Naked and Gym two words that should not go together

Most of my day was spent trawling the streets looking for clothing, well when in Rome do like the Romans, when in Cyprus you shop like a Brit, a very deprived Brit...

The weather took a turn for the worse today, so much so that shops were closing early due to the fact that things were flying and it was becoming dangerous out there, I had to curtail my shopping as staying upright was becoming an issue, so I headed for the hotel and the gym.

I was doing my HIIT minding my own business, taking no notice of the guy next to me, when I suddenly remembered where I had seen him before, it was his shorts that gave it away, I was actually admiring them, not because of any deviant reasons you understand, but because I was thinking 'they would look nice on me', anyway last time I saw him was in November when we were staying here and nothing has changed much, same shorts, same stupid exercises and the Piece de resistance,  the T shirt was removed, oh dear god what is it with these people, firstly the Russian in the bikini, and now a Greek who obviously thinks he is Adonis, but actually he is more like Pee wee Herman.  I'm sorry but what is the need to remove your shirt when working out, I almost had a convulsion on my bike, but managed to steady myself until he left, if your gonna prance around the gym "please keep fully clothed", I appreciate good form as much as the next person, but I still wouldn't want to work out even after Brad Pitt semi naked had sweated over the machines jeeeeez, and this Greek was no Brad Pitt.

We made our way across the road for supper, it was as far as we could get due to severe wind, not ours you understand, the weather had really bolstered and keeping an upright stance was even harder than this afternoon, our supper was delicious although My Beloved is starting to complain as I keep stealing his meat, and he is left with the carbs, well thats what getting married is all about 'sharing', and I will share his meat and he will deal with it......

The morning after...

I woke feeling quite refreshed after a great nights sleep, one of the benefits apparently of a carbnite, I decided to try a HIIT at the gym to again try and deplete the carbs from my system, I chose the stationary bike for my HIIT and watched as different people came in and out of the gym, a young child around 6 years old arrived with his Granny who was wearing a bikini, Granny then proceeded to get onto the other stationary bike and begin exercising, I thought I was gonna puke, and made my disgust known with a very loud 'Offft', she wasn't even wearing shoes the minger..... Luckily she didn't last long but could I find the bleach when she left, because that was the only thing I could think of that would remove the filth from the tarnished saddle.

I sweated through my routine, fully clothed I might add and with the necessary towel for wiping purposes, I then headed for food, the trouble is that it was streaky bacon again and that stuff is rubbish so I contented myself with boiled eggs and cheese. 

I decided to try the new Mall at the far end of Limassol and took a taxi, when I arrived I then realised that the No 30 actually goes directly to the mall, I walked around the stores checking out their wares, changed My Beloved's socks I had purchased previously for a different kind as is his preference, then headed for lunch at Ocean Basket where I chose cod from the grill.  I took the bus back into town, Limassol is as cheap, if not a little cheaper than Israel for bus journeys, EUR 1.00 for my trip and as far as I can figure distance within Limassol is not a problem.

I hit the gym again this time it was with weights, I threw the dumbbells around and puffed my way through my routine, until my arms were shaking and then headed back to the room where My Beloved was waiting, we ate separately as I decided not join him and his work colleagues for supper, I like listening to My Beloved talk about his work, but listening to 7 others talk shop all night gets tedious regardless of who pays the bill....

I think I peaked too soon

Monday was Green Monday here in Cyprus, what that means exactly as far as I can gather is the start of Lent, usually occurring at the start of Spring and is a festival where flying a kite is the main past time.  We sunned ourselves at the hotel and decided that the Cypriots of Limassol obviously don't like kites as we only saw two flying in the skies around us.  The sun was very hot and sun cream was applied, not before My Beloved had over done the topping up of his tan I might add, but nothing too drastic this time thankfully.

We headed across the road for lunch today I took their burger 100% lean beef and cheese, and oh dear god it was good, the best burger, and we are talking proper burger not veggie burger I think I have tasted, I left the bread and the salad and the chips, they still insist on putting on my plate, and then ate half My Beloved's 250g burger you know why? because I could and not once did i feel any guilt, this no carb eating is just great, not uncomfortable, no horrible bloating, always a boost.

Late afternoon we headed for the gym for another heavy session My Beloved has to spot me now as the dumbbells are getting very heavy for my lickle arms, its a little tricky when you don't have bars and you have to adapt with dumbbells as they can be quite awkward but I'm getting there, and My Beloved is quite impressed with my lifting prowess now, me I just want it heavier still...

Our evening was spent at a lovely restaurant in Limassol up near the port, the restaurant was called Artima and my beef fillet was delectable, cooked to perfection and the staff kept checking everything was ok, probably because I only ate the beef, but I did warn them.. My Beloved ordered a pork fillet dish which arrived with the pork rolled into towers, and inside the towers was cottage cheese, figs and other such delicious treats and it looked lush, we even managed coffee's I settled for an espresso where as My Beloved chose a Royal Liqueur coffee, he also got the two chocolates that arrived with the coffee's, I have to say he has been getting a lot of biscuits just recently too as I'm not doing any carbs, poor soul will have to endure this diet of mine but at least he gets the carbs I don't eat, which actually could work against him, good job he is doing a little manual work just now so at least he can burn it off.

Tuesday arrived and I only have one more day until I get my carbnite, today was more tricky as for some reason I was a little more hungry than usual, but I did not falter, amazingly.  First thing I headed to the gym and did a HIIT session before breakfast, then it was a quick jaunt up to the laundrette to get the washing done, before heading to M & S for a few bits and pieces then, back to collect the washing, which I then hung around the balcony, over the chairs and patio table and along the line in the bathroom, the room had suddenly turned into wongs laundry, but the smell of fresh washing was delightful to my nostrils.

Wednesday woooohoooooo Carbnite begins at 3pm, breakfast was the usual eggs and bacon but I really am getting a little tired of fighting the fat off the bacon which is not exactly crispy, but its not soft either, there is a great Scottish word which would describe the state of my morning bacon and it is 'Chook'.. I can't wait to get home and cook some of my 3kg of Bacon the wonderful Dobbsy has given us, and it won't be chook thats for sure.

Julie and Oydis arrived at around 1pm for a wee visit before they headed out again to view some houses, they and Snorre are staying in Nicosia just now, and are looking at housing between here and there, Oydis is three months old now and just gorgeous, a pretty little girl who is growing up way to quickly as babies usually do, Julie is looking fantastic, if I hadn't seen her during her pregnancy I would not have believed a baby had ever lived in her pixie like figure, it was just lovely seeing them again.

Three pm arrived and that meant one thing 'CARBNITE BEGINS" I walked to the supermarket only to find it was closed for half day, I then walked to Debenhams and found that they also follow the same silly half day rules, I had no other choice but to walk to Starbucks and get a skinny cappuccino and a low fat muffin, then being greedy as usual I walked the rest of the way to ColdStone and the biggest ice cream I could find, bad move having been deprived of carbs for ten days the sugar rush was almost instant and the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach was a little like carrying a food baby under each breast..... taxi for a fanny, bing, bang, bosh and I was back at the Crowne in need of a snooze, My Beloved arrived back from work around 7 to find me wallowing on the bed moaning and groaning, he just laughed and pointed and said 'I knew you were gonna do this to yourself', I told him to go forth.......lol

My evening meal was beef with chips, and although I couldn't finish them I thoroughly enjoyed them, my next carbnite is in a week and I will be a tad better with my choices next time, hopefully there will be no wallowing, moaning or whaling, or the harpoon may have to come out.

Cycling, carnivals and sleep

This morning I hired myself a bike and headed towards the old town area and meandered through the streets, I found some very nice stores and eventually remembered my body needed sustenance as if had not seen food since this morning around 8am, and that was after the gym session.  The trouble with being on a very specific eating plan is that when it comes to eating out in Cyprus you are hard pushed to find something that isn't soaked in BBQ sauce, smothered in chips or lathered in some sugar based sticky dressing, this has to have been the most severe of all the eating plans I have ever been on, if I was home this would not be an issue, but when you are out of your own environment and you have to plead with people not to give additives to the very plain food you require, and still they bring you a bowl of this and a smidgen of that it can really become a drag. The lovely waitress at the hotel did try, firstly with  bread, then with salad, and eventually bought my fish with a small bowl of steamed veg that wasn't touching my fish, it all looked lovely but I still didn't eat it, so really it was a waste of food. Wednesday is carbnite, two more nights to go and I am gonna pig out it such a way that I will surround myself with shit and work my way through it, it won't be pretty and it's gonna get messy, but I really don't give a damn, I will have earned it....

Friday and I was collected by Shelley and transported to Pafos where we went for lunch, Shelley ordered a sweet that was gargantuous I am not allowed to put it on facebook or even tag her with the said sweet, I have been warned, but it was the most deliscious looking brownie with custard, and because of the size of it there was enough left for her to take home and share with the staff at the pub... The boys eventually turned up around 8pm and we had supper in the pub, in Pafos.

Saturday - My Beloved had to work this morning, been a while since he had to work a Saturday, been a few occasions when he has gone in for a few hours or had to work on the computer but a full days toil is not the usual.  Anyway I contented myself with a walk around town checking out the beginnings of the carnival, stores and cafes were decorated and the atmosphere was starting to bubble up.  I found a lovely little restaurant where I was able to order a dish as I wanted it, and not as the waitress thought I should want it,

Sea Bass with Spinach

and it was luscious, I sat in the restaurant and watched the vintage car parade go by, clowns drivng cars, nazi's on motor bikes, and little children hanging out of sun roofs, I eventually took a taxi back to meet My Beloved at the hotel, luckily he is not into work tomorrow so we get to see a little of Limassol together and of course its Carnival day.

Carnival day arrived and we headed out, but not before I ran back up to the room for my jacket as it was a lovely sunny day but the wind tore right through Limassol and fairly turned the temperature down, we hired two bikes and headed into town, we found the start of the parade and found ourselves at a cafe where we decided it would be rude not to take coffee, that done we once again headed around town on our bikes, before finding a nice little restaurant for lunch, I took chicken kebab and once again had to plead with the waiter not to give me anything else just the meat. My Beloved took the regular tandoori chicken kebab with all the trimmings, My two chicken skewers were squashed full with my delightful chicken choice and it was a struggle to finish it, but I did, My Beloved on the other hand managed his chicken but left almost half of the chips the salad went untouched and the pitta was half eaten too.  

Eventually we left and headed back up to watch the parade go past, there was fire dancers, and a zombie wedding, people dressed as rubiks cubes and mermaids, men in dresses driving tractors and bob the builders carrying hammers, adults and children alike dressed and dancing through the streets of Limassol, it was just a pity if was such a windy day, Mark joined us at the hotel,  I headed for the room and left the boys to their shop talk, and then around five My Beloved and I headed for the gym, MY Beloved spotted me for a couple of the exercises and was quite impressed with the weights I managed on my chest press, don't ask me the numbers because as we all know number retention is not my forte..

We had a lovely meal at a cafe bar along the seafront, I ordered the salmon and My Beloved the carbonara and he managed to eat the lot, I threw him over my shoulder and carried him home.  Early night for us I think we were in bed for 9.30pm.......

Cyprus, Knickers and Bras

This morning we woke at three to make ourselves presentable for the flight to Cyprus, we were collected at 4am and transported to the airport, taxi ride short, queuing at the airport not so short, the initial queue to get the bags through the X-ray, and then to get checked in was amazingly quick, but once we tried to get through the departures X-ray we were confronted by a herd of Ninjas' and their offspring of which there were many, I have often been tempted to lift the long skirt of a passing Ninja woman and check if her pelvic floor is dragging along the ground, because 10 plus babies is apparently an average, I'm squinting just thinking about that.

Anyway we eventually got passed the surly security guard whose mother needed to slap some manners into him, but obviously decided against it for reasons only she would know, and we were free to browse the duty free, bored! 2 mins later and we were sitting with our water and diet coke chattering about the state of My Beloved's sandwich, soggy was an understatement, I'm sure he could have rung the bread out and used the juice to rehydrate his tuna had he not been cowking at the thought of even attempting to eat the disastrous choice of sandwich he had made.

Our flight was pleasant, mine because My Beloved slept and I had peace to read my new diet book, My Beloved's because he got to catch up on his sleep as he had lost out due to a need to empty his bladder half way through the night, they say age doesn't come itself, maybe its his pelvic floor that needs checking....

Our driver was waiting with his sign, and whisked us off to Limassol and The Crowne Plaza, upgraded to a sea view, don't mind if we do. My Beloved left for work and I headed out for some retail therapy. 

I had no sooner left the hotel, crossed the road than I was stopped by a man from New York, initially I thought he was lost and was looking for directions, obviously not for New York but around Limassol, but I am not sure that it was directions on his agenda, I left him after telling him I was here with My Beloved and he left me saying I had a lovely smile, quite funny really cos I'm sure I had been scowling not minutes before he stopped me as the sun was directly in my face so much so that I hadn't even seen him coming.

Anyway I meandered the roads and stores Debenhams was first up, and then I wandered around until I happened upon M & S, I really thought I was in retail heaven, and the fact that the store closed at 3pm and not 1pm like I had first thought was music to my ears, so from 12.30 till closing I strolled those aisles searching out the bargains, tracking down the undies and scouring the clothes for items I have been deprived of since being in Israel. Then it was time for coffee in their cafe which was a lovely space, open and airy and the staff were very helpful, as were all the sales girls who helped me with discounts on knickers and the like, I felt a little like royalty the only thing they didn't do was offer to carry my bags, although they did offer to call a taxi for me.

I strolled down the road with my arms laden with goodies and eventually found the bus stop and decided my sore feet needed a rest, well until the bus arrived and I hopped on and paid my Euro to take me to the Crowne, I headed straight for the lobby bar as I had not had lunch and food was required. I ordered fish, and told them to hold the sides. One really shouldn't read and eat at the same time, I nearly jumped out of my skin when the American from New York strolled up without me seeing him and started speaking to me, he is staying in the hotel, offft, and he once again told me about my winning smile and laugh, and asked if my Husband tells me this????? Ok so the heaby jebbys are setting in now, he left again, only to return a little while later and this time he told me his name, ALAN great Alan is going to be a pain I can just tell, he left once again.

So I eventually left the lobby bar and headed to the room with my bags and then headed out again as I needed a sim card for My Beloved as his works number is worse than useless and he is like me without his connections to the outer world, lost....

Whilst walking back across the road, I caught sight of ALAN once again only this time he was chatting to another woman in the street, I'm hoping he prefers her winning smile and I will no longer be a person of interest.......

I forgot to mention the bra incident, having asked to be measured an eyebrow was raised when I said the size I usually wear, and I was told no, no you don't need that big pfffft, but when I tried on the bras I was given and I showed the lady as you do, I was told yes they are good for you, they fit, please! when I raised my arms my boobies tried to escape under the wire and the lady still insisted they fitted, I may need new bras but I think I will wait till I can get to Bravissimo because those guys know how to fit a bra......

Our evening was spent eating at Nandos of all places, I just don't get that place at all, the chicken was nice enough even though the waitress thought I was demented when I told her 'No please I don't want the two sides that go with my dish!" but the best thing about the meal was the coffee a double espresso oooohhh it was heaven.

We were in bed relatively early as My Beloved was afffa tired having spent his first day back in a manual saddle since last May, think I may have to shovel him out of bed in the morning!

This Rib is Cracking me up, and not in a funny way

And still the pain continues....

Relocation, Relocation

Yesterday the second of three companies came and took notes, asked for power of attorney for our belongings and left, totally different from the first guy who arrived with his clipboard waved his hand said no bother and left.  The power of attorney bit was a little unsettling and I could see My Beloved twitching, you also have to understand we have no destination as yet and no moving date so this is all a little hypothetical.

The neighbours are back, MTV full blast yesterday morning just to drown them out, obviously Viv the vixen had a lot to say having been away the best part of three weeks, but does she have to do it at decibels high enough to shatter glass.

I left MTV blaring and headed for the gym, after sweating on the bike for 40 mins I felt a little less stressed and headed back to the apartment for my shower, then My Beloved and the German relocation guy arrived and then it was time to kick some ass, not mine you understand but the opticians.

Yesterday I collected my new glasses, I just knew I should have waited till we were in the UK and seen the lovely girls in Turriff, when I collected my new varifocals I told the woman I can't see out of these glasses, to be told that I need to wear them for a while to get used to them, this I understood as I already have varifocals and actually do know how to wear them and use them, what I didn't understand was how I was going to be able to see through a lense that was not set right and waaaay to strong for my eyes. But I did as I was told and took them away with me, wearing them through the streets of Herzliya and then I drove into Tel Aviv, what the hell........ that was one awkward drive and the fact that I couldn't even read the speed on the dashboard told me there was something a little off with the new prescription.  By the time I had walked up Carmel market and back again I was beginning to feel nauseous, I couldn't see the floor unless I bent double in the middle and even trying to see in the distance was difficult as I was having to keep my chin on my chest to align my eyes to the correct distance lense.

So I took them back, I had actually figured out how I was supposed to wear them by this time, tilted with the feet half way up to the top of my scalp and the glasses pointing to the floor, bonny......

I took My Beloved with me for back up, this didn't help much as he remembered he had left his phone at home or so he thought and panic set it in, he left me..... I was taken in retested and jiggled and joustled and then told they would make new lenses for me, they also tested my old glasses the ones I told them I had perfect vision with, but the worst was to come I was asked to stand to get measured and the guy took my head and tilted it down, I promptly told him that is not where my head sits in space, and tilted it back to where it belongs, why the hell would you measure glasses when a person is in a position alien to their normal stance, yes my head tilts back when I am standing, my chin juts out a little, but don't adjust me and presume all will be well, I have neck issues to prove this will never work thank you very much.  

So now we wait for the new glasses anticipating the worst and praying for the best...

Upset my man upset me, upset me best start running

The exercise routine has become a daily activity again and sometimes twice a day, still no upper body exercises for me yet but by the end of the week that will be sorted.

Our weekend was started on Thursday night watching Bruce Willis whoop ass and kill all the bad guys, I do love a bit of escapism, and even bald Bruce is easy on the eye. Friday we headed into Tel Aviv our mission was to find spices, now you would have thought this would be easy, but no, I had directions from Scotland as to which spice shop I was supposed to go to and numerous pictures of spices stores and owners were sent to Banff but god alone knows which one it is, well god and Sonya because I couldn't find the right one, I now have Shakshuka spices and Lebanese spices for rice in the freezer and they will soon be dispatched to the UK, next time I am in to Carmel market I am going to video myself walking past the meat sections towards the spice section and then send it, I have already done this but from the wrong end, so hopefully we will be able to work out where this bloody shop is, its either that or the Duncan's will just have to come visit again before we leave, now there is an idea...

We stopped for lunch at a little cafe/restaurant just down from the market called Gadera and I had the most amazing lunch, it was a seafood Kubbeh a dish I have never tried before, it was three little dumplings filled with goats cheese, crab meat and shrimp in a fish bisque OMG it was delicious, this unassuming little eatery turned out to be a little piece of food heaven tucked away at the side of the market on Gadera, and it is amazing how if you take a few steps away from usual haunts you are faceed with delights that not only tantalise your tastebuds but make your wallet sing too.

We meandered through the back streets for most of the afternoon finding stores we didn't know existed and restaurants favoured by the local folk of Tel Aviv. Friday evening was spent in the gym before heading out for a meal at Yam 7 over looking the ocean.

Shabbat was spent cycling into Tel Aviv and heading for another restaurant for lunch that we had seen whilst traveling around yesterday, when we saw it the place was full and overflowing like most restaurants in Tel Aviv and when we arrived on Shabbat it was still quite early and very quiet, so we decided to check out the menu and then take a table, we both decided on the dish they serve only on Shabbat called Cholent, a Yiddish dish of beef potatoes and in our case beans, some add barley, some add dumplings, the dish is traditionally prepared overnight on Friday and eaten on Shabbat when no cooking is allowed or the lighting of fires, the result is a stew that is flavourful and filling and apparently people come from all over to eat the Cholent at the restaurant we had found. It was a simple dish and so tasty, the waitress was really pleased that we enjoyed it and that unlike our Jewish restaurant goers we had ordered in double quick time, something I have noticed here is ordering food takes forever, because although I don't understand the Hebrew I have decided these people must be asking for a list of the ingredients of every dish on the menu, thus ordering food is a timely process, well not unless your Brits of course.

40Km later and we were back in Herzliya Pituach and Mike's place, we spent the late afternoon watching football, I quite like that I get to see more than one game at a time depending on how I position myself on my bar stool especially as I have a very low boredom threshold, two bowls of chips with chilli later and we cycled home, now having been in a pair of shorts and a bikini top with a sarong most of the day was one thing, but when that sun dropped it was bloody freezing, so I pedalled very fast to get the blood pumping all the time hoping I wasn't gonna throw up my chips, mission accomplished.

Sunday, nope still hate the start of the week being Sunday, radio one is a nightmare My Beloved leaves for work and I expect every week to hear the breakfast show and every week I am disappointed to hear Gemma, now don't get me wrong I like Gemma but it just means that it's Monday via Sunday again.

Monday was spent waiting for the dishwasher man to arrive, originally it was 8-10am, then 1-3pm and he turned up at just after 12 go figure, he came in grunted turned on the machine used his phone handed it to me for my landlady to say yep he is ordering your part and will return in the next few days, obviously his English was as good as my Hebrew. 

Two sessions in the gym today have taken their toll my backside is sore and my sides are aching although not the ribs so all is good, Nati was in the gym today, she is one of my neighbours who I occasionally see when I am in, she said she had missed me which I thought was very nice, what she has probably not missed is my heavy breathing steaming up the mirrors.

I have learn't in life there are very few people you can trust 100%, and being a cynical type I have always mistrusted before I have trusted, this being said when I do trust I take it very badly when I get let down by people, but what is worse is when it is done to the people I love, I think I am a nice person most of the time, but when you upset the people I love this demon woman appears and you should be very afraid because she is currently tapping this computer keyboard with her temper only just in check..........