Chic, Hot and Here!

Venetian masks brought to life on this constantly changing website…

Keep an eye on the subtle background style modifications as the owner tweaks the changes according to their mood.

It’s one of the best looking websites I’ve seen for a long time and I’ve been familiar with it for many years now but the more recent updates in the logo/header area have grabbed my attention to the point where I just had to share it with you….

So, if you’re planning an event or need a sexy disguise – Cinders, you shall go to the ball!

Take a peep right now at Simply Masquerade and I bet you will agree – it’s absolutely fabulous

Simply Masquerade – mask boutique.

Simply Masquerade is based in Cheshire, United Kingdom  and will also dispatch their wares throughout Europe and WorldWide destinations.

No need to hang around – get shopping!

It’s one my “Websites I Love”

 

The Hotel of Kings, Prodromos, Cyprus. What happened?

We’ve heard about it and seen photos but on Friday 3 May 2013 we finally made our way to the derelict Berengaria Hotel to take a look for ourselves.

What a sorry picture it all painted…. Here’s how it used to look:

Berengaria Hotel from the outside

An original postcard

We crossed through Troodos Square and took the road which winds down and behind the road which leads to the Cyprus Ski Club and the “golf balls” on top of Mount Olympus. So in effect, we were heading down the winding road towards Prodromos village.

Prodromos Village

Our vision of the Berengaria Hotel or Veregarria/Βερεγγαρια as we’ve also seen it written shows it perched high and imposing on the mountainside so we were confused for a while as we could see absolutely no sign of it – until, we hit the mini-roundabout by a small restaurant and there it was slightly elevated in front of us. Nowhere near as dramatic as we expected but still unmistakeably the Berengaria Hotel we recognised from photographs.

This is the reality:

Graffiti at the Berengaria Hotel

Inside the Berengaria Hotel

Inside the Berengaria Hotel

Upstairs at the Berengaria Hotel

Front of the Berengaria Hotel

Grand staircase at the Berengaria Hotel

Poolside at the Berengaria Hotel

Window to the world at the Berengaria Hotel

So, just what is the story behind the hotel and its’ past? I wish we knew! There are all kinds of tales that have come out of the woodwork from it belonging to a wealthy man whose son hung himself in front of guests at the hotel to the wealthy owner dying and leaving it to continue to be run by his 3 sons. Of course we all knew how that would turn out…. the 3 sons all disagreed and cursed by their father, all had a mysterious death. Either way, there are claims the building is haunted by either the dead son or the old man in grief of his beloved home being destroyed.

It was apparently so grand it was referred to as “The Hotel of Kings”. If only they knew…..

More photos of the Berengaria Hotel can be found on my Flickr account:

Berengaria Hotel photos on Flickr

Below is a short “then and now” photo video I found on YouTube (uploaded in 2011).

It’s 91 days since…..

my husband Clem had his last cigarette!

It was very difficult in the beginning – and not only for him. It was a nightmare for me too and he drove me quite mad on a number of occasions.

And I know to me it seems we’re now over the worst – but there are still times when he’s in the middle of doing something that he will suddenly have “a moment” when it hits him that at this specific time while doing a particular task, he should really be having a cigarette…

Apparently, it completely floors him for some considerable time.

But, gone are the times when we’re all woken up in the middle of the night because he has to get out of bed and have a smoke at the back door. What’s even better is there’s none of those really annoying little coughs he used to do while having each cigarette.

The best part of the stopping smoking for me?
When he brings me a glass of something cold after I’ve returned home from work at the end of the day – my glass doesn’t taste or smell of cigarettes where he’s handled it.

He says he’s found the Why Quit website to be of great help although many years later some of the members there still have withdrawal symptoms.

Remember though, at the end of the day stopping smoking has to all be down to the smoker and not the passive smoker who lives with them… If the smoker doesn’t want to quit well, it just isn’t going to happen. Nagging them into trying isn’t going to help.

WhyQuit – Nicotine Withdrawal Cycle

After more than 30 years of smoking let’s hope the last 3 months have been worth it and this direction will continue.

The drawback?
Hmmmm, he seems to have taken up with the nibbles but does say he can taste his food so much more and never knew carrots could taste so good!

My very first fruit smoothie

“Michele in the Kitchen” – make the most of it, it doesn’t happen often….

But today, as I had some bananas starting to go a bit soft and lots of strawberries, I did a Google search for “how to make a smoothie?”
Obviously it was very easy – because here is it is!

My very first home made fruit smoothie.

My very first fruit smoothie – not only the first I’ve ever tasted but also the first I’ve ever made too!

And, very nice it is….. I have enough for 2 big Bacardi glasses for me plus 2 small glasses. Even the dogs got a taste

I’ve already had one big glass while Clement, my other half had a small glass. Clem is the one who does spend time in the kitchen….

I’m saving a small glass for later and will have the other big glass for breakfast before I head off for work tomorrow.

Maybe I will have to start looking out for some smoothie recipes now? Clement just suggested trying to make my favourite Lemon Cheesecake recipe into a smoothie. Is that possible?

Woo Hoo! It looks like it is….. don’t you just love Google for finding information!

Check out these cheesecake smoothie recipes from “Yummly”

A sample of Clement’s home cooking here below: Calamari rings on a bed of basmati rice with a cherry tomato salad.

Clem’s Calamari Salad