We''re planning to entirely renovate both bathrooms at the beginning of May 2017 and have been spending some enjoyable time over the last two weeks visiting bathroom and tile shops and planning the work. 

Obviously, both bathrooms are obviously completely functional now, but they are decorated in a decor that is now 13 years old and we felt they definitely needed freshening up in a more modern, clean and bright style.  Anyway, we are really thrilled with what we've been able to source here on the island, and at prices that make B&Q look extortionate. A lot of top quality ceramic ware is produced in Turkey and that makes it cheap here. 

We have already taken delivery of the tiles so that they are available immediately at the start of May.  The floors will look like aged, golden oak but they are actually ceramic.  The walls are a very brilliant white tile with a contoured design in it.  Hopefully they will give the bathrooms a very bright look.  All the sanitary ware is white.  The sinks are mounted onto a golden oak unit that has an undersink cupboard, a large mirror fronting a cabinet and some shelves to the side.  The showers are full width of the bathrooms, walk-in style, with both a rain shower and a wand shower. 

​The shower in the family bathroom replaces a bath with a shower over it.  This was quite a difficult decision to make. Most of our guests prefer to shower and would rather have a luxurious, large shower unit.  But, some people like or need a bath.  So, in order to accommodate small children and older people we have chosen a Turkish style shower tray in there.  This incorporates a raised bench-end so that someone could sit and shower or a mum could sit and shower a small child in front of her sitting in the tray like a bath. Its a great idea and we've never seen one in the UK.   It stems from the Turkish custom of the hamam, where you sit and either shower or pour water over yourself from a large jug.  Rather a relaxing experience.

Anyway, can't wait to get the work started now but we have to......  Will post pics next May as it all begins.  Summer guests are going to be in for a treat!

Almost exactly a year ago, the amazing water pipeline between northern Cyprus and Turkey opened.  Since then the reservoir has been filling, the pipes have been rolling out (literally) across our part of the island, the politicians and councils have been arguing about who was in control of the water..... yes, well..... some things are the same the world over. 
It's been a bad year for water in Cyprus.  A very dry winter last year left the traditional cisterns and reservoirs very very low.   In the summer, our village ran out of water and we had to have tankers to the house for July and August, there just wasn't enough to run the house without it.  Then there was.... none....  This is unimaginable to someone coming from the UK or from northern Europe or the USA.  But, the southern and eastern Med. knows that water is the new oil, a precious, precious commodity to be cossetted, treasured and never wasted. 
When we arrived in September, the situation in our village was better but not by much.  We had water 3 days a week and the pressure was low.  Perhaps, I should clarify!  The house has constant water supplied from a massive (20 tonne) tank situated under the swimming pool.  This tank is attached to the main, and it is this "main supply" that was only on three days a week. House users don't even notice there is any difference between the supply here and the constant pipeline they are used to back in the UK. 
However, the short supply of water means that our garden tank and the swimming pool top up tank had to be supplied by tanker.  Mains water was too precious and in too short a supply to be used for plants or swimming!  It wasn't a question of paying for it - our water is all metered.  There just wasn't enough water on the island to make this a viable solution.  Until..... the new water arrived!!!!
Yes, a couple of weeks ago, the unmistakeable signs of a new supply were noted.  First, a gang of men arrived and stared at our water cistern (a large tank that supplies our four houses from the village supply).  They then announced that new pipework was about to be put in place that would deliver "unimaginable water flow and pressure"!!!!  This was a bit alarming.  Would this "unimaginable pressure" result in our rather pathetic looking plastic water main rupturing in numerous fountainous leaks????  Would our existing pipework be overwhelmed????  Our anxieties weren't exactly relieved when we saw the workmen deploying said new pipework a few days later.  they dragged huge rolls of it up the hill behind their vehicles, allowing the plastic rolls to gyrate and swirl like demented pythons in their wake.  Heaven help the hapless hiker coming down from the mountain at that point.... it could have resulted in a nasty one way trip down the ravine!!! 

However, we are now all connected up and it's wonderful!  The pressure is much higher, although hardly likely to rupture anything.  We have water on supply to the house 24 x 7 and that is unheard of.  Bob has reworked the pipework from the mains outlet so that once more we have mains delivery to our garden watering tank and to the swimming pool topup pool. We haven't had that in place since 2007!  The belief is that we will never need tankered water again! 

It's going to make a huge difference to the garden which will now be able to grow year round instead of going into a sort of heat hibernation through the summer months.  We will of course still urge our guests to be cautious with water and not waste it.  We ourselves use a washing bowl in the sink and use that water to water pot plants.  But.... cliche or not.... water is a miracle.... and we are very thankful that a miracle of engineering has brought it under the sea to our house.

Cypriot hospitality is legendary.  Whether in Cyprus or in London or in any of the many diaspora locations throughout the world where Cypriot communities have become established, restaurants are the number one occupation.  Unsurprisingly however, nowhere is Cypriot food better exemplified than in Cyprus itself.  On this island, there is a perfect storm collision of generous hospitality, sun-ripened fruit and vegetables, naturally grown meat, delicious wine and - best of all - low, low prices. 
​It goes without saying that you can eat any cuisine in Cyprus.  The cuisine of the heart though... the central offering that any decent Cypriot will want to offer you is the meze.  What is the meze?  The meze is a multi course feast of a meal.  A never ending banquet of tiny plates, each offering a delicious taste of island produce, sometimes served plain, on it's own, standing on its own deliciousness; sometimes mingled with other ingredients, herbs, spices.  Typically, a full meze will begin with around 13 cold meze plates, followed by 7 hot meze plates, then a main course, then a dessert, then coffee and a liqueur.  Typical cold meze plates will include: beetroot, salad, yoghurt, bulgar wheat salad, houmus, tzatziki, goats cheese, olives, breads, aubergine salad, tahini; hot meze plates will be: liver and onions, meat balls, lamb sausage, grilled halloumi cheese, potato pancakes.  Mains: lamb cutlets, shish kebab, chicken kebab, fish kebab.
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​Around Villa Rockheart there are a number of excellent restaurants serving meze - or sometimes called "full kebab".  Here I list my favourites in all their different flavours of fabulous feistiness!  All of the restaurants below serve a la carte menus but meze is the "main" offering.

​Cenap:  A traditional restaurant in the centre of Alsancak village, about 10 minutes drive.  You can have the massive meze or the slightly less massive meze.  It's a huge feast.  Go hungry. The massive meze has about 50 dishes :)  You can eat inside or outside and there is generally musical entertainment.  Around 55 - 65 ytl per person

​Archway: A traditional restaurant in the village of Zehtinlik, about 15 minutes drive.  Huge restaurant where staff dress in traditional Cypriot costume.  Often musicians play.  Otherwise offerings very much like Cenap.  Superb outdoor setting on a summer's night with views down a ravine towards the sea.

​Villagio Templos: A lovely Turkish style house in Zehtinlik village.  Excellent ambience both indoors and outdoors.  The meze is built around a large joint of lamb: either leg, shoulder or crown roast.  You can choose large meze or slightly less large meze around this main.  The dishes here are a bit more unusual than in other restaurants.  The joint of lamb is massive.  Cost is around 50 ytl.  Highly recommended

​Charcos: A quirky restaurant in an old Turkish house and garden in Lapta (20 mins drive).  This is only barely a meze but it is a delicious offering.  You choose your main course from a large menu and this determines the cost of your meal.  Included in this price is a starter which is generally a generous bowl of thick lentil soup; you also get bread, garlic butter and olives; then your main comes served with a large salad and a huge bowl of fabulous "from scratch" chips.  The meal ends with a dessert, coffee and a liquer - all for the price of the main course.

​Tervetuloa: Lovely Cypriot restaurant more or less at the bottom of our hill, just off the main road where the Merit Hotel sign is.  You can eat in the garden or inside.  Like Charcos, the price of the meal depends on the main course chosen, generally around 40 ytl.  There is a wide range of choice from lamb cutlets to sea bass, meat cooked in a roof tile, chicken.  For the price of the main you get 13 cold meze dishes, 5 hot meze dishes, the main, a dessert, coffee and a liqueur.  Fantastic value and a very welcoming atmosphere.

Stonegrill:
​10 minutes drive away near Escape Beach. Like the previous restaurants, the price depends on your choice of main.  Steaks are a feature here and they are very very good.  The twist is that you cook them yourself on a hot stone on the table.  Various sauces accompany the main together with a large salad and chips.  Before the main you get around 10 cold meze and 5 hot meze dishes and there is also coffee and liqueur.  About 50 ytl.

​The Kyrenia Tavern: In the old Turkish Quarter of Kyrenia, this quirky but much beloved restaurant is an old house and garden, run by an aged Turkish Cypriot couple and their son who worked as a chef in London.  The meze is huge and imaginative.  You have to book in advance and the choice surrounds the main: lamb shank, chicken or vegetarian.  Most people oft for the lamb shank.  The meal also includes a choice of red, white or rose wine.  A very large number of cold meze plates is followed by a large number of hot meze tastes, then the main course, then a small dessert, a HUGE fruit display plate, coffee and liqueurs.  Price is around 55 ytl.  A very unique experience.

​Niazis:  Traditional Cypriot meze served around a choice of kebabs, served in a lively, buzzing atmosphere.  The restaurant is almost opposite the Dome hotel in Kyrenia.  Prices are around 45 ytl.