From this......

To this, with 32 hours travelling.......

NYE Australian Style

 I am feeling like we haven’t just flown around the world, but have landed on another planet. The sunshine is very good for making us generally happy people. My memories of spending NYE by the beach seem a very long time ago. So it was so lovely to relax on the beach with friends on NYE (Sophie, Patrick and William holding hands, below). My sister organized a pirate theme….. ah-arrggggh!

We’ve been exploring the local extractions down the peninsular including the McClelland Sculpture  Park, numerous hedge mazes, views across  the bay from Arthur’s Seat and various walks through the bush.

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 On warmer days we either walk to the beach or play on the slippery slide in the garden, or tug-of-war, or generally spray hoses and sprinklers around. Tomorrow we have a large water fight planned! Don’t come to Mt. Eliza if you don’t want to get wet!

And at the end of the day, story time before bed.

First week in Australia

We are having fun in the Australian Summer. Playing with the sprinklers is a classic Aussie kid past-time. William finally had his moment: chucking some snags on the barbie.

We had a very warm day and went to the beach. The four cousins have been getting to know each other and work out the dynamics of playing with four kids.

It has been so long since I last had an Aussie Christmas I felt that I may have forgotten the routine, but it soon came back to me! The afternoon begins with a glass of sparkling red wine,  catching up with my cousins, aunt and uncle, progresses through Christmas lunch (cold roast ham, asparagus, roast potatoes with chestnuts, cold roast chicken, 2 salads, stuffing), Christmas pudding (my Grannie's recipe), backyard cricket (audience in the red chairs) and finally stories before bedtime.

Phew! I need a holiday!

Another day, another day at the beach

More beach pictures, along with a brief update on the sandcastle situation. Today - two new types of sandcastle: the ball roll (like a marble roll, but for a ball - multiple paths from the top down to the sea) and the floating sandcastle (a first for me too!) on William's swimming board). Although Sophie's behaviour was often that of a typical 2 year old (not surprising really!!) they did get a treat after lunch.

Yesterday we climbed the hill across the road. On the way up we saw some bee hives, and subsequently met the bee keeper (who sold us lunch) and so bought some of the honey from these very hives. I'm pretty excited about that. William asked him whether he wore a scary mask to collect the honey. We explored the hilltop church and cross.

Today the kids and I visited the local museum, which is focused on the sea. There was a glass floored section, atop a shipwreck and sandy seabed (slightly eerie to walk on). Did you know that Cyprus used to have hippos and elephants? Well, we have seen the skeletons and images of the archeological digs to prove it.

More Cyprus

 I forgot to mention that we have the option of champagne for breakfast from our buffet each morning. Woo hoo! The first morning we each had a large glass, but to be honest, champagne for breakfast every day isn’t really me. Straight after breakfast we head to the beach, usually arriving by 8.30am ready to dig.

  We took a lovely tour on a boat called the Yellow Submarine, because it has large underwater viewing portholes. We all liked seeing the fish up close. From this boat we went swimming into sea caves. The boat gave us a life bouy which the kids held on to in the deep sea, and this made it easier to tow them about. They liked the adventure of it all. They also liked the big splash that Daddy made as he slid down the slide (attached to the side of the boat) and into the sea.

 We go to the beach 1-3 times every day, and are working our way through the sandcastle repertoire: sandcastles with decorations, with tunnels, in 3D shapes (cylinder, cuboid, 3- and 4-sided pyramids)(William is learning the names for 3D shapes at school), with drizzly towers.

 The monastery in Ayia Napa was free to visit and a small haven of calm and peace. 

 This evening we took a sunset stroll along the clifftop – a lovely view of the Southern Cyprus sky.