moving. I was fascinated to find out what it was, so we sat there for about half an hour. By this time there was another ‘circle’ moving towards the shore. I had hoped they were turtles but just couldn’t see. There were some fishermen further along on the rocks and I thought about speaking to them about it but decided they may have a wish to kill whatever, so I just walked above the bay to get a better view but all I could see was an indistinguishable mass under the surface. Finally Rosie and I gave up and came home but I would have loved to have known what it was.
In the evening Robin and co and myself went to Tango to Buddha. It was ‘black weekend’, so everyone had to wear black. Robin had booked a table for 6 but when we arrived they wanted to put us out on the terrace (with a nice view overlooking the car park!) Mmmm, no, we booked to eat in the restaurant where the entertainment was. So, we were told to sit at the bar until they could ‘sort a table out for us’. Not a good start. Not too long and we were found a table, a semi circle shape which meant it was difficult to speak to the people at the other end of the table. I had duck with spinach. It was delicious. I also had a non alcoholic cocktail (driving!) The pina colada and the non alcoholic version, be warned, are topped with a mountain of cream. I followed the main with ginger creme brulle. The food and presentation is excellent and good prices. The singer was very good for the three numbers he performed while we were there. Then back to the muzik which as the lights went down became louder which meant we couldn’t talk. Three of the table ordered coffees which I seemed to miss out on, obviously too busy talking, so when theirs came to the table, I asked for a Turkish coffee. The waiter went away and returned about 5 minutes later saying he was very sorry but they won’t make coffees ‘now’. Of course I asked what do you mean now? I was then told that they won’t serve hot drinks after 11.00pm…..the time 7 minutes past 11!! I was a bit miffed by this seeing as I wasn’t drinking alcohol. I can’t say I noticed it written on the menus anywhere. Neither was I asked if I wanted something else instead. The food, entertainment, atmosphere and company were good, shame about the coffee!! I don’t know of any other restaurants in the TRNC who won’t make you a Turkish coffee after 11.00pm.
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The weather forecast predicted temperatures in the 30’s and it was.
I was invited to Bev and Gary’s for lunch and we had a really good time but I think Bev thought there were twice as many people coming, or just Mal perhaps….there was so much food and it was delicious. Gary did try and kid us that he had been up all night cooking (ha ha!) Thank you Bev it was lovely.
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Rosie and I were up early and I decided to go into the ravine. We met David and Jekka on the way, so I talked to David for quite a while. By the time we got down in the ravine, Rosie was raring to go but I had forgotten her ball. She jumped in the stream and then ran into the wooded area. I called her back and she had rolled into something revolting and absolutely stank so we went home and I had to hose her down and then shower her. The smell still hadn’t completely gone so I had to do it all over again. What a stinky dog.
I later went to pay the Digiturk bill, what a supsise, they didn’t have any change and so had to credit our account extra.
In the evening I went to girlie Pizza night, just four of us but it was nice to be sitting outside at last. I spoke to Mal when I arrived back home and my doubts about him getting his head together were correct. He went to get the train in Ramsgate, saw the train jumped on it and realised it was going in the wrong direction, so had to get off at Margate, get another train back to Ramsgate and start all over again! He did make it to Warwick Uni for two days of meetings eventually!
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I received a text from Digiturk to say that they couldn’t take money from my bank and to ring them. I rang and listened to the worst ‘on hold’ music I have ever heard. After 10 minutes I was just cut off without speaking to a soul. This happened three times. When eventually I did get through, it seems my current account card from which the money is taken expired at the end of April. I said in which case could they use Mal’s card, they would be able to see, the same account number etc etc. No, I couldn’t use that, I suggested another card, no again. They told me the only thing would be for me to go in and pay in cash. I told them that I would be in the following day.
I spent the rest of the day out in the garden and swimming.
I spoke to Mal and he is beginning to get his head into gear for his forthcoming work and meetings.
The day our wall is going to be repaired! After all the rain coming through the fireplace wall, it is now going to be sorted. Martin, who was coming to do it checked that it was still convenient the previous day. He then said he would be here at 9.00am and was early! This is new to me in North Cyprus having somebody reliable AND someone who clears up after themselves….good fella. Also thank you to Steve Dickinson as this is an insurance job. They would have done this earlier but we were off to Turkey the first time they were going to come and we also felt there were many people with far worse disasters than ours.
The job was completed, so we now have to wait for some rain to see if it has worked, fingers crossed.
Early evening there was a dreadful smell of smoke drifting through the house. On closer inspection I discovered that our friendly neighbour Mustafa had lit a bonfire right next to our boundary and burnt our myoporum. By the time I realised, he had gone. He has a lot of land and I find it totally unnecessary to start a fire right next to our plants. We have had many problems with him in the past, which is why we grew the myoporum along the boundary. I also understood there was a law about lighting fires this time of year. He seems to have at least one a week.
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