Images of Autumn

Autumn didn't arrive until early November this year, after a much warmer than usual October.  But it's still here, two weeks later. It's usually a very short season in Cyprus, sometimes vanishing before we really notice it. By the middle of November we're normally wanting to wear sweaters, at least in the evening, and are thinking about putting the heating on. 

Instead, I'm comfortable in jeans and a tee-shirt, and we've been using just our lightweight duvet for the last couple of weeks, with no need to move to the thicker one.

So here are a few images from the middle of November.  Autumn fruit: 

Clementines are now in season (locally grown) and crisp 'Pink Lady' apples, which have all too short a season. Cyprus-grown bananas have been back for some weeks now, and the conference pears are at their best. I miss the summer fruits - peaches, apricots and strawberries, in particular - but I like the way we mostly eat seasonally here, with locally grown produce as much as possible. 

Here's our side yard, with gently fallen leaves:

Lady Jane has been sleeping in the cat bed again, rather than sprawled on top of a bookcase:

And finally, an Autumn sunset, shortly before 5.00pm:

Autumn in the UK (briefly out of Cyprus again)

We spent a couple of weeks out of Cyprus at the end of October/early November. No particular reason, for a change, other than to spend time with our various family members. We had a couple of weeks when not much were happening, and flights were pretty good value. 

We had been warned of cold temperatures and potential snow... but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.  Admittedly there was a lot of rain and the sky was often grey, but for our first week the daytime temperatures were in the 15-18C range.  What struck me most were the gorgeous autumnal colours.  This is something we really don't see in Cyprus, where a lot of trees are evergreen, and there's no real Autumn.

We arrived in the middle of the night at Gatwick and had booked an inexpensive Travelodge to collapse in.  On pulling the curtains in the morning, this is what I saw:

Sadly it's impossible to capture the splendour of the oranges and reds through glass on a grey day. But here's another example from a different direction:

We drove on many motorways and a variety of other roads in our 16 days, doing 900 miles in all in a rental car.  The colours were fabulous along the roadsides... but we drove by too rapidly to capture them. 

It was good to catch up with many of our family members in 'ordinary' times rather than special or sad occasions.  We still managed a few meals out and enjoyed some traditional English desserts, such as these: 

We were rather overwhelmed with the huge variety of Christmas decorations available, too: 

The prices of some of them were shockingly high.  Perhaps the recession in the UK is a thing of the past...

A week after we arrived, having driven from Sussex to Worcestershire via Berkshire, a major storm was predicted - across the South of the country.  There was a great deal of damage done, but it wasn't quite as terrible as predicted.  In the Midlands we had some high winds, making it difficult to photograph yet more Autumnal leaves: 

There was more rain than we had experienced in several years' worth of UK visits, but it was mostly quite gentle.  

I was thrilled to see rather a pretty rainbow, partly hidden behind some clouds, when we were briefly in Birmingham to see some friends: 

Then we drove further North still, to Derbyshire, where my brother took us out for a walk... not the gentle stroll around the village that we had expected, but a brisk hike across some rather attractive countryside, where we met some of the local wildlife: 

For a change, I saw a sunset rather than a sunrise: 

We did many things, enjoyed catching up with our loved ones, played games, went out for meals, and collected rather more things to return to Cyprus than we had expected.

Our final port of call was Carlisle, with our son and daughter-in-law.  When November started, the weather did turn rather chillier, and the morning before we returned to Cyprus, I saw this outside our window first thing: 

Yes, that's frost on the roofs of the cars, and quite a fog, although it dispersed later and the sun came out. 

We flew out of Cyprus with less than 20kg of luggage, and returned with 60kg of checked luggage (that's three suitcases) and rather full hand luggage too.  We got back a week ago... and although I haven't been as jet-lagged as usual, I'm only just now getting around to catching up with reviews and blog posts and everything else that is, perhaps inevitably, somewhat neglected when travelling. 

Returning to Cyprus, and cooler weather

It's three weeks since I last wrote. The rest of the week after Tim's graduation raced past, with visits to and from other family members, meeting friends, and, of course, a few more Catan games. We said goodbye to our sons and daughter-in-law at the end of October and drove down to Sussex for a couple of days with Richard's mother, than back from Gatwick Airport nearly two weeks ago.

I know from experience that jet-lag is far worse coming this way. Not that I was particularly tired, but my brain feels foggy and unable to think creatively. It's only this week that I'm really feeling like myself again. Still, I did manage to do a few important jobs such as sorting the freezer out again, and baking this year's Christmas cake.

The day after we flew home, I walked down into town to our PO Box, relishing the rather cooler weather, and forgetting just how early the sun now sets, since the clock change. And having been out of Cyprus for nearly three weeks, I was aware of the skyline again as I walked home - so typical of Cyprus with the white buildings decorated with water tank and solar panels, the pine trees, and the wasteland, mostly brown after a dry summer:


I liked the colour of the sky, too, and the clouds which suggested that it wouldn't be too long before some rain:

Not sailing into the sunset...

Although it's almost two years since Richard has been part-owner of the yacht King Malu, and a year since they started sea-trials, I have never been out sailing in her. This is because I don't do well in sunshine or heat... and they generally don't sail when there is no sunshine, because it tends to mean that the waves are choppy and the wind high. I did go on board in January, for a meal, and was quite prepared to be taken for a short sail... but it was too windy.

So when, about a week ago, Richard said they wondered if I would like to go for a sunset sail some time, I thought it sounded a good idea. Sunset is around 7.30pm, as it's totally dark by 8.00pm now, and the weather is mostly calm.

Then he said we would eat a meal on board - but I didn't have to provide any of it. So that was good. Then I learned that it wasn't going to be a sail at all, but a gentle motor for maybe ten minutes. Hmm. After much discussion, it was decided to meet at the marina at 6.00pm on Thursday. I'm glad I took a hat since it was still quite hot and sunny by then, and the 'bimini' (sunshade) no use at all since the sun was low enough to avoid it.

So, after a slight hiatus when the boat was blown into the one next-door, we set off. The sea was rather choppy and it worried me how much the boat seemed to be rocking, but Richard said it was fine. I was more disturbed by the sun on the back of my head than I was by the waves. And by around 7.00 was more than ready to stop and have something to eat - which was roast chicken from the 'New York' take-away and some excellent salad.

Tim had made some chocolate brownies:


After we'd eaten them, Erika and Lauren sat with their feet up:


I suddenly noticed that the sun was indeed starting to set, so thought I'd better take a photo since that was, after all, what we had come to see:


The camera is automatic, so it wasn't actually as dark as it looked in that picture. Tim P (the main owner of the boat) decided it was time to go back so he went to the front of it:


And Richard took the wheel:


I managed to catch another picture of the sun just before it disappeared over the horizon, although it wasn't fully dark for another fifteen minutes or so:


So I still haven't been sailing on King Malu. Going on board a couple of times a year seems reasonable enough, though... but I preferred it in January when it was decidedly less hot.

Red sky at night...

I'm not sure that I've ever seen any shepherds in Cyprus. But if there are any, they should be delighted:

Sunset in Larnaka

Richard was in Italy for most of the week. He arrived home around 6.25 last night, just the right time to set out on foot for the cell group we attend which meets at our friends' home nearby.

To get there, we have to cross the main Fanoroumeni Street which is sometimes extremely busy. It was particularly so last night... but it didn't matter, because at the far end was one of the most spectacular sunsets I've seen for some time.

A photograph never really does justice to a sunset, but I pulled out my camera anyway...

Sunset over Larnaka Salt Lake

On Wednesday evening, our visitors had to be at the airport by about quarter to eight. It had been a lovely day - as is expected at this time of year in Cyprus - but by the evening, there were quite a few fluffy clouds in the sky.

As we drove past the Salt Lake, which (after our extensive rains this spring) is still fairly full, we saw the most glorious view of the sun beginning to set over the lake, with the clouds glowing red and orange, and amazing reflections.

There was no way to stop on the way to the airport. But ten minutes later we were on our way home, and able to pull into a little lay-by. The sun was a lot lower - sunsets happen pretty quickly in Cyprus, without much dusk - but the clouds made the sky look very attractive. I took about ten photos in quick succession, of which the better ones were this one:

.. and, just a couple of minutes later, when the sun had almost vanished, this one:

Red sky at night

It's not often that we see attractive sunsets in Cyprus. Clear skies during the day mean that the sky simply darkens around sunset, fairly rapidly, and then it's night time.

But a few days ago, I happened to glance up as I was sitting at my computer, and saw this:



Well, that wasn't the exact view I saw. But the sky was like that. So I grabbed my camera and went out on my little balcony, and took several photos, of which these views were the best:



It didn't last long. Five minutes later, and the sky was dark. Still, I hoped it was enough for any shepherds in the neighbourhood to be delighted. Not that I've ever seen any sheep in Larnaka.

It wasn't even particularly accurate, as far as sky predictions go. It didn't rain the following day, but it was a bit grey. In fact, the sky was grey all weekend. Richard was in Limassol, doing the last part of his Day Skipper course so it's a good thing the weather stayed fine, albeit a bit dull.

But on Monday morning there was a brief storm with a lot of wind and a very light sprinkling of rain for a few minutes. And today there was a bit more rain.

Richard tells me that according to the weather charts - which he studies extensively these days - there is usually a big storm in Cyprus on or around February 9th. It still looks somewhat grey outside, although the sun shone for an hour or two just after lunch, so it may still come.

Red Sky...

We went to see the house again. We took lots of photos, and made some measurements. We talked with the owner... and we didn't find any problems at all. So tomorrow we'll go and meet the owner again, more formally, at the estate agent's office. Apparently people don't generally use lawyers here to buy and sell houses, the contracts are drawn up by the estate agent. We hope it will be in English as well as in Greek. So far it all seems very friendly and easy... we'll see what happens tomorrow. If we go ahead and pay the deposit, and ask for a contract to be drawn up, then I'll go ahead and post some of the photos.

Meanwhile, on the way home, we saw a gorgeous sunset, which is pretty unusual here:

Some photos from our recent trip to the UK

I was going to call this 'holiday snaps', but it wasn't really a holiday in any sense, although it was lovely to spend time with family and friends. Having lived out of the UK for eight years (and it's exactly that - today is the 8th anniversary of our arrival in Cyprus) I found myself noticing things I might previously have taken for granted. And having a digital camera, of course I took dozens of snaps which I shall never get made into prints. Here are a few to give a flavour of our visit... oh, and if anyone reading this isn't familiar with blog photos, any of them can be clicked to see a larger version. But on a dial-up connection that might be quite slow.

We began in Sussex, staying with Richard's mother. The boys both inherited some money last year and wanted to buy professional musical instruments after many years on student types. So we spent much time in the first week in music shops, mostly about half an hour's drive away. Tim selected this keyboard after playing a huge variety:

... and Daniel eventually chose a clarinet from Hanson's, a store in Yorkshire, which sent it down for him to try before buying. They're both very pleased with their purchases!

At the end of the first week we drove to Birmingham to spend a couple of weeks staying with my mother. The day after we arrived, my sister and her family came to spend a day, and in the afternoon we went for a walk with their dog to the local Highbury Park. I found myself amazed afresh at the beauty and greenery of Birmingham parks, and particularly liked this pond:

Daniel's birthday was approaching fast, and he was interested in some Irish tin whistles. We'd been recommended a shop in Birmingham called Hobgoblins, which turned out to be a very friendly place full of fascinating instruments, some of them quite unusual. He was able to play several of the whistles and chose four in separate keys.

We were amused at the wall surrounding the car park we found nearby. After reading the notice saying that cars which had not paid sufficient parking money would be clamped, Dan asked if they received even more drastic treatment if they were left for even longer...


Yes, it was a wall of crushed cars! We made sure we paid for a couple of hours. After spending time in Hobgoblin's we still had a bit of parking time left so we went for a brief walk and saw this astounding statue. The boys posed at its feet just to give an idea of the size. Rather incongrous in the middle of a kind of shopping centre, we thought:


The following weekend, after spending most of the week trying to sort out the various boxes in our house, we spent the day with some friends who live near the enormous Sutton Park. We went for a walk in the afternoon, and enjoyed seeing wild ponies:and wild mushrooms. Or perhaps toadstools. They were amazingly colourful and bigger than I had expected. Suddenly I could see why Enid Blyton wrote about them as fairy houses:

As well as continuing to sort our freight the following week, we spent time with lots of different friends. At the weekend we made a quick trip to the Cadbury shop which is quite close to our house, and I took this quick snap of the famous factory... people used to ask us if there was a problem with factory smells, living in Birmingham. We always replied that we loved waking up to the smell of freshly-made chocolate!


After that we drove along a road I used to take quite for granted - the Bristol Road, or A38, a two-lane dual carriageway that's very busy. It also happens to be lined with trees which were in gorgeous shades of yellow and red, as Autumn approached. In my teens I went along that road every day going to school, and barely noticed the colours.

Two days later we drove to Cardiff to spend nearly a week with my sister and her family. On the way - or rather, not on the way at all! - we took Dan to Oswestry for an interview, as he's hoping to return to the Doulos ship for a couple of years, and so has to join the organisation officially. While he was there, the rest of us drove to Lake Bala. It wasn't as dark as it looks in this picture - it was mid-afternoon. I just haven't yet figured out all the camera settings, so the bright sunshine made it look as if it was dusk. Still, I liked the way this turned out:

We watched some ducks too, very tame and sleeping peacefully when we sat down nearby. Then a couple of women approached with toddlers in pushchairs. Immediately the ducks and nearby doves woke up and rushed towards them, quacking and calling. Evidently they associated small children with food, and sure enough a child started throwing them pieces of bread. Just like we used to when the boys were smaller.

On the way back we drove through Chirk, a small town which has a castle, although we didn't go in. We were a bit horrified to see this pollution pouring into the sky, although I suppose it's better to be in a country area than in the middle of a big city.


We were even more horrified when we realised where it was coming from: another Cadbury factory.


Finally we got to Cardiff. We did get slightly lost, but thank goodness for international roaming mobile phones (which, from Cyprus, aren't even very expensive). Dan called my sister and she navigated us to her home over the phone using her A-Z street map. Our time with her was a bit less busy, although we did a bit more shopping including buying some extra luggage. Cardiff is a lovely city; here's just one of the buildings near where we parked on our last day:

Finally we drove back to Sussex for a couple of last days before flying home. We'd almost forgotten how slowly night falls in the UK, and how beautiful some of the sunsets can be. This shot was taken from the car as we drove south, about 6pm.



The old rhyme about 'Red sky at night' was correct, as our first day in Sussex was lovely: mostly sunny, and quite warm. Indeed it was remarkably mild and dry for October during most of our stay.