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Our
adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
  
O.K. I know its three days since the party on the boat, but an old man has the right to sober up a little before reporting, after all it was a significant birthday. We had a great day out last Sunday, setting off from Kyrenia Old Harbour at 10.30 a.m. with a full complement of 30 passengers. The whole idea originally was Joan's, knowing my love of boats, since the days when we lived in Holland, so she thought it would be a great way to celebrate my 65th. I think also she thought; if we do it at home, guess who gets stuck with all the cooking! The boat we hired, The Sunseeker, is owned by a Swedish captain, Hakan and his wife Margaret. they had arranged to let us have the boat on a closed party basis and stocked up the bar ready for the drinkers amongst our friends. The day was very hot, it has been consistently around 38 degrees for a few weeks now, and the sea was calm. So with these conditions, Hakan took us east of Kyrenia, to a cove just past Turtle beach. There we anchored up for around three hours, plenty of time for lots of swimming, a few drinks to wash away the salt and then later a fantastic lunch laid on by the crew. The water was crystal clear and 3-4 meters deep and when Hakan dropped a thermometer in the reading was 29 degrees, heaven, what a way to spend your birthday. After lunch, many were to be found snoozing on the top deck sun beds, topping up the tan. A few of us swam over to the rocks at the entrance of the cove and there we found an inlet between the rocks to a small lagoon, the water in here was incredible, it was as warm as bath water and crystal clear. Around 3 p.m, Hakan set sail, back towards Kyrenia and then moored up at another beach, for a final swim and tea and coffee for those who wished. Obviously I had been got at, because, out came this big gooey cream cake, with candles, sparklers and Happy Birthday Frank. We arrived back at Kyrenia around 5.30 p.m. and everyone agreed, a fantastic day out, definitely to be repeated.
We had an e-mail from Erkan at the Sempati Hotel here in Lapta. He wanted a link on our website for all you UK readers, so we decided to go and see him before agreeing. Lovely hotel, only 34 rooms + 6 bungalows, all beautifully looked after and it would appear just a friendly family run hotel, with pool, bar, restaurants etc. Nice quiet spot, off the main road and from what we hear many guests just keep coming back year on year. So here goes, take a look at www.hotelsempati.com" target="_blank">www.hotelsempati.com">www.hotelsempati.com .
I have recently been involved, with my Cypriot friend, Ertugral, in bringing in a small container of kitchen equipment from a UK supplier. The ship arrived in Famagusta today and the goods were transferred from container to bonded warehouse. This was necessary, because two of the electrical items, required inspection by the central government department responsible for safety, before everything can be released to us. Now one can see the logic of this, so we duly identified the items and set off back to Nicosia where the Dept. offices are. Now this is were logic fell down. When we got to the office, having calculated that we could get these items approved, drive back to Famagusta, 75 kilometers and still get our goods out before Customs closed for the day, we found that the one and only man responsible for electrical goods, was out of the country until Saturday. So now we have to go back on Monday morning, seek approval and then get our goods out. Every day over 3, in bonded warehouse, costs us 80 dollars. I am only glad this guy isn't on 3 weeks holiday. This is Cyprus once again!
Norman and Margaret came up for a swim today and Joan and I had bought a big rubber ring with handles on, to play with in the pool. Great fun, its a real work of art, getting onto the centre of this thing and then balancing there for any period of time, especially if there are others in the pool trying to throw you off. Who said you had to be young to play with toys ?
Joan and I have recently been trying Turkish language course for two hours on a Friday afternoon, not easy, but we met some nice people who are struggling with the same problem. Among them where Alan and Pam, who live in Karaman. At midnight tonight, Alan will attain the grand old age of 60 years, so Pam threw a little party for around 30 friends, any good excuse for a party, but some are just that little better than others. A great night and of course we had to go on way past midnight, otherwise we would not have been able to celebrate his coming of age properly.
This evening there was a 60's and 70's night, at the recently opened Castle Pub, with BBQ etc. So we thought, as this was probably our music era we should attend. Another good night out with friends, but now we really must have a few early nights, to compensate for the whole string of late ones.
Not much outside of the regular pattern of shopping and odd jobbing to report on for the last few days, I have however managed to get on with the gazebo over the terrace table. In the current temperatures, what you have to do is, get up very early, start work around 6 a.m. and then pack up when the sun gets round the corner of the house. That way you are able to get about 4 good hours in and then catch up on the sleep around the pool in the afternoon.
At least now the major framework is up and when we can pick up the trellis infills we will be able to put on the woven bamboo roof and get some real shade to eat under.
Today was the anniversary of our final arrival on the island, with that one way ticket. It doesn't seem like a whole year, we have had so much to do and an ever expanding social life that the time has just flown by.
Del, Sandra, Lorraine and Anne-Marie took us out to Errol's restaurant in Ozankoy to celebrate. We picked there because Errol does the finest Kleftiko lamb on this part of the island, but only on a Wednesday.
Tomorrow, Joan and I have promised ourselves a day on Lara beach. It always was our favourite and the anniversary was a good reason to celebrate in this way. A quiet snooze, a good book and the chance to swim in the sea for a change.
The next few days may be given over to preparation for our UK visit. We fly over on Wednesday 23rd July, visit friends around the UK and in Holland, then travel back here on 27th August. We are hoping that all will be normal and we will be able to pick up e-mails and keep this site up to date. It will be strange for regular viewers to see pics of their own country and maybe a little English rain!
The 17th July 2002, the day after Joan and I arrived on the island, young Daniel Unwin was born. Today the family invited us and others, to there home, to join in the celebrations.
The one thing about being over here is that you can guarantee that you will be able to celebrate outside, in the sun, around the pool, which tends to make for a very happy day all round. Each of the two girls had invited friends as well, so Daniel had more than enough willing hands to keep him very happy in the pool. Also, Mark had imported this huge bouncy castle, when they came over here. So we lugged this around from the garage, blew it up and then Mark spread baby shampoo all over, with a liberal supply of water. It was impossible to stand up in the damned thing, great fun was had by all who tried.
Hayran's mum is over visiting at the moment and she, together with some help from others, put on a magnificent spread of Turkish meze delights. Later Lorraine produced a superb chocolate turtle cake as Daniel's first birthday cake, his eyes lit up and his little fingers just had to have a little poke at it. Late in the evening, the early food was followed by a Lamb Kleftiko, which Anne-Marie had put in the oven around 1 p.m. This was truly wonderful and the meat just fell off the bones, so we had to continue to wash all these goodies down until late into the night. Joan and I, together with the Vigus's, managed to get a taxi at 3.30 a.m. to take us back to Lapta. A great day/night out.
The day of panic shopping, last minute packing etc., as tomorrow at 7 a.m. Margaret and Norman will take us to the airport. We are both looking forward to visiting old friends, but maybe we will start wishing we had the warm weather and the pool, who knows, we will see!Hopefully I will find it not too difficult, to connect up to our e-mails and the web, but should there be a deathly silence, you will know that technology has got the better of me.
We left TRNC a little behind schedule and arrived on time at Stanstead. So all those people who kept saying, don't book with the new charter airline, were wrong this time .When we got through customs, our mini cab was waiting for us and took us to Bromley, where we were able to collect this wonderful BMW touring car, which had been lent to us for the period of our Europe trip. It really is nice to have friends who are willing to make our visit so easy, we are very grateful and promise to look after the car. On the way down to the Kent coast, guess what, it started to rain. Now this is something that is very alien to us now, so it came as a bit of a surprise and I couldn't find the windscreen wipers, when the heavens opened on the M20. The one thing that immediately struck both of us, was the sheer volume of traffic everywhere, very strange after the 15 minute rush hour around Kyrenia.
We awoke this morning to a grey and overcast sky, so maybe we will just get used to it again, although we must admit, that Les and Jill's lawn, looks as if it has suffered in a very hot spell for some time. Maybe the rain has been saving itself for our arrival. Les and Jill are both working today, so Joan and I just wandered through New Romney and visited a few old friends for coffee. Time to settle in and recover from the journey.
Jill doesn't work Friday through to Tuesday, so we were all able to take a trip into Rye town. Joan's first visit to any shops for a year, so she was overjoyed.
In the evening the four of us had just enjoyed a meal together and guess what, it rained again. This time a real downpour, but it didn't last too long. Lucky that really, as we had planned a walk up to a local establishment where they serve good beer. Now that is probably one of the few things that I really miss, real ale.
Sunday lunch in a pub on the Romney Marshes, ecstasy! We had arranged to meet Andrea and Simon at Botolph's Bridge Inn for lunch. Andrea and I used to work together in Dover and she and Simon had just got married a few months ago so it was time to catch up on all the news. I know that we keep in touch by e-mail, but it is nice to meet up sometimes and talk about all that has happened in the last year.
Simon and Andrea are also going to come to visit next year, so we can look forward to that.
We all had a very enjoyable lunch and as Jill had volunteered to drive, the four of us ditched the car and stopped off at their local watering hole, close to home. More old friends and acquaintances to meet, so it was quite late when we finally made it home. Jill had made some fresh bread in her new machine, whilst we were out, so we were able to enjoy this with some cheese and salad as a supper.
Joan and I went over to Canterbury, Bill and Margaret had invited us to stay with them for a couple of nights and this gave Joan a chance to really spend time and money in Canterbury High Street. We had two very enjoyable evenings with Bill & Margaret and Joan managed to almost fill that spare suitcase we brought with us.
For the next few days we will relax at Les & Jill's, but we do have a birthday party to attend on Saturday and then next week it is off to Lincolnshire for the week.
A busy time and plenty to ramble on about, hope you don't get bored. See you next month.
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