Christmas concerts

Pre-show nerves and mental preparation for the Reindeers.......

Last week saw the normal confluence of Christmas concerts for the kids at school.  Even Anna managed to get in on the action this year, with a powerful and emotive performance(!) as a reindeer in the school concert.  There was much discussion in the Piper house in the lead up to the shows regarding various dancesteps, songlines and who might fluff their lines.  

The primary school did 'Christmas around the world' as the theme for their show.  Angus' class had the Australia slot which was highly appropriate for him.  During this year, Angus has become somewhat adept at a range of accents, particularly a convincing Scottish brogue.  For the Christmas show his school teacher was a little nervous, as during rehearsals Angus was delivering his one and only line for the show 'g'day mate, let's go to the beach and have a barbie', loud and bold in his best Scottish accent.   I think only the  threat of heavy sanctions and a possible detention on Monday prompted Angus to revert to a broad Australian accent when the line was actually delivered on the night.  

Jessie's first violin performance

It was also lovely to see Sam taking confidently to the stage for various Christmas concerts.  There's definitely a budding thespian there.

We head off for Australia on Tuesday night.  Much excitement and anticipation for us all as we look forward to seeing friends and family again.      

The 5th graders sang a Christmas song from Malawi

Sam enjoys some rare moments alone with Zoe
(ie: when Jessie is not there!)

Sometimes Anna gives Zoe a bit too much love

Nicosia marathon

Under bright blue skies this morning, Nicosia held a marathon event.  A smallish field of runners mostly from Cyprus and Greece assembled, and set off at an early hour through the old town from the starting line.  I did the half marathon, and ended up finishing in just under 2 hours.  It was a good run, but I've been hobbling around for most of the day since finishing.  Feels like I'm getting a bit old for this marathon business, but it's always inspirational to see some runners still going strong in their 50's and 60's.  I was reflecting on the last proper race I did in Limmasol last March, and all that has happened at work since then.  It's been a year of significant change for World Vision in the region, and I'm thankful to have made it through the year in good health and not too much stress.   Plenty to reflect on and be thankful for.

As part of the race program today they held a 1km sprint race for kids, and both Jessie and Angus participated.  They loved the atmosphere and to be a part of the race, and both put in a good showing. Jessie's only disappointment was that she did not bring Zoe after seeing a number of other runners with dogs in tow.  Perhaps next year! 

A trip to the funfair last night was on Sam's 'things to do
when Mum's in London' bucket list

Winter comes

Angus channelling his inner karate kid

Winter has arrived in Cyprus these last few weeks, well a relatively mild version of European winter anyway.  We've enjoyed lighting the fire on several nights, and with more rain and the first signs of snow on the Troodos Mountains, everyone has been reaching for winter coats, gloves and hats.  Everyone except for Anna that is, who still would be quite happy to go to preschool in t-shirt and sandals if she was not forced to wear something warmer.  As our fourth child, Anna continues to both amuse and perplex.  Last week Sarah bought her a copy of the Mr Men book 'Little Miss Stubborn', which she has taken an immediate liking to.  Clearly some deep themes about surviving as a 4th child there....... may be a subject for the psychologist's couch in future years (with me as the patient of course!).

Speaking of psychology, Sarah is away again in London this weekend for the second part of the professional development course she is attending.  I think she is enjoying the opportunity to engage a different part of her brain, and also just some headspace away from the kids.  So with Sarah away, it's back to basics, with DVD's and pizza as the standard fare, a nice fire burning tonight and a measure of good Armenian cognac to finish the week.

A recent hike where we were joined by a few hundred goats

On Sunday we are running in a few events linked with the Nicosia Marathon.  I'm running the half marathon, and Jessie and Angus are involved in a 1km race as part of a school team.  The fact that the race is going ahead at all is positive for Nicosia, as last year's race was cancelled and the general economic situation in Cyprus has been very tough this year (think Greece, but with a much smaller economy).  Many shops are closing, along with public sector cuts and a bailout package that requires further austerity measures across the government sector.   It seems that people are pulling back to basic necessities.  A good friend of ours who is a mechanic said that business is very tough.  People have basically stopped servicing their cars, and choose to wait until cars actually break down before they will spend money on a mechanic.  The same applies across most service industries.  On a somewhat lighter note there was even talk in the press recently of Cyprus pulling out of the 2013 Eurovision song contest due to financial reasons.  Thankfully good sense(!) has prevailed and the country will be fielding an entry in Malmo next year.

Angus in his Arsenal kit

We are looking forward to a visit back to Australia in a few weeks time.  It feels like the last few years have passed quickly.  The kids have settled very well into life in Cyprus , but are all looking forward to reconnecting with a glimpse of 'home' and a summer Christmas.  Other events for us in the last few weeks:

- We enjoyed having a housewarming with around 100 people at our place.  At some points it was a bit like a scene out of Oliver Twist, with children in every room of the house crawling out from under beds and in cupboards etc.  Overall a fun night though, and it was nice to welcome people to our new place

- The kids are enjoying preparing for the end of year school concerts.  Sam is particularly excited for his contribution as part of the 'Kitty Katz Dance School' (complete with white dancing shoes.....seriously stylish)

- Angus is loving his football.  He currently goes to Arsenal football school a few nights each week, and also plays in a comp on Saturday mornings. I'm convinced this is linked somehow to his reluctance to get a haircut, as he may be aspiring to get a hairnet or hairband like some of the European top players. 

Here's a few other pics of life over the last month or so........

High stakes skipping in the front yard

Some Russian friends, Andrei, Katiya and Artur

Sarah at a recent murder mystery night.  Quite a fetching
outfit don't you think??

Zoe gets a long overdue wash a few weeks back

Some houswarming guests from Ross' work

Romania

A rural community near Iasi in NE Romania

Last week I travelled to Romania with some colleagues for a meeting with Operations Directors from across the region. Romania is a fascinating but at times confronting place to visit.  The country became part of the European Union in 2007, and in some ways has modernised since the revolution and fall of communism in 1989.  Events at this time included the capture, rapid trial and subsequent execution of the final communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife.  After the fall of communism, images of thousands of children institutionalised under Ceaesescu's regime shocked the world and prompted a large scale effort to deinstitutionalise Romanian children.  Efforts in this work continue to this day. 

In many respects the country has made progress, but areas of deep poverty and challenges with social cohesion in communities remains.  This is due to a range of factors, including limited economic opportunities and a declining rural sector, and also the legacy of years under communism where community trust and civil society were deeply eroded or non-existent.  The capital Bucharest is relatively well developed, but in some other parts of the country it's hard to believe you are actually in Europe.  We travelled to north-east, near the city of Iasi.  This region borders Moldova and is one of the poorest regions of Europe.  World Vision has several long term development projects in the area, focusing mainly on economic development, education and health/nutrition.  On the project visit we saw some examples of strong community/government partnering and the emergence of civil society, but in other places the visible effects of extreme poverty including malnutrition and hunger were apparent.  Under-development and 'stunting' in children is common in some communities, and the living situation for many families is very basic.  

It is confronting to be faced with hungry children in the heart of Europe.

A clip outlining some of the challenges for children in Romania can be viewed at:  http://meero.worldvision.org/frontline-focus/oneinfour.html

The pictures below show the People's Palace in Bucharest, otherwise known as 'Ceausescu's folly'.  He commissioned the construction of the enormous building, and it was actually completed after his death. It is said to be the second largest building on earth in terms of surface area (the largest is the Pentagon), and is easily visible as you fly into Bucharest.  Disturbing to consider that it was built at a time of chronic poverty across the country. At present only about 30% of the building is actually used to house the Romanian Parliament.

An old photo of the People's Palace in Bucharest, which
now houses the Romanian Parliament

Dinner in London, but where are the kids?

An unusual confluence of events led to Sarah and I managing a dinner together in London this week. I've been in the UK for the past few weeks with work meetings, although managed to make it back to Cyprus last weekend to celebrate Sarah's birthday. I was back in London from Mon-Fri this week, and part of this time overlapped with a UK visit for Sarah who is attending a professional development psychology course at the Tavistock Institute this weekend.

A birthday bikeride for Sarah

We did not anticipate that a rendezvous would be possible, given the narrow overlap between our trips and also the distance between respective meeting locations.  However on Thursday night the planets aligned and we were able to enjoy a meal together in Clapham, along with Sarah's special friend Fiona Prior.  It was a bit surreal to be sitting in a small London Thai restaurant, knowing that the four children were safely tucked in bed and sleeping in Cyprus some 4000km away.  Fortunately the kids were in very good hands with Menaka, and also with numerous other friends who helped out with transport and logistics.  I did have a brief moment of concern when I received a text from Jessie on Friday saying 'Anna vomiting, but don't worry she seems happy now' ??!

I arrived home this morning at around 5am after the red-eye flight from London, only to be greeted by both Angus and Sam who were wide eyed and ready to get into the day's activities.  Alas no chance of a even a small sleep:)

Birthday drinks for Sarah and friends

Parenting feels a little like a tag-team at the moment, with Sarah back Monday morning early and then I'm off again on the same day to Romania for a few days.  Things should start to slow down after this week (we hope!).  

Here's a few pictures of our new house.  We have settled in well, and are enjoying the fact that the kids can make more noise without concern about the neighbours.  All in all a good move for us.

Our house, with flat for Menaka underneath

Jessie and Zoe

Nicosia river cycle path

A birthday treat from Menaka

One Perfect Day

I was just thinking of that old 80's song "One Perfect Day" by The Little Heroes.  A little out of context perhaps because the song is set in Australia, but today it happened in Cyprus.

This is Konnos Beach, located on Cape Greco, in the south east corner of the island.  The sand is clean, the water is clear, and there is a beautifully positioned cafe looking over it all. We've been a few times before with the kids but I'd always resisted going to the cafe with all of us.  It was too tranquil and peaceful a setting for all 6 Pipers; bound to underwhelm.

So today, being the 3rd November and our 17th Wedding Anniversary, Konnos Beach beckoned.  We had Menaka and Avramelina mind the children and we shot off in the car to enjoy a day out together.

A long ocean swim...

A long lunch...

A walk...

And a sit...

To my soul mate Ross; thanks for an awesome 17yrs.  God willing, may there be many more to come.  Here's a beautiful old hymn you might remember from our wedding day.  Also, for me, another "Perfect Day".

Zoe

Here she is; our new dog Zoe....a name which in Greek means "life". 

No doubt, if you saw this picture and thought of her becoming another nameless canine in the local Dog Shelter, you would have replied to the e-mail too.  But before you took her into your home and claimed her as your own, you surely would have had a good think about things.  Things like: 

• how having a young dog is like adopting a new child into the family;
• dog training - how much time have I got?
• dirt in the house, horrid smells, "little" accidents - can I handle this?
• walking the dog - every day?
• dogs barking at night - no, surely that's not my dog?

So really, what on earth was I thinking?  I've just sent my youngest child to school and was really enjoying a bit of time for myself. Clearly, about the dog...I wasn't thinking at all.  Faced with an impending house move, 4 pleading and excited children, an empty kennel in the backyard, and that idyllic family picture imprinted in my mind of 4 young kids and a dog; my brain went to jelly.

Now (4 days in) my brain is a little firmer and this is my reality:  New house, husband away, dog not trained, dog needs time and attention, dog pees on carpet, dog sits on me every time I try to play on the mat with my kids, dog carries food into house and spits it out, dog eats toys, dog is not yet de-sexed, currently 'on heat' and somewhat jumpy at the mere sight of anything on 4 legs.......Aaargghhhh!!!!! How can I become an animal lover - FAST?

All you pet people out there: please help!

But sometimes you've just got to laugh....

We all arrived home from school on Monday and Monica (our maid) was with us.  She looks at the tiled floor and the little drops of blood on it.  Having not been with us the past 2 days, Monica looked a little dismayed, perhaps even confused.  Jessie picks up on this straight away and says to her "oh, don't worry Monica, Zoe is just having her period, that blood should stop next week".

Now that's life giving.  

From an arms dealer to the KGB

Last week we had an arms dealer as one of our neighbours, now we are living beside the KGB. Yes we have moved house in the last few days.  We were happy in our original apartment, but increasingly found that the kids' need for space and an ability to make unrestrained noise necessitated consideration of a move.  We found a good house which met the brief in terms of space, and were even more delighted to find that it had a separate self-contained flat below for Monica to live. An added bonus is only having neighbours on one side.....well not actually the KGB, but the Ukrainian embassy.  The new house is only 5 mins from our old place, so not too much transition in terms of location.

So over the last few weeks we packed up the apartment and then moved on Friday, ably assisted by a somewhat colourful Dutch/Cypriot character named Gert and his team of Russian footsoldiers.  Sarah will write more shortly, including some pictures of the new abode.

Oh, and by the way, we have a new dog. Jessie will write more about this soon! 

Gert, complete with Michael Bolton style mullet

The move underway

The pool will be missed......

Two wet picnics

Note to self: if you are planning an autumn picnic in Cyprus, never assume the blue skies will last forever!  Last weekend we had two picnics planned, the first on Saturday with the school in the Troodos Mountains, and then a 'souvla picnic' with Ross' work colleagues on the Sunday in a forest near a monastery in the foothills above Nicosia.  Both events ended up being completely rained out, although each day started out with perfect blue skies and balmy temperature.  

Photographic evidence of Anna actually
wearing a jumper - it must have been cold!

It's a novelty to see clouds after the best part of 5 months of clear blue skies.  Even more so when those clouds actually produce some precipitation.  And what precipitation it was.  By the time arrived at the top of Troodos to the picnic ground on Saturday, the thermometer had dropped below 10 degrees, the clouds and fog descended and then the rain and hail came.  Hard to believe that less than 50 minutes earlier, we were leaving Nicosia in blue skies and 33 degrees.  So pronounced was the cool change that even Anna succumbed to wearing a jumper (no small feat given her stubbornness of late!).  And so the families at the picnic huddled together in a small hut wishing that someone had some dry firewood to burn.  A quick lunch was consumed, and then most families beat a hasty retreat back to their cars and down the mountain (or to a nearby village cafe to get warm).

Sunday started out with the same blue skies, and so with a measure of what in hindsight may have been misplaced optimism, we set off the second picnic in as many days.  This one was larger, approx 50 people coming from Ross' work, with some Cypriot colleagues transporting large charcoal bbq pits to the picnic site to cook 'souvla' for us all.  The forest site is a beautiful place in the mountains.  Lots of room for the kids to run around, and very popular with large extended families from Nicosia for a long Sunday picnic.  Alas last Sunday, the weather conspired against us again, and by the time we had arrived at the site (after leaving Nicosia in blue skies) it was already raining.  From then on, the rain just got harder and in the end became a deluge, the likes of which we have not seen before in Cyprus.  Small rivers flowing through the picnic site, 25kg of souvla cooking on a spit, drinks, kids, mud, small landslides.....I'm sure you get the picture.  After much animated discussion about the likelihood of the rain stopping (this is Cyprus afterall, the island of sunshine), we ended up abandoning the site when the real lightning started(!) and headed to a colleague's house who kindly agreed to host our drenched party.  

Kristos, our souvla 'masterchef'

It's not often that you would get rained out in Cyprus, much less likely that it would happen twice in as many days.  Since we've lived in Cyprus, you could count on one hand the times we have needed an umbrella.  In fact I don't think we even have one here. We certainly could have used one last weekend!


  

Time for a strong drink??