..and now for a short commerial break...

I’m writing this blog entry from the relative coolness and gentle cloudiness of the UK, where my family and I are spending our annual return visit to the UK.
Before we left, Cyprus was experiencing the hottest heat-wave in recorded history with temperatures reaching over 40 degrees and the humidity over 90% (what happens, when it reaches 100%, do the skies liquefy or is that, technically rain?). Every night in the bedroom, my husband and I considered yet more new and imaginative positions – on top, underneath, facing this way, facing that way, dangling over the bed, on the floor........-but we simply were not able to find a comfortable sleeping position that gained maximum benefit from the ceiling fan and that did not feel like we were being blasted by a hairdryer. Perhaps one of our less sage decisions was not to opt for air-con in the house but to act like staunch Brits and “tough it out”, however at the time, the mountains of paperwork, assessments and obstacles seemed like too much effort. Oh the regrets!
Now we have had to content ourselves with stalking the streets looking for the properties that have the welcoming white electrical boxes attached to the outside and finding excuses to invite ourselves into the homes of these unsuspecting residents. The other alternative is to risk getting ourselves arrested as suspect shoplifters when we are observed loitering just a little too long inside the deliciously cool environments of retail establishments with no intention of making a purchase. I have a feeling that our pictures may be appearing on posters and flyers by the side of shop tills very soon.
So it is for that, and a few other reasons that we have taken our annual three week trip back to the UK. During this time, we will be traversing the length and breadth of the British Isles – taking in southernmost Kent, mid Scotland and South Wales in 20 days. Quite an epic trip but a necessary one if we are to spend times, some obligatory others more pleasurable, to catch up with family and friends.
It is times like these that I learn to appreciate how good Cyprus life if, especially when I have to attempt to find answers to the probing questions of my four-year –old, such as “why is the rain cold?” and “why is the sea all muddy?”
It is also a time where I find myself incredibly grateful for the benefits that BFBS TV have to offer us, particularly in the lack of advertisements. After just one afternoon sat in front of the British Goggle-box, I have been bombarded with a million reasons why my life is just not good enough. Apparently I am a total nobody if I haven’t claimed compensation for an accident that wasn’t my fault, cashed in the equity on my home, compared the market on the myriad insurance policies available, sold my unwanted gold or bought a DFS Sofa. And don’t get me started on the kids’ advertisements. My precious little angels, who, for so long have been sheltered from the rigours of commercialism are now starting to believe their lives are not complete without the latest gimmicky, ‘gotta-collect-em-all’, instantly breakable piece of plastic trash made in Taiwan.
This is why we tend to spend Christmas in Cyprus, it provides a welcome respite from the dauntless targeting of little minds by the Fat Cats of the toy companies which usually starts before the Halloween pumpkins have even been extinguished. Thanks to BFBS TV’s lack of adverts, Santa usually has total free-rein over what he brings on Christmas Day and the children are always delighted as they had no idea what to ask him for in the first place.
Anyway, Christmas-Schmistmas, back to the joys of summer. I hope any readers in Cyprus are managing to survive the hellish furnaces of the climate out there. As for me, I’m off to walk barefoot on the lovely green lawn and dance in the next rain shower. A stranger in a familiar land, and loving it!!