I made it across the line...

...with time to spare. Not competed the story, but the pressure is off. I can enjoy it more. I guess that means I have to return to my course work and a looming assignment.

Last night at the Fanoush

Went to a pre-Xmas party at the Lebanese restaurant, Fanoush, in the old town last night. Replete with skinny belly dancer, arabic music, Greek music and the delightful spectacle of otherwise serious professional men giving in to the music.

Loukoumades

As we left the Zigi fish tavern there was a roadside truck making these traditional deep-fried fritter balls which are sold drenched in tawny honey and cinnamon. They are my absolute favourite dessert here. And I bitterly resent having to share them. The lady doing the cooking turned out to be a patient of our physician friend - that's Cyprus, way too small.

Zigi for lunch

Last Sunday we went to the seaside village of Zigi for lunch with friends. November and the sun is still shining and warm.

Tomorrow looms

Tomorrow is the start of NaNoWriMo.
http://www.nanowrimo.org

For the uninitiated, this is the event which starts at 00:01 (1/11/09) and ends 23:59 (30/11/09). During the month thousands of idiots around the world shut the curtains, take the phone off the hook, adopt a seige mentality with stocks of coffee, cigarettes and chocolate (I am reliably informed) and consign all normal domestic duties to a 'do it yourself' status. The only relationship is with their computer or laptop. Why? Because as a personal challenge we have undertaken to write a novel in a month. Not a good novel, not a carefully constructed novel, but an outpouring first draft with no editing, planning or even any idea what ist will be or where it might go. The participants seem to be divided into to main sub-species:

• Those who have an idea and have done some preliminary broad planning, and have been getting to know their characters in their minds for the past weeks.
• Those, like me, who hope divine inspiration will strike the minute they sit down to start and are curious to see where this magical mystery free-write will take them.

The aim is to reach 50-60,000 words by month's end. There is no failure nor winning in the sense of accolades, prizes or kudos.

It will be interesting, especially as I have two Open University courses going on at the same time.

I may be a while....

Just been to see...

Just got back from one of the most delightful films ever.

Julie & Julia with the marvellous Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

For those who love food and cooking and need a good laugh, see it.

Back from South Africa

I'm back and oh so glad. My head is jumbled with fantastic moments and a memory of constant distress, anxiety and questions, questions, questions about South Africa. I haven't sorted the facts or feelings yet, never mind the photos - all 2000 of them. No worries, I will post very few. I think I need to let it all sit and brew a while. Get some distance.

Also need to catch up on course work and prepare for the new course starting this week.

Last night met 'les girls' or gals as Rhay says, for our Monday evening writing, wine-drinking, whining and giggle session. I missed it and them very much.

The food

Lunch was by the sea at our friends' house, it was a big gathering. As well as salads, a delicious pasta with aubergines and roast potatoes there was the pork and chicken souvla (on the spit), heavy wine soaked sausages and halloumis grilled and served in hot pita breads.

I know it seems all we ever do is eat, and it feels that way sometimes, but we do sometimes just say no.

Another Sunday lunch

Today we drove out to Agia Thekla for lunch with old friends. Costas used his 1956 Mercedes which was his father's and in which Costas learnt to drive. I have included the two items of clothing I really need to get for the next time, so I can sit in such stately glory, properly dressed and wave like HM.

Weekend cock up

We managed to mess the weekend up completely. We invited people for lunch on Sunday, remembered Saturday night we had already been invited elsewhere. Cancelled our guests and threw all the half prepared food in the freezer. Sunday morning Costas called host to find out what time to come for lunch to be told it was for next Sunday. Hey ho. So we bought the Sunday papers, drove to a snazzy little beach bar/restaurant near Larnaca - all wood, cream canvas and beach pergolas. Ordered a yummy lunch, beer and afterwards had what is probably the final ocean swim of the year. I reckon it was the best of the three options.

On the way back I spotted this sign. Said to Costas ah Man Centre, my kind of place. He looked and said, Man Service, my kind of place.

Sunday Evening Fast Food

Yesterday afternoon Costas & I went downtown to buy the Sunday papers and to sit in a cafe on the main drag to read and watch the (not so) beautiful people. In a moment of inspiration we walked up to a little hole-in-the-wall Gyro souvlaki place to sit at the window and eat. Simple, cheap, delicious and naughty. We have the Greek style (as opposed to the Cypriot style) with 'everything' on - slivers of basted shaved pork, onions, tomatoes, tzanziki, chips, sprinkling of herbs all stuffed into a split pita bread. It comes wrapped in paper and drips over your chin and down your shirt as you eat. Your fingers are slavered in yoghurt and juices, just perfect for licking off as dessert.

The guys who run it are Greeks from Thessalonika, and the walls are plastered with faded reminders of home.

House in Old Nicosia

On the way back to the car we passed this wonderful old house with the stunning door and shutters.

Old Nicosia

On Saturday we went down to Old Nicosia to buy some paintings. We were buying for our friends in South Africa, to take in October. Howerver both Costas & I spied paintings we each wanted and as he was in a generous mood, I let him buy them!!! The olive tree is a water colour by a well known (now dead) Cypriot artist called Asproftis. My picture, a water colour of flowers is by a Persian artist called Mansoury.

Afternoon clouds

I love Autumn when these great cloudscape worlds appear, towering over the land. They make me feel so small and meagre. They were accompanied by threatening thunder but alas no rain.

Rockie

Cats always know the best places. The window box outside the kitchen window with a struggling Basil and geraniums is warm after the norning heat. It is Rockie's favourite place when not hanging out with her fella, Ginger.

Boy on a bike

Today we went for lunch by the sea. The owner as always greeted us like we were family even though we go only 3 or 4 times a year. Insisted on offering us a bottle of his own wine. A slightly cloudy brew which curiously isn't too bad and gets better with every sip. Below on the beach people were swimming and enjoying the last of the summer days. This old boy came wandering up from the beach, helmet already in place and tootled off on his mean machine. He was pretty cute. As we drove back towards Nicosia, we drove into the heavy afternoon rain which is a feature of this time of year. The more the better. This island has been thirsty for so long.

Sunshine Cleaning

Went to see a delightful film called Sunshine Cleaning starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin. A gentle, kind film with humour. no violence, no car chases, no saving the worl or the future of mankind. Just a snapshot of humanity. Do go and see it.

http://www.sunshinecleaning-themovie.co.uk/

Brief Storm in the Afternoon

The sky turned dark, the house gloomy, the air clean.

Fat raindrops fell for a mere 10 minutes.

Thunder crashed overhead but no lightening.

Towards the occupied north this cloud menaced, morphed, dissolved and disappeared over the mountains.

Writing Pals

Rhay & Sandra

and on the right Yvonne

Yesterday Rhay, Sandra and I met for coffee to plan our writing evenings and a 'retreat' up in the mountains in a couple of weeks. Only Yvonne was not there but will be here in October for the mountain retreat. Just an overnight stay, with the autumn mountains, possibly a walk or two, lots of laughter, Austrian tourists (so Sandra tells us - no Lederhosen I hope), wine and hopefully writing.

Rhay is American, but we forgive her, Sandra is Canadian and Yvonne is Irish-ish (it's complicated) and me a Kiwi. So quite a fun and diverse group. What would I do without them?

Sunset in Nelson

I found this picture of sunset over the bay of Nelson in New Zealand. Took me back to a wonderful dinner at friends of my sister, Clancy and her partner Mary. Sue and Jane's lovely house, now sold, looked out across the bay. How could they bear to leave it?