Bleach is my NEW BEST FRIEND

After two weeks of searching, sunburn and days spent viewing some questionable properties, we have a home. Its big, bright and we signed the contract on Friday 12^th November – our 6 year anniversary – which we hope will be a good omen. Its not only our first home, but its our first time living together. I think we are both prepared for tears and tantrums, from me most probably, but more over it’s exciting to have four walls to call our own.

Renting property in Cyprus is pretty straightforward, depending on how picky you are. There are estate agents, but most people renting, put out signs hanging from the balcony, or advertise in the local papers. We must have seen over 25 flats across Nicosia, some more desirable than others, and some not fit for human habitation.  When you walk into a once white bathroom, that’s covered in black mould the sight, let alone the smell takes your breath away for all the wrong reasons! And while I will freely admit I haven’t been the easiest house hunter to please, I have certain standards a property must meet. We have had several discussions about the important things, and begrudgingly I have had to admit that the colour of the sofa, the tiles in the bathroom and the light fittings are not factors that should be put before price and location. Rationally thinking I have to agree with “Mr always right Kakoullis” but with a feminine brain on my shoulders, and one that likes things to look nice, I cant help the fact that I want our first home together to be exactly how I imagined it. 

In typical Cypriot fashion we found our flat because Harry's dad knew someone at work who knew someone who was renting it out. So contracts signed, deposit paid and keys handed over we have ourselves a three bedroom, 1 ½ bathroom, 1^st floor flat with open plan living room, kitchen, air conditioning, central heating, balcony, parking space and storage room on the edge of Engomi and Strovolos. It’s a 10/15 minute walk into the centre of Nicosia, depending how fast your feet move, and Harry’s favourite take-away, Sam’s, is round the corner.  Chicken, tatziki and chips all wrapped up in a big flat pitta bread and toasted. Mmmmh.

We have spent the last three days hoovering, moping, wiping, scrubbing and washing every inch of this flat. My hands permanently smell of bleach, and there is a lemon aroma wafting around this place. We have gone through one bottle of bleach, one bottle of dettol, one can of mr muscle oven cleaner, one bottle of fridge cleaner and about 15 sponges and 10 cloths. And after cleaning wardrobe doors, shower heads and harry hanging out the windows to clean the outside (obviously a man's job) we are DONE. We have moved the furniture around in the living room countless times and think we have found the perfect position for sofas, TV, coffee table etc. And we even survived putting together our IKEA bed.

And while we are rather excited about our new home, and slightly worried about the fact that neither of us have jobs yet, Granny is sad to see us leave. We have one more night with her; she wasn’t ready to let us go just yet, and apparently its her duty to wash our curtains and sheets before we move in. We have protested but granny shouts louder and wins the war every time. 

So home is Strovolos, Nicosia, CYPRUS