Month: February 2014

Bargains – Cheap London Theatre Tickets – under £20 at lovetheatre.com & Debenhams Flowers Online – £5 off at debenhamsflowers.com & Argos Washing Machines – Beko WM6112 for £169.99 at argos.co.uk & Camping Essentials – Hi Gear Camping Stove for £7 at gooutdoors.co.uk & Bon Marche Discount Code – 20% off in the Knitwear Sale at bonmarche.co.uk & Debenhams Toy Sale – 20% off at debenhams.com

Well, how nice for Valentine’s day, breakfast in bed and we remembered why we designed such a large bedroom and we are able to lie in bed looking out over the Med! The sun shining too.

For some reason I started looking through the old websites of this diary. Probably remembering when we designed the house and why we designed it the way we did. We certainly have done a lot in the last 12 years. Would we ever build again? My answer is a definite NO! It’s all been an experience but now we are 12 years older, an experience we don’t want to repeat.

Consequently our walk was later than usual. There were lovely purple flowers all over the footpath, I think they are sand crocus. If anyone believes differently, please let me know. I have three Mediterranean Wild Flower identification books but I don’t always get them right!

Walking back it was really warm, T shirt weather. That will teach us to go later. The walk wasn’t too bad but walking back up our steep drive is the killer. I wonder how long it will be before we get a Stannah lift fitted. Ha ha.

I just couldn’t resist this one…..thanks Anna!

The good news is Zoe Ball will be doing the breakfast show on Radio 2 next week, not Chris Evans! I get so bored with Chris Evans talk about cars all the time, some of us are not the slightest bit interested.

Mal cooked a delicious meal in the evening.

Well, the joint statement is announced at last……….

http://youtu.be/2aVUQccNhvU

Beautiful weather in the morning and then the storm started with about 10 minutes torrential rain and thunder.

And after the rain……………………..

Thought for the Day – “It is not for you to judge the journey of another’s soul. It is for you to decide who you are, not who another has been, or has failed to be.” ~ Neale Donald Walsch

 

 

 

 

Bargains – Thorntons Valentine Chocolates – 15% off at thorntons.co.uk & Travelodge Cheap Hotel Rooms – £29 or less at travelodge.co.uk & Northern Cyprus Holidays – 1 week 5* All Inclusive from £345pp at mercury-direct.co.uk & Madeira All inclusive Holidays – 1 week 5 star from £495pp at mercury-direct.co.uk & Avis Car Hire – 15% off at avis.co.uk &LED Shower Head – £9.99 at maplin.co.uk

I think someone is trying to wind up people in the UK!! It sounds as though the weather was bad there last night with major premier league matches being postponed. My niece’s fences were blown down and someone’s hedge ended up in her front garden!

Meanwhile, early this morning, we walked in the mountains with the sun shining and the flowers blooming. There are so many orchids.

We drove to Lapta as our house insurance is due. Steve’s (Dickinson) office was all locked and the gate across. There was a sign up saying he had moved to a larger office. Where was it? Just down the bottom of our road in Alsancak! So we drove back there and Steve was out sorting computer problems caused by the move. We have been assured that our insurance will be renewed and to go back on Monday to pay.
I popped into Lemar to get some shopping. Milk was 2.10tl. It is now 2.80tl. I know this is because of the exchange rate but if the rate settles down, will the prices go back down…I think not!

I had a phone call from my sister telling me about the devastation in the UK, not just the flooding but along with it sewage.

In the evening, along with cooking dinner, I made an “Impossible Pie”, it seemed so easy that I thought I would give it a try and then make it for our next dinner guests.
Thought for the Day – “A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in–what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.” ~ Victor Hugo (Les Mis)

Bargains – Thorntons Chocolates – Chocolate Gift Bag for £25 at thorntons.co.uk & Wilko Door Handle Latch – from £2.50 for 2 at wilko.com & Bon Marche Online Fashion – £10 off Jackets at bonmarche.co.uk & Laura Ashley Sale – 25% off plus Free Delivery at lauraashley.com & Cotton Traders Promotional Code – £5 off at cottontraders.com

I don’t think the weather is improving in the UK. I spoke to Torin yesterday who told me there is a sink hole in the M2 in Kent. He travels quite a lot with his job and said a lot of the roads are horrendous, including massive pot holes appearing. They have too much rain….we don’t have enough!

Down to the beach and Ellie still won’t go in the sea. She is frightened by the waves, what a wimp! But we did get her in a little pool. I know once she gets in the sea she won’t want to come out….eventually!

At lunchtime I met up with Sue, Joan and Tanya and we went for lunch at Magarina Bulli. Kezi makes everyone feel very welcome even though they were really busy. I had kleftico which was very good but it is so easy to eat too much when you go there! It was good seeing the girls too and catch up with everyone’s news.

Thought for the Day – “If you have good friends, no matter how much life is sucking , they can make you laugh.” ~ P. C. Cast

Bargains – Boots Discount Code – £5 off Fragrances at boots.com & Affordable Car Hire – up to 20% off at easycar.com & Pet Supplies – Frontline For Dogs for 6 pack from £25.90 at pet-supermarket.co.uk & The Commitments London Show Tickets – from £25 at lovetheatre.com & Amazon Kindle Fire – £169 at amazon.co.uk & Cheap Midweek UK Breaks – 2 Nts, 1st HB for £99 for 2 at local.amazon.co.uk

An update on Kulaksiz 5. I know people may be bored of hearing about this but this is people’s money and lives, this can happen to many, many more. Well, is this justice?

I had a giggle at Chris Evans (Radio 2) who said he would dedicate this mornings show to anyone who has gone into a pound shop and bought ONE item.  Erm, we bought ten yesterday! The reason he is talking about it is because the pound shops are going online!

There is review of the north’s property issues as seen by BRS. Summing it up on NCFP………..

“This is a very sad document from a group who believes that waiting for the government to achieve something that, in my opinion they cannot do, is the way forward. Wake up BRS, the government doesn’t know how to help North Cyprus property victims, didn’t you know that!”

A long walk in the mountains in the sun.  There are a lot more flowers blooming with all this sun.

Thought for the Day – “Flowers don’t worry about how the’re going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.” ~ Jim Carrey

Bargains – Online Pet Supermarket – Free Delivery at pet-supermarket.co.uk & Boots Hairdryers – TRESemme Lightweight Hairdryers for £18.65 at boots.com & Marks and Spencer Sale – up to 50% off Womens Clothes at marksandspencer.com & Argos Microwave Oven – De’Longhi AM925EBY for £69.99 at argos.co.uk & Sports Direct Sale – Sports Wear and Sports Equipment at sportsdirect.com & Wilko Paint – 2.5L Dulux get 2 for £25 at wilko.com

Another beautiful sunny day. David and Kenny offered to have Ellie, so she could play with Loppi and Jekka, so Mal and I went out for lunch. We had to go into Girne and so went a bit further and ate in “Destiny” which is by Cratos Hotel. Our original plan was to try Grida Balik but they were shut, maybe they don’t open at all for lunch. Anyway, it’s a very welcoming atmosphere at Destiny and we sat outside in the sun. Not many people in there but it seems a similar story at a lot of eateries at the moment.  I had Moussaka which was very good. They do a 3 course deal for 32tl, too much for us to eat for lunch! So, a nice lazy lunch, shopping on the way back and then we collected Ellie who had evidently been extremely well behaved.


Thought for the Day – “A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Bargains – Marks and Spencer Sale – up to 50% off Kids Clothes at marksandspencer.com & Boots Fragrance – Boss Orange Women Eau de Toilette 50ml Gift Set for £30 at boots.com & Hills Dog Food – Free Delivery from pet-supermarket.co.uk & The Hut Men’s Hoodies – 2 For £20 plus Free Delivery at thehut.com & Priority Pass Lounges – One Year for £49 at amazon.co.uk & Bon Marche Sale – Delivery now only £1 at bonmarche.co.uk

Early morning walk on the beach, meeting Kenny on the way and so stopped for a chat. Ellie chased her ball everywhere.

We bought some olive bread on the way home, just baked and then had breakfast outside in the sun.

Thought for the Day – “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”  ~ Mother Teresa

Bargains – Perfume Gifts For Her – up to 50% off at debenhams.com & 5* Last Minute Top Secret Hotels – from £99 at lastminute.com & Marks and Spencer Sale – up to 50% off at marksandspencer.com & Amazon Discount Code – 20% off at amazon.co.uk & Monarch Sale – Short City Breaks and Short Ski Breaks at monarch.co.uk & Argos Kitchen Electricals – Swan Teasmade for £64.99 at argos.co.uk

The latest on “the talks”. This has only been going on since October (this time around!)

A mountain walk and then we bought Cyprus Today. Later we went to Lambousa Market. The Police were just around the corner before Lambousa and pulled me over. I spoke to him in Turkish, he gave my papers a cursory look and handed them back to me, then stopped the traffic so that I could pull out!  Good thing he didn’t ask for my driving licence, as usual it was in the handbag I left at home!

We took Ellie to Lambousa, to get her accustomed to crowds. She was very well behaved apart from sitting by one of the food stalls and not wanting to move. But there were two dogs wandering around on their own, one who went for her and the other growled at her. She looked a little shocked at that!

Lunch outside again….TWENTY + degrees….yay!

I enjoyed the Liverpool v Arsenal game (5-1!)

 

Thought for the Day – “A good character is the best tombstone.  Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered.  Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. ” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon