A blustery day

and the waves crashed

Wow ...... strong winds, cloud interspersed with the shortest moments of warm sunshine.  The garden was well and truly bashed today with chairs and sofas whipped from the patio and sent spinning across the garden.  We braved a walk to the beach which was fine when the wind was blowing behind you but head on was a struggle.

The waves crashed and provided the perfect example of longshore drift with even the largest stones being washed up and sent moving along the beach.  We ventured for long as we could but only an hour such was the battle against the elements.  With grey clouds beckoning, looking to bring rain we head back home to find a power cut which lasted some four hours.  Good job we always have candles and like the atmosphere it brings.  Once the power was back on it was a night at home with the DVD.

Thanks to all of our friends and family who have expressed concern about our 'wealth' with the problems that Cyprus is currently facing.  Its nice that our little sunny island gets a mention on the world stage, it's us you think of!!!   It's all a bit of a bummer really, but since we can't do anything about it we'll just have to see what they all eventually decide.....luckily we have most of our savings in UK; and of course, there was meant to be a guarantee by the EU that 85,000 euro in any country is always safe - obviously unless you are a sunny little island with no clout on the international stage!!!!   But as they say - whatever!!!!  Lets wait and see.

So good to be back once again after almost three weeks ‘on the road’ and away from home comforts not least Lillian.

Whilst away I was asked on three separate occasions if I liked traveling? Each time I told the story of how 12 years ago I was so envious of people who travelled with their work, especially my sister-in-law Evelyn who seemed to be here, there and everywhere with her job with  IHG hotel group.  At that time even Lillian was ‘away’ with trips to to ‘exotic’ Dubai earning some cash. Now its ‘ok’ but one different hotel, different room, different bed, different bar and different airport after another takes its toll and the novelty has worn off a bit.  My passport shows this as my 29th trip to the USA in the last 30 months.

Boston Common

In terms of work the trip was fine and achieved virtually all that I set out to complete.  At one time it seemed dogged by the risk of flight cancellation due to snow.  There were severe weather warnings in Washington whilst there, even causing schools to be closed.  Hundreds of flights were cancelled but somehow I managed to get to New York where it started to snow just as I arrived and was very soon quite deep. (Well be UK standards anyway) Fortunately in the last 12 hours before I was scheduled to leave a sharp rise in the temperature changed snow to slush instantly and so it was on to Boston where 12 inches of snow had just fallen.  A walk across Boston Common watching children tobogganing and families building snowmen of all shapes and sizes was probably the most pleasurable time of the trip.  The invite to play golf at the Myers Country Club in Charlotte was also well received and a good time.  Bright, sunny but cold and good company made for a very enjoyable 4 hours and light relief from continual meetings.  A fine course with lovely club house and facility in general.  The course was sown with bermuda grass which whilst a beautiful lush green in the summer months changes to dead brown in the winter months.  Only the greens were green!  I was inwardly pleased with my score as its some time since I have played.  Needed to have putted better to have been a winner.

Back In Pervolia Lillian had been busying herself keeping the garden immaculate with two new pots displaying petunias and other patio plants.  I was pleased to see the two pots I had planted whilst ‘home alone’ a few weeks ago had also been tended and are now in full bloom.  Its good to be back together but sadly a short time as its off to Doha, Qatar on Sunday.

With a late arrival flight on Wednesday it was Thursday before we could really get out an about and a brisk 90 minute walk along the beach and the Faros headland soon blew cobwebs away.  Needed the walk as wining and dining at times and just eating too much at others has meant the scales are tipping the wrong side of what I call  ‘fat man weight’. The sea looked fantastic.  It was as clam as a millpond reflecting afternoon sunshine.  Temps in the low 20’s C but next month will go to mid consistently and then bring on the summer!  As ever work is not far away and a three hour evening phone call to the USA on international dialing rates finished the working day at 11pm

Red Sky in the morning

Red sky in the morning 0615

Ok let start with the normal introduction.  Let's talk about the weather, the favourite of Brit conversation openers.  "Isn't it lovely?" "Really quite warm today - perhaps summer is coming at last?" "Wow that wind was so strong!" 'Did you hear the rain last night?" "Real storm blowing, I could hear the waves crashing on the beach all night".  The last three days have been all of these with temps into the upper 70s and down to 40s at night.  We've had lovely blue skies and the strongest of winds which on teo occasions whipped the two seater from the patio sending it flying across the garden.

Bike ride looking to Faros

Today is one of the lovely days, and really quite hot, rather than warm and I've come in from sitting on the patio to write this to get a little cooler!  With it being such a lovely day this morning was an hour bike ride on our favourite coastal route and new roads inland bringing us back to Pervolia via Kiti.  The fields look good and many are full with wheat, oats and barley growing to heights of 2-3 feet.  Still green but growing fast.  Every space is filled and the crops grow right to the road edge.

We have learnt to recognise some of the more unusual crops and there are a number of fields with artichokes, which are  showing their large green heads.  Some fields are planted and have rows and rows of large plastic cloches warming a protecting the young growth.  What is in them remains to be seen although some look like peppers.  We passed one farmer planting small plants of what I don't know but he had a huge tray and was stopping every couple of strides to plant.  It was a big field so clearly had a days work ahead.  Last night as we walked back from the village at 9 o'clock another was ploughing a field with only the lights of the tractor.  The farmers work hard.

The fields look great (so does Lillian!)

Today is football watching day and soon its off to the Cottage Pub for the normal Saturday banter.  Come on Ipswich ..... just can't bare the comments that will come with another defeat.  'Your boys aren't looking too good Chris.  Division 1 next year?'

And so a week has passed with some time to relax, but far too much computer based work and its time to set off again on travels, Washington, New York, Boston, Charlotte, Miami and London ..... all in 18 days.

Two beautiful days

Wow! Summer has come and in February too.  Two beautiful days with temps about 24C and rising when sitting out of the breeze.  Clear blue skies with hardly a cloud to be seen.

With such lovely warm weather time for our favourite passtime of all beach walking.  However at Faros we were stopped by an armed and face painted soldier who appeared from a bush blocking our way.  The army were playing war games and firing canon / rockets out into the sea.  Not sure what they were aiming at as nothing could be seen just the boom and a few seconds later large plumes of smoke / water spray.

It looked as if this was the cypriot army and it all looked pretty laid back especially when we walked through the Faros car park to see young guys standing around with coke cans laughing and joking.  There is still national service here for young cypriots who spend two years of their lives doing what I am not sure.  However I guess Cyprus is in a vulnerable position.  So close to Syria and the troubles there and of course half of the island is illegally occupied by the Turks, for which there seems no solution.

The sea was beautifully clam and time was spent wandering around a new development of 32 houses that have been built on the cliff tops which is nearing completion.  We were able to look inside furnished show houses.  Nice and a great location with large private swimming pools but very small for permanent residence.  Ideal holiday homes.  We were told only 4 remained unsold.

A trip into the village and a typical meal at KoKos.  Long time since I had eaten one of the huge pork chops that are served in every establishment, except the fish restaurants of course.  They are just huge and its only when finished you feel guilty of eating so much.  Into the Cottage Pub for a swift half on the way home leads to more than one and a late night.

More bookings with friends and family to stay.  We already have 6 weeks now, which we will enjoy, but if you are thinking of coming and you are most welcome, get booking!

A week in Doha

So back here in Pervolia once again after a week away in sunny Doha.  As ever its good to be back and just spend some time 'chilling' although apart from one very heavy rain storm on Saturday afternoon the weather has been 'very pleasant' so far.  Far better than what the UK are currently having!

Doha was thee same as ever, traffic at every roundabout and cross roads.  Does anyone drive anything other than large 4 x4s?  Not very many that's for sure.  5 days of meetings and dinners with people that you don't really want to chat to from 0700 to 2300 each day is not so great fun.  Dinners? Enjoyed the new Gordon Ramsey restaurant in the St Regis Hotel where we were staying. He was 'not in the office' however the influence on the food is clear ...... for me wagyu burger.  We were told the beef had come from Japan.  very good and some hand cut fries that nearly but not quite matched fries made from Cyprus potatoes.

Great hotel.  First time I have stayed there which was interesting as we used to watch its construction from our apartment when living in Doha.  As ever the space in Middle East hotels is amazing with huge, high ceiling-ed reception and lounge areas. You always have to expect the unexpected in this sort of hotel and this time it was unique.  The Rolls Royce used by King George V as part of his coronation!

Red line marks edge of plot!

Work was mainly with company investors, visiting the schools and discussing the 5 year plan.  This gets a little 'contentious' when you take visitors to a desert plot and say 'Yes we will have a school here in 18 months' especially if they have never see such a site before.  It was amusing watching one female visitor trying to walk across sand in 6 inch high heeled shoes.

Lillian has been busy in the Uk whilst I hav been away and look forward to welcoming her back later tonight.

Where's the blue skies gone?

After writing how good the weather has been all of a sudden the blue is gone and big black clouds take away the deep blue skies.  Late morning we were subject to the most violent of storms with very strong winds and lashing rain.  The change happened so quickly it was hard to fathom but it sure did rain and the wind whipped the two chairs we had on the patio way across the garden.  Within an hour ...... normal blue skies return.

So its travelling time again and I write this short note from Bahrain airport as I wait the connecting flight to Doha where I will be for the week.  Work will be important this week, meeting a number of investors and continuing to develop our new school project.  As ever a nice hotel to stay in.  This time the St Regis which should be good (all hotels are good in Doha) to see as it was being built when we lived in Doha from 2008-2009.

So back in Pervolia next weekend .... until then

Working from home

I'm sure that people think that because we live here in Cyprus that I'm out in the sunshine all of the time, having great fun, beach walking,bike riding, getting a tan and that's it.  Unfortunately its not true.  I work.  Not such a great idea but I do.  Some seem to immediately think of the perceived advantages

• No boss to tell you what to do
• Your time is your own
• You're home with the one you love more than anything

Ha! Aren't those same benefits sometimes the very stumbling blocks to getting work done from home?

"No boss to tell you what to do" sounds great until you realize that this means you answer to yourself and a Chairman, CEO and CFO who keep phoning you for the latest info on what is going on in USA and Qatar!  How would I know? - I'm not there!

You have to make sure you start work on time. Yes that can be three hours before most people get out of bed due to time differences.

You have to make sure you stop work on time.  Fine - try telling the Americans that when they want to speak at 3pm in the afternoon their time ....... excuse me I'm thinking of relaxing its 11pm.

"Your time is your own" may give me peace of mind knowing that I can always do it tomorrow... as long as I didn't say the same thing yesterday. "You're home with your loved one" is only great if I'm talking to Lillian and listening to her once and a while - right?

For me, finding the time to take a shower is probably #1 on my list of top ten struggles when it comes to working from home

Yesterday was a beautiful day with blue skies and temps, clearly displayed by my new weather station, which was showing up to 24C in the afternoon on the patio.  Not that I saw much of it having started with a call at 0630 and still at computer and phone in dressing gown 7 hours later!  Grrrrr it was a tough work day!

Lillian is truly a saint providing cups of tea and sandwiches at appropriate intervals. We did manage at least a walk into the village and an appearance in the Cottage Pub.  Not many there although the few regulars seemed genuinely pleased to see us.  A 'Valentine' special meal in the Coast of India, our favourite Indian restaurant of all places, even surpassing Shapla in Ruislip, bakc in London.  We counted 22 eating, which is a record breaker, haven't seen so many people in there for a long time.  Perhaps their bargain special was a draw.  Two courses, wine and beer for 28 Euros .... great deal and excellent food too.

Back into Blue skies and sunshine

Back to beach walking

After almost six weeks away its good to be back here in our 'home'.  A good time has been had by all with visits to places afar, places we have never seen before and at times shared with people we have never met before.  It has been so enjoyable but its good to be back.

The house has survived our being away and is all in one piece and much to our delight the garden has stood up well to any bad weather that has been and gone.  I remember so well being quite upset to return last January in the UK to a garden that was best described as 'bashed' - this year there are a few leaves to collect and a remarkable absence, although not totally of 'Charlie'.  If you don't know Charlie then you will have to refer back to early last year when it was a regular visitor to these pages.

Blue skies make you feel so much better and temperatures have certainly been in the low 70F since we have been back.  A good time for beach walking to Faros with scarcely anyone to be seen.  The sea is calm, hardly any wind and was even warm enough to sit on two plastic sun loungers that somebody has been kind enough to place under the blue umbrella on what we affectionately call Umbrella Beach.

During our time away work took me twice to Chicago along with New York and Boston.  BA airmiles the 'payback' from time away and the highlight was our much waited cruise holiday to the Caribbean and its environs of Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico.  Great places to visit, although for me, some of them once!  Never having been before on a cruise it was with some trepidation that we set off on the flight to Miami where we were scheduled to pick up the Severn Seas Navigator.  We should not have worried as everything from th hotel we stayed out first night in to the cabin on the ship to the wining and dining to the excursions ashore were well organised and certainly 'fine' - especially the wining and dining.  Won't disclose how much weight we put on ..... let's just say we both did.  4 days in Miami on the way home were also well received and the chance to sit on the beach for a couple of the days in temps reaching the 80F as great.  A stroll down Ocean Drive was also a time to savour.  We met a number of very interesting people to spend time with and share stories - Craig and Andrea if you are reading this it was very good to meet you guys and we practice our shuffle board (somewhere) so we will be in form when we visit!  Our first cruise, perhaps the sign of old age creeping in as it certainly won't be our last.

Follow the link here to view some (but not all) of our pictures https://picasaweb.google.com/114877672570450880332/Cruise#5844800252636253890

Travelling starts

First walk of 2013

Well as shown in the block on the right handside its 'Travelling time' and today we leave Cyprus for almost 5 weeks.  This morning is the usual rushing around that is before any trip.  Lillian to the bank, empty the hot tub, button down the hatches etc etc.

The weather has been wonderful throughout our stay although last night there were heavy rain storms accompanied by huge claps of thunder but today is once again bright sunny and warm.  A quick check on the Chicago weather shows it currently 12F which is 20F below freezing.  Sure will need to take my winter woolies but at least no snow forecast for there .............. yet!

Need to go .................. but will be back soon, well soonish

Happy New Year

Sun sets for the last time in 2012

Happy New Year Everyone!

2012 shows a total of 115 posts documenting our life here in Cyprus.  Each one is a happy moment sooooooooo

New Year resolutions:

to have more happy times here and make more than 115 posts!

Welcome more visitors so that our stone collection grows.

Work less and walk, bike and swim more!