Archives for June 2016 | On The Island

Thursday, June 23rd, 2016Thursday, June 23rd, 2016

Thursday 23rd June 2016

Another day in the 40’s, not good for the amount of work we have to do but we carry on! We did end up having a bit of a siesta in the afternoon after a cooling swim. We had a treat in the evening by going to what must be our favourite restaurant to have dinner…. Charcos. It just reminds us of why we came here all those years ago. A lot has changed since 2002 but Charcos brings back memories for both of us of how Cyprus used to be. Cristina does all the art work and we have a large piece that we bought from her years ago. She is very talented.

The sea bass I had was really the best fish I have had since I have been back on the island. We have been coming here for years, even before the restaurant moved to Lapta and we have never had a bad meal yet!

Thought for the Day – “Weeds are flowers too once you get to know them.” ~ A A Milne

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016

Wednesday 22nd June 2016

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Out early and working. Mal cutting more hedges until the hedge cutter blew up! He then went on to plastering. I was still cleaning! There have been a lot of dust storms while we have been away.

We met up with Margaretha for lunch, in between her working and dropping her mini bus off at the garage etc. She’s a busy lady but it was lovely to see her.

We ate at Blue Song again, such lovely views.

Things we learnt over lunch….tourists are way down this year, mostly because we are “too near to Syria.” There are far more Russians here now about 4,000 but they don’t have much money or at least are not spending it the way the Brits used to!

Then back to work for us in between jumping in the pool to cool off. Crazy heat for June.

Thought for the Day – “The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?” ~ Captain Jack Sparrow

Tuesday, June 21st, 2016Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016

Tuesday 21st June 2016

Another hot day. 32 degrees under the terrace in the shade at 6 in the morning!

Mal went out to finish the hedges off, which means Mustafa’s side but he did give us permission years ago! Extremely hot work so into the pool afterwards. It reached over 40 degrees.

Me? More cleaning, shutters, windows, rugs, pillows etc etc! Then of course into the pool!

There really isn’t too much you can do in the afternoon in this sort of heat. We sat and read! Things are not getting done that we expected to do but it wasn’t supposed to be this hot!

We went to Calamari in the evening. It’s a lovely restaurant, right next to the sea, slightly more expensive than others along the “strip” but for the ambiance it seemed worth it. I always love fish here and so ordered the fish skewers (39tl). Imagine my disappointment when I discovered the fish was tasteless! I ate one skewer and then just had the pepper and the onion from the other one leaving the fish. Mal then asked if I was not going to eat it and I said no because it was tasteless. He took it off my plate, flavoured it with salt and ate it…….I was going to complain….too late! I couldn’t say anything when it had all gone. Such a shame as the restaurant is lovely but I have to say I have had much better tasting fish everywhere else I have been this stay and this was the most expensive. Can’t win ’em all! Mal had swordfish (39.5tl) which he said was really good.

It must be getting boring now readers, but I can never take the beautiful sunsets for granted, nearly every night we have had dinner watching the sun go down. Magical and even better tonight when a fisherman decided to join in my photo!

Thought for the Day – “Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being’s suffering. Nothing. Not a career, not wealth, not intelligence, certainly not status. We have to feel for one another if we’re going to survive with dignity.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Monday, June 20th, 2016Tuesday, June 21st, 2016

Monday 20th June 2016

We were up early to go into Girne to put some money on our electricity account to cover us until we are next here. Much better to get there early in the morning. We were there by 8 and paid the bill. I seem to have spent half my life in this building, when we had a lot of problems initially with electricity! And seem to have visited very regularly ever since!

We then had a walk around the harbour.

Looking at some of the menus, the prices didn’t seem as bad as they used to be. It’s a lovely place to soak up the atmosphere.

Why is it I don’t find it strange that a fire is rageing in the south of the island and Akinci’s offer of help has been declined, they would rather it come from Israel, UK and Greece. AND THEY WANT UNIFICATION ?? I think not. Call me a cynic, on this issue I am.

We ate dinner at Sea Point in Lapta, another place to sit and watch the sun set. How lucky are we, some people never ever see this, we seem to be watching it every night!

Sea Point seems to have gone a little upmarket since we last visited. It was very good but they came with a bottle of water and filled our glasses as soon as we sat down, In the UK I always ask for tap water but of course here we can’t. BUT I do get annoyed when they just pour it out and then when the bill comes you find they have charged you for it. A shame because it was a good meal. It’s no good saying anything to them,you just get the Cyprus shrug in reply, so instead the tip is adjusted accordingly.

Again we thought about going to a bar to watch the England game but because of the heat we went home for a swim. We watched it at home. What can I say? Wales had a good game!!

Thought for the Day – “Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Teresa

Sunday, June 19th, 2016Sunday, June 19th, 2016

Sunday 19th June 2016

Mal and I both had dodgy tummies! We don’t think the level of hygiene was all it should have been for our meal out last night. Mal said when he saw the cutlery incident he was thinking of walking out. I wish we had, I didn’t see it.

Mal had his Father’s Day present from me. Lou and Rhys bought him something but forgot to give it to us. I know they had because they asked me about it over two weeks ago. Never mind he can have that when he gets back! They opened the card and put it on FB!!

We had medicine to settle our stomachs and then eventually went down to Acmenya for Mal’s Father’s Day Sunday roast. I can’t believe that it is still only 25tl, less than £6 at today’s exchange rate. A starter, a roast and then help yourself to (too many) desserts, followed by help yourself coffee and brandy! I have done well so far with my meals out but I am afraid today I couldn’t resist the desserts and also just had to have a brandy sour as they make good ones down there. I also had a silent toast to Sue. She always used to blame me for introducing her to brandy sours as the first time we met her and Cy, some 14 years ago, Sue and I got very drunk and she never let me forget it….all my fault. I do miss her. It seems weird now coming to Cyprus and not meeting up with her.

I have done well, this is the first brandy sour I have had since I have been back!

The waiters welcomed us back, we have been going here too many years!

We then went to Atakara to buy some rocket and lambs lettuce. The guy on the vegetable part was so pleased to see me and started chatting away in Turkish. I always used to practice my Turkish on him but I am a bit rusty now!

Then back home for a swim.

Thought for the Day – “Some people, no matter how old they get never lose their beauty – they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.” ~ Martin Buxbaum

Saturday, June 18th, 2016Sunday, June 19th, 2016

Saturday 18th June 2016

Villa in Cyprus for Sale

32 degrees under the terrace at 6 in the morning. Another hot day.

We went off to the beach to find “my” Loggerhead turtle nest. Good news is that there are a lot of nests along the beach, hopefully plenty of turtles this year.

It’s a shame that we won’t be here when they hatch.

We went to have coffee with David and Kenny on the way back home, so nice to see them again. And of course Jekka and Loppi who went mad when they saw us.

A disappointing meal out in the evening. We went to Sevket’s, have never been before so thought we would give it a try. It started badly when the owner squashed a spider on our table and then proceeded to handle the eating ends of our cutlery with the same fingers! We were the only ones in there on a Saturday night so little atmosphere and the prices were slightly above others in the area and I have to say my sea bass was small. He also charged for our Turkish coffees. We won’t be going back there! There are too many others around.

Thought for the Day – “Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must but take the step.” ~ Naeem Callaway

Friday, June 17th, 2016Saturday, June 18th, 2016

Friday 17th June 2016

Villa in north Cyprus for sale

It seems as though I am back in the routine of living here, up at 5 to watch the sun rise behind the mountain!

We went to get some shopping and popped into one of the estate agents that are supposed to be selling our house. We told them it was in Malatya and three times he checked our names….he did find it in the end. To be honest he didn’t have much to say. We did ask what they intend to do in the future…”oh more advertising blah, blah, blah”, well that made as mush sense as he was telling us. What an easy way to earn £12K.

Into Lemar next to buy a new sim for my phone. The girl told me I only need to top my phone up and it WILL work! The Turkcell guy at the airport misinformed us. He said it was impossible to top it up as we had left it for over 3 months. It is now working!!!

We are doing some cutting of hedges and cleaning but don’t seem to be getting anywhere very fast. I think it is the heat. It really feels like August weather!

We have also discovered we have not solved the lack of water problem, one of the pipes must still be chalked up. Mal has been kicking them and saying voodoo chants but he will have to get a little more scientific tomorrow.

In the evening we ate at Tervetuloa. It brought a touch of sadness as I used to go there a lot with Sue. I do miss her. It seems odd coming to Cyprus and not meeting up with her.

For anyone who hasn’t been you just choose your main course and then a massive mezze arrives (hot and cold as in pictures), a bottle of water, then dessert and fruit, coffee and brandy and this is all included in the price of the main. Our bill, which included three drinks came to 95tl. (£22.60!) And the food was really good, I had the fish skewer,

Thought for the Day – “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey