Temperature rising again.

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Monday 10th July 2017

Buddy was very pleased to join Kilroy on the morning walk and was waiting by the gate as we walked up, jumping up and down with excitement. A slightly different route as we headed up to the goat farm and instead of following the track into the hills took a right turn and headed down and uphill thro a small ravine and picked up a track on the other side. Meandered downhill for about 20mins until we were almost opposite Buffavento Village; where we live, albeit with a very deep, uncrossable ravine between us and home. We think that if we had continued onwards downhill we would have eventually come to a spot where we could follow our usual route home from Catalkoy village by using a track into the ravine and come up the other side and up to Buffavento Village. However we decided to exercise caution as we didn't have water on board for humans only dogs! So will leave this explore for another day and headed back the way we came.

Home, garden watered, BBQ stand used last night packed away and a bit of sweeeping up before we allowed ourselves a chill with a cuppa. Cicadas were loudly chirruping this morning and seems that it's warming up again for a few days. Showered and light breakfast done we then thought we would venture down to Shayna Beach again and enjoy a few hours by the sea where its a bit cooler with a bit of a breeze. Managed to find our usual spot right on the end of the raised area so getting a nice cool wind such as it was and also view of the whole bay area. Settled down with books for a read and also a bit of a swim around. One of the day trip boats came and anchored off the bay for swimming and lunch - small boat and not many on board. As we had taken the scrabble down with us as well, we had another round of the North Cyprus Championships which saw Sarah leading most of the game, but lost it right at the end as John managed to place all his letters down. So score now stands at 3 - 1 to the boys! Bit more book reading and then at around 2:30pm we headed home again to be greeted by Kilroy who once again had been well behaved. Siesta afternoon as temperature has crept up again.

Its just after 6pm and Kilroy was ready for a evening stroll, whilst Sarah did some multi tasking with a quick mop up at home whilst keeping a watchful eye on the tennis at Wimbledon. Back from the stroll, John then set to task to adjust the level/drop on our front balcony fly screen door. Over the years it has dropped a little and now each time we open it it screeches as it catches on the floor tiles. It's got to the really annoying stage now and action needed. Door removed, hinges adjusted, a couple of "billy bodge" bolts and washers and there we have it - door fixed, well for now anyway. Another shower, changed and time for a very cold Efes. Tonight's supper is a quick and easy chicken salad to use up yesterday's BBQ Chinese chicken with pitta bread and tashi sauce dip, all followed by a freshly baked lemon drizzle cake with vanilla ice cream for those that could manage it!

Tuesday 11th July 2017

Normal routine this morning as we followed our usual route into the hills with the dogs. Goat farmer recognises us now and gave us a wave as we walked by the farm. Just over an hour later and we were home again for a chillax with a cup of tea and just after 9am we loaded up Kilroy into the jeep and took the short trip down to the vets as today was bloods day for him. Blood sample was to be taken as part of the next stage in his journey to the UK and this is sent away for analysis to ensure he is disease free. There then follows a 3 month waiting period before he can then fly home - so all being well this fits in with our return in November. Visit to the vet done but no blood taken - vet was doing emergency surgery so we returned home to shower and change whilst Kilroy settled down for a snooze following his exciting start to the day. Arranged to return later this afternoon. Off out this morning down to Alagadi beach for a lunch time meet up with Lynsey and her mum. Lynsey is John's brothers partner and is out here for a week, checking on her place and catching a bit of summer sunshine. We will meet up with both of them again when they return later in the year. A nice catch up whilst sat in the beach taverna, enjoying a snack for lunch. Back home by 1:30pm for an hour or so before a trip back to the vet to get blood taken - all very inconvenient according to Kilroy as its interrupting his usual afternoon snooze time! Vet took blood without Kilroy even whimpering, just stood there whilst the job was being done. Paperwork was then completed and then we had to travel to the Kyrenia Animal Rescue office to pay for the blood test and also a fee to have the sample sent away for analysis - results should be back in about 3 weeks. So far, so good. Hopefully once the results are back we move onto the next stage which is confirming travel box size and booking flight to the UK. Back home just after 4pm and it was time for all residents to retire indoors to keep cool, listen to the radio and practice our nodding dog impressions.

This evening as it was still very warm we decided on a slightly shorter walk and some dog training along the pathway and garden area next to our place. Armed with dog treats it was practising the sit, lie down and come command.....sit and lie down is easy and providing a cat is not strolling by Kilroy will come when called. So very good progress being made. Then followed a bit of football and a sniff around before it was time to call it a day. The temp after all was still 30C at 8pm. He is beginning to really settle down now and we have noticed that when we go out and leave him behind, instead of tying to rush out of the door with us he now just looks and goes off to find a spot to settle down. We think he now realises that we are coming back. For supper as we had eaten at lunchtime we decided to have prawns with a chilli sauce dip, helim, salad and pitta breads....bit of mini meze. Plus of course lemon drizzle cake and ice cream whilst watching a film "In the heat of the night" another Sidney Poitier classic.....unfortunately our early start meant we couldn't stay awake till the end, so will have to watch tomorrow! Yes we know we are old!! ?

Wednesday 12th July 2017

Set off for the dog walk at just after 6am, all quiet at the goat farm and no workers clambering around the electricity pylons. However; unlike the U.K. a lot of tools, climbing gear and a generator have been left under the last pylon they were working on a couple of days ago. Very unlikely anyone will come and pinch anything. We expect to see them back in a few days to start on the next pylon about 200mtrs away. Followed the usual route for the walk, but perphaps tomorrow we may explore somewhere different. Back home and first stop was the front of our place, hose unrolled and time for a good shampoo for Kilroy. He really does enjoy a cool shower and stands and just takes it all in his stride. Did a bit of teeth cleaning as well.....not to keen on this tho! Boiled eggs and soldiers for breakfast, then showered and changed before heading to town. Changed some money as we have car insurance to renew tomorrow. Rate today was 4.62TL to the £ which is very good and it has risen steadily since we arrived at the beginning of June. We then headed into Girne to visit the library. Hmmm.... don't know why but library was closed this morning, usually open Weds and Sat for a couple of hours. It is located in the centre of town behind the post office and is a great lifeline for those of us that like to read a lot. It is run by volunteers so maybe no one was available today - hopefully it's not a permanent problem. As we were in town we took a quick stroll around, firstly to the Arcelik shop (Bit like a small Currys) to take a look at fridge/freezers and gas hobs - we may go the whole hog when our kitchen is revamped and replace our old ones. Then a stroll down into town before heading home via Supreme supermarket for a few vital supplies, plus Sarah spotted a selfie stick for 10TL a bargain. Unpacked, Sarah prepared tonights supper ready for when we return from the quiz, then a light lunch and time to finish watching last nights film. Also received a call from our sofa maker....sofa will be ready for delivery tomorrow at 9am. Good news, won't hold them to 9am delivery tho as this is Cyprus time we are talking about.

At around 4:30pm Sarah took Kilroy for a short stroll, not to far as it was very hot with temperature 35C. Bowl of water at the ready and aircon on for when they got home. Will take him for another wander around later tonight. Time to cool down for humans so it was shower, changed (again......going thro at least 3 sets of clothing each day!) and off to the Club Tropicana and the Wednesday quiz - seems we will have a team of 7 tonight which could be a help or hindrance.

We will have to settle for 2nd place tonight in the quiz...albeit there are some mutterings about how the team at the bar that won managed to score so well. Its about the taking part not the winning so they say. Back home and Sarah carried on preparing supper whilst John took a stroll around the block with Kilroy and once back home jumped in the shower to cool down. It's still very warm, so much so that it was agreed that for the rest of July and August the quiz will be put back an hour and start at 7pm. Lovely supper of chicken casserole, washed down with a tonic and lime. This time we stayed on the garden patio side of the house for a change of scenery. After supper rest of the evening was spent just chilling, watching tv indoors again with aircon on.

Thursday 13th July 2017

Morning walk, this time a slightly different route into the hills following what we have named the road to nowhere up to the end of a ravine where it just ends as the mountain towers above. Just over an hour later and we were home again, quick tidy around in the garden and tea time. Plan for today is prepare a picnic ready for a mornings drive in the hills but first await sofa delivery around 9am ish hopefully. At 9:45am call received and sofa is on its way - Sarah to meet them in 5 mins at the bottom of the hill. Not bad only 45mins late. Two guys manhandled sofa up the stairs and indoors, bit of grunting and a lot of sweat and it was in. Sofa looked really good and even better they also made 3 extra cushions for us. Kilroy was snoozing outside as sofa was bought indoors but woke up just as the delivery men were leaving. We opened the patio door for him and he stuck his head in and was afraid to come in.....what is this blue thing in my house? Eventually as we called him he skulked by look at it out of the corner of his eye - very funny. Sofa delivered it was a quick pop to town pick up new car insurance policy, premium same as last year 288TL which is around £60 for the year. Then back along the coast road and up thro the Buffavento pass to the top and take the single track road into the mountains, driving slowly along exploring wherever takes our fancy. We have been along this road many times calling in at Bahceli village, Esentepe and Antophinitis Monastery and it is a lovely drive and want to explore these roads/tracks more. We travelled high in the mountains for a good few miles before dropping down a little to Tirmen, Mallidag, Cinarli and Agillar, then striking off road and following dirt tracks for a good few kilometres. Ended up driving thro a cornfield, but the track kept on going- the corn had just seeded itself in the track ruts! In 2hrs of driving we only passed 4 cars, this is the real North Cyprus for sure! Eventually we hit tarmac again, thank you to our Suzuki jeep which covered the off reading with no trouble and we continued onwards to Kantara Castle arriving in time to enjoy our picnic lunch looking at stunning views of the central plain and the Karpas peninsular. Back down to Kantara village and a call in at the cafe and reward ourselves with a dish of ice cream before heading down to the coast road and home. A really good day out seeing parts of the island that a tourist would never find. Home and Kilroy was waiting for us, tail wagging and on his best behaviour - he had not been near the sofa!

To hot to do much so all of us just retired to the balcony,cold drinks for humans and bowl of water for hound and chilled for a couple of hours. Gary popped round at 6:30pm to drop off keys to his place as he travels south tomorrow and we are Buddy dog sitting for the weekend. Sarah then took Kilroy for his evening stroll whilst John prepared spag bol for supper and set up the next round of the scrabble championship - this time in a much more tactical game, a win for Sarah. So thats 3 - 2 to John in the series. Then we retired indoors for a bit of tv and to test out the new sofa, it worked well as 30mins later after a long tiring day we both were nodding so headed up to bed.

Friday 14th July 2017

A very hot, humid and sticky start to the day and feeling more like south east Asia than the hot, dry Mediterranean. Walk done, cup of tea and usual Friday clean around all completed by 9:15am. This morning we travelled out west side towards Karsiyaka, Sarah wanted to take a look at a gas hob that was for sale. Met the seller in Alsanjak village and headed uphill a little further to Malatya......wow what a fantastic property he has. Lovely setting, views and pool....property is for sale but probably not for us until a lottery win. Anyway who would have thought a gas job could be so exciting.....well it was and deal was done. Then it was back thro town, called in at Petline Vets to suss out some info on kennels - apparently they have opened up some boarding kennels which get good reports. This is just in case we may need them sometime. Then a spot of shopping in Supreme supermarket and veggie mans stall. Finishing off at the fishmongers and finally called in at our sofa shop to collect a receipt and also show them some pics of our other chairs that we will probably get covered in something more practical than cream fabric. Back home, unpacking and light lunch followed by an afternoon of doing nothing much.

Early evening and strolled round to Gary's place to check on Buddy and let the dogs socialise and enjoy a game of football together. Weather still decidedly tropical ? humid and sticky. Back home and another shower then Sarah prepared supper. This time a vegetarian lasagne using the great fresh veggies we bought earlier today. This is an Italian specialty called Melanzane A la Mary Berry of course. Had to pop out for more milk as what we had had just gone off, despite the end date being tomorrow. Did we leave it out of the fridge to long this morning not sure, Sarah's theory is that the full fat milk goes off quicker due to extra fat content. We normally have semi skimmed or skimmed but sometimes the supermarket has sold out so have to go with the full fatted version. Settled down for an evening under the stars listening to R2 and then some tunes on the iPhone. Another nice day.

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Photos

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Shayna Beach

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Not a great pic, but the full moon is looking great tonight.

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Your busted hound! Caught you.

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Scrabble down the beach.

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Boat trippers off Shayna beach

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Ladies water aerobics, Shayna Beach.

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Come Kilroy.

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Keep coming Kilroy

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Ears flapping

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Caught the ball.

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New electric pylons......cables have got this far.

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Tools, climbing gear, mini generator and cables all left for a few days on the hillside near the electric pylons. Waiting for work to recommence. Wouldn't be there for long if it was the UK!

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These traps are placed in the trees to catch the processional caterpillars and stop them nesting. When they nest on the trees they then destroy the, when they hatch out.

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Bit of off roading today

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Yes the track does go thro a cornfield.........corn has seeded itself in the track ruts.

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Thought we would take some corn home to make bread!

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Kantara Castle - Gateway to the Karpas peninsular

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View from Kantara Castle

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Kantara Castle view

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Heading down to the north coast

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Buddy and Kilroy playing football.