Two more visitor stones

Time to say goodbye to Eric and Marion after their two week stay.  they have certainly been the most travelled of our visitors and Eric in particular has enjoyed the historical artefacts and places to visit.

As ever a stone laying ceremony with each chosing the place for the stone to be to become a histroical artefact in their own right. Marion placed hers under the bouganvillea and Eric the hisbiscus.  What great additions they make.

For me ............... its off to Doha again, a two day visit and be the time I get back there will be more visitors.  This time Joan & Les from harrow.

Where has the time gone?

One week has passed since I have had time to write on this blog ............... such is ou busy lives.  I seemed to have spent most of the time either on the phone or in front of this computer or travelling.

Last week saw a hurried thee day trip to Doha to meet with sponsors and get an update on pogress of projects that are falling behind.  As ever when you travel at the last moment you don't always get schedules made that suit you, especially when the starting place is Larnaca. So having spent ages trying to sort flights, prices et  new experience in terms of airlines.  This time to Doha via Beirut, Lebanon with Middle East airlines needing a five hour wait on the way out in the middle of the night.  Once again sleeping on a bench in a departure lounge!  Having said that I was quite impressed with MEA, especially as the flight to Doha was a co-share with Qatar Airways.  Probably the world's 5* airline says theor advert and for me they live up to it.   Oh for some of their cabin crew to abscond to British Airways!  Nothing is too much trouble for the continually smiling staff of Qatar Airways.

Doha, as ever was hot and frantic.  As I needed to get around a bit a hire car saved the day, however I had completely forgotten how driving there is not for the feint hearted.  A lot of nutters in big cars.  Don't hesitate on a roundabout or your no claims bonus will be gone in a second.

Its back again this week, but this time the trip is booked with Gulf Air via Bahrain.

Back at home Lillian continues to be the ideal hostess running Marion (Lillian's sister) and Eric here and there to ensure they see all that has to be seen on the sunny island of Cyprus.  Some new places in a trip to Salamis in the north and to the Tomb of Kings and mosaics of Paphos.  I went on the latter which was a very full day, although did feel that I had 'seen old stones' by the time we had finished.  I do wonder how all this was achieved so long ago.  The mosaics are truly beautiful.  Pictures to follow.  A couple of nice meals out means the waist line continues to expand nicely ............ hmmm I weigh the heaviets of my life.............. is it the food or is it the beer?

The weather continues to be warm and sunny with temps in the low 80s although there was a huge rain storm whilst I was away 

It rained!

Can't believe it.  Huge electric storm mid-afternoon follwed by some heavy rain.  Whilst it soon dried up once it had stopped the rest of the day reamined cloudy and dull with a high of around 78F.

For me a day of work, although some time spent in the garden clearing away fallen bouganvillea flowers and some work in the front garden which needs attention.  The project is to cut back the 'herbs', especially the lavendar which has gone made and lay black underlay and stones.  More visits to the beach beckon.  The garden though is looking good.

Lillian , Eric and Marion went off to the shops and a trip into Larnaca whilst I stayed on the phone and on the computer.

Evening meal at home

Back to Pervolia

It has been another long time away from the warmth and contented feeling of being in Pervolia and I am excited to be going back there today.  0630 taxi to London Heathrow Terminal 3 for the BA flight.

This trip has been very OK in terms of work and in Radnor, Philadelphia a new place to visit.  A WCL Group leadership conference inter-mingled with some social networking in three amazing venues which included the Merion cricket club. Merion Cricket Club is a private club in Haverford, Pennsylvania, founded in 1865.  There we stood having drinks overlooking a pristine cricket ground where the outfield had a number of croquet fields along with four tennis courts.  The cricket season having finished.  A lovely dinner on an open terrace.

Another evening was spent at The Philadelphia Club is a gentlemen's club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the oldest club of its kind in the United States.  Built in 1863 the high ceilings were just amazing as were the pictures of past members. Among the club's guests have been eleven U.S. Presidents: Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Franklin Pierce, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt,William H. Taft, William McKinley, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gerald R. Ford, George H. W. Bush so we were indeed honoured to visit such a place. (list from Wikipedia!) The club had been closed to members for the evening to allow the ladies of our party to join in the dinner.

Despite these two fine evenings the most enjoyable was at the home of the WCL Board Chairman where he and his wife were the most perfect hosts to a relaxing evening sipping wine form the magnificent wine cellar, chatting and sampling a full range of canapés.  And you thought I was there to work?

 

Flight delayed at LHR for 90 minutes whilst sitting on the plane making it a long trip.  BA didn't really excel in service at this time as not even offered a drink.  Still flight passsed realitively quickly as I was sitting next to a lady who works for the Forces service and was goin to visit the schools in Cyprus.  We had a lot to talk about.  Eventually back to the house at 1700.  Lillian has got the timing perfect from my call when it lands for he to be ready to pick me up as I leave the terminal.

Eric and Marion (Lillian's sister) are with us and they seem to have already made a number of visits to the 'sites'.  A walk into the village for an evening meal togther at KoKos.

Thursday 27th September

What a lovely day .......... wake to beautiful blue skies with the air as still as can be so its off to Faros for an early morning beach walk.  As we walk Lillian and I talk about the properties with the sea views right on the beach.  We still aspire to such (well I do) but reflect on how lucky we are to have such a lovely house in a great location within walking distance of the beach and the village.

The sea is like a mill pond and it gives opportunity to wade at least to knees in search of green and red stones for the garden.  The water is still incredibly warm yet we hardly see a sole.  Two ladies, we would have thought well into their 80's come to swim.  Lillian gains smiles with her Greek greeting, which is much appreciated.

Back home a swim, cooked breakfast and shower and then its off to Nicosia Races!  What a great time. The trip had been organised by the Bowls Club which included a meal in a private marquee.  There were about 50 members present (a coach load) which made good fun and banter. The race course was small and not unlike the one we used to go to at Jebel Ali in Dubai.  The betting counter was in the marquee.

So being as the race card was in greek it was all a bit of hit and miss for me.  In the first race I backed a horse that's form showed II which I thought meant it had won its last two races only to be told later that it had come in 11th in its last race!  But Lillian , as ever was the star when it come to picking winners.  A winner in the first race gives her €64 for her €2 bet and before the meeting is out she is over €100 to the good.  I chip in with  €15 table bet win on the last.  This was drawn from a hat ...... so I had no skill in picking the winner.  We buy everyone drinks on our table and we still end up with profit form the day.

I had great fun trying various lens settings on my camera and got quiet carried away trying to get the perfect photo.  So much so I got into trouble with a steward as a tried to climb to the top of a fence to get a better view.  Oh well it was all good fun which we must do again.

Wednesday 26th September

Very much a stay at home day today with work on the computer, telephone calls, swimming and an afternoon trip to the garden centre.  A few € of a variety of plants and shrubs prompted a two hour tidy up with trimming, cutting and planning.

Lovely still evening, although starting to cool with temperatures dropping to around 72F, prompted a stroll into the village for a meal at Bar Coast.

Tuesday 25th September

Birthday Boy

Golf at Karenium Golf Club

The days of daily blog writing seemed to have gone at the moment due to the increasing pressure of work.  However there has been some time for relaxation along the way.

A long bike ride along our favourite coastal path.  A total of 9.4 miles calculated via a 10 Euro pedometer from Lidl.  It works fine calculating not only distances but time spent fastest speed etc etc.  All adds to the interest.

A game of golf with the Cottage Golf Society at Elea Golf Club near Paphos.  As ever when you dont play very often the game is erratic to say the least, however the company was good and its always fun.  Drinks in the pub on return.

Kyrenia Harbour for lunch

Up early to drive to the North of Cyprus to meet with friends Geoff and Hazel who have a very nice house there with their own pool.  It is in the montains so has fantastic views of the sea.  Another game of golf but only 9 holes on the lovely hilly course of which they are members.  Jealousy on this point as the proposed course nearby to us has never been constructed.  We stayed over and for the night and the next day (My Birthday) visited Kyrenia.  Lunch there is always good.  it made for a loevly day.  I was grateful to family and friends who 'remembered' my birthday with electronic cards, emails, SMS and calls.

Thursday 20th September

New school building at Rayyan

Yet another return to sunny Cyprus after an unexpected three nights away in even sunnier Doha, Qatar staying at the Kempinski Hotel, West Bay.  I love this hotel in terms of its accommodation and how I always seem to get upgraded to a two bedroomed suite.  Ridiculous really to have two huge bedrooms, and even bigger lounge, kitchen and three bathrooms for just me!  36th floor this time gave good views of Doha.

The purpose of the visit was to 'hurry' contractors to prepare paperwork for Civil Defence approval for a new fire system which has been installed in the three schools.

Fire Pump - who would have
thought I would deal with such things?

Visit to CDD (Civil Defence Department) was typical of a visit to any Middle East Ministry Department. It had moved to a very plush new building next to Al Ahli hospital since my last vsit.  Lots of marble and high ceilings.  As usual lots of men in uniforms sitting behind desks more interested in their mobile phone than the person standing in front of them.  Customer Service – nil point.  However with the help of Ahmed (from the schools sponsor's office) and lots of hand shaking, business card passing and my few limited words of Arabic at the right time meant we gradually moved to the higher ranks until at last we met ….. the man.  Not quite sure who he was but he took our plans and promised ‘inshalla’ that they would be processed that day.  Ahmed and Fouad (Contractor)  were very pleased to have seen ‘this man’. This was a big step as the acceptance of our fire safety plan will mean we will be well on the way to resolving my task.  They just love paperwork, signatures and stamps in Qatar!  How the country will ever escalate its plan to match the likes of Dubai I will never know.  

Flights were via Bahrain using Gulf Air.  Not an airline I have flown with regularly but have to say have been impressed this time with new planes and nice lounges in Bahrain.

Back in Larnaca at 1430 after a two hour stop in Bharain.  We have now become quite good at synchronizing arrivals and pick up.  I phone as soon as the plane lands and by the time I have 'de-planed'(as they say on Gulf Air) gone through the cursory glance at passport control and exited, going upstairs to departures where there is more space for a pick up, Lillian is there!

Home for a some garden inspection, a few work phone calls and swim of 20 lengths.

Saturday 15th September

Bowls day .............. and this time we made it!  A very small turn out as most it would seem had been at the club all day yesterday due to the 'Champions' finals.  All winners from the different club championship for the grand finale.  Despite good support no overall winners for Kiti Bowls Club.

Lillian and I displayed our 'rust' on more than one occasion, having not played for over two months but by the second game, when we were on the same team we were much improved resulting in two victories in two games!  One was against the illustrious 'Super Bob' who I quietly joked to Lillian was 'Mediocre Bob'.  It was a good game to win.  they are a good set of people at the Bowls and we have signed to join on two social events that are being organised.  One a trip to Nicosia Races at the end of September.

After a trip into Larnaca for essential shopping at Lidl it was back home for to the garden for sun, swimming in the pool and general lazing until football time at the village.  Lillian stayed behind to meet with a few of the Pervolia residents to discuss the poor service being provided by the management company.  Another defeat for Ipswich who now fall into the bottom three!

Friday 14th September

The bougainvillaea grows and grows

Morning bike ride today ........ back into trying at least two different exercises a day from the three, walk, swim ride.  It has been nearly six weeks since we have been riding together so we took our favourite route, initially inland and then back along the coastal path.  Not good for your bum when you are not used to riding.  A short stop at the new this year wind surfing school.  We wondered what sort of season the two young greek guys that we met recently whose first commercial adventure this was, season they had enjoyed.  Dont suppose they had made much money, although wind surfing is popular late afternoon when sea breezes blow hard.

Back home the day was a mix of garden and time on the computer working.  Swim late afternoon and then a walk into the village to meet friends Jackie and Gareth for a meal at Soutsos.  The restaurant was busy and a coach load of tourists arrived.  Friday night is 'Cypriot' night with traditional dancing.  One of the male dancers does a 'party piece' where he gets customers to place glasses full of water on his head.  Beermats form a platform and he makes the most of getting lady helpers, walking / dancing from one to another.  Lillian stood on a chair to place one glass ...... which I counted as number 12.  The act finished with 15 glasses placed.  Impressive and enjoyable and as ever Lillian is able to deal with the 'spotlight'.  Glad it was her not me.