Millie Update

The pooch is growing up fast. She is bigger, stronger and more playful every day - a far cry from the skinny, nervous thing we picked up over a year ago. And with her second summer well under way she is growing slightly more accustomed to the heat and how to deal with it, namely finding the coldest spot under the bed and lying there until the sun goes down and its walk time.

wedding time.

Way back at the beginning of June we went to one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been too. It was the wedding of Harry's boss and his beautiful Finnish fiance and it was such a refreshing experience. Until now, I have only been to a few weddings in Cyprus, but they have all been more traditional Cypriot weddings; a concept I can't personally get on board with. For me a wedding is simple, its beautiful and it is personal, about two people getting married and yesterday was the first time I actually felt that feeling. 

The groom was a grinning mess, the bride looked effortlessly beautiful and the guests were relaxed. In Cyprus not many people go to the actual wedding ceremony, which again for me is a bit strange. For me the whole point of a wedding is to watch two people get married - thats the soppy romantic in me coming out. 

But the emphasis was on friends, family and celebrations, not things. They didn't have an official photographer - the semi professional photographer that is Harry took their photographs (and although I am biased) and he did an amazing job. The ceremony was not in a church, but a beautiful cultural centre in Germasogeia village in Limassol, where the building was old and full of character and the wedding took place in a central courtyard, surrounded by palm trees and lanterns.

While they maintained some traditions, the meeting and greeting/money giving hoo haaa - in Cyprus the tradition is not to give presents but to give money to the bride and groom to start their new life together - they approached their wedding with their own style, mixing cultures and encouraging everyone to celebrate with them in an informal way. 

source: Harry Kakoullis

What a lot of wind.

Every time we drive back from Larnaca, I always end up staring out the window like kid because the wind turbines on the hill have me mesmerized. I dont know why I have become so fascinated with them; maybe its the sheer simplicity of the vast white structures, almost gracefully, spinning in the wind. So I didn't need an persuading when Harry said lets take a de-tour on our way home and go stand under the wind turbines.

Standing under a huge wind turbine sort of makes you feel like a ant and staring up at the blades turning in the wind creates an illusion that they may almost cut your head off. Thank god its just an illusion. The sound is pretty incredible, we were there on a semi-windy day and there is this sort of calm and creepy whooossh as the blades turn. 

A rather random Sunday afternoon activity but something to tick off the bucket list. And the view was pretty amazing. 

 

 

Our House

We moved to the new apartment nearly 4 months ago and I think its safe to say it feels lived in and ours. Harry has his prints on the wall, his shoes in the wardrobe and I have my photo frames, candles and bed linens, cushions, throws etc. It still surprises me the amount of stuff we have accumulated in nearly 2 years of living in Cyprus. But I think the familiarity of things has helped us settle and adapt to the new environment. So here is our home, up close and personal. 

a long limbed visitor

indeed, a few weeks ago Mark squeezed himself into a BA economy seat and hopped over to Cyprus for a long weekend. It's always fun when we have a visitor, not only for the gifts they bring [take note future visitors] but we eat out, we visit places we might not otherwise and we relax more, almost as if we were on holiday on this sunshine island. 

We crammed a lot into 3 days; we saw the best bit of Larnaca [which is a teeny tiny beach bar on a not so great beach - seriously Larnaca is not the place to visit unless you are going to the airport], the old streets of Nicosia and the wonderful food the taverns have to offer, Papifilipou ice cream, the white sandy beaches of Agia Napa which are more family friendly than you would think and the best fish tavern right on the harbour, the bakerys and the most amazing selection of cakes, the best place to relax in Nicosia otherwise known as Eleon Pool, Granny's house although Granny was actually on a cruise in around the Greek Islands....obviously and the gorgeous little Spanish restaurant in old town Nicosia which is so cheap and so tasty, im looking for more excuses to go there! 

And that was that, back on the plane he went, to lovely England. While a longer visit was briefly mentioned, we will see how long it takes me and my brother to align our diaries....im thinking by 2014 we should have some time!