Mark this - and Mark it well, for Mark to Can doth tell

[Marions]

Can Gazi's Cup of Conversation this week is Mark from Malta - and Mark him well - a life story to tell or victory over himself.

so Can tells all.........................

Life changing decisions are sometimes made on a whim; occasionally as the result of a major event. It's not easy to make a choice when we arrive at a "fork in the road" - left or right? Moving abroad to a foreign country make seem like a dream come true; especially if you are fed up of the rat race and want to go on an exciting adventure. Mark Phillips, a remarkable man and a real survivor, left the UK and came to North Cyprus after a health scare forced him to make the move.
From the first moment I met Mark I warmed to him instantly. Mark is tall and slim and has blond spiky hair that I'm sure makes him stand out in any crowd. Born on the island of Malta, so a real islander through and through, Mark returned to the UK and grew up in the north of England. He tells me that he has always had a love affair with music and has been a guitarist in a few bands over the years. He has also had a few 'more serious' careers and has worked as a salesman and also been involved in the property market. Whilst advertising his company on local radio an opportunity came up to run a new commercial station and Mighty FM was born. Mark loved presenting programmes, especially glam rock shows. It was during his time in the world of real estate that the company looked to invest in property overseas and North Cyprus came into the picture.
Although he has a lighthearted attitude to life and is constantly cracking jokes and having a laugh, Mark has battled with some very serious health problems, and he has an important reason for his eventual move to our island. The male members of his family have a history of heart disease and both his younger brother and his father have succumbed to heart related illnesses. He also blames his health issues on his lifestyle of "sex, drugs and rock n roll" during his early years as a musician. Eventually his body said enough was enough and unfortunately Mark had to have a quadruple heart by-pass. Apparently he died on the operating table twice during surgery! Doctor's suggested that he move to a country with a warmer climate and change his way of living drastically, otherwise he would not survive much longer.
North Cyprus offered Mark what he needed and since his move here with his newly wedded wife Victoria, he has never been happier. With the support of friends in the TRNC Mark hopes to go into the recording studio with guitar in hand to make a special CD of an original song he wrote about his bother Barry after he died, plus a couple of other tunes that both he and his brother used to sing together years ago. It will be a personal CD just for family and friends to appreciate. As I follow his antics on Facebook (which he only opened after moving here so he could keep in contact with family and friends), it is obvious he has made the right move. He hasn't touched alcohol for over thirteen years and he looks as healthy as any man half his age. A walking advertisement for our country, he has no regrets about moving her and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone thinking of coming over. "This is my home now, " he says proudly. Some might say that the powers above have given Mark a second chance, and wisely he has chosen a more relaxed, healthier and happier way of life; may you never lose that cheeky grin Mark, and may keep that twinkle in your eye...

[Dalartokat]

Marions. Sorry to have to do this on your posting but do you think you could put gaps between paragraphs. It really is difficult with people who wear glasses/eyesight problems etc. trying to read between lines. Doing everything on one block just turns me off reading anything and I would like to read it but very difficult. Thanks

[Marions]

Valid point. But I don't write it - Can does, and I merely copy and paste as he sends it to me. When we had the online paper, of course editing and layout was odne, but since it clo9sed, we have kept it going because it IS of interest.

I will ask Can if he could alter the layout, or I will try to find the time to edit.

Sorry if that sounds negative, but obviously it is not something I had thought of.

[Dalartokat]

No not at all, Keith has just pm'd me to explain how to get over the situation. Thanks