daily routine

[chelwood]

moving to north cyprus on 27th july , bought a villa in the kapaz region , lots to do to make the villa our home , just wondering what most people class as a daily routine , not that i like the thought of a routine , ie work and rest times and any advice you can offer would be appreciated .

[carolhm]

Hi , its our first summer out here and what a shock . First the winter was the worst that they had had here in years and then the summer arrived so suddenly . We are adjusting to the heat ( just ) but must say becauseof the heat , house work etc gets done as early as poss in the mornings . There is no way we do too much in the afternoon except go swimming about 5 ish .Ok it dont sound very exciting but we are loving our first year here . We needed the relaxation after leaving stressfull work . I hope you have a stress free move to here and I wish you all the good luck for your future . If you love it half as much as we do then its really really a great thing to do . Enjoy and relax and do
what you want to to when you want to do it

But in the autumn winter and spring there are so many places to visit and see that the days wont be long enough .

[Rambling Rose]

Chelwood:

You are coming at the hottest ime of year and with temperatures over 100F may find you have all you can do to keep cool.

Do you plan to work or are you content to befully retired. Do you have any hobbies/interests you want to follow?

Healthwise official advice is for older people, those with health problems and the very young to stay indooor between l0 and 2. In fact it is often still unbearable to 4 pm. I hoped, and still try, to follow a typical Med lifestyle - housework, garden and animal care in the morning - early lunch and siesta then business and stroll down to the shops in the evening. Easier said than down. The official offices open in the morning and a short period in the afternoon. If you are in the vulnerable category set up direct debits to pay utility bills and avoid long queues in the heat.


Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. Unfortunately there are two many people here still trying to live as if they were in England and reserve their evening for eating and drinking or TV) so nearly all the expat social activities (Library, Church, Car Boot sales, Charity Shops, BRS etc. etc. etc.) take place in the morning or even over the peak 12 to 2 period Thus excluding those who do not want or cant afford air con cars and/or cant walk from the increasingly elusive parking spaces in the heat.

Only the "Supermarkets" (bless them) stay open until late evening.

I dont know what facilities there are in the Karpas these days but if you are in the vulnerable category, I recommend you find our the locations and opening hours of nearest (or preferrred) Banks, Post Office, Belediyere, Chemist etc and any social activities you want to attend and work out a schedule which limits exposure as far as possible. If you are new to retirement you will need a certain degree of routine is good, if aonly to remember which day to put out the dustbins!

[Marions]

your life and daily routine on the Karpaz could be quite different to those who live in or close to Kyrenia, or other cities such as Famagusta or lefkosia. and probably quite different to mine> Find your priorities, live by them and enjoy them. Housework>? Always there! being part of the community and contributing - vital. Seeing all the beauty and sites - another priority. Nuts and yah boo to housework and gardening (unless it is a personal priority) and forget the clock. Eat when your stomach tells you that you are hungry. If you don't have to be anywhere by the clock, then time doesn't matter. Just enjoy all that Cyprus has to offer and the area in which you live has to offer.
Hope the move goes smoothly and that you find a new and happy way of life . In this heat, (if it is continuing when you arrive) just enjoy the beauty of the blue skies, the mountains, the sea and give thanks for being a part of such an historical place . stress is not allowed!!!

Enjoy!

[Rambling Rose]

PS You dont say if you have previous experience of a hot climate. If you have forgive me teach granny to suck eggs.

If you have to go out in the sun use protective cream, wear cotton undies and a big shady hat that will protect the back of the neck as well as face.

Take advantage of all the pit stops to cool down and top up liquid levels (but keep to the yard arm rule for alcohol) . Ayran (a local drink made from yoghurt) is an acquired taste but a good pick me up for heat exhaustion.

PS Not just undiesof course! Actually all clothes cotton (or absorbent fibre) is best if you can get it.

[cyprusishome]

If you do not have to work for a living then your routine should just have 2 items on it - get out of bed and go to bed.

The rest of the day just take as it comes, especially this time of year. Looking forward to the Olymics so I do not have to feel guilty about sitting in front of TV when it is 100 degrees outside!!!!

Whatever you do drink all day long otherwise you will quickly get ill. Do not drink alcohol during the day.

[Mel7348]

Hope everything goes well for you. In my experience summer always comes suddenly, it never fails to amaze me that one week it seems cold and quite often very wet and the following week temps up by 10 degrees or more, you know then that rain of any significance probably 4 months away.

You have opted for the hottest time of year and all thoughts of being busy making your villa like home maybe will go out of the window. At this time of year I get by on " do a little and leave a lot " Listen to your body, plenty of water, salt replacement,energy levels etc. When I first came I thought I was doing all the right things ( same time of year ) and ended up in hospital for the day being rehydrated, not an unpleasant experience but could have been avoided. I told the doctor that I was drinking 3 litres of water a day, no direct sun light etc. His reply was drink water more frequently, at this time of year every 30-45 mins as in temps of 30+ and outdoors you can dehydrate in less than a hour. Took the advice and no probs in over 10 years.

The Karpaz is one the most beautiful places on earth, sun rise and sun set spectacular on a daily basis.

I wish you a long slow relaxed very happy life here.

[andrew4232]

i was told if you mix a little salt and sugar to the water its just as good as those expensive rehydration drinks not sure how much you need to add i will look on 'tinternet' to see what i can find

[dippersgirl]

I don't know, how far down the Karpaz you are located. I am in Dipkarpaz, last chance saloon . The humidity can be higher here.
We love it here. Could do with a few more English(or German) speakers, but not too many !
There is a weekly bazaar in Iskele (I think Fridays) and in Yenierenköy(Mondays). There are cashpoints in Lemar and Bogaz. There is also a Koop bank in Yenierenköy and we have opened an account with them, saves the long treck to Famagusta in the heat. Direct debits are a good idea, but it takes about an hour, so many forms to fill in!! But once you got it set up, adding another is easy.
I think all the advice above is good, but don't get too stressed about it, other than drinking water regularly.
Come and see us, we have nice maps of the area and certainly know a lot of the lovely beaches here.
In two days Ramazan starts and you may find people look more tired and not so lively and I also advise not to go to the shop, just after the call of the imam at sunset, leave it 1/2 hour

[chelwood]

thank you all very much for taking the time to post in a friendly and very helpful manner .

we are retiring after many years in the business arena , we have purchased a villa that stands by its self with about 1.5 dunums , much to do , pool , new kitchen bathrooms garage block ect , we are both fanatical gardeners so will plan and design from scratch , hobbies fishing both course and sea plus numerous others .

once again thanks for your kind replies .

[Rambling Rose]

Gardening: You wont be able to plant for two or three months yet - for most things best to wait till after the first rains. So now you should be learning about your land - where there is shade and where full sun for most of the day etc. and drawing up plans. Browsing garden centres is quite a pleasant activity in the heat.

If you have any existing plants you want to keep you should learn about their watering needs and you will need a schedule for that. Best to water late evening to minimise evaporation.

[Keithcaley]

dippersgirl, you may have some information that would help another member - you mentioned Direct Debits, do you know if you can set up a Direct debit here to pay bills etc. other than 'phone, electric & water / Belediye? - Someone wanted to be able to pay a pool cleaning company regularly / automatically. Do you know if that is possible? - & with which bank?

Thanks in advance

[dippersgirl]

I don't know, but I will check it out. My friend it Catalköy may know. He's been here more than 10 years and helps quite a few people

[andrew4232]

my daily routine is just the same as in the uk get up get ready go to work

[Rambling Rose]

Perhaps the vital word is not "routine" but "rhythm". Surely it makes sense to follow the rhythms of the climate - particularly in the heat of summer - and rest (sleep, read, listen to music, watch TV , catch up with emails, whatever) during the heat of the day and use the comparatively cool, longer evenings for more active pursuits. I just dont understand the mentality of those who come to a country like Cyprus allegedly for retirement and relaxation and then insist on following the routines evolved during a working life in a colder climate and waste the lovely evenings watching TV, forcing themselves and where applicable their customers clients to travel in extreme temperatures to midday activities.. The number of people who have said in the morning "no one comes at this time of year" but when I suggest perhaps one evening opening per week say they cant do that because they watch TV in the evening.


All very well being off hand about housework and gardening, but unless you want a house full of unwelcome insects, rodents and snakes, you have to do a certain amount,and the mornings are best. I love to swim in the mornings and treat myself a a light snack for lunch - but by the time I have dealt with the dogs, done essential housework , done the offical chores (like Bank and PO) and non Supermarket shopping etc.. there is no morning left and I am too hot and tired to swim and if I do I am driving back in the heat of the afternoon and lose all the benefit of cooling down.

[DAVPAT]

Perhaps the vital word is not "routine" but "rhythm". Surely it makes sense to follow the rhythms of the climate - particularly in the heat of summer - and rest (sleep, read, listen to music, watch TV , catch up with emails, whatever) during the heat of the day and use the comparatively cool, longer evenings for more active pursuits. I just dont understand the mentality of those who come to a country like Cyprus allegedly for retirement and relaxation and then insist on following the routines evolved during a working life in a colder climate and waste the lovely evenings watching TV, forcing themselves and where applicable their customers clients to travel in extreme temperatures to midday activities.. The number of people who have said in the morning "no one comes at this time of year" but when I suggest perhaps one evening opening per week say they cant do that because they watch TV in the evening.


All very well being off hand about housework and gardening, but unless you want a house full of unwelcome insects, rodents and snakes, you have to do a certain amount,and the mornings are best. I love to swim in the mornings and treat myself a a light snack for lunch - but by the time I have dealt with the dogs, done essential housework , done the offical chores (like Bank and PO) and non Supermarket shopping etc.. there is no morning left and I am too hot and tired to swim and if I do I am driving back in the heat of the afternoon and lose all the benefit of cooling down.

Reading your reply RR,I think you are correct preferring to use the "rhythm method" ................so to speak!