Month: October 2011

What a grey day! They keep forecasting rain but we still didn’t get any. But the forecast means we are leaving outside painting. Storms have been forecast as well.

I went swimming in the afternoon, the pool water is now 24 degrees and felt cold to me!

Later we watched a couple of the downloads of  ‘Downton Abbey’. It shows it is getting cooler, we have only just started spending the odd evening indoors. Of course we still have all the windows and doors open.

I heard from Torin who is back in Poland working for the week and he says it is cold.

Thought for the Day – “Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up.” ~ Reverend Jesse Jackson

Mal and I were both up early, in fact while it was still dark (about a quarter to 6) and so decided we would drive Rosie to the beach and see if she would have a swim. She did and loved it but the problem is that she then goes a little mad and starts tearing around which I am sure doesn’t do her leg much good. Sometimes she still thinks she is a puppy.

Atakara on the way back for some more fresh baked bread! I think Mal will have to start baking some at home. He stopped in the heat of the summer as it didn’t turn out so well.

Later in the day we spoke to all the Cardiff boys, who are all doing well. Little Oscar kept coming on the phone telling us how good nursery school is.

Thought for the Day – “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” ~ Dalai Lama

I took Rosie out and it was really windy again. I then went to Atakara and for a laugh bought Cyrpus Today. For your entertainment see link As it has now gone up to 3tl, we stopped buying it as along with the price increase, the news content appeared to reduce. Instead we buy Cyprus Star.

Freshly baked bread, still hot from Atakara for breakfast!

We missed not having any football on but later in the evening we watched a couple of episodes of DCI Banks.  It has started getting dark so much earlier in the evenings (about 7.00pm)

Thought for the Day – “Dreams are useless until we put them into action.” ~ Paulo Coelho

It was windy a lot of the day and so planned outside jobs were postponed. I bought Cyprus Star see link. I have to mention that ‘Marion’s Musings’ was missing this week. That’s a shame as I enjoy reading her column. (By Marion Stuart)

In the evening neither of us could really be bothered to cook, so we decided to eat out.

Mal suggested Hillside (Alsancak) as on Friday nights they do fish and chips and the first drink included for the price of 18tl.

I have to say that Margate fish and chips take some beating but we thought we would give it a try.  I don’t like greasy fish and chips and usually end up giving Mal most of my batter when it is thick.

Mal ordered the drinks and we sat at a table to wait for our food. During this time we started chatting to another couple who were here on holiday. They said they had been given a leaflet on ‘places to eat out’ and Hillside had been recommended for its Friday night fish and chips!

When it arrived and we started eating,  it was delicious. Not at all greasy and real home made chips (fed up with getting frozen chips at restaurants when the local Cyprus potatoes are so good!) Mushy peas as well and I have to admit to eating all the batter. The fish was cod . It was as good as fish and chips in Margate and probably cheaper. Well done Hillside!

Mal went to pay the bill. Our first drinks included in the price (a beer and a yedigun) and then Mal had another beer and I had a brandy sour. It was good but calculating the bill, the cost of the brandy sour was 9.5tl which I thought was a little excessive.

Thought for the Day – “One can not think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” ~ Virginia Woolf

I took Rosie out for a walk and by the time I came back, Mal had pulled his wobbly tooth out! Our last dentist visit he was told he had 5 teeth that were wobbly to which he replied that was fine, when they are ready to come out they will come. So, the first one today!

My intention for the day was Hammeriting railings. I cleaned some  ready to begin and then all the bargains started again. This site see link is becoming very addictive! Cheap Efes and dog food for people in the TRNC and free Ideal Home tickets, cheap away breaks, 5% off first class postage stamps, Tesco half price wine etc for those in the UK!!

The railings didn’t even get started as it then turned windy!

I haven’t mentioned any of the court cases here in the TRNC for a while. They continue and innocent people are being treated so shoddily. Today’s court case again brings SHAME on the TRNC government for doing NOTHING  see link

My own heart breaks for these people who not only are losing their homes but along with that their health too.

Thought for the Day – “Our decision to walk creates the path ahead.” ~ Paulo Coelho

The sun resistant material that Mal and Steve put on the car port has ripped at the side following the high winds the other day. So, we went to the local yapi market to look for an alternative. We decided on sheets of bamboo, ordered them and enough wood for the batons.

We paid the electricity and water bills and then popped into Hur Deniz….another 5 litre box of their Rose wine, still at the price I have listed on my bargain hunters website see link and while we were in there, Mal found some packs of Gold Fassl beer that were still at the old price of 8tl. In most places they have now gone up to 9tl. We also bought some fresh levrek.

Then on to Starling. We had bought the Batchelors soup that was on offer and it was good and so we bought 5 more cans. It looked as though people reading my bargain hunters have been in there as there were very few cans left on the shelf. We bought the 5 cans, along with other items and at the check out of course I checked my change (correct) and then checked my receipt WRONG! It was clearly marked on the shelf about 7 times 1.50tl and Mal even went and tore the large ‘special offer’ ticket off the shelf and showed her. They really aren’t interested but we weren’t moving until we had the 1.75tl she owed me. So much for their “special offers”…ALWAYS check your receipts!! The cashier wouldn’t hand back the receipt and so we took a photo of it!!

Later in the afternoon, the yapi, true to their word delivered all the bamboo sheeting. Another job for Mal to do.

 

Thought for the Day – “Nobody ever died of laughter.” ~ Max Beerbohm

I took Rosie out in the morning and we were met by Bobby. It was so funny, another dog started sniffing around her and again Bobby started growling at it and then pinned it to the floor! When it was totally submissive, Bobby carried on following us on the walk. A bit of “don’t mess with my friend with a bad leg” I think.

A day of gardening and swimming and reading. This is the life! The pool temperature is dropping a little as it is becoming cooler overnight, which is lovely after all the heat.

No progress as far as Rosie’s magnetic collar is concerned but we will give it time and see if there is an improvement.

 

Thought for the Day – “Time to stop thinking about life and start living.” ~Paulo Coelho