For those people who missed Pauline Read’s appearance on Ada TV. Unless you are a fluent Turkish speaker, miss the first Youtube! One gutsy lady and well done Ada TV for being one of the only people who will broadcast her story. Hasan Hasturer speaks some very wise words, it is the very few here who are giving his country a bad name.
Mal and I went shopping together in the morning as I didn’t get my shopping finished yesterday! We bumped into Vicki from the Black Olive Cafe, who last week had the cafe broken into and her takings stolen. Things like this never used to happen here. Vicki works so hard for her money…shame on them.
We bought Cyprus Today for what it is worth. I guess they can’t get their stories from Cyprus 44 Forum any more! Quite amusing they didn’t add a photo of the “con man on the run in North Cyprus”!
Well, for anyone who would like three weeks holiday on this paradise island, this is a bargain!
In the afternoon we watched the Man City game, a draw!
Today my niece / goddaughter Julie is one of 5,000 running in the Olympic Park Run…well done Julie! Her time was 44.45minutes.
Julie at the Olympic Stadium
Thought for the day – “To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions.” ~ William James
Well, the day started off well, we took Rosie out and then later David came up for a coffee. He has his house up for sale and now has a website. It really is a lovely house.
I then drove to Starling to get some fresh vegetables. I happened to see Chris going in just as I got in my car and waved. My car was in between two parked cars, so I slowly reversed out of my parking spot…BANG! Having looked both ways I am only left to presume that he was driving at speed and ran into the side of my car. I got out of the car and he started shouting his head off at me in Turkish despite having driven into my car. It makes me wonder if he had seen me reversing and hadn’t even bothered to swerve his heap of junk out of the way, that’s if his brakes worked!
Having heard so many stories about ex pats having accidents, I really wanted a witness with me and a bit of support dealing with the Turkish Cypriots who had come over to view! Having seen Chris, I ran back into Starling and instead saw David. I think I must have said something like “can you help me please?” David, bless him left his shopping and came straight out with me.
A guy came over from the car wash and phone calls backwards and forwards to goodness knows who and then suddenly I was told they could get his repair done for 850tl, all in the space of 10 minutes. ‘Cash Cow’ came to mind at that point.
By this time my other super hero Chris had joined us. They truly expected me to hand over the cash for his “accident”! Twice we asked if they had called the Police, evidently not as they just wanted me to hand over money. I am so thankful to both David and Chris being there to support me because we have all heard that no matter whose fault, it is never the Turkish Cypriots, fault. We told them I had insurance for these events and we wanted the Police so we had a report for the insurance company.
They then called the Police and we waited. Meanwhile David phoned Steve Dickinson where we get our insurance from and he confirmed that yes we needed the Police report.
The Police arrived and of course spoke to the local first, didn’t even ask me what had happened but asked for all my documents. Having changed handbags, my driving license was at home but I had all my other up to date documents in the car. Bless him, Chris drove back to our house and collected my license and had arrived back before the Police had arrived. The Police checked all of my documents and said I had no MOT and that I had to take it to the Police station, then he found it in my car docs wallet.
The Turkish Cypriot driver at NO TIME was asked to produce any documents whatsoever. The Police suggested the best thing I could do would be to hand over the 850tl but I told them I had insurance and would claim through them. The policeman then told me that if I wanted to do it this way, then I had to pay them 260tl. I asked why and was told “if you have an accident in Cyprus everyone has to pay 260tl.” Well, I certainly didn’t notice that the other driver was asked for his 260tl; nor did Chris or David. There was a lot more discussion in Turkish and the Police taking measurements with their tape measure. I repeat at NO TIME did the other driver produce ANY documents.
The original guy from the garage was talking to the Police too and had evidently been on to Universal insurance and some agreement was made that no I wouldn’t have to pay the 260tl and Universal had agreed that if I drove to the garage and they could copy my insurance and driving license, the other guy’s car would be fixed and I would have no more problems. I am still totally confused how this works BUT clever David was on the phone to Steve again checking this was all OK. He said yes.
David followed me to the garage and they copied my documents and asked me to write an account of what had happened, which I did with the help of David as I was still shaking! I then asked what happened next and was told “finished”. Maybe I am cynical but did the other driver have insurance/road tax/driving license/MOT and why wasn’t he asked to produce them? AND why was I not asked at all about what had happened? I suppose it was that obvious that he had driven into me. He had an old car, so maybe a new front part was needed by him? Yes I AM cynical!
Thank goodness we have such good friends as David and Chris and I was so lucky they were there and I have to add, after I arrived home both rang to see that I was OK. Thank you both.
Amidst all of this I forgot to mention that when we took Rosie to the beach she rolled in something totally disgusting and we had to drive from the beach with all the car windows open and I had to shower her for about half an hour to remove whatever it was. She STANK! Hey ho, let’s hope tomorrow is a better day in “paradise”.
850 lira's worth of damage!
Thought for the Day – “Who can hope to be safe? who sufficiently cautious? Guard himself as he may, every moment’s an ambush.” ~ Horace
(Especially in the TRNC!!!!)
Rain over night, while the UK is having sizzling temperatures and NO rain! We took Rosie into the mountains,on the look out for snakes and pine processionary caterpillars! When I mentioned all the bugs that will be appearing, I forgot the dreaded sand flies!
We had visitors in the afternoon, made for a very entertaining time!
A good bargain here, for 24 hours only until midday tomorrow, you can even have tea and a tour of Kensington Palace for £57, that has got to be good with entry prices what they are nowadays. 23 other bargains to be had…be quick!
Well, this is a surprise Cyprus 44 Forum is closing down! In fact if you want to add anything, it is now closed! So much for the ones amongst us who donated money towards the running costs! It’s over!! I am sure there will be a lot of suspicious minds presuming what may have happened!!
A walk down the beach and Cyprus Today on the way home, of course we had to buy some freshly baked olive bread too in Atakara!
Another useful piece of information if you live in the TRNC, you may not be aware of. If you are at a loose end with the kids over Easter another good deal.
Ploughshare Orchid
Thought for the Day – “You can hope for a miracle in your life, or you can realize that your life is the miracle.” ~ Robert Brault
I seemed to spend all morning on the internet, purchasing Easter eggs for 10 grandchildren and also a couple of forthcoming birthdays. Four easter eggs (for the smallest ones) I found at Debenhams. They have free UK delivery at the moment. I really begrudge spending nearly as much again for the postage! Of course while I was on the site I became totally distracted by all the other bargains on there. The luggage is so cheap and as I say, free delivery. Our cases get so battered.
In the afternoon we went to meet a lady called Jean. She had been displaying her artwork at Lambousa a while back and she had some excellent water colours of dogs that she had previously painted. Well, years ago, Mal had an oil painting commissioned of our last retriever Barney. He spent a fortune and when it arrived it looked nothing like him but it was a birthday present for me and no time to return it. In the end we kept it and I still have it….in a cupboard!
Jean’s paintings looked so good we asked her if she would paint Rosie. All we did was email a few photos. Mal and I were amazed at the likeness. Not only did we have the painting in a mounting but she also gave us three note cards with the same picture on it. To say we were pleased is an understatement! The price was excellent too. If you would like to contact Jean, you can email her via this contact form LINK and she will tell you what she can do and prices. We don’t get commission, it’s just when I find a quality bargain, I share it! She is also a lovely lady.
Thought for the Day – “The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” ~ Samuel Butler
We took Rosie into the ravine and a good thing that Mal was ‘eagle eyed’ as Pine Processionary Caterpillars were just starting to march across our path. Luckily Rosie and I were past them. Mal took the picture! Be aware these can be dangerous!
Tics are also around, I found one crawling on my arm! Rosie has been treated so they won’t be staying on her. All we need now are the snakes and the mozzies!
There are some excellent deals on sandals and clothes here.
Thought for the Day – “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” ~ Audrey Hepburn
Another morning at the beach with Rosie. There were quite a few fishermen down there, some out in their boats. The sea was so clear and still.
I did some more gardening and David popped over to see Mal about computer “stuff”, at the time our internet was down but soon sorted. You even get service on a Sunday with Multimax!
A lovely afternoon in the garden. The pool is still not quite up to temperature yet though!
We started thinking about going back to the UK in the summer. We looked at Pegasus tickets for Stansted to Ercan for our return one way. Over £300 EACH, one way for August!!! So, after more investigation we have done the same as last year. Atlasjet to Istanbul, stay there for 2 nights at The Erboy Hotel, which we have stayed several times before and they are still getting excellent reviews on Trip Advisor. Then Istanbul to Ercan with Atlasjet, so hotel, flights and meals are still less than Pegasus price. PLUS Atlasjet fly in to Atatürk airport (nearer to Sultanahmet than Sabiha Gökçen).
Later Torin and the twins came on the web cam and then we spoke to all the Cardiff boys. Lou’s best friend got married on Saturday but I won’t ask about the photos as Sol told me he lost the camera…whoops!
Thought for the Day – “ I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see.” ~ John Burroughs
