Bob and I have both been to the dentist this week. I went on Thursday morning for my usual 3 monthly scale and polish. We have decided to get this done in Cyprus and India from now on because the dental hygenist in our local practice in Hawkinge charges about £60 every time plus you have to pay a £25 deposit against the next appointment in case you drop out. I really object to it because I have never missed an appointment and yet I am paying over £80 each time…. Anyway, my teeth were expertly cleaned at SmileCare in Girne by an actual dentist and it cost £30. I will go again in February in Goa, and then again here in May etc. Bob went on Friday morning to have his permanent crowns fitted and that went very well except he came home with half his face still frozen from the local anaesthetic!!! Still, very good work and 2 crowns cost £350. Much, much cheaper than at home.
The renovation work in the downstairs loo and master bedroom got started in earnest on Thursday afternoon when the tiler arrived and knocked out all the existing floor and walls tiles and then fitted the new ones. He has done an amazing job and they look absolutely beautiful. Came back on Friday and grouted and then started upstairs, knocking out some blown plaster, re-plastering and filling cracks and siliconing around the window that had caused the plaster damage. He also put a first coat of paint on the ceiling. Saturday he did a second coat and a first coat around the walls. Looking great so far. I’ll post pictures when it’s finished.
The weather has been lovely so I’ve been lying beside the pool and reading. Have been in the pool several times a day. Just gorgeous. We had a lovely little bbq on Friday night – still eating our dinners outside. Fantastic really for November. People often ask me how nice it is in Cyprus in October and November and I hope our photos indicate that it is still VERY nice weather. Really, it’s only January and February here that are coldish and can be wet.
Bob has begun work in the man cave under the pool. We had a wall of shelving down there which was put in when the house was built in 2003. It was all built of chipboard and finally this year it has given way and warped. Looked on the brink of collapse, so he’s designed a new unit. The local yapi cut all the wood for him to the measurements etc. Saturday he dismantled the old warped shelves and supports and got them out. They were firmly screwed in actually and it was more of a job than he’d imagined. Still, out they came and he then got the framework supports for the new unit screwed in yesterday. They are proper hardwood so they will undoubtedly see us out!!!
Saturday night we went out to Lapta for dinner with Pamela and Eddie. We tried a new (to us all) restaurant called Altin Inci which is up in the old Turkish Quarter of the village, very near Charcos. It’s a lovely old house with a nice room and the views must be great during the day. The food was ok. A bit strange and it was unclear whether they are just starting up and haven’t quite got it together yet…… or what…… My veal steak was fine and I think I had the best choice tbh, the price was right too at 300tl, £9. The others had fajitas of one kind or the other and they weren’t quite what you’d expect fajitas to be ie no sour cream, guacamole and a long wait for the tortillas…. Still, the meat and onions looked to be nice. The best thing was the wine. They actually had SilverBoom available which is one of our favourites and hard to get. I’d go back just for that….. Of course the company was great and it was good to have a proper catch up chat.
More of the same today and then tonight we were invited to our friends, Roger and Ann’s house for drinks and nibbles. They live between Lapta and Karsiyaka. There was a nice crowd there – a group of their close neighbours who were all pretty new immigrants to the island, plus some much loved familiar faces too. The food was amazing – far more than nibbles. We all feasted and enjoyed chat and sitting out till midnight – for Bob and I at least. A thoroughly enjoyable evening. There is such a varied and lively expat scene here. You can have an amazing social life, or as quiet a time as you like.