a little taste of england

When it is freezing cold and raining [and you have time off work] what else is there to do except cook a full english breakfast? The perfect pick me up for a gloomy day in Nicosia and since the rain has been torrential, a sofa day was needed. Courtesy of Kakoullis my stomach is very satisfied and my English food cravings have somewhat subsided. For now. 

the drought is over

From the moment I woke up this morning, it has pretty much rained non stop. When I say rain, i'm not talking about the drizzle that envelops England on an [almost] daily basis. I mean strong, forceful monsoon like rain with drops the size of golf balls.  Trust me, I am not exaggerating or being melodramatic. It has been relentlessly pouring down all day, which made our motor-way journey somewhat slow and tedious and a little bit more dangerous than usual - Cypriots don't drive so well in dry weather let alone wet.

The weather in Cyprus is funny really. Seasons are limited to Summer and Winter and the temperature is either HOT or COLD. There seems to be no Spring or Autumn or "inbetween" weather that I got used to living in England for so long. And while it's wonderful knowing we live in country that experiences sunshine and dry conditions 90% of the year, it's that 10% that I dread. Because when it hits, Winter hurts.

So here we are. In winter. Which I guess is expected considering its mid November. But as you know my dislike for rain is never-ending. I could easily do without the wet feet and frizzy hair.

At this very moment in time, I can hear an orchestra of thunder and lightening, wind and the sound of heavy raindrops hitting the windows and don't even get me started on the marble floor tiles that feel like ice. Ok, cold I can do. In fact cold is nice after a long and hot summer. And it feels more like christmas is coming when you can see your breath.

But even Millie is depressed today with the wet weather conditions. Since living with us she has become a bit of a snob, enjoying the luxuries in life of food, a warm bed and not living in a cage [which is where her previous owners kept her]. She positively detest's walking when it's raining and tries in vain to keep her paws dry' she jumps over as many puddles as possible and will not even contemplate mud. Im not joking she will dig her claws into the ground so hard if she thinks we are going the muddy way! So rain is not her favourite feeling, she literally walked me earlier, pulling so hard on the lead in the direction of home.

Knowing the extreme weather conditions of Cyprus, we will awake tomorrow to blue sky and sunshine. [fingers crossed]

7 years

If you had told me 7 years ago that in the future I would be living with a graffiti loving, trainer addict in Cyprus, I probably would've said your crazy. Then along came Harry Kakoullis and the rest is history. Needless to say we have not only done a whole year in Cyprus, but we have survived a mammoth 7 years together. I will save you the lovey dovey stuff about how we fell in love and how he lovingly places my name in his pieces of art on walls and blah blah blah. But I will tell you this, I woke up on our anniversary to 7 of these BEAUTIES!

fasolia

My Cypriot cooking isn't exactly my best skill. But one thing I have mastered is fasolia [beans]. I love them, but Harry hates them. However since he is away on a work trip, tonight was the perfect time to cook some up without inflicting them on him. I'm pretty sure every Cypriot women has her own way of cooking and while recipes are generally passed down through the family, everyone adds their own twist.

Harry's mum bought me the best Cypriot cooking book; one she used herself and while cooking lambs brain [I kid you not, this recipe is in there] isn't really my idea of a nice dinner, I have attempted a couple of recipes.

In true style I have made the recipe for fasolia my own, adding butternut squash and sweet potato to the basic recipe of onions, tomatoes and beans. And now the weather's turning cold and winters approaching, it's the sort of comfort food you need. In England I would make a shepherds pie, in Cyprus I make fasolia. And if I do say so myself it tastes amazing [although don't ask Harry for his opinion]. And its as cheap as chips....

Millie update #2

I think we can safely say Millie is a little bit loopy. Well i'm not surprised considering she has to put up with me and Harry. We have had her for nearly 6 months, but everyday she finds a new place to sleep or somewhere different to hide her bones so we wont find them. I found her lying on the doorstep of the patio the other day [she was obviously sunbathing] and she regularly falls asleep on top of Harry's belly, or wrapped round in a circle; she certainly doesn't look comfortable with her body twisted round so her nose nearly touches her bum, but her snoring tells me otherwise. And Harry can be proud of his training skills; he can put a treat on her paw and she will wait until he gives her permission to have it. Now thats a pretty obedient dog. 

Football for Foreigners

Football in Cyprus is full of passion, rivalry and fireworks. A random addition I know, but fireworks and flares make a regular appearance at the football here. So firstly its important to say football in Cyprus is inextricably linked to politics; each football team has a different political stance and as such the rivalry between teams extends beyond the pitch and regularly boils down to opposing political opinions. 

And there is still the existence of somewhat hardcore football firms. Football here is no laughing matter it is so serious that the men at work will not speak for the whole day if their team looses. It is a passionate and powerful sport in Cyprus. 

I have always been more than a bit skeptical about football in Cyprus because from my previous experience, the antics of the football firms seem to out shine the actual game. 

As Adidas sponsor many of the footballers in Cyprus, Harry can get VIP tickets, so instead of staying home on my own on a Saturday afternoon, I went with him on the condition that he got me a hot chocolate. Apparently they only do coffee at football in Cyprus [I should've known really] but, as much as I fought against it, I did enjoy my football experience. 

Our team [when I say our I mean its the team Harry and the entire family support so I have no choice], Omonia were playing in Nicosia and they have a sizable football firm, who are very passionate. Their volume, energy and support for their team bounces around the rest of the stadium from their permanent location at stand 9. Seriously it's hard not to get caught up in the atmosphere. 

Now, I will probably not be a regular at the football [mainly because it was freezing] but the VIP seats were pretty nice. I could do football with a touch of class every so often. 

[own photographs]

when it rains it pours!

[image from google images]

Rain returned to Cyprus last night after several months away. After a hot and dry summer the sight of rain is a good thing as we regularly hear about the dangerously low levels of reserve water we have as a country. But I wouldn't feel too bad for us, the sun is back today!! Although winter is definitely on its way. The sandals are at the back of the wardrobe along with the beach towels and bikinis. The marble floors feel like ice every morning and the duvet is back on the bed.