Sea views

Walks and talks, mountains and views, tranquil swims in the sea. Even a turtle sighting by a friend who is also enjoying this area. Time to head off to another part of the island and leave this perfect spot for now. Uppermost for todays blog the many views of the sea and the changing skies.

This house is for sale - not a bad view of the bay. 

Trees laden with pomegranates and a lovely pigeon coup with the best view too. 

This however is my favourite. An old crumbling stone house with a window overtaken by a wild vine and a view of the sea. 

Our last sunset for this year. 

The Baths of Aphrodite and Lara Bay.

The boat was a blast. We swam and bobbed about in the water and remembered many happy moments. It was time to reconnect and reflect but also laugh out loud. Here we all are with my sister and two nieces. 

Onto Aphrodite and what she was up to in her bay - a lovely tranquil setting with calm waters to explore.

Today a wild ride over the mountains to Lara Bay - a green turtle hatching beach with many turtle nests from where hatchlings will run back into the sea. They will make their way out in the next few weeks. 

Best local moment - watching these men throwing their massive watermelons to one another. 

The boys will disperse soon, back to their lives and jobs. Time to catch up with some friends in Nicosia. 

Songs of summer on repeat.

Happiness is a bowl full of figs picked off the tree - a halloumi with mint leaves perfectly folded in the middle, the cool breeze of the morning and the lapping of the waves, the cicadas gradually getting into their pitch as they enjoy the heat and haze. 

On another level, the unfettered ability to swim for miles. It's not something I have ever been able to do in Oz, though its beaches are unparalleled. The water is crystal clear, some of the micro plastic particles seems to have been cleared but they are also barren. A few years ago the urchins were plentiful, the limpets clung to the rocks, the barnacles and small fish were all around. Little sword fish, parrot fish, now there is barely anything to see. A worrying sign. 

Having the boys all together is a real joy. They move rocks, make paths and steps, do gardening duties and generally help their beloved Auntie Anna. She saves the jobs for when they visit. We go for long swims and snorkels, eat with appetite and sleep fitfully. 

A lump of granite we think which is now a sentinel on her beach, moved by the boys from a neighbouring beach with a well orchestrated plan of balance, towels and a canoe. 

The dog - Mollie beyond happy, follows each around, not knowing who to go to next. She swims with us daily and loves the company. 

Finally, but by no means least, the unexpected but happy arrival of a baby in the family who not wanting to miss us, arrived a little early. I look forward to meeting him when in Nicosia. 

Cyprus August 2022

Coming in to land over the Larnaca coastline I see the crystal shimmer of the salt lake. No flamingoes this time. My feelings conflicted. I have lived away longer from my homeland then I have lived there. On the plane I chat to a young Indian from Pune who is heading to Limassol for a job he says will be life changing. I wish him all the very best. At the car hire, a warm Cypriot greeting, a familiar face and all systems go. My details are in the computer and the computer says Yes. We are off towards Limassol. 

A changing landscape, a Gold Coast in the Med awash with Russian money. Reviled by Cypriots like me who are in favour of reunification, rather than the status quo which serves Russian interests in the Med. Enough of politics. Something much more Cypriot to cool us - it is 33 C - so we have our first Cafe Frappe. Cold Coffee.

The ground yellow with wheat stubble - it has been a hot summer but along the way bursts of bougainvillea exuberance in white, orange and hot pink. 

We stop off at a couple of Beaches, Governor's Beach a reminder of its colonial past, (the Governor had a holiday home here) and Pissouri, where we first contemplated a future together under a flowering wattle tree. 

My sister's beach house a haven of green on the northern coastline. We eat olive bread and koubes like we haven't seen food in days and swim in the beautiful sea. An azure kingfisher streaks overhead and out of nowhere a pair of Eleonora's falcons cry out to one another. 

Tomorrow my family will be back together again for the first time since Jan of 2020 and I cant wait. 

Springing into EKKA time.

Well its happening - all of a sudden it is 26C and winter seems to have scurried off. I am looking forward to EKKA coming back bigger and better after two years of cancelled events. Queenslands biggest Agricultural show held at the RNA show-grounds. They are still looking for volunteers so if you can spare some time go to https://www.ekka.com.au/about-us/volunteering/

Meanwhile the scent of jonquils fills my bedroom and I can put away my frog hot water bottle at last. The flower beds are bursting with colour, the produce plenty from the garden, and the evening light is once more filling those moments in the day where we look for it. 

Happy Weekend everyone. 

Reconciliation Week in Australia

This is the work of the kindergarten children in my neighbourhood. Their thoughts and feelings expressed by these hearts which they have done for reconciliation week just gone -  A more accurate teaching of history with clear and resonant messages for young lives growing up in Australia. 

From the NRW website I quote "National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The sentiments expressed are important as a way of reading and teaching history and for raising the young Australians to have a clearer and more accurate view of what happened and why." 

I look at Cyprus and how we have faced history and the teaching of it. I appreciate that in years past histories were skewed - but 60 or more years since gaining independence from Britain, it seems we have introduced little to reconcile histories or be more accurate of the responsibilities of governments and people and the true facts. Time is running out for Cyprus but reconciliation is where work needs to be done. 

"Giving respect is a prerequisite to advancement" says Anthony Albanese on Insiders.

My personal thanks to Renee Mitchell from Goodstart Learning Centre who was kind enough to allow me to photograph these beautiful hearts.