Monday 25th June 2012

First flower on the Hibiscus tree

A choice today of bowling in the morning or late afternoon.  Two sessions in the day due to increasingly hot temperatures for which today was the first to have such a choice.  We chose the late afternoon which although was fun there were only 8 playing whereas the morning session evidently had 20.  Things will reverse the ‘old hands’ say.  

Lillian continues to look good and bowls well whereas I clearly have not mastered this game and am a load of inconsistent rubbish with tonight too much rubbish.  However I thought I was going to be a ‘winner’ when my team, playing against Lillian’s team were ten points  in the lead with two ends to play.  The maximum score possible per end being 6.  We lost!  5 points don and then 6 points down!  Impossible.  We were stunned!

Early morning bike ride inland to Pyrgos - The Tower and then along the coastal path to the lighthouse and home.  About 45 minutes of enjoyment with hot sun and a slight breeze.  Home to the pool and 20 lengths, although with some slight break between lengths after 12.  A second session in the afternoon.

An evening meal at Pyrgos - the restaurant.  Our favourite in the village and as ever very good too.

So that’s it for until Saturday.  1005 hrs flight to Doha from Larnaca via Athens returning at 1500 on Friday.  Two full days in temperatures of approx 115F.  It will be good to be back!

Sunday 24th June 2012

A long day.  Early start with coffee at 0630, both being awake due to a warm / hot bedroom and a late end watching England lose to Italy in the Euro football.  Once again England fall to the penalty curse in competitions although no matter how much you wanted them to win it was through a penalty shoot out seemed to be their only chance.  Whilst in some ways the England team exceeded expectations by qualifying for the quarter-final they continue to disappoint as a team when many appear such great players when watched in premier league matches for their clubs.

We decided to watch the game at home, with greek commentary rather than visit what would surely have been a packed Cottage pub.  The landlord Ken will have been disappointed in the result.  He needs the business.  We continue to be amazed how quiet everywhere appears to be.  Last year the Euro was almost worth 90p sterling whereas now its just 80p.  You would think that would attract people, but perhaps they made decisions not to travel sometime ago.  We will see what its like when we come back in August.

Early morning swimming and in the pool before 0800 completing 22 very casual lengths.  My swimming has come on greatly and 20 lengths can now be achieved with only being slightly out of breath.  A year ago when we first cam to Cyprus I could barely complete four.  Later in the afternoon for a ‘cool off’ another 10 were swam at leisure which prompted Lillian to effortlessly complete 40!

A walk into the village to devour hungrily a full english breakfast allowed us to download the Sunday Times onto the iPad and much of the remainder of the day was spent lounging in the garden.  Lillian completing her normal cut and trim routine whilst searching for bugs etc.  Alone I made a quick visit to what we know as Kite beach where the wind surfers gather white stones.  The wind picked up and became quite strong late afternoon and whilst at the beach a number of surfers were putting together their kites and general preparations.  Later from the garden you could see the kites darting about as the surfers (who you cant see) changed direction.

Some time was spent on the internet as Doha is operation on a Sunday.  I am to go there again on Tuesday for two days!

Saturday 23rd June 2012

Really humid today making the temperatures of 86F feel a great deal hotter, although at one time driving in the car the outside temperature was registering at 95F.

Bowls morning.  With the hot weather and the club changing timings so that some can bowl at an early evening slot the turn out was relatively low with 2 games of 6 bowlers 3v3 and one game of 2 v 2.  For all three games I was drawn to play in a 3v3 match, two of which were with Lillian.  One on my team and one against.  Lillian has really improved and bowled well each game.  Oh to say the same.  I really am disappointingly bad sometimes.  Playing bowls is the same for me playing golf.  If I get off to a good start I invariably maintain it and play well.  If I start rubbish then i only get worse as I forget everything I should be doing in the anxiety to get better.  It doesn’t work like that.  Who said ‘Stay Calm and carry on’?

Anyway three games results in two wins, thanks in no part to my team members rather than me.  The first win of the day was without doubt to being drawn in the same team as ‘Super Bob’ who played yet another great game.  Bob is an interesting character and after the game we sat chatting.  He spent 20 years as a face worker in the Selby coal mines and told us stories of a mile under under the surface and 13 months out of work due to the miners’ strikes of 1984.  Fascinating stuff.

Talking of golf.  I received unexpectedly an invitation to go to new York to play in an architects golf society day at the famous Balustrade Golf Club in New Jersey.  The Balustrade has hosted the US Open no less than 15 times, next scheduled for 2016.  I fired back a quick ‘I’d love to’.  Now the challenge is to try and weave this into a work related visit!

From Bowls it was into Larnaca to pass some time and get some batteries for the bathroom scales which are showing ‘funny’ readings.  Now why would that be? LOL  A stop at Debenhams of all places with large ‘SALE’ signs catching the eye leads to us buying two new bath towels. Don’t really need them we tell ourselves but they were a ‘bargain’!  Back home the funny scale readings do not improve with a new battery and it seems the electronic scales are dead!  So we can now continue eating and drinking and not worry about seeing the weight gains.

A trip to the pub, to meet Gareth and and watch together the South Africa v England rugby, whilst Lillian stayed at home reading and watching a film on TV.  Having now 6 movie channels means that there is always something to watch.

Friday

You missed one!

A beautiful morning lead to feeling energetic and a long bike ride along the coast.  

Most of the fields of cereal crops now have been harvested and for the first time we actually saw a machine in the process of collecting the straw and making it into the giant ‘swiss rolls’.  We stopped for a while to watch and surprisingly it all happens quickly with the giant swiss roll popping out of the back as if it had been laid.  

A second stop was made at a beach bar that has been constructed at a small sandy headland.  We have watched for the last year as it has been made from two ship containers and at last looks ready to open with great shading made from what looks like army camouflage material and tables made from big cable reels.  Nobody was about and we hope it will be a success for the owner, but it is in the middle of nowhere accessible only by a very bumpy track of about a kilometer long so wonder how many customers it will get.  Whilst there we waded into the sea for swimming. Brrrr it felt cold initially and certainly not as warm as the Arabian Gulf, but once in it was good to splash around for 10 minutes or so.  Back home it was a very quick dip into the pool for comparison.  The pool is certainly warmer.

They need to be egg shaped and perfectly white

The rest of the day was catching some sun, with me dozing on the lounger and Lillian on the swing.  She says she was reading her book but photographic evidence says otherwise.  As ever there was spells of clipping and ‘titivating’ for the garden and as the shadows started to get longer it was back to the beach for white stone collecting which resulted in two more bags.  These were for an area near the front wall that has never really been finished and now with moving some around and Lillian disposing of some that were considered not white enough we appear to be short of about four more bags.  Further trips to be made.

Virtually each day we are amused by Quality Group bringing potential buyers to view House number 2 which is virtually opposite our front door and standing empty.  It would appear that the owner has already defaulted on the mortgage so it is now for re-sale.  The young girls from QG who usually accompany the potential buyers do not appear to have any sales sense and one always seems more interested in her mobile phone, but today from a girl we hadn’t seen before.  “Go and look at the lovely garden across there - you could make yours as nice”.  Clearly they did not know we were there as four peered over the wall to see us sitting having our early evening gin and tonic!  At least it prompted some more positive comments from the british couple who were viewing.

Thursday 21st June 2012

Despite bugs and leaf dropping the hibiscus are doing well.

For the first time since starting this report of our daily lives in Cyprus its an update of two days for the price of one!  Why is this?  Well I've gone back to work LOL and have had to spend too much time reading and sending emails connecting to two very different time zones in Qatar and USA.  That's my excuse for now.

Despite the time sent on report writing we have had two full days.  Both included trips to the Bowls Club.  Wednesday for a practice session and Thursday for general play.  The practice is making a distinct difference to Lillian's game and I have heard comments made by approving senior members.  For me no change.  Much frustrating rubbish and the odd bowl that looks like I can bowl.  With the hotter weather there has been a move to change from the usual morning play of 2 games of 11 ends to three games of 7 ends.   This allows for more drink breaks and the opportunity to sit under the shade.  With three games the team I was playing on could only muster one draw,  a narrow defeat and a complete thrashing against a team which included none other than 'Super Bob'.  He really is good!

Lillian is a proud owner of a very grand certificate as she graduated from the Level 1 Greek class and spent an evening at Soutsos celebrating with the class.  Sounded an OK evening out whilst i spent it in the Cottage pub, chatting to the landlord and others whilst watching cricket on the television!  No football on Wednesday night after the excitement of the England win the night before.  We watched the England game at home with with greek commentary!  OK for Lillian.

A trip into Larnaca to upgrade the internet dongle so that we have more time available now that I need to access email more often and to collect a FedEx parcel containing a new credit card.  My first business credit card.  I was surprised how quiet Larnaca appeared to be.  Summer season clearly has not taken off as yet and despite the lovely weather the beach vendors had many sun loungers free.

Tuesday 19th June 2012

West Bay, Doha, Qatar

Back in Pervolia after a week being away in Doha, Qatar.

A good trip with four days work and two days of the weekend with a little time to swim in the Arabian Gulf and sit on the beach.  For the former it was lovely and warm but for the latter HOT.  Temperatures each day were around 47C (117F) although on one day it went over 50C (122F) That is hot and it happened to be the day I needed to drive in the hire car to Al Khor about an hours drive across the desert to the north of Doha.  This was particularly taxing as one window of the hire car would not shut properly and therefore remained open by about 10cms.  Consequently the air conditioning  of the car was fairly ineffective and I arrived with my shirt soaking in sweat!

The attached picture today was taken from my bedroom window at the Inter Continental Hotel.  We used to live on the top floor of the first tower from the right with cream vertical stripe.  I used to watch each morning the two larger towers to the right being built from the bedroom window.  I’m glad we are not there now with them blocking the views.

Departure from Doha meant the alarm going off at 0100 for an 0145 depart from the hotel to the airport.  The only thing cheering me on the way was the lovely reminder of petrol prices in Doha.  34QAR to fill the tank (about 3/4) which is equivalent to £6.

Flight to Dubai and then a two hour wait for the transfer flight to Larnaca.  A call to Lillian whilst waiting for my bag meant she was at the airport by the time I got through immigration etc.  Once again the cursory glance at the passport.  Back home it was good to see the growing garden and a swim in the pool which really has warmed up and now is about 30C.

After an afternoon nap due to not very much sleep traveling and some catching up on emails it was an evening at home watching England v Ukraine in the Euro 2012 football.

Monday 11th June 2012

 Another hot day with beautiful sunshine and lovely clear blue skies.  The rising temperatures now are making sleeping at night difficult with the need for bursts of the air conditioning at long wakeful times.  Good job you can catch up un a sun lounger during the day!  

Consequently up at the earlier time of 0730 to settle at the computer for ‘work’ and three hours passes by with a blink with the printing of documents and writing comments on a new school design for Doha, Qatar.  The fact that its the first day of my new role as WCL Corporate Project Director then three hours is not too bad a stint.  I go to Doha on Tuesday night for one week.

Having ‘worked’ through departure time for Bowls we decided a walk to the beach to continue our collection of small red and green stones which are being placed in front of the  canna lilies.  They complement the red and green of the stalks.  With beach shoes on it was easy to wade up to knees to look through the water for the brightest stones.  The water felt warm, at least as warm as the pool which is currently reading 28C.  So with warm water and sun Lillian and I swam around for a lovely 30 minutes.  Not really swimming as the beach shoes work as buoyancy aids and make progress difficult.  They are very much needed for the first ten feet as there is a stone barrier to the shore but then soft sand. The water shelves from the shore, passing through one deeper section  to a sand bank so you appear to be a long way from the shore yet in water not much deeper than your waist.  It was great fun with fairly gentle waves.

Back in the garden Lillian clipped the bougainvillea hedge quite severely at the bottom of the hedging and generally tidying.  It has a white grub that seems to be surviving despite spraying with the deadly spray.  With my role of labourer completed (four trips to the bins) it was time for swimming the pool lengths.

With the afternoon passing on it was a walk into the village to eat and watch the England Euro Championship game v France.   Even an hour before kick off the pub was packed so we walked further into the village to eat at our favourite restaurant Pyrgos (Tower) where they too had a television showing the match so we stayed.  The commentary was in greek but that didn't really matter.  1-1 draw was my prediction before the game and seemed a fair result.  After the match we were joined by another couple we know who had been in the pub.  It seems we had made a good choice to watch from the restaurant as the pub was what you would expect with any English football crowd - too loud with too much to drink.  It seems the majority were ‘holiday makers’ giving the locals back seats.

We wandered slowly home admiring the black star filled sky.

Sunday 10th June 2012

Patio pot

Sunday the day of rest. LOL  Hot today with the temperature well over 90F.

Little to report today.  A walk into the village to have a Full English Breakfast so that we could use the internet and download the Sunday Times onto the iPad. 

The rest of the day was either in the garden, Lillian spending early morning spraying plants with insecticide, the pool completing lengths or indoors where it was lightly cooler watching the tennis or football on TV.  

No excitement but a nice day.

Saturday 9th June 2012

Bowls morning and the usual 1015 hr start, although this morning everyone was so engrossed in pre draw chatting it was nearly 1040 before the first bowls were rolled.  Not into the chatting I had spent the time practicing and entered the first game full of confidence.  Practice at bowls seems to work just as practicing putting on the green before a game of golf.  You get into a rhythm and the ball rolls easily into the hole more times than not.  Get on the golf course and you couldn't get it near the hole even if it was the size of a bucket.

The first game was totally uneventful except that I was playing against Lillian whose team were easy winners with me contributing ...... not a lot other than giving Lillian something to make fun of.  The second game was to be oh so different.  For the first time ever I was drawn in the same team as 'Super Bob' my bowling hero.  Surely an easy history was assured with Bob bowling number 2 and myself as skip no less.  So good to stand at the other end and say 'Just bend it in here Bob, on the Jack'.  As easy as that.  But shock horror Super Bob did not follow my clear and precise instructions but proceeded to bowl a complete load of rubbish most of the time and hardly won us a point.  I couldn't believe it every time I play against him he meets his name 'Super Bob'.  Fortunately I was able to come to the rescue more than once with a couple of timely and accurate rolls until the last end and the last bowl to be bowled by myself.  The other team where two points up with my last bowl to play.  No pressure I rolled it down and onto the Jack to take the end and the match.  Claps and cheers from my two team mates.  Super Chris!! LOL

An afternoon at home sunning ourselves and a swim to get in the lengths.  I stick with my twenty compared with Lillian's thirty and then a walk into the village to watch England v South Africa rugby at the pub.  They are a good crowd in there and it was a good finish to the day.

The picture today is from the garden which we call the 'Beach Plant'.  Lillian pulled a very small clump of it from the beach back in February and planted it. It looked pathetic and for a long time looked dead but now is full of flowers which close each night.

Friday 8th June 2012

Early morning garden view from the balcony.

Guess what?  Warm and sunny so most of the day spent outside.

Always things to do in the garden and Lillian continues to wander each day with clippers in hand snipping here and there.  Her obsession now is the small white grubs that are appearing on the bougainvillea which she dispenses with soapy water and water spray with leaves being carefully removed and put into plastic bags so in theory they do not return!  I’m only the labourer and my activity is restricted to climbing the ladder and pinning some branches of the climbers to make them grow across the car port.

A good day for swimming and a record breaking one for me in terms of lengths.  A total of 46 today in two sessions which is a good achievement I feel as I am such a poor swimmer.  I take it very slowly but do feel that the aerobic exercise is doing me good as I build up to the big test at Royal Free on 22nd July.  Lillian swam once and completed 30 lengths half on her back.  No effort at all for her and she just glides along agreeing that for her breaststroke is no effort at all.  To complete her exercise routine she went off on a mad half hour bile ride whilst I swam the second time.

A trip to the bank to withdraw deposit for the awning blind.  Whilst there we transferred some money into a saving account. We bank with Laiki Bank and I have to say whenever we go in to any of the branches (we visit three in total at various times) the service is personalised and excellent.  It was just the same when in Dubai. We have never received the same approach in the UK and perhaps is an underlying message as to why the banking industry is a mess there?  Look after the customer.

Late afternoon the husband and wife team from Ikos, the blind people called to check the awning installation, which has been ordered from Germany, collect the deposit and advise on curtaining.  Two hours later we decided to get rid of the vertical hanging blinds which were installed in a rush when we took the house last July.  They have proved impracticable with wind etc as you go in and out of the patio doors and replaces with curtaining, that will not close but will hang just at the sides and roman blinds.  I love roman blinds and Lillian has chosen great fabrics with matching cushions being made also.  You will need to wait for pictures here in a couple of weeks for more details!

With the evening now late, it was food from the freezer and the last and final episode of Prison Break!  Yes that’s it finished!