New Year's Eve ...

And so dear readers of this blog of Wear and Dao, tomorrow 2023 begins and we look forward to another year with two new births in the extended family ... a first grandchild for yours truly and third for the partner.

After the three weeks winter holiday in Cyprus, we're looking forward to more holidays this year ... including one in Spring and maybe more in Summer in Britain perhaps  ... Autumn also. And certainly a Winter break in a warm location, though not necessarily Paphos again ... who knows, perhaps a month in Sri Lanka?

But this is jumping the gun of course, though anticipation is fine it won't be limiting our possibilities for the future ... and we wish you all you wish for yourself dear readers. .. thanks for following the blog thus far ... see you next year, maybe virtually or in the physical realm!

Towards 2023!!

Well well dear readers of this blog ... Christmas 2022 has come and gone and time marches relentlessly towards 2023 in a few days!

Hey ho, that's the nature of reality, like it or not ... time moves forward, not back (that's nostalgia or dementia) ... all we have is a succession of present moments, whatever we wish the future to be or regret, accept or celebrate the past! The truth is one day the blogger will move on to other worlds as will we all of course ...

A few days at home enjoying Christmas 2022 has moved on to the anticipation of New Year 2023 and Christmas 2023 too.

Today Bill is coming for lunch and philosophical discourse no doubt ... and so the seasons roll on, whether called Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter until it's time to pass the baton to other human beings with thoughts, regrets, ambitions etc etc etc and so on ...........

Boxing Day

Apologies for the absence of posting in the last few days dear readers, but it has been Christmas after all!

Friday we went to M&S in Bishop Auckland for more food, then to the partner's daughter and grandchildren for presents. In the evening we went to see Jules and Peter our previous neighbours.

Saturday, Christmas Eve, we went out in Stanhope for a walk then ate a delicious and nutritious lunch ...

Today, Boxing Day we had early lunch and a drink in the local pub ... no attendance at church however ...

Thursday catching up with Christmas news ...

Well, dear readers, yesterday was spent visiting the partner's Mother in Jarrow with Christmas gifts ... her sister and brother came too, meaning the 90 year old Mother had all three of her children together with presents to exchange, which was lovely for all of us! As it happens the sister and brother will eat Christmas dinner together with theMother, while the partner and the old blogger will eat lunch in Stanhope.

The whole week has been preparing for the big day, with cards and gifts arriving daily and friends and relations also ... Sunday of course was for the old blogger's two delightful daughters, and Monday the carols round the Christmas tree in Stanhope, Tuesday just shopping and enjoying the ambience, Wednesday the grandchildren came to help decorate the room and enjoy the day playing chess, playing games eating lunch popping out for a short walk and visiting the local pub for a drink before going home to Toft Hill to their Mother and Father ....

Today, dear readers, it's off to Bishop Auckland to collect even more food from M&S ... then round to see the grandchildren with their presents ... let's face it Christmas is primarily for young children ...

Tuesday before Christmas ...

Not long to Christmas now dear readers. .. plenty of festive cheer not to mention mince pies.

Yesterday, after a quiet day, we went to the Carol Service in Stanhope in the evening. Nice to join in singing round the Christmas tree with friends and neighbours. .. then to the pub for a swift half before bedtime.

Today, after lunch, we drove over to Consett for presents and more provisions. .. as if we didn't have enough already!

Tomorrow the boys come for lunch in Stanhope ... should be fun  ......!!!

Monday before Christmas

Well, here we go again dear readers. ..Christmas fever builds remorselessly in Christian ountries around the world ... and not only Christian given the seduction of the stories, the sparkly trees, the feasts ... the time for good will between all human beings (with some exceptions of course!)

The children are most drawn in to the story of course, not only because they get 3 weeks off school, though that's certainly a bonus for children and teachers alike (again with exceptions - some children miss the school dinners and the kindness of teachers, whilst lonely teachers miss the joy of their students. That's the reason why in the weird covid year a mere two years ago, when pupils stayed at home and were taught remotely, exceptions were made for those whose parents and carers were essential workers ... plus those whose parents and carers could not be trusted to take care of their children properly or feed them their free school dinners Monday to Friday. The blogger's nephew was one of those teachers. Of course, the whole covid nonsense was a social experiment and the new normal is back now ...)

Yesterday, after breakfast we headed to Newcastle to have lunch with the blogger's two delightful daughters we always loved Christmas time even though they also loved their primary school on Chillingham Road ... the secondary school not so much! Of course that's normal, after all, dear readers, part of the magic of Christmas is belief in Santa Claus, which wanes with time! So, in with lunch in Sambuca's Italian restaurant in Heaton ... a delicious  (and nutritious ) lunch was dished up, whilst the children discussed what they were doing Christmas Day (the elder with her mother-in-law, the younger with her Mum), whilst your old blogger and his partner will eat lunch in Stanhope, probably just the two of us, though guests are always welcome, Christmas or not!

Returning to Stanhope we discovered France in a spot of trouble in Qatar at the World Cup Final, trailing Argentina 2-0! Amazingly they turned it round with a penalty, then a spectacular shot from Mbappe to equalise and go into extra time. During extra time two more goals were scored, one each, meaning penalties. Argentina scored more so finished World Cup champions. The last time England won it was 1966, when your blogger was 16 and watched Bobby Moore lift the trophy at Butlins in Minehead.

Today, Monday, who knows what we'll do, or where we'll eat lunch ...

Saturday though not Christmas Eve ...

Another brief post dear readers of Wear and Dao. .. today was basically mundane and after breakfast and shopping in the street, coffee and pain au chocolat, lunch etc it was time for the third place final in the World Cup. Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 to take third place.

Tomorrow it's the final, and your ex-football playing old blogger and his partner are off to Newcastle to see the blogger 's two daughters for lunch in Sambuca's Italian restaurant in Heaton Park. It's a combination of Cyprus gifts and Christmas presents.

So what are you doing for Christmas 2022 dear readers?

Friday afternoon at The Greenhouse ...

After breakfast of porridge and brunch of fried bread, baked beans and fried egg, it was time to head off to The Greenhouse for the Driver Speed Awareness course ...

Now The Greenhouse is well known to the old blogger,  dear readers of Wear and Dao. .. Du-it had an office there some years ago, when the blogger and Cameron Gordon were trying to persuade folks engaged in Community Transport to adopt the example of several other progressive European countries, bringing the transport services of several players together in the mission to integrate public transport services. .. a logical way to improve public transport in County Durham!

Suffice it to say that whilst the patient transport ambulance service, PCT and others saw the advantages of integration,  Durham County transport saw only a threat ... that's Durham County for you dear readers! Never mind, we've had setbacks before and doubtless we'll see more. Meanwhile the partner also attended the Greenhouse for meetings and to give advice on a new job evaluation scheme being introduced by the NHS.

Today however the  mission was simply to turn up at 1pm and listen to the chap delivering the course for 3 hours approximately, including a short tea break.

Tomorrow the 3rd place of the World Cup will be contested between Croatia and Morocco ...

Thursday, briefly. ..

Another bright and sunny day dawns and no further snow. After food shopping in the street, coffee and croissants and later fish lunch,  Gillian the Angel of Stanhope arrives for tea at two and mince pies for Christmas ...

Tomorrow dear readers, due to a summons from Cornwall Police, your old blogger will be attending a speed awareness course a 1pm. ...! Looking forward to that of course ...

Wednesday washing and shopping ...

PWednesday dawns frosty and cold again ... a perfect day to head to the laundrette in Chester le Street to get the clothes from the holiday washed and tumble dried, so that's how we spent a couple of hours this morning dear readers!

After that necessary chore we popped into the Arnison Centre, Marks and Spencers specifically, in search of a Christmas present for the partners Mother ... new pyjamas!  After coffee and hot chocolate we headed out for home, passing a Big Issue vendor with the Christmas issue for sale which we bought as you do to read at home.

A late lunch of salmon fillets, potatoes and spinach was cooked by your talented chef and blogger ... it would be immodest to claim it was delicious and nutritious so you'd best ask the partner for her opinion!!

Tonight Morocco and France compete in the second semi-final .... France are favourites as wear Argentina but you never know with football ... as an interesting aside, French is widely spoken in Morocco since it was part of the French Empire years ago ... as your old blogger discovered when he was much younger and visited Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakesh etc hitch-hiking through the country after first visiting Andorra and Spain ... hitch-hiking again ... this mode of free travel is rather less used these days, the Bla Bla Car is quite popular with young people nowadays. As it happens dear readers, it's how your old blogger travelled from Fisterra to Santander a few years ago after another Camino de Santiago. ..

Tomorrow,  who knows? Maybe Gillian the Angel of Stanhope will visit to discuss the Paphos holiday!

P.S. France 2 Morocco 0

Tuesday at Wallington Hall. . .

Tuesday 13th December and the day dawns frosty with clear blue skies ... so, dear readers, why not exercise the car and the National Trust card to drive  over to Wallington Hall near Belsay for a good walk and lunch ( Tuscan three bean soup).

This evening at 7 Croatia and Argentina meet in the semi-finals ... Argentina are favourites with Messi on fire, but Croatia have already beaten favourites and seem to have no fear of losing in this game or indeed the final, why not?!

Well, that's it for today dear readers. .. see you all tomorrow by which time last night's result will be known!
P.S. 3-0 to Argentina!

Monday snow ...

Monday morning and we wake to see snow on the ground and the cars. ...not a surprise of course, and the morning news reflects on youngsters playing on the ice in Solihull and some falling through ... some rescued others presumed dead ...

Airports are closed all over the country, motorways  clogged with thick snow, even early trains cancelled.

The snow in Stanhope is not particularly deep so the windscreen of the car is cleared and we head over to Toft Hill to visit the partner's daughter and her grandson off sick from school. After stopping there for an hour or so we head off the Sainsburys for provisions, then back home to Stanhope.

So, dear readers, an ordinary day in December!  Nothing else much to report. ..
As for tomorrow,  who knows?

Sunday back in Stanhope

Well, dear readers of Wear and Dao,  we finally reached home about 7.30 am after the long wait for the plane, a long search for the car in the airport car park and a long drive from Manchester to Stanhope including a break for coffee and croissants.

Of course England were knocked out of the World Cup by France 2-1 after Kane missed a penalty kick ...so, disappointment on the plane!

Stanhope was and is cold and frosty as expected (that's why we went to Cyprus after all!) but pleasant enough nonetheless and it was good to greet friends on the street whilst out shopping.

Paphos was full of Christmas decorations and carols in the hotel, but somehow it just didn't seem like Christmas given the temperature ... Well dear readers we've bought Christmas presents and holiday presents with us and are already musing on the next holiday ... maybe Santander by ferry in early Spring?!

As for the World Cup it looks like Argentina are clear favourites now Spain, Portugal, Brasil and England are out ...

Home ... eventually!

So, dear readers of Wear and Dao, Saturday after three weeks in Cyprus it's time to return home to Stanhope via Manchester Airport. The transfer bus picks us up from the hotel in good time to check in and catch the plane ... very good  time as It happens dear readers, since Manchester is rather snowy and the flight toPaphos is delayed meaning our flight is delayed too!!

Of course it's not a big deal in the scale of  things and anyway vouchers are issued for food and drink in Costa Coffee as we while away the time awaiting further announcements as to the time we might take off ....

Meanwhile in Qatar, Brasil are eliminated on penalties against Croatia, while the Netherlands are knocked out by Argentina also on penalties ... tonight it's England v France in the quarter finals and before that Morocco ...

At the  airport check in with the customary searches, a British soldier appears on leave from his posting in Cyprus also delayed. .. never mind dear readers,  we'll get home eventually ... hopefully!

Friday, Coral Bay again!

Well, here we go again dear readers of Wear and Dao  ... the winter holiday in Paphos finishes tomorrow, so we're making the most of the hot sunny December to return to Coral Bay one more time!

Lets face it, Stanhope in December is not quite the same ... still, though not hot it may well be sunny and frosty ... and in the summer Paphos is roasting and best avoided, whilst the  beaches in County Durham and Northumberland pleasantly sunny and warm ...

After tanning our bodies and bathing in the sea, we dressed and went up to see Maria for Americano and Cappuccino for the last time. Maria says she hopes to see us next year, but frankly that's unlikely ... after all there are many other places to visit, Albania, Tavira (Portugal), Spain again, Madeira, Malta, Sri Lanka etc.

After more tanning we head up the Coral Bay for lunch at Andria Steak and Seafood restaurant ... Feta cheese salad and salmon cevice, delicious and nutritious  ... really divine!

Tomorrow we check out of our room in the Athena Beach Hotel at midday for the 4pm flight to Manchester. .. after a wonderful Cyprus holiday, highly recommended by the way, it's home to Stanhope in Weardale ...

Thursday at Latchi for lunch. ..

Today, Thursday, the last one of this winter holiday, after breakfast at the Athena Beach Hotel we took the bus to the harbour station then on to Old Pathos bus station for the connecting bus to Polis ... from there after a coffee in town we wandered along to Latchi and the harbour for lunch ... fish burger and prawn pannini respectively, both delicious etc etc!

On the way to lunch we bumped into Rory from Guildford who has retired here and loves the life. At the fish restaurant we sat next to a Cypriot chap and discussed current affairs and the history of Cyprus ... fascinating to hear his perspective!

And so dear readers of Wear and Dao that's today so far and another warm and sunny one ... Tomorrow, who knows?

Wednesday back in Coral Bay ...

Well dear readers of Wear and Dao,  since the sun's still shining and the buses so frequent why not head out to Coral Bay again?

Yesterday saw Portugal thrash Switzerland in the World Cup and with Spain eliminated by Morocco unexpectedly on penalties it just leaves England's game with France to see us through to the semi-finals. .. if we beat them! Portugal and Brasil are clear favourites though who knows, England could win their first World Cup since 1966!

Meanwhile, back to today  ...and Coral Bay, clearly it's not the  only sandy beach in Cyprus but it's certainly the best for us in Paphos. Maria who works the little cafe at one end of the bay has been friendly and accomodating allowing your old blogger and partner to make use of the tables and chairs when not on the beach a bonus that i doubt we could be afforded in the height of the summer season. Back in Great Britain there are many sandy beaches, including Druridge Bay in Northumberland and Studland Bay in Dorset. Both wonderful for sunbathing and swimming when it's warm and sunny e.g. Spring, Summer and Autumn but not really Winter! Hence the winter holiday in Paphos ... a decision we havn,t regretted for a moment.

Now, dear readers, we're sitting in an Indian restaurant eating vegetable korma and tuna sushi respectively  ... delicious and nutritious as usual ...

Tomorrow, who knows?  We still have two days before flying back to Stanhope via Manchester!

Tuesday, Coral Bay yet again! https://wdportugal.blogspot.com/2022/12/tuesday-coral-bay-yet-again.html

Tuesday, Coral Bay yet again!

Yes, dear readers of Wear and Dao  ... Coral Bay yet again and why not?!

When the bus stops right outside the Athena Beach Hotel for the Harbour bus station then the bus to Coral Bay in the sunshine it would be shame to waste the last few days of the holiday especially since the weather in Stanhope is forecast rather chilly to say the least!

A swim in the sea followed by a walk up to eat fish soup and grilled salmon means a perfect Thai lunch ...

As for tomorrow. .. well, who knows what Wednesday will bring? Sunshine and warm temperatures for sure!

Monday in Coral Bay again ...

So dear readers of Wear and Dao, the last Monday of this Cyprus holiday and since the hired car was returned yesterday it's the bus from outside the hotel to the Harbour bus station and then onwards to Coral Bay for more sunbathing and swimming in warm sea. Yesterday England beat Senegal 3-0 to progress to play France on Saturday ... interestingly that may cause some rivalry between your old blogger and his younger sister who now lives in France with her French husband and family.

From the seaside it's a short walk to a restaurant where we had vegetable soup and sea bass and spaghetti carbonara respectively. The Bulgarian waiter explained that many non-Cypriots work here, since the locals are not keen on working! Of course it's the same story all over the place ... in Weardale we've heard the same story 're the Poles ... anyway it's good for folks to mingle ... when you're old blogger was younger he worked in Athens for a while perhaps one of the few times your old blogger worked in a foreign country and like the waiters here worked harder than the management .

Tomorrow who knows where we're going on the bus ... maybe Limmasol again ... let's see!

Sunday Sun again

Well dear readers of Wear and Dao, it's Sunday again and the sun is shining in Cyprus as usual. and it's the last day with the hired car and last week of the winter holiday in Paphos...it's a shame but the 3 week winter break has been great and of course we're looking forward to seeing friends and family again ... though  not necessarily the the freezing weather!

The winter holiday has indeed been wonderful ... can you believe it's not peak season in Cyprus?? Actually that's in the summer holidays when Cyprus is roasting and England, even in the North can be pleasantly warm ...

Tonight dear readers it's  England v Senegal and if England survive tonight and go forward to the final ... well we'll be watching in Stanhope in Weardale, while the England will be playing in Dohar, Qatar!

Meanwhile in Cyprus after a delicious and nutritious breakfast in the hotel we set off along the coast in the car and stopped off for a swim in the sea, then drove further along the coast for quick walk then lunch of fish soup and seafood platter ... that's where we are now dear readers. . a few more days in the sun and bus rides about the place, then home to England.

Saturday Sauntering in the car

Today dear readers of Wear and Dao, we ventured out in the car hired for four days. Yesterday we headed for the Troodos Mountains and explored there. We found a big monastery where Archbishop Makarios was interred and after looking around monastery museum found a restaurant serving good food for lunch ... vegetable soup for starters followed by spaghetti Neapolitan for her and octopus in red wine sauce for your old blogger. Then we went in search of Troodos itself which took a while, and found it in the dark so we saw little of it! On the way home to Paphos we got rather lost and were running low on fuel ... worrying somewhat since the fuel stations we found were automatic i.e. no staff and it took quite a while to find someone to explain the system in English ... third try and bingo! the car was fuelled ...

Anyway back to today Saturday 2nd December ...so we ventured out after breakfast in the Athena Beach Hotel and headed north up the coast towards Polis then on further along the coast on another warm sunny day, finding a beautifully located restaurant for soup made with goat's milk, bulghar wheat, tomato and grated courgette. .. delicious! Then we drove north a
some more and found another beautifully located restaurant overlooking a harbour for more lovely food. Now we're sitting in the sun, digesting our food and looking at the view before heading home to Paphos. ..

Today dear readers of Wear and Dao, on the first day of December 2022, we set out in a hired car for Nicosia in a hired car since the bus driver demanded masks for passengers as well as wearing one himself ... funnily enough that's the first time it happened in Cyprus including yesterday's trips to Polis and back ... anyway our car hired for fo four days took us to Nicosia no problem and we crossed the border with our British passports, though on the Turkish side the young Turkish Cypriot can't cross to the Greek side without travelling to Turkey where he was born! Well dear readers, this is the crazy world in which we live ... Tomorrow let's see where else we can go ...