Cyprus, like TP but with donkeys.

OK, not really like TP at all...apart from the sunshine :)
After the dreary British Spring we were glad of the opportunity to put on a pair of shorts and T shirt. Grandma had got Freya a new pair of shorts and I bought her T-shirts. Then I forgot to pack them. My eldest daughter believes I am suffering from holiday-induced dementia.
My sister, her husband and children moved to Cyprus in February. They are sun lovers who were living in Germany where the Summers were glorious but the Winters harsh. Cyprus offers year round sunshine which will suit them very nicely. I pointed out that Tompers also offers year round sunshine but Terry teaches in British Army schools and I couldn't say with complete honesty that the Pilbara Regiment are a remote but elite squadron of British soldiers masquerading as ANZACs. Still, just quietly, Australia is still an option for them...
Me and the girls stayed with Laura et al. Grandma and G stayed at an apartment nearby, which was just as well because G was crook and so had his own space in which to feel sorry for himself recuperate. In fairness, he is still not 100% but has started drinking wine again which is a sure sign that he is feeling better.
The girls were really pleased to play with their cousins although as the second-born Esther is not nearly as exciting to her younger cousins as the oldest (thus coolest) Freya. Happily for Esther there is a new cousin, Baby B, who is not so discerning and is happy for anyone to cuddle and fuss over her.

Cousins :)

Ahhh, Mediterranean.

Roman amphitheatre at Kourion, just down the road from Laura's.

Not all the beaches meet Australian standards but, living about 600km from the nearest beach, I  will not quibble.

Chameleon! Just hanging out on a fence, but doing a poor job of disguising himself as a fence post.

Pissouri

Kids having a swim in the pool at Grandma and G's apartment. It was chilly in but cosy out. My girls are not so Pilbara-ised that they won't swim in water less than 20 degrees!

Baby B. Youngest niece. I love her. She told me that I am her favourite aunty.

Maria's Taverna in Koilani, a village in the Troodos mountains. This restaurant featured in the February SBS Feast magazine so we tracked Maria down and weren't disappointed. She told us she'd had some Aussies in the day before!

Friends (for the photo).

3 Goddesses

Aphrodite's Rock, the birthplace of the Greek Goddess of love and beauty.

Donkey Safari. If you find yourself in Cyprus don't let the prospect of a donkey ride deter you from visiting. put you off, this was a place to chill out , enjoy the view and make believe that you lived in a hill-side Cypriot villa. We had the place to ourselves.

 We loved hanging out in the pool so much that we did it again, this time at Dave and Mary's villa.

 B and G

Mary and Dave working his sleepy magic on Baby B.

 BBQ with Dave and Mary

 Freya campaigned ferociously for a go on a Segway. Laura, Terry and I enjoyed ourselves too

 Grandma and G with their Grandees

 Me, Laura and combined brood.

During their off-season the Red Arrows (RAF Aerobatic team) spend time practising in the clear skies of Cyprus and are based at RAF Akrotiri, just down the road from Laura and Terry's. They practise three times a day and while you can usually hear them, often it is too hazy to see them. Luckily we got a bit of a show early in the week and then again on the day we left. In this photo you can play "spot the red arrows" (hint: just above the left side of the umbrella). If you visit their website you can request a flypast!