Sunday 30th October

60F ....... Brrrrrrr

With the clocks 'going back' one hour as per changes in BST full use was made of the extra hour in bed being lazy.  In fact more than an extra hour was gained and it was not until 1100 we eventually got our act together to stroll down the road for our Sunday morning 'Full English'.  This has the added advantage of being able to use the free wifi provided by the restaurant to download the Sunday Times for reading suing the day.  It is also chance to 'surf the net' without the exorbitant charge of the 'dongle'.  How long can you stay over breakfast?  An hour and 30 mins and then you start to feel uncomfortable, not only from your expanded waistline but the use of the internet without adding to your order.

Rain on the Table!

Back home it was time to sit in the sunshine until 1600 although the last 45 minutes or so there was a continuing build up of cloud.  However it was soon time for bike riding and we set off with a determination to see how far we could go in 30 minutes compared to our ride earlier in the week when the wind was so strong. Just as we set off I thought I felt a spot of rain and sure enough 15 minutes from home the heavens opened and it poured.  We raced back home as quickly as we could but were soaked!  What surprising was how quickly the temperature dropped.  From 78F to 60F in 15 minutes.  A hot shower to warm us and then  on to activities for dark 'winter nights'.  I spent time organising all of the pictures taken in the last month on the computer and Lillian making two 'stepping stones' for the garden form small flat black stones collected from the beach.  She is sticking these onto a a sheet of garden webbing.  Pictures to follow when the project is complete.

Spent most of the remainder watching 'World News' - how exciting!

Saturday 29th October

The 'Pub' taken before setting off on Golf Day

Saturdays now run into a pattern, well they have for the last three weeks.  Bowls, garden, pub, meal and home. so the morning started brightly with all hands to the 'pump'.  Lillian sprayed and washed down the patio - floor, tables, chairs whilst I went in search of the last two bags of stones from the beach to complete the first phase of the 'stones' project.  The long wall under the ficus trees is now complete and the stones certainly look better than the bare earth.

Off to bowls.  My first session of two defeats and both heavily at that too.  Our first time that Lillian and I have been drawn to play together for both of our games.  Is there a correlation between Lillian and I playing on the same team and defeat.  I think there is ....... we are not very good as yet and when playing with others we hide our 'bad bowls' as somebody else is always there or there about.  On the way home I tried to blame our skip who was not very good and Lillian reminded me that I was skip on one game and I was not very good, never rescuing a point!  Enough said.  We will be better on Monday!

We enjoy very much the pottering in the garden and the 'Charlie' episode is one that we seem to be on top of although it is still sprouting especially through the stones, coming through the mat.  We stopped at a garden centre and Lillian bought some 'weedkiller'.  It is not so readily available as in UK and what she was given needed to be 'mixed' so a trip to Kleima store for a new spray canister and Lillian stalked the garden on a mission 'Kill Charlie'.  We will see.

We arrived at the Cottage Pub having walked from home 10 minutes into the football matches only to find that ipswich were already losing 0-2.  Not a good day.  The pub was emptier than usual as many had been there to watch the earlier matches, especially Chelsea v Arsenal.  A couple of hours later, with Ipswich losing 1-4, and the pub being decorated for a 'halloween' evening it was time to eat.  A trip into the square to 'The Coast of India' which really does superb indian food.  We overindulged and were quite full on the walk home.  It was a lot colder and I was freezing (low 60's) - surely this is the last time for me to go out late in shorts an T shirt.  I only have one sweater here.  Why didn't I listen to lillian when she suggested I bring more?

Friday 28th October

Taken during our drive on Wednesday

Not much to report. A very blustery day put us off setting out for an early morning bike ride so it was potter about until the afternoon.  Pottering about was the usual - a trip to the beach for some stones, a bit of work talking to the US and of course digging deep in search of the 'Charlie' root.  We really are becoming obsessive about this but it is so frustrating to spend an hour digging down 9 inches, picking out the smallest of roots to find in two days its growing again!

The bike ride setting off at 4.15 was hard work and we both puffed into head winds and so an hour was plenty.  Once back we deserved our drink on the patio, although not for long.  As soon as the sun sets the temp drops quickly and goes from 78 - 62 in the matter of 30 mins.  62F seems cold when you have spent the day in the low 80s.

Meal, Tv and bed!

Thursday 27th October

Narrow streets of Pano Lefkara

We certainly have settled into a pattern for our days.  Thursday is Bowls morning and a good turn out of me members celebrating their victory in the match played on Tuesday.  A morale boosting speech (I don't think)  by the Captain congratulating everyone for the fine win and setting out his determination to be the best club on the island.  There are only 6!

Anyway tow games were played and once again I was drawn with 'Super Bob' in the first match and thanks to his excellent bowling a win was sealed with his very last wood.  I made little contribution as I bowled far too erratically and it speaks highly of 'Super Bob', as the lady playing my lead bowled I would think 15 of her 22 bowls out the other end, that we should win.  My second match was again a very close match, again join to the last end and again thanks to all my team, including me, delivering great final bowls we ran out winners by 3 points.  2 wins again!  Hurrah.  Good for the spirits and good for me as I was able to hide at position 2 on both games, played on the same mat!

As usual home via the supermarket with the purchase of another hand trowel so we could continue the fight against 'Charlie'.  We are slowly winning but you clear an area thinking you have every root and its back in two days!  I got fed up and lazed in the tub whilst Lillian did two tubs of washing, ironing and changed the bed and prepared a meal.  She says I am very lucky to be still bringing in an income and wait the day that I stop and will then find out what 'my job is'.  We were going to bike ride but a strong wind started to blow so it was meal, video and bed.

Wednesday 26th October

Another sunny morning after what is becoming the norm in a chilly start.  Having had enough of fighting our losing battle with the dreaded long rooted Charlie we decided to go off on a venture in the car and drive, see if we could get lost (which we managed quite easily) and see some of the villages in the foothills of the Troodos mountains.

It was a lovely time and for four hours we just drove slowly taking in the views as Lillian tried to track our route on a not very good tourist map which clearly does not have all of the roads marked they we travelled along.  Each village seems to have its own church and some are just huge in comparison to the size of the village.  'Our church will be  bigger than your church' must be the mandate.  Some are perched right on top of a hill, whilst nearer to God we wondered how on earth they built them and who actually attends them?

Border look outs on Turkish side

Having lost our way and nearly ending up back into Larnaca we turned north on the old B road towards Nicosia (Lefkosia) to a village called Lympia.  There you could see the watch towers of the Turks at the border in the north whilst in the south there were soldiers with machine guns, hard hats etc.  It must be so boring on duty looking at each other all day.  The picture here was taken using my new telephoto lens and considering the distance I was away from the subject i am really pleased with this shot.

Once through Lympia we stopped at Dali where there are some old ruins that date from 400 BC.  Looked a pile of stones to me but Lillian, as ever was interested and ventured into the museum whilst I sat in the sun playing with my camera.  The curator was delighted to see someone and made her sit and watch a video presentation! From Dali it was on to the village of Tseri who enabled us to head up into the mountains as a route back south to the coast.  The road was narrow and winding with some stunning views. We stopped and looked, sighed and thought this would make an interesting trip for visitors.

As our journey was coming to an end we passed through a little village called Pano Lefkara which it would appear is famous for its traditional lace making.  There were a number of small shops in little side streets which all seemed to have an old lady sitting there 'lacing' if that is the word.  Lillian bought a runner for the  sideboard in the 'pool' room which is a fabulous piece of work.  The shops also had a predominance of silver jewellery made locally and I treated Lillian to a bracelet which was very pretty.  Much to my surprise she accepted it without her normal protests.  Played that all wrong LOL.

It was about 1630 when we got back home having driven some 80 miles in all.  So after some checking of work emails and strolling the garden we went to Tony's Grill and Bar (400 yards from us) to eat.  Not a great place but the food is good.

Tuesday 25th October

A warm and sunny start to the day meant up relatively early and a bike ride.  There are two main routes to follow away from the house.  Along Kite Beach and inland or up to Faros lighthouse and the coast path finishing inland across fields to the village and home.  We chose the later today along the path that goes between the fields and the sea.  The picture here shows the same potato fields that I took only a few weeks ago and referred to the other day.  See how the field is now green with plenty of white flowers showing?

Once at the end of the coast path instead of heading straight across the fields we went on for a while along the road which runs between the salt lake and the sea to what is known as Spiros Beach.  Named after the developer who has built the lovely sea facing villas that I envy for their sea view.  We stopped there and walked for a while and sat looking out to sea before the normal field route back home.  All in all I guess we were out biking for about 90 minutes.  Good for the fitness levels and I have lost 5/6 lbs in weight since we first came to Cyprus back in August.  A slightly smaller waistline and tummy can only be good for the overall health.

After playing / working in the garden on the dreaded 'Charlie search' (this job is never ending) and a trip to the beach for two bags of stones (another never ending job) we went into Larnaca to pay the internet bill for the 'dongle' the equivalent of 32GBP per month for a very slow connection.  We have had an email from the developer saying the sub-contractor should start the cable works within the next two weeks, that was 10 days ago but no sign yet.  There is a saying here amongst the expats who know that the Cypriots are 'Arabs with shoes' and that is exactly how they work.  A complete Dubai style to everything, 'Inshalla' (God willing) it will all happen but first we need our two hour lunch break.

A wander around the streets in Larnaca shows it to have all of the designer clothes shops that you would see in a Dubai shopping mall, only on a smaller stage and possibly the world's smallest Marks and Spencer which could probably first 5 times into the Clacton one!  After an hour you have done Larnaca so it was a walk along the 'Avenue of Palms' and to stop at a bar with free wifi to write some emails and download the Times newspapers onto the iPad.  This was to be an expensive stop costing 43 euro for two beers, two glasses of wine, some chicken wings and nachos (crisps covered in a cheese dip out of a bottle) so it was back home for yet another snack and two episodes of the 'The Wire'.

Monday 24th October

60 years and one month!  How time flies when you are having fun.  I can't believe that it is already one month since my lovely birthday celebration and that makes it almost a month since we have returned to our home here in Cyprus.

Monday is bowls morning and we were all asked to arrive 45 minutes earlier than normal for 'cleaning' as there is a match today (Tuesday) and the 'committee' wanted everything looking its best.  So brooms were found, clothes for bench washing and hoovers for the mats.  I hovered, not hoovered around, looking busy but just generally chatting and taking a supervisory role whilst Lillian washed and scrubbed benches to her heart's content.

So with spotless mats it was on to the matches and I was fortunate to end on the winning side both games, the second against the team Lillian was playing in.  She bowled far better than me in the second match and I am far too inconsistent with long, short and wide bowls the norm an the occaisional great roll.  Still it was good fun and an easy way to spend three mornings a week.  A stop at the beach not he way home for two more sacks of stones.  We need to venture to a new set of beaches as the perfect egg is becoming harder to find.

With stones to place it was 'hunting Charlie' for me.  It seems to spring up by the hour and with it coming  through the mat under the stones it is hard to get the whole root, not wanting to cut the mat.  Lillian spent the afternoon writing a report for my on an analysis of the examination results of the WCL Group schools.  She has to earn her keep after all.

Whilst 'gardening' a photo opportunity arose with a preying mantis making its way across the path.  I took lots of pictures but as I am still experimenting with camera settings not all were good.  However they are unique for me and as it moved quite quickly not so bad.

Evening at home watching 'The Wire'.  Bed about 1030.

Sunday 23rd October

Sunday, after a few beers on a Saturday night really are the most lazy of days in the extreme.  Sun lounger, hot tub, time in garden attacking the ever spreading roots of 'Creeping Charlie' and a trip to the beach for more stones.  Two huge bags, as much as I can lift without straining covers less than a metre strip under the ficus tress.

The attached picture today was taken yesterday as Lillian sat reading her book.  It must have been good as she read half of it during the day and finished it when we went to bed, reading past mid-night.  We are really pleased with the red bouganvillea that can be seen to the left of the swing.  It had completely died, or so we thought and after about four weeks of looking no more than a twig it started to sprout at the bottom and now look at it.  The flowers are a very deep red and when it spreads along the pool fence will look fantastic.  Not the blue sky.  Not a cloud to be seen today and according to the patio thermometer went to 84F during the afternoon.

Saturday 22nd October

I like Saturdays.  We went to bowls this morning as a pair after Lillian missing due to the bed arrival.  There was a good turn out and 5 of the 6 mats were in use.  The first game I was drawn in an all male match with undoubtedly some of the best bowlers that were there this morning. Bowling second I did OK and certain did not disgrace myself and was pleased to finish on the winning side with a very close 16-14 win.  But the second match where I was drawn as lead I was terrible.  I hate that position and all too frequently bowled off the side or two long leaving my team struggling from the outset.  However with the skip playing exceptionally well on the other team I am sure we would have lost even if I didn't contribute.  So win one lose one.  Lillian was the same.  All good fun.

A quick stop at the supermarket on the way home and then to Kite Beach to pick up to some more stones.  One project completed is the browny, coloured stones under the hibiscus tree which you can see here.  The white stones have at least another 20 visits to the beach to go!

At 4.30 p.m. it was off to the Cottage Pub for football Saturday.  We are getting known there so it is easy to sit with people and chat about life in general and of course the football.  All are getting to know that I am an Ipswich supporter but no joy today as a 0-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace.

Evening meal at Pyrgos and home by 1000 pm.

Friday 21st October

A beautiful early morning with sun shining although temperatures quite low.  A winter T shirt for our bike ride for me although Lillian was a lot braver with a bare back which continues to get a golden brown.  Uphill towards faros Lighthouse and along the coastal path to Menaou.  This really is a lovely ride with the sea on one side and fields for part of the way on the other. A while ago I posted a picture of furrows in a field that had potatoes planted.  These are now a mass of green tops with lots of white flowers showing - they sure do grow quickly.  Other fields have aubergines and by the look courgettes or possibly cucumbers.  Once past the fields we ride past some lovely large beach from houses.  Built sometime ago these houses are nearing Dubai proportions with lovely swimming pools and mature gardens.  Out of our price range unfortunately unless one of my 5 premium bonds come in.

Inland across the fields onto a track that looks as if it is going to be made up into a road.  Oh that they would come and do that for our road into our little development.  No road means no telephone, no internet and no 'good TV' channels.  Hey ho.

Once back home it was breakfast and an easy day doing what we do ...... pottering, chasing down the spreading roots of the dreaded clover type weed, which continue to sprout through the stones by the hour.  We have called it 'Creeping Charlie', a name that somehow comes back from my childhood days, but I can't remember how.  A dip in the hot tub for 30 minutes which is long enough as you skin shrivels after that.  At a water temperature set for 34C and sitting in the sun it is a lovely way to pass the time.  The tub is sending the electricity meter spinning but we have got to use it as that is what it is there for.

Meal and 'The Wire' DVD series that we are watching .... Lillian bought the complete set - 78 Episodes.