Help... It's time for change!!!

Goldiegirl

Glad you arrived safely, and are settling down nicely.

It sounds lovely, very laid back and relaxed.

My own retirement seems real this week, it's a great feeling!:T

Treacle_Toes

Good luck with your Turkish lesson today.

This is a great diary, I'm thoroughly enjoying reading your updates.

Mint1955

Well yesterday did stay an indoor day as the weather was really windy and wet. Lots of reading and planning and talking and I did drop of for a while at one point. We managed a trip out in the car to get drinking water and petrol so we carried on driving along the coast as The sun came out for a little and we had a lovely walk for half an hour on the cliff top watching the crashing waves.

A dog befriended us and wanted to play. Sadly there are many stray dogs here.

Back home as it started raining again and OH lit the log burner and I put chicken and veg in the oven. Lovely and cosy as we had a glass of wine as well.

Tv box played up so I dozed while OH got it sorted finally and then the electric went of again and in fact stayed of all night. Nothing for it but go to bed lol.

Up and out this morning for the Turkish lesson .... She had to start right at the basics for two of us as we just look completely perplexed. Homework to do for me lol

Dropped of empty cardboard boxes at another friend and back for a quiet afternoon.....

Neighbour (English) came in with a local lady who doesn't speak much English and we had a lovely hour almost doing charades to communicate but we were fine and she has said to call in and she will help with Turkish if I help with her English.

Ate quick lunch and builder came to check we are happy with work he did last and was also checking if we wanted anything else done yet. He will have to wait until we are settled now but it was lovely of him.

New holidaymakers arrived and asked us to join them for dinner at local place with our neighbours as well tomorrow.

Finally got to do log burner and now it will be pasta and whatever is in fridge or cupboards etc.

Loving my new kindle as I was reading on iPad but it's not easy in bed or outside. I had downloaded a random booked called Look Behind You by Sibel Hodge before I came out and blow me down she was at the New Years Eve party we went to. What a coincidence but the book was good so I was able to enthuse easily.

Thank you for reading xxx

Mint1955

Last nights pasta was good I just used up the odds from the veg drawer all chopped up small with pesto and tin tomatoes etc so no extra spends.

We brought Xmas goodies With us like special cheeses, mince pies and chocs so they are being used instead of puddings in the evenings.

The weather is unusually chilly so our electric duvet has been a godsend for a good nights sleep.

This morning it was very overcast and cold so got up made tea put washing in machine turned on the hot water tank and jumped back into warm bed.

After we both had showers (as water has to be put on in the winter as the solar panels dont heat up anywhere near enough and in winter the electric heated water cools very fast as no insulated tanks indoors like in UK we have to make sure we are using it all straight away) we watched the storm clouds and we also had a cyclone type thing move right past our view. We were told it collects the water from the sea and disperses it as it moves. Wish I knew how to do pictures on here. We then had a lovely cooked breakfast and have sat around for far too long.

Leftover veg pasta will be for late lunch savings pennies.

OH is out playing Bridge this afternoon and I will write up my Turkish lesson into a book I have found in a drawer and then watch Last Tango in Halifax on the special tv box that is now working properly. That's if I can drive it without OH being here ;-)

Washing is drying indoors so that won't be fast as we have no radiators and all stone floors but it will get there eventually and anytime the sun does appear I just lift the airer outside for a bit to finish it of.

Nothing happening UK house wise but I guess the buyers are getting mortgage finalised and then we will have a surveyor wanting to do his thing.

The Estate Agents haven't been very good with admin so far so I think I may have to push for information as we go along.

We have been here a week and even though it is so cold at the moment and we have to wear extra layers we still love it. Going back to UK to clear, sell up most of our belongings and pack up personal stuff is going to be a challenge but once it's done we will be here for good yippee.

Mint1955

Well last night was ummmmm fun! Six of us went out to eat at local cheap place but were stopped by police and couldn't get down the road we needed due to power cables down. The winds were really fierce last night. Luckily they didn't bother checking papers re the car as they usually do on regular basis as I had forgotten my bag.

Re routed we took a fairly long diversion to get to the restaurant which in the end wasn't serving due to said power outages!

Drove back the long diversion in the winds and found an even more local place which were happy to see us as they were empty. It was a little smoky as the log burner was playing up but they sorted that and we had a basic but good meal and a few drinks and a lot of laughs.

Back to ours for night caps and coffee and we put the world to rights.

Woke at nine this morning to bright sunshine although it's very cold in the wind.
The sea today is full of white horses and we can see the snow on the mountains in mainland Turkey. There is apparently a little snow up in the mountains here in North Cyprus but we haven't ventured up there yet.

The electric duvet is working well so we are very cosy all night. We do have backup covers etc for power cut nights.

Out for a weekly ramble along the coast this afternoon so plenty of layers and gloves today I think.

I have a frozen goulash I made last week out just to re heat later with rice when we return so no spends again today.

We check the electric meter here regularly and are pleased with the units used over the first week as it is very cold and we have used air con on hot on occasions and oven and hot water heater has been on as well a fair few times. Although the jacuzzi isn't on so that would normally add to the consumption. So not using it in Jan and Feb that electric saving means more available units for indoors etc. Although it's lovely and hot when you are in it it's really hard to get from house to it in the cold so we have decided to switch of jan and feb each year unless we get really lovely weather which can happen but is not the norm.

Struggling with getting the Turkish to stick at the moment but I am persevering with the exercises. I didn't manage to watch tv at all yesterday as I got sidetracked on MSE!!!!!

Happy Days x

Mint1955

Thursdays ramble was great but oh so cold but we wrapped up well and we all survived. Hot soup and tea and cake supplied free by the local bar was lovely on our return.

The goulash was even better for dinner on our return especially as we only had to heat and eat.

Friday the temp dropped even more to 2c and we had flurries of snow. The weather is extreme for here apparently (thank goodness). We are coping well and adapting easily. Getting washing dry is a challenge but have now allocated a space for the airer to catch the sun by some glass doors.

Lunch out and a lazy day watching tv and ironing for a while but we had to keep active or have blankets on the sofa.

Leaving drinks do last night for a lovely couple who run a local bar going for a long trip to Far East so straight to bed after and a lay in this morning.

We need to go beach trawling for kindling for the log burner today and check on the other side neighbours place as they won't be out for a while. Plus Get petrol and drinking water while out and then join friends for dinner later.

I have resisted a proper kindle for ages but OH gave me one as birthday gift and I am loving it as I don't get sidetracked like I did when using kindle on iPad and notifications popping up etc.

I have been finding loads of free or 99p books and my library is looking healthy.

Still nothing from estate agents so Monday we will phone them and find out what progress is happening etc.

Watching the mountains and sea is still spectacular through all the different weather we are having and the locals are cheering us on to get moved over which is lovely.

Have a great Saturday to anyone reading xxxxxxx

Mint1955

How did it get to Wednesday so quickly!!!

In short it's still very cold for here so we have two new heaters and the new fan heater in the bathroom means no more shivering at shower time lol

Electricity fluctuating so badly one day that the fridge wouldn't run properly, no Internet either and couldn't charge anything in case a surge caused damage, then most of one day on half power and then more power cuts but eventually it sorted itself out.

A lovely afternoon Sunday at friends playing a game they call Okey here but it's called Rummikub in the uk.

Getting washing dry is a challenge but I have now found a good spot on the landing by a big window so what winter sun we are getting helps dry when it's too windy to put out.

Monday was a catch up day and a trip into main town to solicitors etc but we walked around the harbour and the sun was enough to enjoy it.

We lost our house buyer Monday but have had two very interested viewers yesterday so once again fingers crossed.

Time goes so quickly here so no tv watching really and so many things I was going to catch up on lol

It's Turkish lesson day today for me and OH is playing bridge then a birthday tea for a friend.

Food wise we have done well with no waste although we know not to buy pizza here from the freezer expensive and yuk. Fridge bottom veg pasta and pesto will use up the last bits as we eat out tomorrow and fly Friday back to uk.

We have seen in another villa a great sliding door between the hall and sitting room which is where we lose so much warmth in the evenings so we need to save in the budget for that for next winter.

The weather has been a challenge but we love being here and we now know what it's like at it's very worst as the locals have never known it so bad.

With luck it won't be too long before we make that one way trip and can really settle here.

Anne_Marie_2

Can only agree with you that it's been pretty bad weather, never known it to go on for so long consistently at this time of year. The high winds have been a right pain in the butt. My a/c has been on from the minute I am up, which is pretty unusual. Never mind, we will soon be moaning that it's too hot come July! :rotfl:

I'd suggest that you put up thick curtains across your sitting room doorway. You won't believe what a difference it makes to keeping in the heat. Also very handy in the summer to cut down on electric costs when you are running the a/c to keep cool.
I got some in Ikea, and they have been brill, but depends on the width of your doorway. If it's quite wide, you may be better making them, or getting them made up.
There's a big material shop in Famagusta who will make them up for you if required, and much cheaper than the shops in Girne. I'm not sure of the location of the place, although if need be, will find out for you.

Another couple of wee tips for the baltic bathrooms....get a wall fan heater installed. I brought a couple back from the UK. What a bonus when getting out of the shower! Have also replaced toilet seats with "wooden" ones, as you jump a mile on the ones supplied here at this time of year. :eek:

Mint1955

Hi Anne Marie, we are looking at getting something across the door as it will keep the warmth in. Love the loo seat tip !!

We are East of Kyrenia at Tatlisu are you near?

Well we have another buyer who needs to get moving quickly as she is at exchange stage on her property and no mortgage to get. So it will be a mad scramble when we get back in the uk.

Turkish lesson was interesting this morning with lots of learning but it made sense so now I just need to practise.

Managed to get the washing outside this morning to finish it of which made a lovely change.

Lovely fridge bottom veg pasta had to be a lasagne which was very welcome tonight when we got home after a birthday drinks do.

Last full day tomorrow and then it's pack away for the journey home Friday.

Anne_Marie_2

You can get the "wooden" toilet seats in Cagri, sorry I don't have a Turkish keyboard, as the C has a cedilla underneath, so pronounced like J, sort of.
As you are heading into Girne, it's on your right, not too far short of the speed camera at Karakum, although admit that my directions may be well off the mark. I am hopeless.