So good to be back

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Fri 12 Apr 2013 9:11 pm

Got back from UK Wednesday evening after 2 weeks . Was lovely to see family , but every one was sooooooooooooooooo stressed over there . Arrived at Stansted airport and every one was rushing around like headless chickens . My daughter was late because of m25 traffic . She was stressed because she was late . I was not bothered , s..t happens .
The only thing was the amount of traffic on M25 , really scarey . For gotten how bad it was .

Really pleased to be back here .

Love it

Deniz1 · Post by **Deniz1** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 6:41 am

Hos geldenis

flowerfairy · Post by **flowerfairy** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 6:54 am

Carol, that's all it takes, one short visit, to remind us just how lucky we are living here,
welcome home,x

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 7:11 am

Thank you
Do you know whats really nice . Getting up here in the mornings . The sea views , the mountain views .The peace .
Perfect
Yes we are so lucky

belle · Post by **belle** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 9:29 am

Carol, I fully agree with what you say, yes there are a couple of things about the place that I don't like but I miss living there and am coming back. I will be a lot happier than being here in the UK.

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 2:47 pm

Whilst we cannot yet spend as much time as we would like in N Cyprus...having lived on the island as a teenager in the 70's and returned whilst serving in HM Forces in the 80's and 90's we echo the sentiments of those that have posted so far.

We took the plunge and bought a small place 18 months ago, we are on a high each time we travel to stay - returning back to the UK after a holiday we realise how lucky we are.

Roll on May

MoBry · Post by **MoBry** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 3:27 pm

I love living here, never hanker for Australia. I'm going back to London week after next for one day for a reunion of my university mates from 41 years ago, managed to rustle up 10 of us, but flying back overnight with BA. Last time we were there, London was awful. Crowded, noisy and everyone looks so unhappy. I'll enjoy the reunion but be glad to get back to the peace and quiet.

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 4:07 pm

If it was not for my family in Uk I would not go back . I had booked for the 2 weeks , but after seeing them all over a few days I was ready to come back home . It didn't help that I had left Mr H M here . We have been here 2 years in September and he said he would not go back till he had to .
I had been there over a week , my mum asked me to go over the local shops for her . On my way back I saw some one hanging around by my mums front door . As I got closer I thought he looked a bit like my brother in law . Closer still I knew it was him and called out to him . He just smiled at me , then hubby came out from hiding a round the corner . What a great surprise it was , never thought he would go over . But it made my last few days happier .
He has told me not to expect him to ever surprise me like that again . He was there only a few days but wanted to come back asap .
Home sweet home , we are a lot happier here

belle · Post by **belle** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 4:20 pm

MoBry wrote:I love living here, never hanker for Australia. I'm going back to London week after next for one day for a reunion of my university mates from 41 years ago, managed to rustle up 10 of us, but flying back overnight with BA. Last time we were there, London was awful. Crowded, noisy and everyone looks so unhappy. I'll enjoy the reunion but be glad to get back to the peace and quiet.

Mobry, I must confess I don't understand why you would prefer TRNC to Aussie, you get good weather in Aussie and if I were younger I would go there, I am going back to TRNC cos although it has its downsides for me it does have the weather.

Barbieb · Post by **Barbieb** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 5:09 pm

Welcome home Carol we have missed you and Mick, although have seen Mick around a few times, but not eating my burgers haha, hope to see you both tomorrow, hosgeldiniz xx

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 5:52 pm

See you in the morning Barb , cant wait for my bacon butty

Barbieb · Post by **Barbieb** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 6:14 pm

Super special one for you, and I think Mick should have the original special burger designed specially for him, looking forward to seeing you both x

ozonkoyboy · Post by **ozonkoyboy** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 6:44 pm

I know how you feel
I just pent 3 weeks in TRNC
the minuet I land Im stressed, but as a friend of mine puts it, "every day that passes is a day less to wait till your here for good"
But when I arrive in the TRNC total opposite happens, I leave all my stress on the plane to go back to the UK, so I guess it waits for my return LOL

What a beautiful part of the world we are so lucky to have found our little bit of it

AJay · Post by **AJay** » Sat 13 Apr 2013 7:06 pm

belle wrote:
MoBry wrote:I love living here, never hanker for Australia. I'm going back to London week after next for one day for a reunion of my university mates from 41 years ago, managed to rustle up 10 of us, but flying back overnight with BA. Last time we were there, London was awful. Crowded, noisy and everyone looks so unhappy. I'll enjoy the reunion but be glad to get back to the peace and quiet.
Mobry, I must confess I don't understand why you would prefer TRNC to Aussie, you get good weather in Aussie and if I were younger I would go there, I am going back to TRNC cos although it has its downsides for me it does have the weather.

Belle if you can afford to live In Oz without working then that is fine but the cost of living out there is horrendous. I lived and worked out in Perth a few years ago and although I was able to enjoy the lifestyle because of my work I would never retire out there.

MoBry · Post by **MoBry** » Sun 14 Apr 2013 8:42 am

Ajay - you're right. People ask us why we left because they remember the Australia of 20-odd years ago but now it's hugely expensive, difficult to live on an age pension, electricity costs are going through the roof and everyone is so ruddy miserable. It's a far different country to when we moved there over 40 years ago, it will always be home to me because I consider myself Australian, but it's a very negative country now despite the fact that the economy is still strong, got fed up with the whingeing. Also, the climate changes are very noticeable now, we went through the Victorian bushfires when temperatures went up to 47C, 11 people died not far from us when the wind changed direction and blew the fire towards them, Perth's getting every hotter, Queensland wetter and getting hit by more cyclones, and the whole country getting hotter. And basically, one of the main reasons we moved here after I nearly died of heatstroke was our reassessment of life now we're retired and the wish to live closer to family in the UK - but NOT the weather or cost of living - ha-ha. The long-haul travel to the UK is expensive but also very, very tiring, good to have a short-haul trip the UK and arrive feeling nice and fresh. We find people here very friendly and helpful, the cost of living is manageable, and we can pop back to the UK to see family (not very often because we much prefer life in the TRNC) or family and friends can come here to visit us - and they love the TRNC for its peace and quiet and friendly people.

kaiserphil · Post by **kaiserphil** » Sun 14 Apr 2013 11:25 am

I agree, the older I become the more the family becomes important. That is another good thing about moving to Germany, I am that much closer still to the kids and grandkids.

Grotty winters though.

Cally · Post by **Cally** » Sun 14 Apr 2013 11:07 pm

What a lovely thread Carol, a pat on the back for starting it, all positive vibes and that is brilliant. I would come over permanantly tomorrow but with 2 cats of 17 I don't think it is fair so will let them live their lives out here and then if I can persuade the other half we will have to see.

Love to you both

Cath xx

AJay · Post by **AJay** » Mon 15 Apr 2013 12:56 pm

Well for what it is worth I have lived and worked in some 26 countries around the world and have been to a few others as a tourist. Living and working in a country gives you a different perspective about life in that country and although I retired early I appreciate the TRNC for the life style and for the help I get from my TC neighbors. Out of all of my visitations around the world the only other country I would live in is South Africa. Now I know what some people are going to say is that South Africa is a troubled country, If you are aware of the problems (like any country) then you can work around them. When you expect everything to be hunky dory the you are going to take a fall.

sylv · Post by **sylv** » Tue 16 Apr 2013 2:45 pm

I am so looking forward to leaving. Good weather and scenery are not good reasons for staying - these can be found in other countries, and relatively civilised ones at that!

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Tue 16 Apr 2013 6:56 pm

Sylv

Good weather and scenery only would not persuade me to stay either, but I believe there is so much more on offer. Yes the TRNC has its problems and frustrations but so do many other countries including the UK.

For us its the relaxed way of life, lack of stress (providing you accept that this is not the UK and things take longer...), helpfulness and kindness of the majority of people we have met both turkish cypriots, those from the mainland and also a few ex pats we have come in contact with, yes the weather (!), the culture, history, quietness, food, drink, warm evenings, sitting outside watching the stars, the call to prayer, people watching on Girne harbour front, trying new restaurants, local markets and much more. Whilst some may not agree we really do find that the overall value for money is pretty good for most things.

When we land at the airport and enter the TRNC we very soon relax and drop down at least 3 gears...and for someone who lives in Devon believe me that is not easy as its pretty slow here!

Used to have a T shirt which said on the front....."North Cyprus a corner of earth touched by heaven" - thats how it is for us.

Good luck and hopefully you will soon find your place in paradise.

MoBry · Post by **MoBry** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 7:27 am

What a shame, Sylv, that you've chosen to post such a negative comment after so many positive ones. I don't know what you mean by "civilised" but we've found the people here charming, friendly and incredibly helpful. We love the peace and quiet, the lack of uncivilised behaviour with no boorish drunks or road rages. Yes, the driving is chaotic but at least people are laid-back about the nuttiness, very little aggro - in fact I've seen none, just an acceptance that with road rules there are no rules. It's a simpler way of life, certainly, but at least the slow pace of live reminds you of what life's meant to be: working to live instead of living to work. Good luck wherever you're going but remember: you take yourself with you.

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 7:44 am

Posh in devon and Mobry have said exactly how it is for me here and I love it . Such a shame that its not like that for Sylv .

I really cant imagine living any where else now . Its not perfect here but its close enough for me . The peace the people the history the scenery . The feeling of being safe .

I lived in Dartford Kent , loved it years ago . But just this last week there has been a murder and a attemped kidnap of a child .

sylv · Post by **sylv** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 9:05 am

I am not so sure 'feeling safe' applies here anymore. Burglaries are on the increase and expats have in recent times been attacked in their own homes. It is a dysfunctional place, at the moment there are no traffic lights on the Girne Bypass - why - because the Municipality have not paid their electricity bill. Electricity workers have threatened to blackout the whole country if the Government doesn't pay the millions of Lira it owes. Two power cuts yesterday where we live. The whole place has become a sea of unfinished houses with rubbish spoiling the beaches and countryside. There seems to be no pride in what could be an attractive tourist hotspot. But will they be able to get here with three major airlines threatening to go on strike due to high taxes at the newly privatised Ercan Airport. Driving here is appalling with 90% of drivers always on their mobile phone, children bouncing around inside cars. no seatbelts and an MOT which is a joke so God knows how many unroadworthy cars there are out there.

My partner isn't able to pursue his passion for music due to the stupid, stupid work permit rule. However, should you wish to sit by the pool doing nothing, drink beer in bars, watch football in aforesaid bars, etc. then this is fine by me but it is not for us so going somewhere where there are concerts, theatres, cultural events, etc. and where my partner will be able to use his considerable music talent without fear of being arrested (AND supermarkets with a choice of food in them!). There are many, many places in the world that could truly be described as 'heaven' far more than TRNC.

paddywack · Post by **paddywack** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 9:46 am

Reading the last post, why come here in the first place.?

mickhm · Post by **mickhm** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 10:11 am

We don't sit around pools, we don't hang around bars, We don't watch any football or any other of these so called exciting sports!

We enjoy the company of our ex pat neighbours. We enjoy the company of the many Turkish Cypriots that we have met. We enjoy the sun, the winter and all the other seasons. We enjoy visiting places of historic interest and educating ourselves. We enjoy driving to different villages and seeing the locals. We enjoy all the views and the flora that this island has to offer.

We did our homework before coming out. we knew that it would be almost impossible to get work here as the work is for the local population first unlike the U.K.

We listen to music all the time on our i-pod and we do visit bars to enjoy the local music and dancers. We take part in our local village festivals

We feel very safe here, when we visit bars we do not feel threatened at all unlike in the U.K. and where in the U.K. would you receive a 3 year prison sentence for possession of some cannabis hybrid?

As for the food and choice we never go hungry and at least here the beefburgers contain beef and not some runner from the 3 o'clock at Aintree.

We love this Island and we love these people. Just can't stand whingers. Enjoy the rest of the world this Island is mine. If I die here plant me in the ground with my bum sticking up so some local can park his bike.

Hawkeye · Post by **Hawkeye** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 1:47 pm

I totally agree with most of the posts. We have been coming to North Cyprus for over 14 years and have owned a property here now for 7 years, visiting at 4-5 times a year covering all seasons. Retiring in under a year and will then be on the first plane out, with no intention of returning to the UK! It may not be everybody's cup of tea but to us it just "don't come no better"! The friendships made with locals, expats and regular visitors are truly appreciated and the common love of North Cyprus probably creates stronger bonds of friendship. Three more visits planned before the final relocation - can't wait!!!

peri · Post by **peri** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 6:21 pm

Quite agree with carolhm's posting.I recently returned after 4 1/2 mths (not my choice ) in U.K & whilst it was wonderful to spend time with our sons & their families I landed at Ercan with a huge sigh of relief & a big smile on my face. We have now been here for 10 yrs & whilst some things drive you mad I can't think of a better place to live. North Cyprus is most definitely home & though I miss family we have never regretted moving here.

guru · Post by **guru** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 6:32 pm

Where are you thinking of moving to then sylv?

Cally · Post by **Cally** » Wed 17 Apr 2013 7:03 pm

When might be a better question

mamachina · Post by **mamachina** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 12:11 pm

Have only just got back to reading Kibkom after a couple of busy weeks! Sometimes I wonder where the day has gone, I dont frequent bars or sit by the pool quaffing drinks, (well our pool sometimes in the hot weather) as much as sometimes I feel it is time to!! I am always doing something, like Mick says, meeting friends, taking part in activities other than drinking, enjoying the scenery, helping with things (and friends) and generally living a "good" life. Yes, we ar happy here, and like Carol did say at the beginning, Husband not keen on returning to Uk even for holiday - though this year Ive got him a ticket, so he's got to go. though it was nice of Mick to join you, Carol, as a surprise, my husband isnt in to surprises!!!

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 3:17 pm

Mick would not normally be the type to spring a surprise and the fact that he hates the idea of going to the uk is why the surprise worked so well . But the family were so happy to see him

sylv · Post by **sylv** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 3:35 pm

The forum rules state:
'Rudeness will not be tolerated. You may challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully without insult and personal attack. Any member being intentionally unpleasant or disruptive will be banned without warning'

so why does everyone have to be so nasty when I am just expressing my PERSONAL views and not attacking yours. I find Cally's remark particularly hurtful and uncalled for. Suffice to say we are leaving the Island and where and when we go we are not prepared to discuss on the forum.

JeanW · Post by **JeanW** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 4:36 pm

sylv - well said!

Cally · Post by **Cally** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 8:01 pm

Oh dear, I seem to have overstepped the mark. I most humbly apologise Sylv for my offensive remark. I'm afraid I got carried away and did not realise the consequences and for that I am very sorry.

Kind regards

Cath

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 8:53 pm

Sylv , where ever you and your family go I really hope it works out well for you , wish you good luck for the future .

We are lucky to find what suits us , hope you find what suits you

belle · Post by **belle** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 9:08 pm

sylv wrote:The forum rules state:
'Rudeness will not be tolerated. You may challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully without insult and personal attack. Any member being intentionally unpleasant or disruptive will be banned without warning'

so why does everyone have to be so nasty when I am just expressing my PERSONAL views and not attacking yours. I find Cally's remark particularly hurtful and uncalled for. Suffice to say we are leaving the Island and where and when we go we are not prepared to discuss on the forum.

Good Luck for the future, you are of course entitled to your views and trust me I agree with much of why you leaving.

Barbieb · Post by **Barbieb** » Thu 18 Apr 2013 10:29 pm

Positive forum thankfully, and I must say that after living here I could never return to the UK, poor Sylv, she has her reasons, and for that I am truly sorry, and as I am just applying for my 6th visitor's residency I know next week I will probably know where she was coming from, but in two week it will have been all worth it, I feel more Cypriot now then I ever felt British, and love the TRNC, let's all hope it never goes to Europe and thank you Carol for this post xx

flowerfairy · Post by **flowerfairy** » Fri 19 Apr 2013 6:56 am

Again, another beautiful morning. Sun shining, birds singing...... happy days.
One thing is for sure, I will not be drinking in the bars today, or watching football. I may sit in the garden later and read my book though.

Carol, thanks again for this lovely positive post. It's so nice to hear that there are others who are as
happy as we are.

Barb., we too are on our 6th year, and haven't regretted our move for a nano second.

Sylve, I feel sad for you, it's such a shame things haven't worked out for you.

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Fri 19 Apr 2013 7:28 am

Sylv - Having re-read the comments, I dont believe everyone is being nasty. It is clear from the thread that the majority are happy with their lot in the TRNC and make the most of every day - laying by pools and hanging around in bars I would suggest is not really what most people who have posted do all the time. Cally has apologised for the comment made - most likely in haste and also as a bit of a joke - but I do agree it was not necessary.

You are entitled to your personal view and that should be respected. There are a couple of others who also share your sentiments, each to their own and as many have said we hope that wherever you decide to settle things will work out for the better.

The TRNC is by no means perfect and I have to say that when people are considering a holiday or visit to N Cyprus and ask our opinion we are careful about what we say.....we love the place so are very biased. We can look beyond the scruffiness, some litter, uncompleted buildings, dogs roaming, cats etc etc as we know the place has many more positives than negatives - but for some this would be unacceptable. Living in the TRNC is different again to a holiday and whilst a short holiday may seem like paradise taking the plunge to live in the TRNC is a big step and brings with it a lot of bureaucratic frustration. Even doing a lot of pre research may not prepare everyone for life in what is to all intents and purposes an unrecognised state and sometimes things just do not work out. When this happens and the enjoyment of living in the sunshine has gone then its time to bite the bullet and take action - you are doing that so good luck!

In the meantime on the other side of the coin as they say we are looking forward to our next trip out at the end of May.

carolhm · Post by **carolhm** » Fri 19 Apr 2013 9:09 am

Do you know another good thing about living here ?

At just a touch of a few keys on the pc and you got loads of people to talk to

Thanks for that Soner , its very much appreciated , no need for any one to feel lonely here

sylv · Post by **sylv** » Fri 19 Apr 2013 11:08 am

Thank you for the apology Cath. Yes we had hoped that when we came 4 years ago, we would see out our days here. However, it was not to be and I guess one has to go where happiness and feeling settled is paramount especially as we get older. I think holidays in a place are one thing but experiencing day to day living is often something completely different!

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