Friday 29 December 2017

Christmas time ...

Well here we are heading towards our sixth Christmas in Cyprus. We shall be glad to get there as the last week or two have been very busy, and occasionally frustrating. It all started when I realised I had to apply for my State Pension, which according to the UK government, is described as a benefit. What! I could rant on for hours about having to apply for a benefit which I started to contribute towards in 1969.

Our motto for 2018, which sounds uncharitable, is to mirror what Peter O'Toole cried aloud in Lawrence of Arabia "No Prisoners". We are utterly sick of being taken advantage of, and used, by those who home in on Ann's kindness. My lovely wife is one of the kindest souls on this planet, and people have taken advantage of her since we have moved here. She is "Such a good listener" they say, and then bombard her with their concerns.

Well no more. If you have a problem then consult a psychiatrist. Don't bring your problems to us. I get heartily sick of people using and abusing Ann's good offices and she does not need any of that stuff.

So be warned ... cross our threshold and we will bite back ... and sort your own problems out.

Monday 18 December 2017

A nasty experience ...

As I do every morning, and some afternoons, I took Daisy for a longer walk in the wooded hills above Argaka. Occasionally we meet other dogs and dog owners, and our particular favourite is an elderly red setter and his owner. The dogs chat and the owners chat, and then we proceed on our way.

This morning was different. I noticed another car parked near where I normally park, and so expected to see either dogs or joggers somewhere on the track. Fifteen minutes' later three dogs came bounding up towards us, with a fat woman behind them calling "They're friendly." Well that was far from the truth. Two of the dogs leapt at Daisy snapping and barking and trying to bite her. I shouted at the woman to get her dogs under control to no avail. My heavy walking boot, with my fourteen stones behind it, came to the rescue as the largest dog was booted into the undergrowth. The other dogs made their way back to their owner.

There was a firm and frank exchange of views, and I told her that her dogs (being in a public place) should be on a lead and under control. She told me, without shame or apology, that she would do what she wanted and that we were in the forest. And off she went. Fortunately Daisy, although shaken, was unharmed. I was, and am, absolutely livid.

I noticed, whilst I was parking, that she was driving a small red hatchback (registration number EAB???) and I posted on Facebook to see if anyone knew who she was. As yet, there have been no concrete answers although one or two people have suggested a house in the village. 

The end result is that I shall carry a heavy stick on dog walks in future, and heaven help any dog not on a lead who approaches aggressively. And heaven help their owner as well. I have an easy-going approach to life, a long fuse ... but anyone or anything who threatens me or mine had better watch out. If you light that fuse, it will take some extinguishing.

As for the fat woman and her nasty dogs ... keep well out of my way.