We flew out of the UK to Cyprus yesterday (17th September). An interesting trip!! Our regular taxi driver dropped off the planet for over 2 weeks with his phone out of service and no responses to any messages, and, fearing he might not turn up, we felt we had to find another way of getting from home to Stansted by 0830. An affordable way that is…… After doing a lot of research we suddenly remembered (bit slow of us actually) the method we are using in January to get to Southampton. We are hiring a VAN!!!!!! In preparing to get to Southampton with a winter’s allowance of luggage including golf clubs and diving kit, we found out that whilst renting a small car for 24 hours on a one way rental was nearly £200, ditto a large taxi, renting a small Kango type van was only £70! So… that’s all booked. We will undoubtedly rock up at the Cunard Queen Victoria looking like the Trotters in our Enterprise van but it will just eat our mountain of luggage (no restrictions on cruise luggage, bring what you like!!!) and it’s cheap! Anyway, brainwave…. why not do the same thing to get to Stansted? So we booked it. We picked the van up on Monday afternoon in Dover and we dropped it off at 0830 at Stansted yesterday. It was very straightforward and we will definitely do it again if the maths indicate it’s worth it. It is more hassle than just jumping in a cab, but if there’s a big price difference, no contest.

Anyway, we got to Stansted ok, checked in, flight was with Pegasus and it was on time. We had prebooked a meal which was good and we were in row 2. We’d done the window and aisle seat thing and that worked out, we had the row of 3 seats to ourselves all the way to Antalya where we were changing planes. About 90 mins on the ground in Antalya, just time for a cold drink and then the 40 minute flight to Cyprus. We could feel the heat already.

Ozzy(Gunray Rentacar) had sent a taxi to meet us at Ercan and it was a nice big van, very comfortable. We got to the house about 10pm and all was well there. There was just time to unpack some things and have a quick g&t out on the terrace before turning in. Lights out about 1am.

And up this morning at 7am!!!! Gunray were delivering our car….. It was already hot outside and the sky was blue – a breeze blowing but really so gorgeous. I am always so pleased to look out of the bedroom and see our view.

We took delivery of our favourite Ford B-Max, an elderly vehicle, that Ozzy kindly lets us rent. It’s probably the last time as he wants to sell it next year. We reorganised the kitchen as a first job. I love our guests but when we come in the autumn, the kitchen cupboards are in a total muddle, things are everywhere, sometimes in the most illogical of places. It always takes an hour or so to get things organised again… LOL… What the hell???

Then, off down the hill to get some food shopping. We stopped at the farmer’s market stall and filled bags of fruit and veg. It’s very cheap as long as you buy what’s local and in season. We got potatoes, onions, huge heads of garlic, green beans, red sweet peppers, figs, peaches, bananas, mint….. just a whole load of stuff for less than £10. Carrier bags of it. I noticed that the courgette flowers are all in so we must get some of those next time. Then on to the Dima supermarket which we quite like – it’s a discount supermarket. Got the rest of our shop there: big tub of yoghurt, white cheese (feta), cheddar, burger buns, loaf of bread, 2 bottles gin, 1 bottle brandy, lots of tonic, 30 eggs, 6 tins of sardines, 3 tins chicken spam (I know!!!!), breakfast cereals, some tinned hors d’oevres, big jar of stuffed green olives, sparkling water. It all came to about £50. We didn’t need to buy any meat this time because…. well…. let’s just say we came prepared…. and our villa food cupboards always have loads of rice, bulgar wheat, frika, pasta, jams and honey, homemade pickle etc….. So… anyway… not too bad.

Then we went to the Turkcell shop at the bottom of our hill and topped up our local sim cards. We buy a package that gives us a massive amount of data, local and international call time for 30 days and it cost about £18 each. We’ve never run out in the 30 days lets put it that way.

Back home and put it all away and then did some more sorting out around the house. We always come out with new bits and bobs to deploy around. Dangly crystals for the garden and terrace, a decorative stick on for one of the patio doors that people are prone to head butt LOL, electrical things, a set of 8 new steak knives, a new dvd player….! The power has been very variable this summer – lots of power cuts – so we’ve bought surge protectors for some devices. Some small jobs for Bob ahead.

The garden is looking good if a bit dry as usual this time of year despite the watering. It’s just so hot and dry from May through October. The lemon tree is covered in lemons again – oh lord more marmalade making – and the grapefruit tree has more than it ever has before. I’ve missed our own figs here but the tree looks very healthy. I hope some guests and Habibi have enjoyed them rather than the birds…..

So….. 59 days here in Sunny Cyprus lie ahead. 2 sets of visitors! Lots of social activities and catching up with all our friends here. It’s going to be fantastic and the great weather helps us stay outdoors and active for a lot longer than would be the case back in the UK. Plus we escape all the increasingly desperate and frightening news about the October budget, the US election, the war in Ukraine, the boat invasion of Kent, the Israeli conflicts… I mean… it’s still there if we turn the tv on and tune in….. but…. we don’t.