The big question now is "when are we going!" and that is a very good question! Currently Aaron is looking for work and as soon as he finds something we are off pretty much. We have already sold our house so it makes sense to move asap as we are now paying the mortgage.
Our immediate plans are a 4 day trip (child free as He's off to my mother-in-laws for the duration!) in November which is my wedding anniversary/birthday present from Aaron.
Then we are going for 5 weeks over Christmas/New Year. We are having all our stuff shipped to arrive in the 1st week of December so we have time to get a bit sorted out by Christmas - and get the deccy's up of course :)
At the moment our conservatory is stuffed full of boxes ready to go, I think Aaron would be happy never to see another bit of bubble wrap or packing tape - he has spent ages getting everything ready. I think we are nearly sorted now though, just got to make a final decsion on which company to use for the shipping, although I think we've decided against the cheapest one we found as they didn't have a clue where Derynia was but said not to worry as they use Google maps!!!!!
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Our new home!
Our apartment is in the village of Derynia which is on the east coast about 2km south of what is often known as "the ghost town" of Famagusta - the old tourist town which was abandoned in the invasion of 1974 by Turkey. You can actually see some of the abandoned hotels from our balcony.
It's about 5 miles from Ayia Napa and Protaras so close enough to visit but far away enough that we're not surrounded by tourists all summer long!
The apartment is a large one bed penthouse appartment, I say large as it is 79 sqm and if it was 80sqm it could be classed as a 2 bed!
Aaron has completely redesigned the kitchen (It's what he does!) and so we now have a lovely big kitchen / living area with a breakfast bar and big patio doors which almost take up the whole wall, opening onto a balcony where we will have our dining table.
There is a lounge which will become our bedroom and the main room (as it's furthest away) will be Leo's. There is another larger balcony which opens off of the two bedrooms where we will put our new rattan 3 piece suite.
We have a communal swimming pool on the opposite side of the building, and there is underground parking.
There are 22 apartments in the block, Aaron has already met some neighbours when he went out in July to taek delivery of it. My Mum and Dad have also got an apartment on the ground floor, it's a little bit smaller than ours but with a big garden.
It's about 5 miles from Ayia Napa and Protaras so close enough to visit but far away enough that we're not surrounded by tourists all summer long!
The apartment is a large one bed penthouse appartment, I say large as it is 79 sqm and if it was 80sqm it could be classed as a 2 bed!
Aaron has completely redesigned the kitchen (It's what he does!) and so we now have a lovely big kitchen / living area with a breakfast bar and big patio doors which almost take up the whole wall, opening onto a balcony where we will have our dining table.
There is a lounge which will become our bedroom and the main room (as it's furthest away) will be Leo's. There is another larger balcony which opens off of the two bedrooms where we will put our new rattan 3 piece suite.
We have a communal swimming pool on the opposite side of the building, and there is underground parking.
There are 22 apartments in the block, Aaron has already met some neighbours when he went out in July to taek delivery of it. My Mum and Dad have also got an apartment on the ground floor, it's a little bit smaller than ours but with a big garden.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
So why Cyprus really????
After my standard answer of "Why the hell not!" I do have some actual reasons believe it or not!
I think one reason I struggle to answer the question is that lots of the reasons seem to obvious to me now. It also goes back to the thought I had that everyone wanted to emigrate, and they would if they could.
Some of my reasons - well without wanting to state the glaringly obvious but... the weather, I know everyone moans about the weather in the UK but I can't even begin to tell you how much I hate the weather here. Although I do wonder what the hell people talk about when the weather is completley predictable!
The Mediterranen lifestyle, outdoor living, more relaxed (in some ways)- attitude to familes, great for kids.
No Health & safety madness (although I'm sure some of it would probably be good the UK surrvived for all these years)
Less crime, more freedom for kids
Good healthcare, state schools which follow the same style as UK, simliar legal system.
No huge language barrier as most people speak very good English (Although we are learning Greek)
I think one reason I struggle to answer the question is that lots of the reasons seem to obvious to me now. It also goes back to the thought I had that everyone wanted to emigrate, and they would if they could.
Some of my reasons - well without wanting to state the glaringly obvious but... the weather, I know everyone moans about the weather in the UK but I can't even begin to tell you how much I hate the weather here. Although I do wonder what the hell people talk about when the weather is completley predictable!
The Mediterranen lifestyle, outdoor living, more relaxed (in some ways)- attitude to familes, great for kids.
No Health & safety madness (although I'm sure some of it would probably be good the UK surrvived for all these years)
Less crime, more freedom for kids
Good healthcare, state schools which follow the same style as UK, simliar legal system.
No huge language barrier as most people speak very good English (Although we are learning Greek)
Friday, 18 September 2009
First Trip to Cyprus
Our 1st trip to Cyprus was in August 2007, we went on a property viewing trip, 3 days being driven around by a sales rep, It was very helpful as we spent most of the time learning about the different areas and what it was like to live there once we had convinced Kev (our rep) that we were not buying on this trip.
By the time we left we had a much clearer idea of what we wanted, and a long list of questions had been answered. When we got home between the four of us we came up with a long list of what the property / properties would need for us to buy them.....
for example..
Location to be not too touristy or full of ex-pats only
Within walking distance to shop for essentials (Mum doesn't drive!)
Near school / nursery (We were thinking ahead!)
Near doctors / hopsital
Resonably close to the coast
Property to have air con and a pool - I've ALWAYS wanted my own pool so there was no way I could be in Cyprus without one!
etc etc - there were more but I can't remember them all now!
We spent every evening debating the pros and cons and looking at property magazines and online, we even drove to Birmingham for "The Place in the Sun" exhibition.
It was here we met Mark and decided to book our 2nd viewing trip.
As we flew out this time, officially we still had no intention to buy but I think we all secretly expected to get something - well maybe that was just me & Aaron! If we saw "The One" it would have to be done! Cyprus was going into the Euro in Jan 2008 and it made sense to buy before then.
And so we did - In 3 days we saw sooooooo many properties and drove backwards and forwards all over the East coast, it was absolutley exhausting!
Both Aaron and I, and my parents brought an appartment as they had exactly what we were looking for. They ticked every box and we couldn't see any disadvantages - and stil can't, and we really tried to find some, so now time will have to tell if it was a good move but so far so good!
By the time we left we had a much clearer idea of what we wanted, and a long list of questions had been answered. When we got home between the four of us we came up with a long list of what the property / properties would need for us to buy them.....
for example..
Location to be not too touristy or full of ex-pats only
Within walking distance to shop for essentials (Mum doesn't drive!)
Near school / nursery (We were thinking ahead!)
Near doctors / hopsital
Resonably close to the coast
Property to have air con and a pool - I've ALWAYS wanted my own pool so there was no way I could be in Cyprus without one!
etc etc - there were more but I can't remember them all now!
We spent every evening debating the pros and cons and looking at property magazines and online, we even drove to Birmingham for "The Place in the Sun" exhibition.
It was here we met Mark and decided to book our 2nd viewing trip.
As we flew out this time, officially we still had no intention to buy but I think we all secretly expected to get something - well maybe that was just me & Aaron! If we saw "The One" it would have to be done! Cyprus was going into the Euro in Jan 2008 and it made sense to buy before then.
And so we did - In 3 days we saw sooooooo many properties and drove backwards and forwards all over the East coast, it was absolutley exhausting!
Both Aaron and I, and my parents brought an appartment as they had exactly what we were looking for. They ticked every box and we couldn't see any disadvantages - and stil can't, and we really tried to find some, so now time will have to tell if it was a good move but so far so good!
What if....
We debated the pros and cons of actually moving abroad for quite a while! (I really wanted to say ages there as it did feel like it but some people might spend longer choosing an outfit I suppose!)
My reservations about it, (if you discount the "You just can't move abroad" statement as I had nothing to back that statement up) were...
"What it it all goes wrong?"
"What if we can't get jobs"
"What if we can't pay the mortgage?"
"What if we get sick"
"What if we think it's too hot"
"What if there is an earthquake, or a huge accident or we get abducted by aliens?"
"What if..... we don't try and look back in years to come and really regret it?"
As AJ pointed out (and I believe he has a point, which can be very annoying!) is that what's to say that any of the above would be more likely to happen there than here - well with the possible exception of it being too hot but I think I can live with that one
So, we booked ourselves a trip to go have a looksee - Why the hell not!!!
My reservations about it, (if you discount the "You just can't move abroad" statement as I had nothing to back that statement up) were...
"What it it all goes wrong?"
"What if we can't get jobs"
"What if we can't pay the mortgage?"
"What if we get sick"
"What if we think it's too hot"
"What if there is an earthquake, or a huge accident or we get abducted by aliens?"
"What if..... we don't try and look back in years to come and really regret it?"
As AJ pointed out (and I believe he has a point, which can be very annoying!) is that what's to say that any of the above would be more likely to happen there than here - well with the possible exception of it being too hot but I think I can live with that one
So, we booked ourselves a trip to go have a looksee - Why the hell not!!!
"People don't just move abroad"
It turns out that the whole moving idea came about after a conversation between my Dad & A. Dad said he would love to move abroad but Mum would never go and leave me behind. As A. would go in a heartbeat but knew I would'nt want to leave Mum and Dad they thought this an idea worth pursuing!
When A asked me, my inital reaction was "Don't be ridiculous" Apart from the fact I didn't want to leave my family and friends my main reason was "People don't just move abroad" At that time I completely belived that everyone wanted to move abroad but just didn't because you can't! I was genuinely surprised to find out that most people, although they may talk about it and say how jealous they are would have no intention of actually doing it themselves.
I always said I would move abroad when I retired (the time I assumed I suppose that you "could") Aaron pointed out that as I was 29 that was quite a way off! Also, as I had always wanted a big family if we had kids there would be NO WAY I would go and leave them here, so why wait all that time - afterall could get hit by a bus tommorrow!
Cyprus was the favoured destination of my parents who had been going there many years, I had never been but had been on holidays to Greece and Turkey and asummed it to be somewhere between the two. (Which it is but you know what I mean!) Althought I had enjoyed those previous holidays I couldn't see myself living somewhere like that.
On this assumption I was surpised I suppose that my Dad would choose Cyprus, I had always imagined if anyone it would be somewhere Spanish, so it was clear that a trip was needed so I could see for myself.
We didn't have the money for a holiday so we booked a viewing trip with a property company, no intention to buy, after all that would be silly on a 3 day trip to a new country - you should at least wait until the 2nd viewing trip......
When A asked me, my inital reaction was "Don't be ridiculous" Apart from the fact I didn't want to leave my family and friends my main reason was "People don't just move abroad" At that time I completely belived that everyone wanted to move abroad but just didn't because you can't! I was genuinely surprised to find out that most people, although they may talk about it and say how jealous they are would have no intention of actually doing it themselves.
I always said I would move abroad when I retired (the time I assumed I suppose that you "could") Aaron pointed out that as I was 29 that was quite a way off! Also, as I had always wanted a big family if we had kids there would be NO WAY I would go and leave them here, so why wait all that time - afterall could get hit by a bus tommorrow!
Cyprus was the favoured destination of my parents who had been going there many years, I had never been but had been on holidays to Greece and Turkey and asummed it to be somewhere between the two. (Which it is but you know what I mean!) Althought I had enjoyed those previous holidays I couldn't see myself living somewhere like that.
On this assumption I was surpised I suppose that my Dad would choose Cyprus, I had always imagined if anyone it would be somewhere Spanish, so it was clear that a trip was needed so I could see for myself.
We didn't have the money for a holiday so we booked a viewing trip with a property company, no intention to buy, after all that would be silly on a 3 day trip to a new country - you should at least wait until the 2nd viewing trip......
Thursday, 17 September 2009
"Do you want to move to Cyprus?"
So, how did this huge life changing decsion come about I expect you are wondering....
maybe years spent holidaying in Cyprus?
months of careful research?
a "too good to pass up" job offer?
family or friend connections?
NOPE!
It went something like this....
One evening (approx August 2007) whilst eating dinner Aaron (in the kind of tone you'd expect to hear something like "Do you want mayo with that?" or "Shall we watch Top Gear?") said, with no pre-amble at all "Do you want to move to Cyprus?"
I will never forget that moment, it still cracks me up 2 years later!
I remember turning round really slowly and saying (with a slightly bemused look on my face as he was obviously joking!)
"Do.I.want.to.move.to.Cyprus?"
Him: "Yes"
Me: "Cyprus??? Why would we want to move to Cyprus?"
Him: "Why not?"
Me: We've never even BEEN to Cyprus!"
Him: "I know"
Me: (now thinking he has completely lost the plot) Soooo, why would we move to a random country for no apparent reason?"
Him: "Because we can!"
So, this all happened 2 years ago and we are now in full swing of moving! It's a long story, and I think quite interesting (although I imagine I'm a little biased what with it being my story 'n all!) that I will share eventually
maybe years spent holidaying in Cyprus?
months of careful research?
a "too good to pass up" job offer?
family or friend connections?
NOPE!
It went something like this....
One evening (approx August 2007) whilst eating dinner Aaron (in the kind of tone you'd expect to hear something like "Do you want mayo with that?" or "Shall we watch Top Gear?") said, with no pre-amble at all "Do you want to move to Cyprus?"
I will never forget that moment, it still cracks me up 2 years later!
I remember turning round really slowly and saying (with a slightly bemused look on my face as he was obviously joking!)
"Do.I.want.to.move.to.Cyprus?"
Him: "Yes"
Me: "Cyprus??? Why would we want to move to Cyprus?"
Him: "Why not?"
Me: We've never even BEEN to Cyprus!"
Him: "I know"
Me: (now thinking he has completely lost the plot) Soooo, why would we move to a random country for no apparent reason?"
Him: "Because we can!"
So, this all happened 2 years ago and we are now in full swing of moving! It's a long story, and I think quite interesting (although I imagine I'm a little biased what with it being my story 'n all!) that I will share eventually
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