I love Graffiti

Last week, we had our first English house guests. In need of a change of scenery, two of Harry's friends decided the 4 and half hour flight was worth the chance of sunshine. And while the sun shined for a few days of their trip, the rain inevitable caught up with them. Which was a bit of an issue considering they had come to sample the delights of the Cyprus graffiti scene.

For the past week I have been immersed in all things graffiti; what walls to paint, what colours to pick, what design to do. With our little paint business up and running we have paint at our disposal! Harry definitely enjoys having a living room full of paint. And so did his friends.....like kids in a sweet shop.

I am sure they wont mind me saying this, but Harry's friends are mental. Getting up at 6.30am on holiday to go paint is just mental (in my eyes).

So I have been eating, sleeping and breathing graffiti. I even did my first piece - much to Harry's delight - and as the profit rolls in from our little investment, i'm starting to see the silver lining of being a graffiti girlfriend. 

rainy season is upon us.

I think it is safe to say, I hate rain. The slightest sniff of drizzle and my mood, outlook and attitude all change for the worse. Maybe it's because I have grown up in England where rain is a predominant feature of life, or maybe it's because I dislike having wet feet and frizzy hair. Either way, moving to Cyprus somewhat eliminated this problem from my life. 

Up until January that is. 

Given that most of December was awash with sunshine and blue skies, I sort of forgot that it is actually winter. While it's safe to say rain is rarity here, since January hit, the rain clouds have appeared we have had our fair share of down pours over the past few weeks. Really serious English style rain. But surprisingly my mood has been unaffected in the most part. Maybe it is because im inside all day at work, or maybe it is because I know the rain wont last. I don't know. 

But with a second wave of homesickness imminent, there is something quite comforting about the sound of rain, and the big grey clouds looming above us. 

It feels just like England!  

Its been a bit quiet

Between working, sleeping, eating, and having some of Harry's mental friends come to stay, January has flown by and the blog has gone unnoticed. I apologise for this, but im sure you have all been too busy in the january sales or hibernating to notice. 

I think I am back on track now, so get a cup of tea and your reading glasses. And if any of you have forgotten who we are in our absence this should jog your memory. 

Working 9 to 5

It's actually more like 8.30am to 5.30pm, and 8.30am to 2.30pm on Friday's, but the details aren't important. What is important is the fact that I am a working girl. Finally. 

While it feels like it has taken forever to find a job, in reality we landed in Cyprus little more than 2 months ago; and while we were anxious to find a flat, full time jobs and to settle as quickly as possible, I think we have done well in a short space of time. 

This past week has been my first working week - although not a full working week thanks to the public holiday on Thursday - and I have enjoyed every minute of it. It has taken its toll on my body and my brain in equal measure and if im honest im absolutely knackered. In all fairness for the past two months I haven't been working, my sole aim has been to find a flat and make it our home, and while job hunting and blogging has kept me sane, I think my brain has deteriorated a little. 

It is also a totally new industry for me; there is a lot to learn but I think I have picked up the important bits from my first 3 and a half days of work. I understand some business finance and credit information terminology, I now know what a credit report, due diligence report and a site check is and I can tell you what KYC stands for (I wont though because you're probably not interested). I mastered the computer programme and order process on day one - something I should be proud of according to the team - and since, have been placing orders like a pro. Sort of. I ask questions about everything i'm unsure of and luckily they dont mind because they know this is all new to me. I have also undertaken my own little project - to write a marketing email - so I feel well and truly part of the team. 

The office is nice and I feel pretty much at home there all ready. I know where the kettle is and everyone thinks I a bit strange for drinking peppermint tea - Cyprus is a country of coffee drinkers. Obviously I don't understand a lot of what goes on in the rest of the office due to the language barrier. But I have found myself eves dropping on peoples conversations and every night I go home with a mental list of words for Harry to define and teach me. 

So now its Sunday night and for the first time in about a year - remember before leaving England I worked retail and always had Monday's off due to my weekend shifts - I have that Sunday feeling. Like the one you had when you were at school and were dreading Monday. Don't get me wrong I am very happy to be working, it's just going to take some time for my body to align with these 6.30 am starts. 

Early bedtimes for me. 

I want it delivered.

So maybe its because in England I am unaware of this option, or maybe its not an option. But here in Cyprus you can get everything and anything delivered anywhere. When I say everything I mean food and when I say anything I mean all sorts of cuisine both local and international. Burger King, KFC, kebabs, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Wagamama all to your home, office, or party. There is a mentality here which centres around ease. Don't get me wrong the Cypriots work hard but they relax even harder. And whether it's driving instead of walking or getting your coffee delivered to the office, i'm becoming quite fond of this cultural change. 

I did get some funny looks in the office on Friday when I turned down Costa coffee hot to my desk and opted for a home made cup of tea, but I just can't shake off my Englishness entirely can I. 

After a busy day at work and a rainy walk home, getting a hot steamy Wagamama delivered to our door complete with chopsticks and cutlery definitely brought a smile to my weary face. 

1/1/11

a Cypriot new year.

In terms of New Years Eve, I am never particularly bothered about its significance, because I just don't get all the fuss about the second the clocks strike midnight....it happens every day and it happens every year. You could say I am a bit bah humbug when it comes to New Years Eve. 

In Cyprus, no one goes out before midnight anyway. If you go out its about 1.30am and New Years Eve is no different. So unlike England where you go out to celebrate the clock turning midnight, here you go out after - something I definitely couldnt get my head around. While we forgot to document last nights proceedings in photographic format I am going to do my best to describe it and hope you will be able to visualise the madness that occurred. 

As you now know, in Cyprus family is an important thing, and in keeping with that, most of the family headed over to YaYa's last night (with the exception of the ones who have babies). You will also have begun to understand the importance of food to Cypriots, so not surprisingly last night started with yet another feast lovingly prepared by Auntie Maria and YaYa; Chicken Souvlaki, Lamb, Beef stew/soup, salad, potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. Obviously I shouldn't have worn the skinny jeans. There is nothing skinny about me after two months of being fed at every possible opportunity (new years resolution will be to eat less). With several Aunties, an Uncle, some cousins and YaYa in attendance, it wasn't long before the brandy came out - accompanied by nuts, small cubes of cheese and cucumber (I asked Harry if eating cheese and cucumber, whilst drinking brandy was a Cypriot thing, but he is none the wiser) - and the madness begun.

Remember the dad from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and how he always says the origin of every word can be traced back to a Greek word, well we had the real live version of that last night. Followed by an Auntie singing Alicia Keys, New York, some men gambling and Harry getting very annoyed at loosing money to his cousin, and the dog snoring in front of the fire. All whilst watching the worst performances from the finalists of Greek X-Factor. 

Don't worry we did make it to midnight, when the kissing of cheeks and several minutes of saying Καλή χρονιά! (Kalí hroñá), Happy New Year, begun. And then came more food. It is a Cypriot tradition, at midnight, to eat Vasilopita - Kings Cake - which is a sweet orange flavoured cake. The tradition is to hide a coin inside the cake before baking, which brings good luck for the new year, to the person who finds it. Thinking some good luck wouldn't go a miss, Harry and I spent a while studying the cake prior to midnight, to work out the coins location - unfortunately neither of use were successful in finding it. 

Over the past few weeks I think I have experienced countless Cypriot traditions, but don't worry, i'm sure there are plenty more to cover.

Happy New Year

Καλή χρονιά!