Year: 2010

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.

In the morning I watched the Australian Open final. Murray v Federer, sadly Murray lost but a valiant effort, on the day not as good as Federer.

The Man U v Arsenal result in the afternoon, a far better result with Man U winning 3-1.

I really shouldn’t have spent so much time indoors watching sport as it was really sunny and warm! I did manage to get all the washing dry for a change.

Ban Ki Moon is due in Cyprus this weekend, more can be seen on www.northcyprusfreepress.com

Cyprus Today news : http://www.northcyprusfreepress.com/2010/01/30/in-cyprus-today-3012010/. I sent it to Mal in the Uk for his paper.

Later I went to visit Ingrid. It is the first time I have been to her house and it is lovely, granted she has her work cut out renovating this lovely old Cypriot house but has done so well already.  I stayed for coffee and delicious home made cheesecake.   She tehn  asked me to stay for lunch, so I did!!

More gardening in the afternoon as there was no rain!