A light in the darkness …

 Looking back at my last blog there was a fair bit of doom and gloom there, and one of our mantras is - like Monty Python - to always look on the bright side of life. When I stray from that path, Ann is always keen to remind me that we had agreed to focus on the positive. And she is right. Anything other than that will be a long, downward path.

Today the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the breeze is calm. Occasionally we forget what a lovely house we live in, with its beautiful garden (and how many hours has she laboured, even if it is a labour of love?) and peace and tranquility. We, and the managerie, are healthy and happy and fulfilled. We look westwards over the Mediterranean Sea and could not be happier. Beautiful and inviting though the swimming pool looks, we know from experience that it will be another three weeks before that first dip.

My writing is making substantial progress and it will soon be time to bring the desktop fan into play. Our study is very bearable in the morning, and the words are flying onto the page. “Bridges over the Tyne” is proving something of a cathartic experience, delving into the Newcastle underworld in the 1970s. The time of Vince Lander, T. Dan Smith and John Poulson, who were all clients of my father although I never understood the significance of that at the time. My novel, a work of fiction, draws upon those memories and my research. It is proving engrossing. Only time will tell if it leads me to become a best-selling author.

One of the things we discovered during our self-imposed lockdown was a renewed love of cooking, especially in the cooler months. An air fryer brought a new dimension to our culinary endeavours, a soup maker has proved an absolute boon, a new electric oven (which actually achieves the temperature set) and a set of Ninja knives … hot stuff indeed. But the most beneficial item we bought cost €5. It was an app for our iPads called Paprika, which is the most sophisticated way of downloading, modifying and scaling recipes from all over the internet. I believe it is available for IOS, Android and Windows and is highly recommended. You can find it at

https://www.paprikaapp.com/

For a different point of view on our life here, you might enjoy Ann’s blog “Further Musings from a Cyprus Garden” which you can find at

http://furthermusingsfromacyprusgarden.blogspot.com/

The State of the Nation (s)

 Recent events in both the UK and the EU have focused the mind wonderfully when it comes to living in Cyprus. It has been increasingly apparent that the world is rowing ever smaller and more interlinked - and this has nothing to do with globalism. 

Perhaps most sickeningly of all Joe Biden came to (ostensibly) interfere in the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations. It was nothing more than an excuse to appeal to the Irish-American voters in the next presidential election - of whom there are apparently millions - and the “selfie” he had with the murderous Gerry Adams caused me more than nausea. Having served in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s, I know just what damage that murderous pair (Adams and McGuiness) did. And then, not to receive their just desserts, thanks to Blair and the other surrender monkeys. Northern Ireland Protocol and the Good Friday Agreement be damned!

“Don’t be ill” is the mantra as the various union groups keep nurses and doctors out on strike (I’ve lost track of whether paramedics and other NHS are still on strike or not), and all the train drivers and postmen and driving instructors and … 

It is beyond belief that these strikes have been allowed to blossom and ruin the lives of millions of Britons who are struggling to make ends meet. I’ve lived through some inept and uncaring political administrations in my seventy years, but the current government is the worst by far. There was a time, although younger readers may find it hard to believe, when British governments focused on finding solutions to the problems citizens encountered. Why? Because they entered politics to make a difference for the better.

We are both affected by events near and far, and are increasingly likely to be so. The war in Ukraine has sent shock waves through the world, but it will be a storm in a teacup if China invades Taiwan. That could signal a world war to end all wars. And what is frightening and hopeless about it all is that people have no control over what is happening or likely to happen. I suppose we should be grateful that Hilary Clinton never made it to the White House. North Korea would be a memory and as for Iran?

Inevitably we try to ignore the storm clouds which appear from time to time. Cyprus seems an oasis at times like this. Our own mantra is to have “Fun in the Sun”. Interestingly we looked at the runners and riders of today’s Grand National. My choices (both rank outsiders) were “Born by the Sea” and “Back on the Lash”. Highly appropriate for us as our relationship blossomed by the sea and, allegedly, we have been known to drink alcohol from time to time. Cheers.

For a different point of view on our life here, you might enjoy Ann’s blog “Further Musings from a Cyprus Garden” which you can find at

http://furthermusingsfromacyprusgarden.blogspot.com/

“Housekeeping is like being caught in a revolving door.”

 I like a clean house and I hate cleaning. And I do believe my darling wife thinks the same. So the solution is to find someone who will do the work for us. Simple! Well not really. We started employing cleaners a few years ago, a Vietnamese girl who thought she knew best, a super lady from the Philippines who was great (but we had to dispense with her services after we “locked down” for health reasons). And then, the regular readers of my blog, will know we employed a thief and all the angst that entailed. Finally our lovely gardener’s wife cleaned for a few weeks but they have now returned home. We felt violated by the thief and perhaps still do.

But Spring is approaching and we feel that we have done our home work and so have started searching again. Not simple but we have our first applicant next week for a trial. So fingers crossed and references checked. It really is a strange thing having someone in your house. Our super pool man, Mick, has worked here for three years but never comes into the house. A cleaner is essential and a new gardener will be necessary. But so many people are offering their services and each poor experience leaves you bruised.

And, as if by magic, someone we vaguely know recommended a cleaner and she arrived (with her husband, an industrial-sized vacuum cleaner and all her cleaning materials) and the whirlwind was unleashed on Castle Douglas. We literally had to throw them out after two and a half hours, (not the agreed two hours) and they would not accept a penny more than was agreed. The house was absolutely immaculate and sparkling. They have visited three times more and we are delighted with what they have done. He has also helped Ann in the garden whilst his wife cleans the house. What a find!

A super visit from Ann’s daughter and a friend last week, only blighted by the poor weather which they seem to have brought with them from Sussex. I was totally horrified by the way prices in Latchi (where they were staying) in bars and restaurants have skyrocketed in the last few months. €65 for a steak, €16 for soup of the day … one of the UK papers wondered whether there was inflation or “greedflation”? I would hazard a guess the latter is true.

In any event, Cyprus is no longer a place where eating out or going for a drink is a cheap option. Food for thought perhaps …