Another birthday (still out of Cyprus)

It hardly seems a year ago that we were in the UK and celebrating my 50th birthday. Fifty was not a big deal, but somehow fifty-one seems a little more worrying. Perhaps because it seems quite reasonable to think that I might live to 100, given my genetic inheritance... so a year ago I could think that I was, perhaps, half way through my life. But 102... well, that would feel very old. So the chances are that I'm now past the half-way mark and on the downhill slide towards old age.

I hope it will be a gentle and lengthy slope.

So here I am yesterday morning, as I prepared to open the large pile of parcels that was awaiting me:


A particularly nice card was this one, hand-made by my five-year-old friend Katie:


By the time I had finished, I had acquired quite a few books, some DVDs, several cards, some generous cheques and a delicious looking box of Thornton's chocolates:


Later in the day four more books arrived, and on the 19th I'd been given some other gifts, so - feeling extremely blessed - I laid everything out like this:


That wasn't all - later in the day I was given a grey hoodie by Richard (who ordered had ordered my presents to come here, just before he flew out of Cyprus to join me).

We spent most of the morning with Tim, handing in his dissertation and the other final assignments for his degree course. A great achievement, and cause of a double celebration. So we went out to lunch with my mother and Tim's girlfriend, and that was very enjoyable.

We got home, had coffee, and played a family game of Settlers of Catan. Then did a little shopping... we had to go and collect the second parcel that had arrived when we were out, so I showed Richard the clothes shops locally which I had looked at a week or so back. I did try on one dress but it didn't suit me at all; I then spotted a skirt which we both liked, and which fitted nicely, so I went ahead and bought that. I have a blouse that goes with it, so all I need now is smartish shoes, and some kind of light jacket or cardigan/shrug to go with it.

Tim baked me a rather scrumptious (and very large) chocolate cake to have after our evening meal:


Even after we'd all had a slice, there was plenty left...

The end of another era

Nearly three years ago, Tim and I flew from Cyprus to the UK to start the process that would enable him to begin student life at Newman University.

Today, the first stage of his student life has come to a close. His third-year dissertation and three other assignments were due to be handed in at the beginning of May, but since Easter is approaching and we're going to Carlisle for Daniel and Becky's wedding on Monday, Tim wanted everything finished this week. Preferably by today.

So he's been, so to speak, on the treadmill for the past ten days or so. Reading, researching, typing, compiling biographies, printing, agonising over what to say. The dissertation was basically organised, with just a little writing left to do, and there was one assignment due a couple of days ago, which he handed in at the end of last week. Since I came out to help with proof-reading nearly two weeks ago, he's spent every moment, just about, working. I've been out and about, and spent time with friends, which has been fun... and I've also proof-read about 25,000 words.

Yesterday, about 10.00pm, the process finally came to an end. I sat with him as he made a couple of last minor changes to his dissertation conclusion, and then he printed out all 62 pages (including appendices) twice.

This morning, he appeared at the front door looking like the Chancellor on budget day. He did offer to go and get his satchel so as to look more authentic, but we felt that would be overkill...


Since Richard's now here and has a rental car, we drove him to Newman, as it's rather quicker than going by bus:


As well as the important paperwork, Tim had a bag of books to return to the library:


There were thirteen of them in all, and he knew he would have to pay fines for some of them which he had forgotten to renew.

He made it up the steps with his heavy load....


We had to sign in, then he took us to the library so he could return all the books, and pay the fine. It turned out that although he had his wallet, he'd forgotten to bring any money, other than about 90p.. so I gave him the extra pound he needed. And the two pounds for getting his dissertation copies spiral bound with rather smart red covers.

Then, finally, we arrived in the university hub so that, perhaps for the last time, he could fill in the green forms necessary for handing in assignments:


While he was doing that, I took the opportunity to photograph the evidence:


We were slightly confused in that there was information on the table saying that dissertations had to be bound in maroon covers, and these were red.. but apparently they were the correct Newman colours.

Then, at last, Tim headed to the desk. The lady behind was very helpful and encouraging, and pleased to see the dissertation, although apparently she has already accepted two or three, so he wasn't the first to finish.


And finally, a special bonus reward for three years of hard work... yes! A free Newman rubber band to hold the two copies of his dissertation together!


I asked if he felt at all sad to have come to the end of his degree course, and he said no, he was very pleased to have finished all the work. And, all being well, he'll be back at Newman in September to start his PGCE course.

Oh, and when I said that Tim had been on the treadmill this week, it wasn't totally metaphorical...

Out of Cyprus: proof-reading, outfit-hunting and Settlers...

The main reason why I came to the UK nine days ago rather than travelling with Richard in a few days' time is so that I could help Tim with proof-reading his third year dissertation, and four other essays or commentaries. They're all rather important and he was feeling somewhat overwhelmed. And while I can - and have - proof-read by email, he prefers notes hand-written on a print-out. One essay is due on Tuesday, the rest on May 3rd. However we shall be in Carlisle until May 2nd (which is a public holiday) so he really wanted to get everything finished and handed in before Easter.

25,000 words is quite a bit to proof-read in a week, and not everything was written. But we seem to be doing all right. The essay due on Tuesday was proofed, tweaked, printed and handed in on Friday. The dissertation has had its final comments from Tim's mentor, and will have its final proof-reading on Monday. The other three assignments are in various stages, but the end seems to be in sight.

In between proof-reading, I've enjoyed spending time with a very good friend (on Tuesday), one of my brothers and his wife (on Wednesday), meeting a long-time email acquaintance (on Thursday) and spending an evening with some other friends (on Friday).

As well as that, Tim and I have played Settlers of Catan regularly, to help him relax. I've slightly lost track, but I think we've now played three two-person games, two (or is it three?) three-person games with my mother, and one particularly good five-person game on Wednesday:


It's a mark of Tim's stressed state that while he usually wins rather more than half of the games he plays, he hasn't yet won a single game since my arrival.

There's one other thing I planned to do this week - I wanted to find a suitable outfit to wear for Daniel and Becky's wedding, which is in two weeks' time. I knew I wouldn't find anything suitable in Cyprus; I searched several online stores before I left, and didn't see anything very inspiring. But I knew there are plenty of clothes shops in Birmingham, and thought I'd be spoilt for choice. I expected to narrow the search down to two or three shops, perhaps half a dozen possibilities, and would then get Richard to make the final choice when he's here. He does actually like clothes shopping, while I decidedly don't.

Knowing I'd be seeing various friends, and wanting flexibility, I bought a weekly bus pass on Monday. Off-peak only, but that's not a problem. I have no need to travel before 9.30am or between 4.30pm and 6.00pm. I might be frightened of the London Underground, but I am quite competent with Birmingham buses.

Kings Heath - walking distance from here - is my usual first port of call. I like browsing the charity shops, and there are several clothes chains where I've bought clothes before - Peacocks, Bon Marche, Store 21 (which used to be BeWise). They usually have plenty of stock, the prices are reasonable, and I like the styles.

Huh. This year, despite it being on mid-April, the shops are full of floaty sun-dresses. Either skimpily short, or full-length. I don't want either. Part of the problem is that I really don't know whether I want a dress with a sort of 'shrug' (if that's the word), or a skirt and top with some kind of jacket, or a trouser suit. I'd be most comfortable in the latter... but am not entirely sure how well that would go down as 'mother of the groom'.

Kings Heath proving uninspiring, my friend on Tuesday took me to a couple of shops in Bearwood that had some possible outfits, but none that leapt out at me. On Thursday I searched around the City Centre - BHS, Debenhams, other branches of the shops I'd already seen, Primark... I even swallowed my pride and went into Marks and Spencers. In all the shops, as in Kings Heath, I saw one or two tops that I quite liked, and some colours that were 'my' colours... but, again, nothing I really liked, nothing that stood out as being appropriate.

Yesterday I went to Northfield which used to have some reasonable clothes shops. I did manage to find a good backpack at an excellent price... but the shops in general looked very run-down and had less of a selection than Kings Heath. Still, I had a very scenic ride back, on a bus I had never used before that drove through the attractively leafy suburbs of Bournville, where we used to live.

Today I went to Kings Heath again. I even looked through the charity shops - I like them anyway, and just occasionally there's a lovely outfit in my size. Not this time. I didn't spend much time - I was buying one or two other things anyway - but have to admit that I did begin to feel just a little frisson of concern, since I have to find something within the next two weeks... and four of the days in the next fortnight are public holidays.

I'm well aware that it's a good problem to have. I'm extremely thankful that I don't have the major concerns so many of my friends and relatives have - health worries, family troubles, money problems, and worse. I'm extremely blessed by so many people and circumstances, and am very much looking forward to the wedding.

But it would be nice if I knew what I was going to wear...

A Sunday out of Cyprus

The weather in Birmingham, as so often happens when we depart Cyprus for a few weeks, has been amazing since my arrival on Thursday. Blue skies, sunshine, 18-20 degrees Celcius. It probably won't last, but I'm enjoying it in the meantime.

When we're here, we usually visit Christ Church Selly Park (except when Richard is doing something at St Stephens). Christ Church is where Tim goes regularly to services, and where we attended before moving to Cyprus. This morning Tim was playing in the music group, and his girlfriend Jo was on welcoming duty, so we had be there by 9.30am (for a 10.30 start). That meant leaving the house shortly before 9.00 since it's a pleasant half-hour walk.

I very much enjoyed reading a few recent leaflets and the weekly bulletin while listening to the music group practising:


Yes, those are four Mission Praise booklets under the piano stool, which is apparently just slightly too low for Tim.

Then someone moved, so I got a better one from the front which shows Tim in profile rather than from behind:


Despite some reservations about the final song, all went well during the service. There was a dedication of a baby, done with plenty of other noise from children - there are a lot of families in the church. When the children went off to Sunday School, there was a sermon that was interesting, with anecdotes and visual aids and a powerful YouTube video in the middle. I don't know how long it was, but it only felt like about 15 minutes.

It's strange, even though the building itself is only a few years old, and most of the congregation have arrived since our time, I always feel at home in a Christ Church service. People chatted to me before and afterwards - friends, acquaintances, someone I'd never seen before, and someone I used to know well but hadn't seen in over thirteen years.

At 12.00 Tim said we should probably leave; he was cooking a Sunday roast (chicken, sausages, roast potatoes and peppers, broccoli) and wanted to get back in plenty of time to finish it. So we set off back, and since I was much more awake than I had been, I had time to appreciate the green lushness of English parkland:


I realised that although we came just in time for daffodils last year, they're mostly finished this year - they look rather sad, just about finished now:


Then we turned a corner, and I saw something I haven't seen in many years: a group of people enjoying a game of cricket:


Lunch was excellent, then we talked, and I read a bit, and did some email, and generally relaxed. A very pleasant day.

A rather geeky post while out of Cyprus

Long-term readers of this blog might recall that, almost two years ago, I introduced Ezekiel, my Mac mini computer. It didn't take me long to adjust to using a Mac, despite having been a Windows user for many years, but I didn't find myself suddenly loving all things Mac. It didn't seem all that different, really.

Fast forward eighteen months, or so, and I started thinking about the fact that I would be spending five weeks in the UK in April, and at least two at the end of October. I don't like laptops, and never wanted one... but I have to admit they're useful when travelling. Yes, I can always ask to use someone else's computer.. we always stay in households where there's at least one available, and that's fine for catching up with my email, or Facebook, or even writing a quick blog post.

But if I want to put photos in a post, that means I have to upload them onto someone else's computer. And if I get the urge to do some other writing, or to update one of my websites, well... it just isn't easy. And I can't necessarily fit all those things into a tidy hour or two - I tend to sit at my computer at home at all random times of the day, when something occurs to me. Ten minutes here, fifteen minutes there, a couple of hours later on... and that doesn't work well for borrowing other people's.

As those thoughts were buzzing around my mind, Amazon showed me a recommendation for a 'netbook' computer. A small-size, light laptop. I also realised that I still have quite a bit of birthday money left from a year ago. Idly, I browsed the Amazon Netbooks, and was surprised to find that they're relatively inexpensive, and yet have considerably more hard disc space than any computer I've ever had. I knew I could, just about, deal with a laptop keyboard even though they're a bit smaller... and, reading reviews, it seemed that on the whole people who had bought them were pleased with them.

I discussed it with friends and family. Some said, 'go for it!'. I'm not good at spending money on myself, so they thought it a great idea. Others told me I probably wouldn't use it much. Others said that if I really wanted something for travelling, I should get an iPad. I did investigate iPads online, but all I could see were several disadvantages. Touch screen. Ugh. No Flash capability - so I wouldn't be able to play Facebook Scrabble. Far too many things I wouldn't use, and it would be difficult to use software like KompoZer (for websites). Even the e-book reading capability didn't attract me, since I have a Kindle which I was given for Christmas. And they're about twice the price of the best value Netbooks.

So, to cut an already long story slightly shorter than it might otherwise be, I ordered my Netbook a couple of weeks ago. Tim took delivery, and installed the extra RAM that everyone seemed to recommend for it (very easy, he told me) and he used Skype on it, to show that the webcam worked. He said it was surprisingly light, and his only complaint is that it's very small.

Before I even flew to the UK to meet my new acquisition, it was clear to me what its name must be. Our family computers (and Richard's office ones) are all named after Old Testament prophets. Or somehow related to them. But my new venture into the laptop world, and the fact that it's a very little computer meant that there was, from a Biblically aware point of view, only one possible name.

So without further ado, let me introduce.... Zacchaeus:


Tim installed Firefox for me (although I'm glad that it has Internet Explorer, as I don't have a modern version of that on my Mac, and always like to check that my sites work in what is still the most popular browser). However I don't use Firefox on my Mac as I find it slow... and on little Zacchaeus, it's even slower. So in that photo I was downloading Chrome, which is, indeed, considerably faster than Firefox.

As well as the Netbook and RAM, I ordered a case as recommended by Amazon:


It took me a little while to adjust to the slightly smaller keyboard - at first I kept missing the right shift key, as it's smaller than I'm used to. But that wasn't difficult, and I can now touch type pretty fast.

However I do NOT like touch-pad mice. I can use them, but it felt slow and klumky. So my first task yesterday morning, in the glorious sunshine that greeted me - yes, this is England in April, but the skies are blue and the weather warm - was to buy myself a mouse. I went to Argos, and bought the cheapest USB one, which works extremely well.


Windows 7 starter is easy to use... the mouse installed itself when I plugged it in, as did the memory stick (on which I brought copies of my sites and documents) and even the camera. I suppose it's different from Mac OS, but other than the X key being in a different place, and a few other slight variations, I'm hardly noticing it.

So... the only problem was where to use it. I don't like laptops on my lap - they get uncomfortably warm, and I don't find it easy to type like that. I tried it on the dressing table, where it was a good height for reading, but rather awkward to type.

So I opened a drawer, put a box inside for stability, and am using it like this:

.. which is fine for typing, but awkward for reading. I like screens higher when browsing/reading. So, on top of the dressing table for reading, on the drawer for typing. The fact that I like my screen considerably higher than my keyboard is another reason why, in general, I am not a fan of notebook computers. An iPad would be even worse. But, for times when I'm out of Cyprus, this is about as ideal a situation as I've ever had and I'm very pleased with little Zacchaeus.

Currently out of Cyprus - a LONG day

Today started for me at 2.30am when Richard's alarm went off. Actually he set it for 2.25, as mine was set for 2.30. I'd had about four hours sleep, so started putting on clothes, feeling not as tired as I had expected.

My flight to the UK was scheduled for 5.00am and since I hadn't been able to check in online, I had to be at the airport by around 3.00. I'd pretty much finished packing the night before, though I thought of a couple of extra things as I was going to sleep, and then even remembered them before leaving.

When we arrived at the airport, Richard lifted my case out of the car, and tried to wheel it. Only to discover that it didn't have wheels. It should have done. At some point they must have broken off... and we have no idea why it wasn't thrown away. He told me I'd have to buy a 'wheely thing with bungee cords'. I had no idea what he meant but he said I would see some at the luggage shop once I had checked in.

So that was tbe first problem. Since I could lift my case easily (it only weighed 9.5kg) it didn't seem like too big a deal to me.

Then we went into the airport, and found where I was supposed to check in... only to find that there were no Cyprus Air staff in evidence. A few other passengers were hanging around, but it was another twenty minutes or so before the staff wandered along and got the desks ready. We might as well have had another half hour's sleep.

Anyway, all was well and I checked in, and went through passport control... entirely on my own in an airport for the first time EVER.

I looked for a luggage shop as instructed, but could not find one. I wandered around for a while, then decided to be more organised, and walked more logically around every available shop. I could have bought perfumes or CDs or books or sweets or toys or handbags... but no suitcases, or backpacks, or anything else that could be considered luggage. So, no chance of wheely things with bungee cords.

So I went to find a sitting area near my gate, and read on my Kindle for an hour or so. I remembered to buy a bottle of water for the flight, and boarded when told to do so. I'm basically quite familiar with airports - I must have made over 50 flights over the years, it's just that usually one of my menfolk looks after everything and I simply trail after them. I find airports overwhelming at the best of times, and I don't do well after only four hours sleep.

I had a window seat, and a Cypriot man sat in the aisle seat of my row, with nobody in the middle. When we were about to take off, he spotted a completely empty row just ahead, so moved to that, giving me all three seats for myself. Which enabled me to lie down in reasonable comfort, once the seat-belt signs were off... but I couldn't sleep. I never can on aeroplanes.

Breakfast arrived about an hour into the flight - it was after 6.00am Cyprus time, so not unreasonable. It wasn't a bad breakfast; I always request the vegetarian options for aeroplane meals as they're generally a lot nicer than the default meat ones. I was pleased with a little fruit salad, and ate a veggie-cutlet thing with some green beans. I noticed that the meal was officially vegan... which is a little odd as they provided cream cheese to go with some crackers, and milk for my coffee!

Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to drink coffee as it ensured I wouldn't sleep... but I enjoyed my Kindle for the next few hours, though feeling increasingly tired. Happily they provided another (bigger) coffee about 45 minutes before landing, so I was fairly awake and had no problem going through passport control, picking up my wheelless case, etc.

I did look for luggage shops at Heathrow, but there were no obvious ones. I'd used an airport trolley anyway, which I was able to take quite a long way into the underground place. I bought my ticket to Euston (five pounds) and although the ticket selling guy told me two possible ways to get there, I followed the instructions Tim had given me, which involved changing at Kings Cross. I do not like or understand the London Underground and this part of the journey had worried me the most. The tube was pretty crowded - standing room only, even at Heathrow, which got worse the further we progressed into London, but I suppose it was still rush hour.

Thankfully it wasn't far to the Northern Line for Euston at Kings Cross and I found myself at Euston with an hour and a half to hang around before my booked train to Birmingham. I was able to collect my pre-booked ticket (booking in advance means I paid six pounds, rather than the 47 it would have cost to buy today!) from a machine, and bought a Boots 'meal deal' for lunch then sat down to read some more.

I got on the train at 11.54, although I nearly went to the wrong platform... and read for most of the two-and-a-quarter hours journey to Birmingham.

Then out of New Street and a 35 bus. I have no worries about Birmingham buses, although I didn't expect to have to wait quite as long as I did - about 25 minutes for a bus that's supposed to come every 7-10 minutes. It wasn't even as if I'd just missed one, since someone else had been waiting 15 minutes before I arrived!

However, it eventually came, followed immediately by another, and I made my way to Moseley. I had to carry my wheel-less case up the street... but I made it. And was pleased to see my mother and (when he got in) Tim.

It's now 8.20pm. I'm determined to stay awake until at least 9.00 so I don't wake at some horrendously early hour in the morning. It's been a long day, but since so many things could potentially have gone wrong, I think I'm quite pleased that the only minor problems were a case without wheels, a lack of ground staff at Larnaka Airport, and a long wait for the bus.

Achna Discount in Cyprus

On Wednesday, I needed some fruit. I also wanted some kitchen roll and a small jar of mayonnaise (one day I shall experiment with making mayo... but for now we buy it). So I thought of popping into Orphanides Express on my way to the froutaria... then decided that, instead, I would have a look in Achna Discount... a store which opened at the start of February.


Or, rather, the shop as such re-opened; until about six months ago it was Tesco Express. I liked Tesco Express; it sold things I couldn't find anywhere else, such as 1.5kg bags of wholegrain bread flour, and excellent value oats. Unfortunately, there seemed to be longer and longer gaps between deliveries. The shelves grew emptier and emptier. Every time I popped in, I was assured that flour would be coming 'next week' or perhaps 'by the end of the month'. But it never came. And then it closed, and sat there empty for a while.

So I was interested to see what Achna Discount would sell. I assume it's an extension of the Achna Froutaria, a shop I visit at least twice per week, often three times. They sell other things as well as fruit and vegetables, and seem to be doing well - it's popular with Cypriots and usually busy. So I wandered round the new small supermarket a couple of times, but didn't see anything of great interest.

However, I assumed they would sell kitchen roll, at least. And, indeed, they did. Two packets of three for the price of one... or six rolls for just over two euros. Not bad, I thought. I spotted a small jar of Helleman's mayonnaise, too, so picked that up. And then saw that they were selling pure fruit juice for 90c/litre. We rarely buy pure fruit juice - it's very expensive in Cyprus, generally (well over a euro per litre) and much cheaper to juice one's own fruit. I mostly drink water anyway, But we like to keep a little juice in, for when we have visitors, or if Richard wants a drink in the middle of the night.

I don't yet know what the quality is like - we've tried cheaper brands in the past and been disappointed - but if it's any good, I'll be going there again any time we seem to be running out of packet juice.

I hope Achna Discount lasts rather longer than Tesco Express did.