A Matter of Choice

Does it snow in Cyprus? You may be surprised to know that it does snow, every year but high in the mountains. You can ski from around December to February (and on a good day get to the beach for a sunbathe in the same day).   There are times when many mountain roads are closed to normal vehicles and it's a very popular day out for the novelty value of seeing the snow. We took Leo up the Troodos mountains t wo years ago which was fun for a short while until he got cold and told us he never wanted to go there again! So, snow in Cyprus is a regular event, and not surprising at all,  unless it reaches the coastal areas and then everyone goes a little bit crazy. It always amuses me when it snows in the UK and everyone (as I would!)  runs to facebook and instagram to tell the world it is snowing, when in reality they could just look out their window. The snow panic, the rush to buy bread and milk, the chaos on the roads and the schools closing left, right and cen...

We are deep in the depths of winter here in Cyprus, granted that is nowhere near as deep as other places but winter it is. Because of this we are getting a fair amount of wind, rain and every now and again some very strange and stunning skies.... These were taken just over a week ago by my friend, I was driving - trying to get home before the  world ended  it poured with rain or sand or a plague of locusts.... seriously have you ever seen skies like this?! This post is part of The Gallery. The prompt was Mother Nature - check out other entries for more amazing photos.

I took this photo two years ago, in October. We were away for the weekend on my in-laws narrow boat and I was thrilled to have good weather.  There lies  my problem with Autumn, in theory it's a gorgeous season, the sun low in the sky, streaming through the trees, piles of fallen leaves looking all pretty. In reality though I usually found it was cold, probably wet and often that really fine drizzle where you get soaked to the skin. I know, I am very fussy with my weather ! I've never been the type to really embrace anything other than "good weather" when it comes to the great outdoors. So, I am now glad to be out and about in the autumn. The days are lovely here now, warm enough to enjoy in a t-shirt and cool enough that you can go out walking and not want to collapse in a heap after five minutes.It also means we have the beaches to ourselves now the tourists have gone home.  This post was written for this weeks Gallery entry. The prompt this week ...

"This porridge is too hot," Goldilocks exclaimed. So she tasted the porridge from the second bowl. "This porridge is too cold." So she tasted the last bowl of porridge. "Ahhh, this porridge is just right!" she said happily. And she ate it all up. Goldilocks and the three bears  It is 9pm on the 8th September and we are in the "Goldilocks Zone"  AJ has said several times this year that there is no pleasing me when it comes to the weather, I think it's too cold, too hot, too wet etc.. Well I tonight whilst sitting on the balcony I suddenly announced that I was a perfect temperature! He replied with "Not too hot, not too cold" hence the title of this post.  Before my UK trip I would sit outside after a shower and be drenched in sweat in minutes, I realised this evening that after a pleasantly hot but not too sweaty day that I was exactly the right temperature for the first time in ages.  We now slowly on our way into autumn / winter...

Some weeks ago Tara at  Sticky Fingers  started a weekly photo showcase and with my love of pictures I though it would suit me down to the ground.  Here in her words is what it's all about..... The Gallery If you're new to The Gallery, here's the brief: I will give you a prompt, an idea, a notion and you go out and take a photograph using that prompt. Or just use a photo you already have. The prompt could be one word, an object, an idea, a phrase, anything, and you have to post a picture which you feel represents that prompt. Post it on your blog and write about it. That's it. This week's theme is Still life and I thought with my weather obsession this would be perfect. This was taken this afternoon, it's been about this temperature for a while and I love it! It's great to know that it's summer, and it will be summer for months. I know in England we all moan about the weather but I hated it, really hated it.  I'd be so confused on a hot su...

Wow, we've been in our new home 6 months already! Time confuses me, how can it seem that we've been here forever as well as feeling like it's happened in the blink of an eye? It doesn't really feel like 6 months since I've not seen people I saw every week but I can hardly seem to remember being anywhere other than here! I love it here, both our home and our adopted country. It took me longer than AJ to get it, it was a bigger change for me though once he started work. I went from being surrounded by people to help with Leo and friends I could ring and visit when needed, to having no car, no friends nearby and dealing with a baby for the first time on my own in a country I'd hardly spent any time in. AJ on the other hand was going to work and playing pool on a Wednesday with the boys and living in his own place for the first time in nearly two years. I did have a few low days, no regrets though even at the time, I knew I had to give it time but the days can ...

It looks like summer is on it's way, I feel like I want to add at last with that comment which is ridiculous in March, I think it's just an English habit I have! Each year I would be so excited at the start of summer, well spring even but also knowing that it's quite possibly a waste of time to get excited about the "blink and you'll miss it" English summer! I think I'm safe to get excited about summer here though :)

I find it hard to believe we haven't yet been living here for 3 months! I assume it is a good sign that it feels like we have been here forever? So much has happened in such a short time that our first few weeks here appear to be such a long time ago. We had our first visitors this week, (Aaron'sMum and his two of his nephews) and it was great to show them around, it also makes you see the place in a slightly different light. The weather has also changed in the last week or so - there is a definite feel of spring (summer to us!) in the air. In the last week we have been to the beach three times! It's not yet sunbathing weather - not that it would be easy to sunbathe with a mad 9 month old baby, but it's so lovely to be out and about in the sunshine. I have a car now which is making a world of difference to me as I was getting cabin fever being stuck indoors while Aaron was at work. I love my car - it's a Mitsubishi Mirage - I had never heard of that model before...

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 ...