Maggie & Mal's Adventures in North Cyprus, the UK and Beyond
This weeks weather forecast is looking good for a week of sun. Another glorious day.
I had nearly run out of logs, so called the ‘log man’ who was here within half an hour. Good service but then I had 2 tons of logs to be stored! Come back Mal! Well, I decided to do them a few at a time. If it doesn’t rain then I have a few days to do them.
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Thought for the Day – “The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed” – Chamfort
Sun, sun and more sun!! What a fantastic day. I even sat out in it for a while.
On our morning walk I spotted the first of this year’s wild orchids. Spring must be on its way. I keep saying that but the forecast is good for this week. I have no doubt we will have more rain later Well, we need more water for the summer. It was even hot enough to have a shower without putting the immersion on!
Hammers lost in the football and are now bottom of the league. A surprising result for Chelsea even with their new signing Torres…they lost to Liverpool! It may be warm during the day but the temperature drops at night and I am nearing the end of my supply of logs.
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Thought for the Day – “Flowers are words which even a baby can understand” – Arthur C Coxe
Another day when according to Google weather, Uk temperatures were higher than ours in the morning.
Same old, same old “news” in Cyprus Today see link. A country of discontent with all the unions continuing strike action. I really had to laugh when I read the article about advocates. Because of union strike action affecting court proceedings- “Advocates are therefore not being paid or making a living now. How are they supposed to pay salaries and their electricity and water bills?” I should think they all have a very tidy nest egg the fortunes many have been charging for doing very little if anything for Expats. (I don’t include them all here!) What about the man on the street? I think they are the people I will be more concerned about.
The article about Anthony Davey is far more worrying. The fact that this could have happened to any of us and he is locked in Lefkosa prison and has not been charged. FREE ANTHONY DAVEY see link on Facebook.
In the afternoon I watched one of the best football matches of the season. Arsenal v Newcastle. Arsenal were winning 4-0 at half time and all the commentators were saying “well, there is no way back for Newcastle now”. Wasn’t there?! The final result 4-4, well done Newcastle, just a shame they didn’t manage one extra goal.
The next game, Manchester United v Wolves, for those that don’t know Man U are at the top of the table and Wolves at the bottom. Man U LOST 1-2!! “Nuff said”!
Thought for the Day – “Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I looked at Google weather again when I woke up. I don’t know why I do, both Margate and London temperatures were two degrees higher than Kyrenia! Remember, they are two hours behind us. A cold, wet day with constant drizzle, the sort of weather when it “gets in your bones”. Now I am sounding old!
After going for a very damp walk I spent most of the day by the log burner catching up with downloaded programmes. I have now watched all of Michel Roux’s Service and was sorry it has ended. Very emotional when Ashley was given one of the scholarships. What a break for him. Michel Roux has to be admired for the risks he took and the faith he had in those kids.
David and Kenny lent me a DVD which I watched in the evening “After Thomas”. More tears!
Mal rang as well in the evening and he was not very happy having to stay another week in the UK.
I have to keep reminding myself, once we are through February (only really two months of winter here), it will be Spring and all things will change.
Thought for the Day – “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain” -Dolly Parton
Well, what a change from the previous day..no sun! It was cold again.
Torin rang in the morning, thankfully he is back from India and very pleased that he is. I bet the twins are pleased to see him.
David and Kenny invited me over for lunch, delicious! We had a lovely afternoon. Jekka their dog is gorgeous and makes such a fuss when I go there.
When I was back home Mal rang and sadly he has to stay another week in the UK, all sorts of problems with parcels not arriving and ‘jobsworths’ at Parcelforce. He can’t afford to come back until everything is completed and sorted properly. We are both disapointed.
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Thought for the Day – “Friends are the sunshine of life” – John Hay
Rosie and I went down to the beach early. The sea was rough and it was windy but we stayed down there quite a long while. On the way back I bought Cyprus Today see link. How on earth can they keep that poor 70 year old man in prison and they haven’t even charged him?
Later in the day, the wind dropped and the sun was amazing, I even sat outside to have my lunch.
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Thought for the Day – “We are all students of life; it’s how we handle it that gives us the degree”. – Kerry Pastore
A COLD day with a very chilly wind coming off the sea. It is the first time I have worn a proper winter coat! So much for me saying previously it was like Spring!
I went out to buy a dustbin in the morning. We have another with a clip on lid and small holes drilled in the bottom that we use as a compost bin. It’s nearly full and so decided to start a second one. Our last attempt some of you may remember Mal built a wooden structure with a hinged lid. It wasn’t until Rosie showed an interest in it, that we realised the food was not composting as well as we thought but tree rats were in there and eating it!! I made Mal dismantle that one.
I keep forgetting to mention that the exchange rate for the lira is now around 2.54 to the pound, so that is really good news!
I spoke to Mal in the evening and he told me that Pfizer is closing down in Sandwich. For those who don’t know, it is like a village, huge. Before we moved out here we lived in a tiny place called Sevenscore, and one of many reasons we sold that house was because Pfizers traffic started using our little country lane as a “rat run”. It will have a devastating effect on the area. see link The irony in this is that we were told when we lived there that a new bypass would be built. I am now talking about 14 years ago. Guess what? They are building it now and by the time it is finished Pfizers will be gone!
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Thought for the Day – “Unemployment is capitalism’s way of getting you to plant a garden” – Orson Scott Card