My last report was some time ago. It ended with Ian, Sharon and the boys returning to UK at the very beginning of November. So what has happened since then.
We continued to go to the Wednesday night quizzes at the Chiswick, not very successfully but a friendly evening out.

The British Residents Society (BRS) organised a day out to the Karpaz for the 7th Nov. The weather was cooler but fine and two coach loads of members set off from Kyrenia just after 9am. The first stop was at Bogaz, just north of Famagusta, for coffee. However, no sooner had we got back on the coach then we stopped again, this time at Kumyali, 15 mins further on. This was to be the furthest point of our journey. While it was a very pleasant little harbour the majority of us had anticipated going further along the peninsular. Ah, well, the lunch was very nice but the after-lunch speaker was fraught with problems. The PA system wasn't working very well, his laptop wouldn't talk to a screen to show his slides and what's more - he couldn't give a presentation to save his life. We went for a walk. Bit disappointing as regards seeing the Karpaz but enjoyable with friends nevertheless.

The following weekend was Rememberance Sunday and the BRS had arrange for members to go to Waynes Keep - a UN Post along the Green Line that protected an old UK Military Cemetary. We had to get ourselves across the Green Line at the Ledra Palace where we boarded a coach that took us there. It was a beautiful clear day - unlike that at Whitehall, but the service and ceremony were similar.

We had representatives from the various countries with an Embassy or Consulate in the south laying wreaths. It was a very dignified service albeit we were watched by Turkish troops monitoring from the north. Afterwards we were bused back to the Ledra Palace (a UN post) and enjoyed the traditional military hospitality of a Curry Lunch and accompanying drinks. It was a journey down memory lane to be back in the Mess again. Definitely an event to put on the calendar for next year.

The next week was full of social events, George and Susan celebrated their wedding anniversary, we went with the "girls" to the Chiswick for their last Quiz Night before they returned to UK. All the resident neighbours got together for an evening at the new Haci Ali Hotel and had a very nice meal but while this was going on I needed to address was a letter that had been forwarded from the Breast Screening Unit in Chatham.

I had been for a screening in September when I was doing Music on Fire etc. This letter was a request that I make a further appointment as a result of that scan. It had arrived while the family were staying with us and it had got put on one side, but now I had time to think about it I thought I should contact the clinic. Perhaps I could delay an appointment until my next UK visit. I spoke to a nurse on the telephone who said she would speak to the doctor who'd requested I attend for another consultation and get back to me. Well the upshot was that the doctor preferred that I didn't wait if I could afford to get back to UK in the following couple of weeks, so a few phone calls later had me on a flight and an appointment at the clinic. Yes, it was an anxious time; lovely to have an unexpected chance to see the family, but what might they find at the hospital.....? So on the Saturday I went up the mountain to Edremit to do a bit of Christmas shopping at a store that has some lovely traditional Cypriot items. Sunday I joined our usual gang for "Sunday Lunch" at LDs (which was excellent), great food and a jug of coffee and a bottle of brandy on the table at the end of our meal to help ourselves to.

On Monday morning we were up early to catch the 10am flight from Ercan to Heathrow. We stopped enroute in Izmir for about an hour and once at Heathrow there was another hours delay while we waited for the luggage to appear. By 6pm I had arrived at Debi's and it was so lovely to see them all again, particularly little Joe who had grown so much.

While I was in UK Jeff took Kedi to the vets for another jab

and painted the outside of the bungalow. I did a bit of Christmas shopping, visited friends and went to my appointment at the hospital. The clinic staff were brilliant at making one feel at ease and after another mamogram I met the Consultant. She gave me an Ultrascan and soon discovered a cyst. Nothing threatening but she wanted to remove it. Local anesthetic, needle and drain brought everything to a happy conclusion. What a relief! The next priority was to get a flight back to Cyprus which I achieved on the Sunday, which meant that I was around for RAMASES Wine and Wisdom evening.


I went with Rod and Stella and surprised a lot of people with my presence. A good evening and lovely to see so many old friends.

I arrived in Larnaca on Sunday afternoon about 4.30pm. An uneventful trip back over the Green Line got me back in time to go to supper at Barbara and Stewart's that evening. Met some interesting new people and had a nice evening but, boy, was I on my chin strap by about 10.30pm. While I had been away Jeff had booked us in to the Merit Crystal Cove hotel for Christmas with 4 of our friends. So the build up to the festive season begins in ernest.