Home again and Home Alone

A quick 4 days to the heat of Doha where the temperatures reached 106F.  Flights with Emirates airline via Dubai were OK.  Its amazing what a busy airport Dubai has become even being busy at 0230 hours with shopping extreme being available.

Whilst being away Lillian has entertained Mum and Dad with day trips out to Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus and the small 'lace' village of Lefkara.  Having travelled through the night Friday was a lazy day but for the last day it was back inot the car and a trip to Agia Napa and the caves at Cape Greko where young men where jumping from the top of the cliffs in to the sea.

Now the sun shines the sea has turned to the Mediterranean azure blue and looks lovely. A lovely day out followed by a pleasant evening with the visit of friends Geoff and Hazel, who live in the 'North' who were making a quick trip to Larnaca airport to collect their own guests who were visiting from the UK.

As is the tradition now Mum and Dad completed and laid the customary stones at a place of their choice. Dad choosing to draw his famed Jolly Jack which he has drawn for the last 50 years or more whenever doodling. It is good to have the memory of their visit. We hope they have enjoyed their time and now can picture from their own memories future blog recordings.

The last picture today is of a 500 piece puzzle completed during their stay.  Passed the time and became fairly compulsive.  It was not easy with so much sky!

Back to Blue Skies

After a very overcast but warm day its back to blue skies today and so back onto the tourist route.  This time a drive through Menenou and into Larnaca for a stroll around the back streets, the Marina and of course along the promenade. Lillian and Mum could not resist the chance to dip their toes and walk along the shallow edge of the beach.  We sat for a time whilst toes dried and then a drive home to sit in the garden.

I braved 20 lengths of the pool.  Actually you didn't need to be brave - the water is slowly getting warmer.

So sign off time for me once again - 4 days in Doha where my weather app says the temp is forecast for 106F tomorrow - getting back into the lovely 80s of Pervolia will not come quick enough.

Special Visitors

Wood carving of an eagle  in the geopark

 So the latest set of visitors arrive - Mum and Dad, 84 and 85 years respectively for their first visit to our home in Cyprus.  Brother Kevin kindly collected from their home, checked them in at Heathrow and we were able to collect successfully at the other end.  As ever on a flight there are tales of children kicking seats from behind but on the positive side nice people to chat with along the way.

So the first couple of days have past taking life at an easy pace.  A longer walk to Faros for Dad who paces very well for his age, causing even me to have to stride to maintain the pace and shorter walk to the beach for Mum.

Family at rest whilst Lillian collects cones

A drive to Troodos takes most of Saturday.  The normal route along the coast to Zygi, then the A1 to Limassol and finally the winding climb to Troodos square.  We haven't been since it was covered in snow and its good to see the yellow letterbox which was covered in snow except for a few inches the last time we looked upon it.  A new biological and geology walk has been created around the visitor centre which enables us to pass some time with a casual walk.  Good for me as my breathing is not so great on inclines now.  It really was most pleasant.  Lillian collected fir cones, which were on the ground in abundance.  Not quite sure what for although some will appear in Christmas decorations no doubt.  A lunch of chicken and pork kebabs went down well before a very winding drive back doen the northern side until winding the way back to Limassol, Zygi and the last few miles along the beach track next to the sea.  The car is great for going off road even though its not a 4x4.

Drinks on the patio before some television and bed.

Getting back into a routine

Cyprus from space

Of sleeping for more than two hours at a time, walking to the beach, swimming - 20 lengths a time even though I'm gasping for breathe from 17 onwards.  Collecting blown bougainvillea leaves and just garden pottering.  Actually going out with Lillian when she goes to the shops rather than staying in front of the computer and early evening drinks on the patio as the sun starts to set.  That's what the last two days have been.  Great!

The picture today was sent to me by a teacher in the British School of Boston who has a friend who works on some satellite program in the US.  She said when she saw it she thought of me which was nice.  Looks impressive doesn't it?

Too much travel and not enough time

The Harvard Club

At last back home again after what turned out to be a very hectic trip with lots of travel late working nights with two night flights.  All makes for not a lot of sleep but hey ho keeps the bailiff at bay.  

Its always good to go to New York and a new experience this time  staying at the 'Yotel' with touch screens instead of a reception to check in at and 'cabins' instead of rooms.  Arriving when my body clock thought it was 0500 was not a good experience to see what I thought was a bed for a dwarf, only to eventually find a button which made it unfold. The rooms, sorry cabins were small yet cleverly designed with the use of lighting, mirrors and colour made the space feel larger than it actually was.  A galley kitchen where there was complimentary coffee, water etc was unusual rather than having such features in the room.  Complimentary coffee and muffins for breakfast was surprisingly OK for being on the go as I was.

 Despite all of the work there was time for two nice evenings out which I would have enjoyed if I had not been so tired.  Dinner at the famous Harvard Club of New York which is a private club in Midtown Manhattan which was incorporated in 1887. The walk there through Times Square was  good. Anyone who has attended Harvard University may apply to become a member. Hence I was there as a guest of Bob Stinson, architect working on our school project.  Service and food were excellent in a fairly unique setting.  A second night was spent at the Anglo American Chamber of Commerce Spring function at the Boathouse restaurant in Central Park.  A guest of John Taylor, Head of the World Class Learning Academy meant a pleasant evening mingling and chatting with a range of New York  business men and women.  I now know a very attractive female divorce lawyer who says her work is lucrative and a 'lobbyist'.

At last back here in Larnaca but for a short time.  4 days in Doha next week.  However it was good to see our departing visitors had continued the tradition of the stones and very good jobs have been done too!  Evelyn, Kevin and Katie departed from the Cyprus after I left so I was seeing them for the first time.  They are rather good.

So first day back leads to pottering in the garden and 20 lengths of the pool.  Lillian busy washing and cleaning for our next visitors.  Now who might they be?

Managed it in April

Well you just have to be brave/ hardy or wanted to be refreshed.  Swimming in April and actually Evelyn was right all along.  Its not too bad once in.  Only ten lengths mind, not wanting to go too mad, but actually I find swimming fairly boring and quickly lose count.  Was it 12 or 14 lengths I say?

The sun shines and skies are blue.  A walk on the beach shows the two of the three beach vendors with open pitches, beach umbrellas and sun loungers out and thru small kiosks open. They have customers too and whilst i feel brave going into the pool many hardy soles are in the sea, which might be quite warm for what I know as yet to even dip a toe.  Soon I'm sure.

A busy day on the computer and telephone means its a Lillian prepared meal at home and relatively early to bed for all.  Been summoned back to London tomorrow as need to be in the office by the afternoon.  Then off to New York for four days.  Back again on 12th May.