Long time no post.............

Sorry for the absence folks but it has been a busy few weeks. Andy is very preoccupied with 115 refugees, it is complicated, actually, really really complicated and probably not for blogging about so I ll just say the chances of him blogging any time soon are remote so you ll have to put up with me.

So our car eventually arrived, and just in time too, it arrived 2 days before the Reed Boys flew in so the timing was perfect. Sam and Matt jetted in on the Saturday and I think one of the first things they commented on was how hot it was!!!! During our journey to the airport Andy and I had been discussing what a shame it was that the weather had cooled down!!!!!! I guess its all relative.

So we spent a whirlwind week being tourists, think the boys went back to the UK a tad exhausted. Most of our days out were in northern Cyprus. The following pics were taken at the ancient ruins of Salamis just north or Famagusta, where those Reed boys became small boys again resorting to climbing the ruins, walls and exploring............... As an aside, the Turkish name for Famagusta is Gazimagusa, I much prefer Gazimagusa it just rolls off the tongue and is a fantastic name! Anyway, on to the piccies...........

We walked, climbed and wandered around every inch of Salamis, and were relieved it wasn't as warm as it had been the previous week, sightseeing in August would be a terrible plan! So we left Salamis and parked up in the old town area of Gazimaguza (Famagusta), we will be going back there regularly, it was beautiful and so 'untouristy' I could sit in the square drinking Turkish coffee to my hearts content listening to the call to prayer. Those Reed boys though, had more climbing plans.

The boys having a 'mother's meeting'

One of the highlights for the boys was a trip to Agia Napa and Hokkaido's.
This restaurant serves the most wonderful Japanese food which is cooked in front of you in a manner that can only be described as pure gastranomic theatre.

There are flames, egg juggling, magic hats, customer participation, food, more food and more egg juggling. I must also add the food is delicious and really unique, it definitely is the place to go for a celebration.

Sam and Matt both remember the restaurant from when they lived here and had requested a return trip, apparently it hasn't changed atall and was just as good as they remember, and they even cracked a smile a two.

We finished up the week with another trip over the green line and into northern Cyprus. This time to Kyrenia to do yet more castle wall climbing.

Having taken a precarious journey up and over the mountains we realised the Turkish Cypriots were even more erratic and mad drivers than the Greek Cypriots in the south!!. Apparently the thing to do is to overtake at speed going downhill on a blind bend, and this rule doesn't just apply to cars, lorries do it too!!!!!!!!!!

So having gawped at the view and being gobsmacked at the driving we arrived in Kyrenia, a bustling city with an incredible charm and an amazing castle.