The Half Way Mark of Summer Holidays

August approaches and still there is 6 weeks until the return of school.  I'm wondering whether a few homework sheets might be in order (?).  This is the week, that of the 1st August, when the airport gets really busy.  Cypriots flying out and tourists from colder lands flying in.  Actually, given the recent economic crisis, many locals are not going anywhere at all and as a result the island will possibly be a little fuller.  Nevertheless, most people take leave and there is an air of "doing nothing" mainly due to the heat.  Here in Nicosia, away from the beautiful beaches, we start to feel like we've been deserted.  The summer schools are over, most friends have fled the heat, many small businesses close down and the main street is so quiet we might as well all hold hands and skateboard down it.

However, having said all that, I've decided that I like this time of year.  No commitments or obligations, a lot less driving around, and the biggest decision of the day is "shall we go to the pool in the morning or the afternoon?".  What a life!  Interesting to compare how I feel now about the summer and how I felt 2 years ago when I first experienced it.  Back then, it was like a heat malaise.  I was homesick, restless, bored and helpless (the latter mainly due to Menaka doing all the domestics...I don't complain about that now).  Looking back, with clearer vision in hindsight, the change from my life in Australia was quite dramatic.  I think, because things were so much 'easier' on many fronts, I found it confusing that I would feel so lost.  Perhaps change is difficult to adjust to no matter which way it goes.

Menaka has also adjusted to this slow-go mode our family are in.  She turns up early for a few hours in the cool and then comes back to help us with dinner.  She's currently in a dilemma as to whether to return to her son and family for a short break in August.  There is a strong pull emotionally of course however the cost of the trip will take a large bite out of her year's savings.

The children have had a variety filled few weeks.  As well as being around home and playing with friends at the pool, Angus went to Camp Jubilee in the Troodos mountains whilst Sam and Anna went back to the familiar grounds of their school for a week of the summer programme.

Friends and Dominos..

Brothers and Lego...

Jessie attended a two week summer school which involved the complete production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory with 12 other children her age.  She returned each day exhausted but excited; making new friends, learning new dances and hamming up her acting skills as Veruca Salt was right up her alley.  And I thought I'd seen it all at home....

We've also had a couple of great weekends.  Our landlord invited us to his village for the day and showed us his beautiful old house and took us to their local beach.  He and his family are of the Maronite denomination and speak a language quite close to Aramaic - that which was spoken in Jesus' time.  His family history goes back a long time and he was fortunate enough to buy his Uncle's house in the village who was the Bishop many years ago.  We were treated to lunch at the beach restaurant whilst we watched the kids play in the water.  Being a small village, they knew almost everybody in the restaurant, including our real estate agent (who our landlord went to school with and) who found us the house in Nicosia.  Of course, we couldn't leave without being invited back to his house also for a drink.  Such is the wonderful hospitality of Kormakides.

Recently, we took to the mountains and enjoyed a weekend away with some families of World Vision staff.  Great walks, delicious meals and cool nights.

So the half way mark of summer is upon us; no more structured activities for the children but a lot of family things to look forward to throughout August: more camping in the mountains (I think we miss the Nook!), a trip to Jerusalem and a restful holiday in Turkey. Ross is currently enjoying some cooler climes in Georgia for a work trip, but will be back tomorrow.  In the meantime, we have books to read, games to play, films to watch and about 5 more frozen yoghurt shops to sample!