Ready to go.

This old Renault 4 was our transport to the airport. It came with the villa when Mr A bought it last year. It has no rear seat belts so during our visit we did not venture too far into the steep mountain area.

It makes me think of the Sgt Pepper lyrics, "20 years ago today" (I don't know how to do the link) but in fact it was 43 years ago when we bought the same model, fourth or fifth hand, when we lived in Cyprus. Our little baby daughter lay in her pram top in the back seat till she could sit up and graduate to a car seat - quite an innovation then. We had the car for 3 years till we returned to UK and of course, during those years we travelled all over the island.

Ten days after we left, the island was invaded and north and south separated. The south, the Greek part, became a commercial tourist destination and got completely built up with villas and hotel complexes. When we finally returned three years ago to visit friends, we found the Russians and Chinese were finding it a great place to invest in holiday properties.

Our return to Cyprus after so many years was a hard step to take. Our daughter, the baby when we lived there, and who had grown into a beautiful, feisty and high-principled young woman, had died of cancer after many years of disability which she bore with humour and fortitude. Being in this car again brought with it many mixed emotions.



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