Sport Relief

Last Sunday Akrotiri had it's Sport Relief runs of 1 mile, 3 miles and 6 miles. Not being a runner but being a big charity supporter I was going to do the 1 mile run until I saw that it was the childs one. Instead I decided to help out and was a marshall instead making sure all the runners went in the right direction.

The morning was a huge success with a big turn out and fabulous weather. My friend Will won the 6 mile run and my friend Kate was the second girl to finish the 6 miles, so big well done to both of them.

Crazy Cat Lady of Kolossi

Last year when I arrived in Cyprus and I wanted to help with the dreadful animal situation I decided to take in and rehome kittens (as well as my own from Ally who had not been neutered after all). At one point I had 13 cats in my house and in total 17 cats have been found homes by me. After a year and after the sad loss of Binx I now have 2 cats, mom Ally and son Presley. Ally is approx 2 years old and came to me after a guy who took her from a sanctuary got short toured and had to leave the island. He didn't have time to get her Pet Passport done and at the same time I was looking for a cat. I had always wanted a grey cat and here is Ally when she first came to me a year ago. She was called Neko (Japanese word for cat) which I didn't like so I changed it, I was watching Ally McBeal when she arrived and it suited her. It turned out Ally was pregnant and 5 weeks after she arrived so did 3 babies. She loved being a mommy so much that 5 weeks later she got pregnant again and had another 5 kittens, including Binx. Ally is now neutered. She is a very affectionate cat who loves nothing more than to eat and to curl up on my lap and have her tummy rubbed. She used to be a bit of a wanderer but since the death of Binx she has barely left my side and stays very close to the house. She is very friendly and will go up to anyone, she is known for sitting on the terrace wall greeting any visitors to the apartment block, she is even friendly with next doors dog. Ally was quite skinny when I got her but now after 8 children and being spayed she is a proper chunkster.

Presley is, as you can see, the most beautiful cat in the world and is 1 year old this week. From the day he was born I could see he was going to be stunning, although I wasn't going to keep him, I was going to keep his sister, who is now with a friend (who also had 2 from Binx's litter) and is called Ella. Presley, after Elvis Presley of course, is shy and reserved with people he doesn't know but loves to play and run around like a lunatic. Since Binx's departure Presley has decided that there is not enough naughtiness in the house and now has a few tricks in his fur. He can now open the cupboards and wardrobes and every day I come home to find a different door open, and sometimes clothes on the floor. And the other day he went out for his usual ramble and came back covered in red dust, I had to use my cleansing wipes on him. He also likes to sit on my dressing table amongst my girl things.

Presley and Ally adore each other and Ally is still very much the mother and still washes him and cleans his ears out. They play together with toy mice for hours and if Presley catches an insect outside he will bring it in for the them to play with/torture it together. I often find bits of grasshoppers on the floor.

I don't care if people call me Crazy Cat Lady of Kolossi for the rest of my tour here, I adore my pets and wouldn't be without them, they will be coming with me when I leave.

2010 Reading List

I recently asked my friends on facebook what books they recommend to help me get a reading list together for 2010. As suspected a number of the suggested authors and books were ones I have already read and loved; Wuthering Heights, The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, The Time Travellers Wife, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Janet Evanovich, Sophie Kinsella and my favourite 'chick lit' author Marian Keyes. But there were many more suggestions of books and authors I haven't heard of or haven't read.

• My old school friend Sarah - Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins
• Cyprus friend Clare - Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein and Life of Pi by Yann Martel which I have tried to read before but couldn't get into
• Cyprus friend Kate - Ghostwritten by David Mitchell and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni (that and Kite Runner have been on my reading list for ages now)
• Raleigh/Borneo friend, and fellow Marian Keyes fan, Sarah - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Lucia Graves, The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld and anything by Agatha Christie
• Another Raleigh/Borneo friend Dee gave me a list of authors - Simon Kernick, Rachel Hore, Nicci French and Mark Hill
• Cyprus friend Tamaryn - Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris, Good Omens by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman, Life's Too Short to Frost a Cupcake by Rosie Wilde which I like the title of very much, and anything by author Carl Hiassen
• Cyprus friend Abi -Olivia Joules and the Over Active Imagination by Helen Fielding and PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern which are both actually in my book pile
• My Dad is a big reader and on my last visit home he gave me the triology by Stieg Larsson - The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest

These are now all in my Amazon wish list but I will get what I can from the library in Akrotiri. I haven't looked what they are about so will just get them and be surprised. When I was fundraising for my trip to Borneo I held a book sale, people from work loved a good cause and generously donated their unwanted books by the box full. After the sale there was quite a lot left so I bought quite a few myself knowing I was coming to Cyprus and imagining afternoons spent reading on the beach soaking up the sun. Consquently I now have a huge pile, well 2 piles, of books that I haven't yet read, including His Dark Materials Triology by Philip Pullman and The Duchess by Amanda Foreman.

As for my recommends - Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes, The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas, The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, anything by Ben Elton and the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella

Murder at the Juice Joint

Last Friday after a few months of planning it was my Murder Mystery night set in a Chicago Speakeasy in the 1920s and as you can see by the pics it was amazing. The 20s have been my favourite decade since reading The Great Gatsby when I was a teenager and then at uni I got to study it as part of American history. I just love the glamour, the drama, the decadence, the whole feel of it and was unbelievably excited to finally be able to wear strong make-up and go out in a feather boa and headband. Jim and Clare Mansell were in attendance, Clare's blog can be found at http://mansellcyprus.blogspot.com

There were 73 guests and all bar one dressed up for the occasion and everyone looked amazing. I was so impressed with the effort they made and was considering asking Amazon for a commission for the money they must have made. I was also impressed with how much everyone got into character, people were shouting and fighting and flirting and a handful even did an American accent.

Notorious Nick, a mob boss was murdered by the Police Chief but only 2 people (not including the Police Chief) solved the murder. One because she thought it would be the police and there were only 2 characters so she guessed and the other one because he bribed me with alcohol and I gave him a clue, only a clue, not the answer. I also gave this clue to the guy playing the PI but he dismissed it saying it couldn't be him as the murderer is a girl. And this guy is a real life policeman!!!!!

An amazing night was had by all and I am very touched by the texts, facebook messages, emails, phone calls and notes to say thanks. I have organised a lot of events in the past but never has one felt more appreciated. The problem is now that people keep asking when I'm doing the next one and it's even been suggested that I join the Mess committee - yikes that wasn't the plan I just wanted to wear a feather boa and walk round with a gun and cigarette holder.

Multi up-date

Lent - been very good, as I am doing 3 things I am allowing myself 2 packs of crisps a week but no chocolate and no diet coke. Have only had one Lucozade and that was hangover driven. 10 points so far. Childhood books - Have re-read Danny Champion of the World which I just love and never get bored of reading it. Am now on Little Women. Trialthlon - after tonsilitis, virus, migraine and medication issues triathlon training is resumed, went to swimming club last week and going again tomorrow and hopefully at the weekend will add the running and cycling, am aiming to do my first triathlon end of May.