Arranged to get this web page set up, Paul Alldred was the person who is going to help me understand how to do it, so today we sat at the flat getting an introduction, by 3pm my head was full of IT jargon, most of which was gobbledegook to me, never mind, I did take notes. however I will need to practice before his next visit.
Played golf again today, this time it went well. Makes you fell good when you get it right.
I arrived home to find our 1st electric bill 23million TL which is about £8 53. we are not sure how often they come in.
In the evening we took Brian and Jan along to the Manolya for a 'Cypriot Night' there was a village troupe dressed in local costume, all kids,doing dancing and juggling, a singer and belly dancer. Michele and me were the 1st up dancing which in itself is a 1st and I also took part on stage with the belly dancer, which was something, that I hasten to add was not voluntarily. We also had a 10 course meze which was very filling. At the end of the night Mehmet joined us after he finished work and we had a few whisky's together and needless to say last to leave, about 1am.
On the way home with Michele driving we were stopped by the police for a routine check. No worries, Michele had been on soft drinks all evening. The police do stop and check out drivers
Michele had seen a job at Unwins advertised in the 'Cyprus today' and quite fancied it, she had said that she misses the buzz of the workplace, it was property management coordinator and she would visit houses take pictures and check that the houses were OK. The hours were long but we thought we would manage. she had e-mailed her CV last night and Mark Unwin phone today asking to see her. They arranged an interview with Mark for tomorrow
Kimberly phoned to tell us that she has seen her doctor and the good news is that her ears haven't been damaged by scuba diving.
Visited the Vauxhall garage in Lefkosa at 0830 to get my car serviced, they did not have it booked in, (although I had phoned) however they would do it and asked for us to sit in the lounge. I needed to go into the road tax office so they gave us a lift there. What a place, there were barriers inside so that queues could be formed and believe me there were queues, which one do we wait in as they were for different things, we managed to get the right one and waited for about an hour before we were served, then was told they could not tax my car until the end of the month when my UK tax expired. I told them the Gumruk (customs) told us to come at least 1 week before my expiry date. they would not do it.
We then went for a coffee and slice of cake and walked back to the garage just to pass time it took us about 30 mins. We sat in the lounge at the garage until about noon when I asked reception when my car would be finished. She told me 2.30PM I was not amused. We then walked to Astro supermarket 20 mins walk where we had some lunch then walked back. It was very hot now and I was looking forward to getting back into the air conditioned lounge,it was about 1.30pm when we got back to the garage, it was closed for lunch. It was so unbelievable it was funny, so we just sat on the doorstep until they opened.
Bang on 2.30 my car was ready. cost £85.27 I had words with the manager before I left re the time it took, then on the way home I noticed that they had not adjusted my hand brake as I had asked. I would be back in Lefkosa tomorrow so I will return then.
Mark Unwin phoned asking if Michele could go in and see him again tomorrow morning
Michele was offered and accepted the post at Unwin Estate Agents and starts on Monday. We then drove over to the South on a shopping trip to buy some suitable clothing for work
On the way back I called in at the garage in Lefkosa and asked why my handbrake was not fixed when my car was in. They told me they did not have the time then as it would take longer than they anticipated, 'Why was I not told this' I enquired, the reply' you did not ask' Well I will learn. I have arranged to take it in on Monday and it will take 2 hrs but not cost me anything. It pays to speak your mind at times.
Another visit to the golf course, why not, this is one of the reasons to come over here, just to relax and enjoy life. Pairs matchplay which was halved. A draw to you non-golfers.
When we were over here in March, Mehmet let us keep some items at the hotel so today we collected them, surprise a full bottle of Martini bought duty free when we came over then. That made my day, then it got even better a 3/4 bottle of Remy Martin. We had completely forgotten we had left drink behind. think we will stay in tonight...hic
Stayed in and watched the Olympics and Arsenal vs. Middlesbrough what a cracking game. Needless to say the Remy Martin was very tasty
Michele's first day at work 0830 start its about a mile away. I drove her there then went to Lefkosa to get the handbrake fixed on my car, they were very nice to me, even made me coffee. They did my car first and in exactly 2 hrs as stated. The rest of the day I spent having a real lazy day in the flat.
Michele phoned to say the jeep she was getting was still being serviced so I went to collect her, she quite enjoyed her day, we already knew Mark and most of the staff as we purchased our house through them so that made it much more easier for Michele to settle in. However she was tired and as such had an early night.
Played golf again today, Michele needed our car so I got John Whale (club captain) one of the many bandits on the course to pick me up on the way past. I did not play well, felt very tired. I got dropped off at Michele's work and picked up my car, went home and did the washing and prepared dinner. I was missing Michele already.
When Michele came home from work with her jeep, she just about went straight to bed, not used to 0830- 1830 working day. I started to feel that maybe we had made a mistake and also had a headache coming on.
Not long until my car needed to be taxed and before I could do it I had to visit the police garage in Lefkosa to use the weighbridge and get a slip from them which I would show the tax office, should have made sure the boot was empty. The headache I had last night was returning but I thought no more about it.
When I got home about 1030 I felt terrible, suddenly I became very lethargic (what's new I hear you shout) and my head was really bad, no, I had not been on the Remy martin. Within 10 minutes of getting home I was in bed. All day the headache was there, I had no desire for food water or anything, Michele, HELP !!
Michele returned home at 1845 to find me in a right state and I was like this until Friday night. I was later told that the symptoms were of sand fly fever and that there were other people with it.
Feeling yuck, but a little better, Michele went to work and to tell Mark she was leaving. I expected her to be home by about 10am.
Our friends Andre and Dawn are over tomorrow and staying at Ballapais Monastery Hotel for a week they have bought a house on the same site and are just over to check it out. We will obviously meet a few times, so I hope this virus has gone by tomorrow.
Michele phoned said she is working the full day and would speak with me later. Had she changed her mind surely not. I still wasn't able to eat but tried to drink as much salted fluids as possible to rehydrate me. When Michele came home she told me that mark wanted her to stay and asked her to think it over again with me at the weekend. Fair comment I would have done the same if I was Mark.
Today, Andre (onest onge from Lewisham) and his wife Dawn are over and although not quite feeling 100%, they're coming over has given me something of a lift and we decided to get out in the morning, the fresh air would do me the world of good. We went for a walk, had coffee and cake, I struggled just a little with the cake but got it down. Andre phoned me about noon and we arranged to meet at the hotel later today.
He had brought me over some new golf balls, bags of tees, one quite large golf ball which when split in 2, revealed a motorised shaver, 'in case you get up late, have a shave on the course mate' he told me. We took them to see their house and visited other houses (built by Levent our builders) at a further stage of completion just to see the fixtures and fittings as well as the standard of workmanship, they were very happy with the results.
After dropping them off at the hotel it was back home for a shower and change then back to meet them for dinner at the Abbey Bell Tower restaurant in Bellapais. Andre and me had their special steaks but the sauce for me was too strong, probably with me not yet 100% and as such I could only eat half but we had a really good night.
I was due to play golf today but did not feel strong enough so I cancelled. I had to drive up to the hotel and drop off our snorkels for Andre and Dawn to use when I met a friend, who, without going into details was banned from driving. He still had a couple of weeks left to run but had started a new job and really needed his licence back, he visited the chief of police who was very understanding, he was told that his ban would stay in place, however he could drive on the back roads where it was quieter. I can just imagine Fife Constabulary agreeing the same.
Sorry for the lack of pictures for the last week, I lost all the ones with Andre and Dawn in and the rest of the time I was just to busy feeling unwell.
Today one of Michele's old workmates Linda and her Husband Colin were coming over to look at houses, they had booked into the Manolya for 2 weeks. On the way to collect them from the airport we stopped of for lunch, we did not want much, just a sandwich and soft drink, the waiter did not speak much English and we, not much Turkish. A plate duly arrived with bread then another plate then another plate, what a feast we were being given. The kebabs were chicken, lamb and beef. Needless to say we left some. All this for £4.50. The flight was on time and when we dropped them off at the hotel, invited them to join us along with Andre and Dawn for drinks tonight at Boaters.
We had arranged to Meet Andre at 9pm, and arrived with Linda and Colin at about 8.15pm. Low and behold, sitting there were our friends John and Christine, her sister Margaret (who has bought a house over here) and Margaret's friend, who all joined us at our table. Boaters sits right on the waterfront in the old harbour and our table was in the middle, it was fairly busy, 9pm arrived but no sign yet of Andre, then at 9.30pm my phone rings it is André asking where I was. He had arrived at boaters just before 9pm and was at the front table watching the people go by and looking out for me, if only him or Dawn had turned round at some point they would have seen us. We had a really cracking night, everybody got on so well with each other. It was that good I forgot to take pictures...hic
Today was another golf day but again I cancelled, I believed I was still not strong enough but maybe last night had influenced my decision. We had a lazy day.
