Maggie & Mal's Adventures in North Cyprus, the UK and Beyond
The weather is getting hotter, 40’s predicted for this week.
Poor Pauline, part of the Kulaksiz 5 is having a nightmare at the moment see link.
I went shopping in the morning and then another day round the pool with timed swimming races for the boys. Early evening we went to the Roof and met up with Robin and family. Poor Christa didn’t join us as she seems to have had too much sun. We didn’t get home until 11.0opm.
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Rosie and I were up and out at 5.15am, prepared for the boys to be awake early as it was Tariq’s 11th birthday. They were all up at 6.00am and Tariq opened his presents.
After all the excitement at home, we drove into Girne. For my 60th birthday, my present from Margaretha was a gift token for the 6 of us to spend a day on the boat the African Queen. I kept it for Tariq’s birthday but the boys hadn’t a clue what the birthday surprise was until we reached the harbour. Not only the voucher but unbeknown to us she also paid for the first round of drinks and a surprise birthday cake for Tariq. Thank you so much Margaretha, it was a perfect day.
The boys absolutely loved the entire day, we went along the coast and then anchored in a bay where the boys loved jumping off the gang plank, which was at a great height. We then had lunch and went further along the coast and then water melon in the afternoon and Tariq’s birthday cake. Everyone on the boat sang Happy Birthday to him much to his embarassment. Another stop on the way back and more swimming. It was a long day but seemed to go so quickly. I thoroughly recommend this boat as the people were so lovely.
As soon as we arrived home Tariq wanted to ring Margaretha to thank her so much. He also kept on saying thank you to Mal and I. A very happy little 11 year old. In spite of a big lunch the boys were hungry again and ready for dinner. We had dinner and then he had the birthday cake we bought him……..two birthday cakes on one day, how lucky is that?!
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Mid morning I took my car to have the MOT carried out. Ingrid came with me. We went to the tax office first (which has moved). It is now next to the Kaymlakan in Girne. We paid 100tl and were given the receipt. We then went to the Police station, Ingrid spoke Turkish to them and they looked at all my documents. I had been advised to go just before lunch! Well, the fella walked outside, told me to open the bonnet, checked the engine number against the log book, asked if I had a first aid kit and triangles, I showed him them and he walked back into the office and wrote out my MOT certificate. There was me thinking he would check mechanical things or at least tyres…nothing! VERY different to a UK MOT but at least I know having had a full service and a missing mud flap replaced that my car is roadworthy. Unless the rules change, as they so frequently do here, then that is good for 3 years.
Ingrid and I stopped for a celebration ice cream ar Mardo’s on the way home. We were astonished at the queues of traffic at petrol stations, panic buying because of the rumour that they are closing. There is going to be a General strike on Monday and OK they will be shut then.
Later Tariq and I went to get some shopping and discovered blocked roads everywhere with the queues at the petrol stations.
We had to wait until the boys were in bed to blow up balloons and put up banners as it was Tariq’s birthday the following day.
In the morning I took my car to have its emmissions test. Two minutes and done, now all ready for the MOT. The cost 25tl.
The boys were in the pool most of the day. At last Extend have restored our service back to 1mb. It seems a little publicity in North Cyprus Free Press and that was the way to get through to them. We finally had a phone call saying that we now had the faster service that we had paid for and also an apology.
In the evening Tariq cleaned all my car out ready for the MOT.
The water man arrived in the morning and the boys loved the cold water going into the pool. He pointed out a decapitated snake on our gravel near the drive. Lena has a legendary cat called Bubbles, legendary because she kills snakes. The two previous mornings she was in our garden when Rosie and I went for a walk. She always makes me slightly nervous when she is around our garden as it always means she is finding snakes. Well, I don’t know how she does it as she is only a small cat but the evidence was there and we think it was a blunt nosed viper, good for Bubbles, bless her.
In the afternoon we took the boys down to the beach and then stopped at The Roof for pizza on the way back home.
Needless to say Alsancak Beledeysi still have not been to sort out our non water situation.
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The boys stayed at home while I took my car to be serviced to Ziggy (down by the Merit). Ingrid picked me up when I dropped the car off and we went for an ice cream at Mardo’s….yummy! Ziggy always does a good job and did all the usual service things and kept all the old parts to show me, also 2 new mud flaps and new brake pads…..180tl. He’s a good man. I told him I would walk down to collect it but I hadn’t even left Malatya when he arrived to pick me up so that I could collect the car. Good service.
Meanwhile the boys were in the pool most of the day. Our water was getting very low again and Ingrid kindly rang the Beledeysi for us as it is obvious that there is a leak the other side of the meter as others are getting water but we have nothing on our meter reading. They were supposed to have fixed it but obviously not!
We were up early and took the boys to Mavi Kosk. They loved the excitement of the army checking our passports etc as we entered the military ground. They also liked the stories about the old owner of the house, Pavlides, being in the Mafia and going down into the bunker to see the guns.
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