General Chat

Hi all


so sorry to hear that you are having more upset, Joyce


Ann ...... that was nice to know that our soldiers were behaving themselves! I guess the shops at the airport will be making hay while the sun shines.

The base in UAE used to allow the soldiers to have a layover ... or even a 3-4 day respite period during their term in Afghanistan. Not sure what is happenng about that type of thing now.

I also think we still have peacekeepers in Cyrpus .................. I think it's 2, but it might only be 1



It's Remembrance Day, and a Statutory Holiday in most of Canada, including BC


It was cloudy, but not raining in BC, so not too bad a day for the services. It was blue skies in Ottawa for the service at the National Monument. Most are held outside, at Cenotaphs or War Memorials, or any community space in places where they don't have a Memorial. BC is the last in Canada to have the service, due to the time zones.


I heard a plane go overhead just before 11 am, and as we seem to be on the route that the planes take to get to the Cenotaph in downtown for 11 am, that made me turn on the tv to watch the service for about 5 minutes.

Usually it's fighter planes, F-18s, that do the fly-past. This time it was a big plane, escorted by 2 smaller planes ...... I thought it might be a bomber, but it was an Aurora, part of our early warning system.

I think the Aurora was originally designed as a bomber but has been adapted for use for 16-18 hour patrols out over the Pacific Ocean, every day, 365 days a year, flying at extremely high altitudes and taking photographs of everything and anything that might be suspicious.

During the Lament, about 8 or 10 small single engined Civilian Air Patrol planes did a fly past.

I didn't even know we had a Civilian Air Patrol!


This is the first year in which there is no WW1 veteran still alive, the last one died in February .............. but more attention is being paid to Korean War veterans, after that being the "forgotten" war.




sylvia
xxx

Joyce, I really don't know what solution to offer you. I would have thought that your grandaughters would have had more rights to their mums ashes, rather than her brother.
Did he gain the ashes by false means, pretending to be someone he is not. Oh what a poser for your grandaughters.
But you my love, must try not to worry yourself to much about it. Let your grandaughters sort it out,and be there as a good listening ear for them.
You and Jan have had enough to contend with recently, it's now time to sit back, and get on with your life together. Life is to short,and needs to be grasped with two hands.
Just think how much enjoyment you are going to have, when you get your new wheel chair. You can both go out together,and have fun.
If you could borrow another chair from someone, you could have a race against each other. LOL
Please take care of yourself,and try not to worry yourself to much.
Love to you both Mo xxx

Joyce, glad you got home o.k. and thanks for the card.... sorry to read about more upset for you, we will be holding you close as usual and sending you love and prayers.

love Jean xxxxx

Hello All not along message as im to stressed out at moment just wanted to thank you all for your messages and cards,and the flowers were loverly ,my g,daughters myself and one of my sons want the ashes spread on there baby sisters grave who is buried with my parents,but my ex-husband has said he is putting the ashes on his brothers grave ,my g,daughters are very upset there brother was surpost to pick his mums ashes up ,but didnt get there so g,daughters ask the funeral place if they could pick them up but were told only there brother could get them,but my youngest son went and got them saying he was next to kin,well in my book he is,nt its her children,and they want the ashes of there mum back ,i have tried to get in touch with advice centre but cant i think its because im abroad but the ashes are leaving Sheffield soon and going to Liverpool,what can i do to help my g,daughters im not sleeping thinking about them,before i forget got the lady today with my wheel chair and scooter mobile had ago round the block it was ok ,get it in three weeks once again thank you all
Dutchxx
ps have added this onto Caz,s thread for me

Sylvia, I had not realised that today was a statutory holiday in Canada.

Thanks for that info. That explains why there was a certain air of panic/confusion over the situation then, the airport completely shut security while they landed causing enormous back logs and queues and panics by people in danger of missing flights (we were OK had plenty of time and by the time we checked in it had cleared.). Then also, being a small airport with small facilities the cafes were crowded. But actually they coped well and the men's behaviour was exemplary. (And their onward flight was delayed as well). Mind you the cafes in the airport must think all their Christmases have come at once.

I was standing in for somebody else in the Hospice shop this morning. We were quite busy, but I didnt make too many mistakes. The till did once come up with "You silly goat, you have made an error" but that was about it.

I happened to look at the clock at 11 mins past 11 and realised it was Armistice Day. We dont make a fuss of it in NZ. I think there might have been one or two events in some parts of the country, but Anzac Day is our big thing, in April.

I will be off to bed soon, it is almost 9.30pm. Behave yourselves while I am sleeping.

Huia.

Hi all

Lovely to hear about your holiday Ann

There was a reason for you seeing those Canadian troop flights


The stopping point for our troops going to Afghanistan used to be at a secret base in UAE ........ but there is a diplomatic dispute going on between UAE and Canada. Something to do with Emirates airline wanting free access to all international airports across Canada ........ but without reciprocal arrangements with our national airline Air Canada. And this was in return for continued access to that secret base.

Canadian government said no

................ so the first thing was that UAE refused to allow a plane carrying our Defense Minister, Chief of Defense Forces, and a couple of other high-ups from landing to re-fuel as they returned from a visit to our troops in Afghanistan. That refusal was issued after the plane had taken off, so there was a scramble to find somewhere else for them to re-fuel.

That counts as a major diplomatic insult apparently!

Then they closed the base completely to all Canadian flights ............. so Canada has had to find somewhere else to use as a staging post.


Hence ............ Cyprus.



This all happened over a matter of a couple of weeks or so ............... public of course doesn't know how long the negotiations had been going on for.



Lovely sunny day here ........... between the pouring rain of yesterday and the threatened heavy rain for tomorrow!


Had my eyes tested ...... not much change, but I got a new prescription ........ the frames I've got are in danger of falling apart!

She does want me to go and see a specialist in retinas .......... just to make sure that there isn't a problem.



Tomorrow, November 11, is a statutory holiday in Canada ...... services will be held at all the Cenotaphs across the country, and in all the small villages as well.



sylvia
xxxx

Ann, Pleased that you had a nice restful week and that you enjoyed yourselves. I've never been to Cyprus, I don't think the very hot weather would suit me, with me having fair skin and auburn hair (now going grey) I try to keep away from places that get too hot.

Alun's camera is also a Lumix, I couldn't remember the name when I told Jean earlier on.


Jean, if you don't want the snowflake folder, I would love it please. At the moment Jennie isn't doing any crafting, money is a bit tight for them at the moment, so she can't afford the craft stuff. She'd really like to start making jewelry, but with that costing more to make than cards, she's going to have to wait.
I'm sure that she would welcome a few mags though, please, if that's okay with you.

Thanks Jean, hope all is well with you, J and D.

Well, I'm going to make a cuppa now, surprise! surprise!lollol!!

Love to you all. Sallie.xxx

Well Ann, I feel like I have enjoyed your holiday with you, the only thing missing was the sun, oh well we can't have everything can we girls.
It sounds like you had a brilliant time, and I am very envious.

Oh and by the way, my camera is a box brownie. LOL don't tell me they have updated them. I am wayyyyy behind the times arn't I.

I don't believe what has happened, you remember my telling you I had bought all the grandchildern their slippers. Well when I have checked them, ready to wrap them,one pair has a small and medium size paired together,a size 3=4 and a size 5-6, so now I have got to go back and change them. I wouldn't mind but they have paired them all up in their respective sizes,with a ribbon, so it's just my luck to have got an odd pair.
I am having one heck of a job getting a size 13 for my grandson. Yes I can get a pair, but they are really cheap and nasty looking.

I went up to town this morning to meet my friends for a coffee, and since I have been home, I am finding it difficult to get warm. It was bitterly cold out there,and has got colder as the day has worn on.
Stay safe and warm my friends. Love and best wishes Mo xxx

I forgot to answer you re the cuttlebug Jean, yes I do have one.
Sallie my camaera is a panasonic Lumix.

Sallie I got quite a lot of folders with the deal, and I ordered quite a few, so now I have one or two duplicated I will send you the snowflake one, that looks lovely on silver Mirri board... I have just ordered some die cuts too...have you done all your cards, you must have made quite a few, I remember when I made cards many years ago I did a lot until I got heartily sick of doing them ,so I had a break and did some knitting and then scrapbooks, now I am back on the cards and scrapping too.... is Jennie still crafting. I have some mags if you would like them... panasonic is avery good camera and should get some good pics... well tea is ready see you soon...
love Jean xx

Ann, that was excellent, the first time we went to Pathos we stayed opposite the tomb of the kings, second time we ent we stayed at the Kissos hotel which was lovely, we went to many places thanks to our friends who had lived there and then moved up into the hills, so they took us all over the place... Polis was a lovely village and we also went to Limassol but wasnt impressed at all, we loved the harbour area and did the same walk as you, went to Aphrodites Rock too, the second time we went just before Christmas and the hotel was decorated an some of the shops although not as many as we have, but we loved the place , so nice memories you have stirred up.. thank you , hope you are feeling better now, and T as well...

love Jean xx

Well you did ask!!!

It was a very hot day but the site which is huge, was very interesting and the mosaics were mind blowing. We were trying to imagine what they would have looked like if they still had all the original colour. However, although faded and despite being exposed to the elements there was still a lot of colour in them. I loved the site.

We had lunch at The Captains View again overlooking the harbour from upstairs. Tony had sea food slad and I had avocado and prawns. It is difficult to eat when you have a cough as so often the food causes a coughing ‘fit’.
We looked round the shops then again caught a taxi back as it was too hot to walk.
We sat and read until it cooled down, about 4.45. Lynda went in the pool.
In the evening we ate at Dias Zeus. I had mushroom in a garlic and cream sauce which was excellent, Tony had calamari, then we both had fish tagliatelle which was huge and I couldn’t finish all the pasta. Then Tony and I had ice creams which in contrast were minute. Afterwards we had complimentary brandies, Tia maria or cointreau. Back to Lyn’s where I had peppermint tea, Tony had tea and L & J had brandies.
Another night of coughing.

Friday 5 November After breakfast we lounged around all day reading etc. At 2pm we had dips, pitta bread and beer at the bar. In the afternoon Tony and I put our feet in the sea but the sand was like quicksand and we weren’t keen, the water was quite warm and there were people in swimming. L & J swam in the pool.
The weather this week has been fabulous, clear blue skies and no sun. Apparently it is not normally so good this time of year so we have been very lucky.
We have enjoyed our first visit to Cyprus, even though we have merely stayed around Paphos, maybe another time we should hire a car.
A couple of things we had not expected, they drive on the left, and they use three pin sockets/plugs, unlike other foreign countries we have visited.
We found the people are not as friendly as the Spanish people, Some of them don’t smile and are abrupt, some are quite rude and few of them say please or thank you.
We packed at 5pm, then in the evening we had our meal at Sysyfos again, I was coughing a lot so had to be really careful what I ate. I had shrimp cocktail and butterfly prawns and jacket. Back to Lyn’s for peppermint tea, brandies etc.
Saturday 6 November... We had a latish flight and check out was not until 12 so we lounged and read all morning after breakfast. Then we checked out of ours having extended L & J’s until 1pm. We all changed in their apartment and the taxi, this time the big one for all of us, arrived at five past one. Flight was on time although check in was chaotic with no desk open for speedy boarding and security shut, we assume to allow two military aircraft to land, they were filled with army personnel from Canada en route for Afghanistan. The airport is not very big so was quite crowded but we managed to get something to eat, I coughed a lot on the flight which must have endeared me to passengers close by, but there was not anything I could do about it. Picked up the car and were home by 9pm, having lost two hours today. A good holiday.

The Roman Mosaics of Kato Paphos were discovered accidentally when a farmer was ploughing his land in 1962. The whole area between the harbour and the lighthouse is now protected as it is thought that there is much to still be uncovered.
Covering a fairly large area the site visitor is encouraged to visit three main areas which have been named after the Gods who are portrayed on the mosaics to be seen there
The House of Dionysos
The mosaic decorations and the mythological compositions are the main characteristics of this restored Roman villa, dating back to the second century A.D. The house is named “House of Dionysos” thanks to the many depictions of Dionysos, the god of wine. The house most probably belonged to a member of the ruling Roman class or to a wealthy citizen of Pafos.

The House of Theseus
The mosaics of the villa of Theseus lie close to the House of Dionysus and date back to the second century A.D. A visitor can see the very interesting geometrical decorations as well as mythological representations. Worth seeing are the mosaics of “Theseus killing the Minotaur” and the “Birth of Achilles”.

The House of Aion
The mosaics of the House of Aion date back to the fourth century A.D and lie close to the mosaics of Dionysus and Theseus. Five mythological scenes worth seeing are: "The bath of Dionysus", "Leda and the Swan", "Beauty contest between Cassiopeia and the Nereids", "Apollo and Marsyas", and the "Triumphant procession of Dionysus".

The House of Orpheus
The mosaics of this villa belong to the third century A.D and lie to the west of the House of Theseus. There are three mythological representations worth seeing, “ Orpheus and his Lyre”, “ Hercules and the Lion of Nemea” and “the Amazon”.


The House of Four Seasons
This house lies north of the House of Orpheus. It was named after the mosaic that represents the personification of the four seasons, which dates back to the first half of the third century A.D.

We laid and read all afternoon again breaking for pitta bread dips and wine at 4pm. In the evening we had a good meal at San Marino I had Calamari then lamb followed by baklava. Back for brandies and to watch Cypriot dancers which were very good.
Tuesday 2 November.... We decided to lay and read for a while then at 11.30 we walked to Paphos harbour along the sea path, it was very hot already. We walked right out to the end of the harbour looking at the boats and the fort that sits on the mouth of the harbour. We noted that boat trips seemed to be quite expensive.
We had lunch upstairs at The Captains View. Tony and I shared a sea food salad and garlic bread which was excellent, we accompanied this with a beer. We ended with coffee which, to our surprise was ‘do it yourself’. A small sachet of Nescafe each and a jug of hot water and a jug of hot milk.
We bought a few bits including our duty frees in the shops and then caught a taxi baxk (8 euros). We read again for an hour until it turned chilly at 4pm.
In the evening we walked to Dias Zeus where I had Kolokithokeftedes (no short words here!) these were small fried cakes made from courgettes, garlic and herbs egg and flour, much like poato cakes and very tasty followed by King prawns in an Ouzo and garlic sauce with rice. Tony had calamari followed by a meat pasta dish which he said was nice but too dry for his taste. We were too full for sweets so we walked back for brandys, we needed a fleece this evening as it was cold. I woke up coughing in the night, so that is me having caught Tony’s cough.
Wednesday 3 November... Jon’s birthday. We decided to ‘chill out’ as they say today, so, after a good breakfast we read or dozed until 2pm when we walked up the road for lunch. We shared a plate of calamari, chips, pitta bread and dips and onion rings and we all had a beer. Then back to read for another hour and a half. In the evening we went to Metaxa where Jon treated us to a meal for his birthday. I had prawns in a garlic wine sauce plus pitta bread to dip into the sauce. Then Lynda and I both had Duck with Grand Marnier sauce, roast potatoes and veg followed by crème brulee. With the meal we had a really nice wine. Back for brandies as usual and bed. A restless night because of the cough which is annoying and debilitating.
Thursday 4 November... We walked to the harbour, half along the path and half along the road. We decided to go and look at the Roman Mosaics.
The Roman Mosaics are some of the most complete and extensive Roman Mosaics that have been discovered anywhere in the world The Roman Mosaics of Kato Paphos are a designated World Heritage site. Covering a large area of ground from the medieval harbour of Kato Paphos to the lighthouse the remarkably intricate and intact mosaics primarily depict scenes of the Roman Gods.

Cyprus 30 October tp 6 November 2010

Saturday 30th October....Lynda and Jon had stayed overnight with us and followed us to the airport. There was a long wait for the airport bus from the long stay car park but we had plenty of time. The Easy Jet flight from Bristol was on time, speedy boarding worked well and we arrived in Paphos on time at 21.30. We picked up our two separate taxis, strangely ours would have seated 6, but we had paid for two as we had booked individually at separate times. We were at Kefalos Beach Village in 20 minutes. You can see what this is like if you google it.
We each had an apartment with balcony overlooking the sea, L&J downstairs, us upstairs. Clean basically furnished and quite spacious. The balcony was a plus, it cost quite a lot more to book a balcony so we had gone for room with sea view and were upgraded.
We didn’t want to eat so went over to the outdoor bar and had a drink while watching a fire act.
Unpacked and bed about 11pm.
Sunday 31 October. We were booked in B&B so after a substantial breakfast served buffet style and very good, we walked along the flat path along by the sea to Pathos harbour which is about a mile and a half. Being Sunday it was crowded with visitors and locals and the pavement cafes were doing really well. We stopped for a beer, looked around the shops then walked back to Kefalos via the road to look for restaurants where we would eat our evening meals. Not too far from the Village there appeared to be plenty of choice.
We laid out in the sun and read all afternoon, stopping at 2pm to wander over to the bar for pitta bread and shared dips and a beer. In the evening after G&T’s in ours, we ate at Sysyfos which was an upstairs restaurant. I had crabstick cocktail, Moussaka and profiteroles. Back for a brandy on L & J’s balcony then bed. We stuck to the formula of G & T at ours pre meal and brandy at theirs all week – cheaper than using the bars.
Monday 1 November... L & J’s wedding anniversary After another large breakfast we walked for about ten minutes to The Tombs of The Kings stopping on the way to look at a very upmarket hotel comples next to ours. I will insert the official explanation about the tombs here as it is easier than me waffling on.
The Tombs of the Kings are an early necropolis in Paphos dating from 300 BC. The burial niches were looted of all artifacts long ago, but a powerful sense of stillness and mystery remains. The name of the site is misleading—there's no evidence of any royalty buried here. Rather, the site was the final resting place of about 100 Ptolemaic aristocrats who lived and died in Paphos beginning in the 3rd century BC.
Early antiquarians dubbed the site the "Tombs of the Kings" due to the impressiveness of the tombs, and the name has stuck.
The catacombs were later used by early Christians, and one of the tombs was turned into a chapel. In the Middle Ages, some tombs were used as makeshift dwellings or as workplaces—pottery was made in tomb 3.
The site was systematically looted of artifacts long before excavations began in 1977. Investigations continue today under the Cyprus Department of Antiquities.
The tombs are impressive, carved out of solid rock, some featuring Doric pillars and frescoed walls. The design is heavily indebted to Macedonian prototypes, passed on from Alexander's armies to the Ptolemies.
Eight complexes have been singled out and numbered for visitors, with 3, 4, and 8 being the most elaborate. Some tombs are reached via stairs that lead into sunken rectangular courts surrounded by Doric columns carved from the rock. Originally the tombs were covered with stucco and the walls were decorated with frescoes.
Beyond the colonnades, passages lead to rooms with niches (loculi) for individual corpses. Bodies were buried with costly grave goods, including jewelry and cosmetic boxes.
As was common in the classical world, on the anniversaries of death loved ones would hold a ceremonial meal (nekrodhipno) at the tomb, with the leftovers deposited near the body.
One tomb has a large rectangular stone block in the center of the atrium and loculi ornamented around the sides. Archaeologists have excavated 18 burials from the Hellenistic period in this tomb, three of which had not been robbed due to collapsed material in front of them. Two of them contained an ointment container, a myrtle wreath of gold and fine Rhodian amphorae. In the third, a child had been buried in a terracotta pipe.
Although we are not into archaeology really we found the site very interesting, all the tombs were well preserved. We did feel that, as they charge 1.70euros entry a small leaflet might have helped explain things. That is what you usually get here and in the Canaries but they seemed to want to sell you their expensive guide books.

Hi Everyone,

Mo, sorry to hear that your team lost on Monday night. As you say they were a very good group to play against.

Glad to hear that you managed to get some more Christmas presents, you haven't got many left to get now now. I wish I was as organised as you in getting presents.


Jean, Alun's camera is a Panasonic, but he hasn't used it yet. This week he's been busy making a station for his model railway, so he hasn't had a lot of time, to use his camera.

I have a Cuttlebug, and I use it a fair bit when I'm making cards. There are still a lot of things that I need to get for it, but it will all come in time.


Huia, so pleased to hear that Phil was awake and responding to you when you last visited. I'm sure it made your day to see him so alert.

Also it's good to hear that your eye test went well.



Well girls I have to start cooking our meal now, Jennie and Michael are joining us for a meal this evening, so I'd better get going.

Speak to you later.

Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Ann, Give it us the unabridged version please.....lol.... look forward to reading what you got up to.....

love Jean xx

OK I have now typed it up. It is a bit long, do you want it all or shall I precis it?