Tuesday 11th October

Early morning from the balcony

Not much to report from today as we did not venture far due to Lillian having trouble walking.  We did drive to the beach in the afternoon, right to the edge so we could pick some stones for the garden.  It was very windy and as you can see from the picture - clouds.  They have been building up all day.

Worrying!

Monday 10th October

A trip to immigration - interesting in that it is a fairly ramshackled building with lots of people sitting around, not doing very much behind huge numbers of files.  Reminded me of visits to the Indian Embassy when in Dubai!  Forms collected and appointments made for a month's time during which we need to collect lots of paper not least getting an E106 form from the UK for Health cover.  We need to explore this as i don't want to lose access to UK hospitals.  Might be that we will need to take some form of private health care to meet the authorities requests.

Although Lillian could not play as her foot is still bad, we went to bowls.  Lots of members present and 6 rinks in operation.  We paid our dues and were issued with membership cards and am now 'fully paid up members' of the Kiti and Pervolia Bowls Club.  The Captain gave a rallying speech after the first games to congratulate all that had played in the Champions weekend just gone and the supporters who attended.  Although none were overall Cyprus Champions but obviously acquitted themselves well.  It would seam following a draw at the presentations that K&P will host the 'Champions weekend' next year.

I played in two games of triples and was on the winning side both times, even getting a couple right on the jack.  "Have you played before?" asked one lady I met for the first time as I rolled another close.  "Yes.  On Saturday." was my smug reply.  Of course it was all down to Lillian's coaching from the side.  The bad ones that is and there were plenty of those.

Home and lazy for the rest of the day.  It was hot this afternoon and the thermometer on the patio showed 90F at about 1500 hrs.

Sunday 9th October

Very much a stay at home day today due to Lillian's bad foot!  Although she never complains very much and it doesn't look so bad she is hobbling and its obviously sore.  We did manage to go along the road for our Sunday full English breakfast and afterwards spent the most of the day sitting in the garden.  Good job the sun was shining!

Late afternoon we went for a quick drive into Larnaca to confirm where the immigration offices are.  We need to register for residency and then watched a DVD for the evening.

Saturday 8th October

Lillian was up early today creeping out in the garden as the air was clam and still leaving me sleeping.  As ever she was tending the garden removing any dead or infected leaves on the bougainvillea. We sat and had coffee on the garden swing before showering and then “off to Bowls”.

Our first morning at Kiti and Pervolia Bowls Club with our own pair of bowls.  There were only 8 other members of present.  That was for a variety of reasons.  In the last couple of weeks the club had been holding its annual championships and this weekend the ‘champions’ from 5 clubs were all meeting together for the Grand Finals.  Therefore not only were the best players playing many it would seem had gone along to give moral support to the Club Champs.  There were some that had stayed away to watch the rugby.  With England losing I am glad that we did not bother and went to play.

This meant a game of doubles, followed by a game of triples.  Lillian and I played together on the same side for both matches, which were played over 11 ends and both times finished on the losing side.  We did well in the doubles and raced into a 9/4 lead only to completely lose our concentration and to be pipped on the last end 12/10!  We both bowled some good woods and some absolute rubbish.  So practice will make us better we are sure and we will go back again on Monday.  It was fun and we both enjoyed playing.   A couple of the ladies attend Greek lessons at the school in Pervolia and Lillian wants to join for the next classes that start shortly so we called in on the way back home where classes were taking place.  Out came Lillian complete with forms but as the classes are subsidised with EU money we need to start the ‘residency’ process before she can join.  So as well as bowls on Monday it will be an early trip to the Immigration Office in Larnaca first.

Back home we pottered about and sat in the sun although by mid afternoon it had become very windy.  I swam my 10 lengths but Lillian, who had missed the last two days only got to the steps where she sat for a while with wet ankles.  After a while she go up and said ‘That’s it!’  It would appear she has finished with swimming until next may by when the pool will be warmer.

The other main talking point is that we are no longer the only residences of ‘Pervolia Residences’.  A couple, complete with dog and motorbike have moved into number 12.  This has had a ‘For Rent’ sign on it the last month.  We have not spoken with them as yet, although they have clearly come from somewhere else locally as one would drive away in a car and come back about 40 minutes later with it full.  So out of the 15 houses there are now 2 living here, 4 owned by ‘locals’ who only visit occasionally, 1 that we have seen being furnished and have been told by Quality Group is for rent, 1 that is still for sale and the rest (7) empty with no sign as yet of the owners.

The day ended badly for poor Lillian as when we were just going to bed she stopped he little toe  on my foot whilst walking past.  She clearly had dislocated it and after lots of jumping about and some ice appeared to have popped it back.  We strapped it up in plasters but it was clearly very painful.  Our first trip to the hospital?

Friday 7th October

Morning beach walk to Faros Lighthouse

A quiet day and not much to report.

An early morning beach walk for about 80 minutes got the circulation going flooded by a late breakfast and a trip to the bank in Arridipou.  Lazy afternoon with a swim - I am still braving the pool and as ever Lillian finding some  'cutting and trimming' in the garden.

Evening meal at Tony's Grill and Bar - our nearest eatery.  Despite the name ...... the food at Tony's is very good.

Thursday 6th October

We awoke late today - to clouds in the sky.  Not enough to set the alarm bells ringing for a change in the weather but more than we usually see.  They stayed all day.  White and fluffy. At home in UK we would console ourselves that these were fine weather clouds and I guess that was today.  A fine weather day where the temperature reached about 82F and a sea breeze blew all day, getting stronger as the evening wore on.  So much so one of the branches of our centre alecastrum palm feature split away from the main trunk.  As a consequence it had to be cut off.  I include this garden picture so you know what is an alecastrum palm!  Its the fan type in the middle.

It was exercise before breakfast with a 80 minute bike ride during which we covered about 10-11 miles.  Inland first. Along the coast road that goes towards the fishing village of Zygi. It is a new road with a large cycle path along most of it.  In a car this is one of our most favourite drives as the road runs parallel with the sea, although probably 200 yards inland for its first few miles but this diminishes to 20 yards as you approach Zygi itself.  Not a place for us to cycle to as Zygi is about a 45 minute drive from Pervolia but certainly a place to take visitors.  The road has few houses to break the views and is mainly fields on both sides.  Some are already planted with potatoes which are growing quickly whilst many have the huge ‘Swiss Roll’ bales of straw.  We are not very good yet at recognising the crops that are growing.  Need to do some research via Google.  

After riding for about 50 minutes we cut across the fields to the coast track.  This runs only 5-10 yards from the water.  It really is a lovely place to cycle even though the bumps and ruts still hurt your backside.  We stopped after a while to paddle our feet on a stretch of grey sand.  The tide was out.  As we walked the beach we could see around the bay a large group of people which looked like a ‘family outing’ from a distance but as we cycled passed, much to our surprise it was a large group playing the french boules on the beach.  They all looked very organised and although some were local cypriots there were certainly some ‘Brits’ within the group.  Something to find out about.  At the moment we are very content just relaxing and doing what we are doing and have no great need to meet other people  (especially if they want to play bingo) ......... but in time that will be nice.

On our return Lillian as ever found some chores to do whilst I did some work!  Yes work! I still spend about 1-2 hours a day on the internet sorting some ‘admin stuff’ for WCL.  I am not really looking forward to what I am sure will be my last trip to the USA in November.  I have been given some big tasks to complete and therefore over the next couple of weeks I will need to spend time doing some preparation.  Much to my surprise earlier this week I spent 50 minutes on Skype talking with an education company that has 6 schools in the UK.  They have approached me about being their ‘Director of Schools’.  Enjoyed the conversation but they will have to pay ‘big bucks’ to tempt me away from our life here.  Thank you but no thanks I feel at the moment.

Spent some time practicing with our new bowls (Thank you Mum) in the  thought that we might go in the evening.  Our artificial grass is no where like the surface that we will bowl on but it showed that practice is what I will need. How to make the bowl roll rather than wobble?  So off to bowls we went only to find no-one there.  The club have obviously changed their evening bowls back to the morning now the temperatures are not so hot!  Next time is Saturday morning, but that clashes with the rugby England v France.  Oh the decisions we need to make when every day roles into one.

So having no bowls we stopped at the Cottage Pub for a drink.  Talked with the publican and Fulham supporter Ken during which time we compared medical histories.  He has a pancreatic problem and met a guy who is associated with the Cottage Golf Society.  There next day out is to the Secret Vally Golf Club between Limassol and Paphos on 15th October.  We have signed up to go which is why we bought our golf clubs back with us.  Something to look forward to next week and a chance to meet new people.

Wednesday 5th October

Pervolia Church

Yet another day in lovely warm weather with blue skies and sunshine.  

After our normal time spent just loving being in our garden it was a day to use what we were doing to experiment with my new camera.  I am delighted with the quality of the pictures that I have taken so far and having a telescopic lens is a real bonus.  There was a need to take some pictures other than the garden so on the way to the local supermarket for some fresh bread (which is lovely) we stopped so I could take some pictures of the churches of Pervolia and Kiti.  They are both shown here. 

Angelokisti Church, Kiti Village

Angelokisti Church in the village of Kiti, which means ‘Built by the Angels’ is 11th century but built on the site of a church from 6th century from which a mosaic of the Virgin Mary survives.

From the supermarket we went to the beach to collect stones for the garden.  These big white pebbles are being used as a base under the Ficus bushes.  They look good, although a lot more as one bag does not go very far.  Still we have plenty of time to collect to collect more.  We had the beach to ourselves as you can see below and even braved the water which was surprisingly warm and very calm.  Certainly warmer than our swimming pool.  Although the beach is full of stones once you wade into the water it is often soft sand which is good for swimming as you are not worried about putting your feet down on jagged stones and rocks.  We have always liked walking along the edge of the sea so it makes being here so perfect.

The rest of the day was pent being lazy lounging on the sunbed, a swim (only 10 lengths - its cold) and a sit in the hot tub.  A meal at home in the evening and a watch of a DVD.

Tuesday 4th October

Sun setting over the Troodos mountains

Its so nice to wake up in the morning here. The sky is virtually always blue and the air very still and clam with the evening breezes gone. I lie in bed sometimes though wishing I had a chain saw to remove some trees across the road so that I can see the sea from lying down instead of having to stand up and check its sparkling. In the evenings when you sit on the patio you can hear it breaking on the shore.

Another busy day.  LOL.  A trip into Larnaca to pay the internet bill.  This little dongle is quite expensive compared with broadband at home.  There is no sign when we will be able to get the same as it is linked, we are now told, to the authorities and the access road.  The contractor is waiting approval of the sub base for the road so he can then dig it up to lay the fibre optic cables!  So like the UAE in the way things happen, or don't happen.

Larnaca was a lt quieter than a few weeks ago although the lovely sunshine still meant many were sitting on the beach or swimming and playing. However many of the 'sun lounger' vendors had vacancies!  We walked to the small pier at the harbour to look back at the town.  With the majority of the buildings only 3 stories with the maximum of 6, The Avenue of Palms as the main seafront road is called looked nice.  The old castle at the far end bringing a focal point to the end of the bay.

Back home there was garden to tend.  Lillian always finding something to do but there again she also has books to read.  A swim ...... oh the water is cold now and placing the thermometer gave a reading of 76F for the water.  A bike ride to kite beach ....... but no kite surfers for the first time ever.  Has the season finished for them too?  After watching the most beautiful sunset, with the sun dropping behind the Troodos Mountains a walk into the village for a meal at KoKos Restaurant.  It was fairly empty when we arrived but soon lots of 'retired' expat Brits started arriving.  At 2100 there was bingo and a quiz night!  Oh dear.  We left them to it to stroll back home for a drink on the patio.

Monday 3rd October

Stripes in the lawn

Our first day back at home and a day for 'chilling'.  I worried at first that it would be exactly that as the sky started grey and cloudy and really not as warm as we are 'used to'.  Fortunately it was not long until 'normal service' was resumed with clear blue skies and 28C, just like the UK temperatures that we had left!

After a slow start to the day, enjoying wandering around in the garden we set off on a bike ride in a need to get back to 'fitness ways' after the over indulging during the UK celebrations.  It tuned out to be the longest of all of our bike rides so far, heading 'up hill' to Faros lighthouse, along the beach track, inland and then heading back to a 'new' coastal track which eventually lead to a dead end, right at the beginning of the main Larnaca airport runway.  There we sat on some rocks, in the sun, two feet away from gently lapping crystal clear blue sea watching the planes arrive.  Two from Thompson Airways and one from Thomas Cook bringing I guess more UK people looking for the last of the summer sun.

Back on our bikes, we did not cycle far until a small beach side taverna beckoned for a beer and lunch, again sitting right next to the sea.  Having stuffed ourselves (so much for the new light eating regime) it was a long haul back through the fields to the village of Pervolia.  We never take the coastal path back home as it is all up hill, but of course this is great when coming down.

A lot of time was spent then pottering, trimming and fixing back new growth on plants.  Whilst trimming the olive tree which stands in the front garden we came across this little critter.  Fascinating to watch and a chance for me to try out various settings on the new camera.  I also spent time 'tending the grass' which of course is so hard.  The main problem is what to do with the cuttings?  You might laugh but each time you spray and brush the 'grass' to get rid of the dust a few plastic blades come out.  Lillian gets most upset if I leave them lying on the stones.

A swim in the pool ...... oh dear I wonder how long we will be able to do this.  The water is certainly a lot cooler but a 30 minute dip in the hot tub which is set for 35C soon got the circulation going.

Sunday 2nd October

And so after 10 good but busy days back in the UK it was time to head back to our home in sunny Cyprus, although we cant complain about the weather in the UK whilst there.

I need to record my thanks to Lillian, family and friends for making my 60th birthday such an enjoyable event.  It was lovely to see everyone and it was a time to be remembered.  A special day.

The other highlight of our stay was watching Ipswich win at Upton Park against West Ham Utd.  they played really well, deserved to win and the atmosphere amongst the Ipswich fans one to savour.  So much better than my trip to Villa Park to see Aston Villa v Wigan.  Not the same when you watch as a passive observer not worried who wins!

Steve took us to Heathrow, laden with two sets of golf clubs and and a couple of bags of little things to take back with us.  the flight was uneventful and the short taxi ride from the airport to Pervolia was soon completed, although we haven't seen Larnaca airport so busy before with a number of charter flights arriving from the UK all at the same time.  Clearly a good time to come to Cyprus for late holidays.  It was great to be back at our home and virtually immediately Lillian started on her inspection of the garden. Having been away for almost two weeks the new growth on some of the plants was very noticeable and there is some trimming to be done.

Darkness arrived soon and after a drink on the patio, some sorting and unpacking an early night beckoned as we are sure to have a busy day the next morning LOL.