Trip down south

'Bite' the donkey. Yeah right, he don't bite but can give you a painfull nip!

My Godson doing his Doctor Doolitle bit

A view over the roof-tops of Paphos

Early morning view through my Godson's living room window

Me pretending to be at the helm

Lezline posing with me. She's brave letting me spoil her image

Now that I’ve re-registered my beloved Transit to North Cyprus plates, I thought it was time I tried to take her over the border to South Cyprus and collect the stuff I couldn’t get in the van and had shipped over. I was given to understand that as long as the Greek border officials only looked at my photo detail page and didn’t turn the page over and see the (Not recognised by the south) Kyrenia entrance stamp, I stood a chance of making it across. Well, they didn’t and I sailed through after paying thirty Euros’ for insurance. Mind you, I was told to get the hole in my driver’s seat and a minor engine oil leak fixed. (When a vehicle first goes over to the South a bod gives it an ‘M.O.T.’ of sorts) Ever so slightly relieved at how relatively easy it was slipping over the border, I headed off down the motor-way to Paphos to the shipping office and then to meet up with my Godson: happy as a ‘pig in shit.’ I was given the required documentation needed to get my stuff to North Cyprus and arranged to pick up my stuff from the storage facility the following morning.

My Godson works part time at an animal rescue centre of an evening and I went along with him for his four hour shift. It was very sad to see all the wonderful well cared for animals at the centre. I was introduced to a donkey called bite, who I was assured didn’t. He followed us around the site as we did an inspection and hardly left our side. A little while later while I was paying too much attention to another animal, it crept up and nipped me on the arm!

The following morning, after picking up my stuff from the storage facility, my Godson had arranged for us to pop in to see a good friend of his. Lezline is a DJ at Rock FM of Paphos. She introduced me as the ‘Godfather’ and we had a little chat on air. After her show all three of us went to visit my Godson’s parents (Lezline was given away at her wedding by my Godsons father and calls him Dad) and went out for lunch. When we got back it was time for my Godson’s shift at the animal rescue centre and Lezline and I went off for a few drinks and a game of pool (I won’t say who didn’t get to pot a ball in case I embarrass her!)

The consumate professional

I only asked for a cup of tea!

The following morning I headed north (After a hearty breakfast) to Nicosia, feeling very apprehensive about getting through customs with my belongings. Well, I needn’t have worried as after a cursory glance in the back of the van, the custom’s man looked through the paper-work and waved me through!