North Cyprus Information for Travellers, Visitors and Residents
The Island of Cyprus
Located at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, Cyprus is a fascinating island steeped in thousands of years of history and culture. For those seeking North Cyprus information, the region offers a captivating blend of Mediterranean charm and Middle Eastern heritage, creating a unique atmosphere that delights every traveller.
Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean and sits just 40 miles south of Turkey. What makes it truly unique is its political and cultural division. Since the 1970s, the island has been divided into two parts: Southern Cyprus, governed by the Greek Cypriot administration, and Northern Cyprus, home to the Turkish Cypriot community.
While Southern Cyprus is internationally recognized, Northern Cyprus (officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) operates with its own government and identity. Despite this division, visitors can easily explore both regions, often crossing the border with ease.
North Cyprus Travel Information
For travellers looking for North Cyprus travel information, getting there is relatively straightforward. Ercan International Airport, located in Northern Cyprus, is accessible from the UK with a short layover in Turkey. Total travel time is around six hours from most London or Manchester airports.
Alternatively, visitors can fly directly into Larnaca Airport in Southern Cyprus. From there, it's just a one-hour taxi transfer across the border into North Cyprus. Flight times are slightly shorter—about four and a half hours nonstop.
Flights are most frequent during the summer months, with multiple options from major UK airports. Ticket prices vary depending on the season and demand, so early booking is recommended for the best deals.
Why Visit North Cyprus ?
Whether you're drawn by ancient ruins, stunning beaches, or the peaceful countryside, North Cyprus offers an unforgettable experience. Its rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty makes it a must-visit destination for travelers in search of something different.
For more North Cyprus information, travel tips, and guides on where to stay and what to see, explore our other pages designed to help you plan the perfect Mediterranean getaway.
Many readers may already know that we are in the internet business in North Cyprus and have been for the last 20+ years. Certainly, anyone who has searched on Facebook for internet in North Cyprus will have seen Gwyn's name mentioned along with recommendations for the excellent customer service that she provides to hundreds of British Expatriate internet users.
Internet provision is not the main focus of this web site, but it does contain internet related information. Our main internet web site can be found at North Cyprus Internet Here we publish information about anything else to do with North Cyprus along with interesting background information about us.
An enjoyably good read. Stephen.
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Posted: 7th October 2024
In the beginning...
At the beginning of 2003, we looked at the finances of our business in the UK and...
...it didn't take long for us to realise that we were working six days a week to cover our overheads and financial committments to the UK Government (Tax, VAT, N.I. etc.) and one day a week for 'us'.
We asked ourselves whether working so hard for such a small percentage of the revenue was fair and justifiable and we decided that it wasn't and wondered whether we could find a way to live a less stressful and more wholesome life
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I am going to write in greater detail about what we were doing and what happened in the twenty odd years leading up to 2003BC ("Before Cyprus") but not yet. This is just an introduction to explain why in 2003, we ended up "Lock, Stock and Barrel" in Cyprus.
Living in Blackpool, as we did, our seasonal business relied heavily upon the passing trade that we received from Holidaymakers and Day Trippers. By 2003 however, there weren't so many holidaymakers unfortunately and Blackpool was failing as a "Holiday Resort". The vast majority of the "Family" Holidaymakers were going on cheap package holidays to foreign countries where they were guaranteed 'good' weather and plenty of sun. Unhappy with the hordes of weekend party revellers from the "Booze Buses", most of those who weren't going abroad, had stopped visiting Blackpool altogether. The groups of scantily-clad girls ("Hen Parties) and randy boys (Bachelor Parties) who disembarked into Blackpool's Central Car Park each weekend, didn't mix well with Family Holidaymakers.
We were in the Mobile Phone Business, but our large shop, which was just a hundred metres away from Blackpool Tower, also sold Watches, Lighters, Sticks of Rock, Kiss me Quick Hats and many other items, more commonly known in the trade, as "Swag".
Every business owner suffers some sort of inconvenience and hassle. It's something that business owners learn to live with, coping with aggravation from groups of drunken party revellers and marauding shop lifting gangs however, without the support of the Police (under a certain value of stolen goods) is not something that everyone can handle and to some, this type of "aggravation" can be frightening, worrying and very upsetting.
That unfortunately, was Gwyn's perspective on our business and at 10pm one night, as I pulled the shutters down on our shop, Gwyn said: "That's it, I've had enough !" I could tell by the way that she said it, that she was quite serious. This came after a spate of violent encounters that I'd had with Shoplifters, Thieves and Drug Addicts. It was too much for Gwyn and by that time, she had seen enough !
Between 1985 and 2003, Gwyn and I had started and managed a number of businesses, but 'I' had been in one kind of business, or another, since 1978 and after twenty odd years, seven of which had been spent selling Mobile Phones and Accessories, I decided that Gwyn was right. It was time for a change. Not so much a "Lifestyle Reset" as I understand it is called now, more of a run and a jump with a forward flip into the unknown !
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21st October 2024
Should we leave the UK ?
No matter what set of circumstances you face in the UK, deciding to leave and live elsewhere is not something in my opinion, that you can easily do and certainly not in a single sitting.
There are so many things to consider and weigh against each other, that I don't think you can ever be certain that it is the right thing for 'you' to do and for some people who do decide to leave, it turns out to be, unfortunately for them, the wrong decision.
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The fear of making the wrong decision and the consequences if you do, is what makes it such a difficult decision to make.
Identifying each advantage and disadvantage is not easy, keeping a record even harder and weighing them all against each other is so complex that I don't think 'Ai' can even help in the process.
Trying to take so many different factors into account is probably impossible and that is why I describe the process as 'organic'.
In fact, I don't think that you ever make an actual decision, you just embark on a process that begins with the seed of an idea which over time, as you think about it, grows into a tree of many branches, each one representing a single factor.
I could be scientific and list a number of factors that need to be considered during the decision making process, but there are too many and I am too long in the tooth to be bothered, in any event, everyone faces a different set of circumstances (which is exactly where this 'ramble' began). I suppose that what I am saying is that no two people are the same and that every set of circumstances is different.
It is not a decision that you can make with a degree of certainty, it is more of a feeling, or an intuition. So, let's leave it like this...
...release yourself from the obligation of making a decision. Plant the seed and watch it grow and if and when you feel that it is the right thing for 'you' to do, trust your intuition and go for it !
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26th October 2024
Why Cyprus ?
Our business was busy during the Summer holiday season and quiet by comparison during the Winter months.
We had no other option therefore, other than to take our annual holiday during what was aptly named the "Kipper" season (January to March).
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Finding a 'good weather' destination during the Winter is not easy, especially when yours truly doesn't like, in fact, is terrified of flying.
The Canary Islands and Florida were the destinations of choice, but the ten hour flight to Florida was off-putting. Nevertheless, with the help of Diazepam, I got on the plane and we holidayed there three times.
In the holiday season, our shop stayed open late, especially during the illuminations when we closed between 8pm and 10pm and after a hard day's work, it was either a microwaved Marks and Spencer meal when we got home, or a meal at our favourite Greek restaurant which conveniently, was just a short walk away from our shop and tempted us every evening. We dined there at least twice a week, sometimes three, or even four times.
We knew the owners (well, we would, wouldn't we) and on each visit, after eating, we usually joined the owner (Giggi) for a drink at the bar and it was during one of the conversations that we had, that we talked about holidays and Giggi explained that his Cousin owned a travel agency in Cyprus. We didn't know it at the time, but Giggi is Greek Cypriot.
Over the next few weeks, we had several conversations about Cyprus and eventually, we decided to book a holiday in Cyprus through Giggi's Cousin's travel agency.
Our first holiday in Cyprus was spent at the five star Coral Beach Hotel and Resort in Paphos.
That's where this story should end because I have given some context and answered the question "Why Cyprus ?"
Nevertheless, I will continue because our first visit to Cyprus didn't start so well.
We arrived at the resort late in the evening and queued with many other people at Reception. When it was our turn, we gave our name to the Receptionist and they said that they didn't have a booking for us. I telephoned Giggi and explained. Within a couple of minutes, Giggi's Cousin contacted them and we were given the VIP treatment in fact, for the first night, they gave us the President's suite which was very nice. The next day, we were given a choice between several luxurious suites and decided to take one with a sea view and a patio door opening onto the garden. Everyday, they put fresh flowers, fruit and a bottle of wine into our room. So, it's not what you know, it's.............
To finish this story, let me tell you that whilst we were in Cyprus, we visited Giggi's village and his family home which was standing empty. I went into the back garden and picked some oranges from one of the trees. We refrigerated them and returned with them to the UK. The day we returned, we visited Giggi's restaurant and he was reduced to tears when we gave him the oranges from his family's garden.
What brought us to North Cyprus ? All will be explained in the next chapter.
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Posted: 9th October 2024
Pay as you Go Internet in North Cyprus
Make one call and we do it all ! Pay only for the time that you need an internet connection (from the date that you arrive in North Cyprus for a minimum of one month)
Contact Gwyn and she will switch on your internet to coincide with your arrival.
We are an internet service provider who is 'focused' on customer service. We are available seven days a week, fourteen hours a day. You can contact us directly on our local telephone numbers.
You can speak to us, or message Gwyn on WhatsApp 0533 869 4371
Our dedicated, point to point wireless connections to our base station (using two antennas) provide the strongest, most stable wireless radio signal, minimizing radio frequency issues and interference and maximizing internet speed and bandwidth throughput rates.
Connection Prices for Home Users
Business owners, work from home residents and power users can choose one of our dedicated, symmetrical internet connections which have upload and download bandwidth in equal amounts - perfect for Zoom calls and Microsoft Teams etc.
Business User Connection Prices
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Then there is our seven day (x 14 hours) customer support which guarantees (if and when you experience a problem) that you will always be able to contact us.
More often than not, the problem can be diagnosed and solved during the call, but if it can't and a service call is required, we make the necessary arrangements for a team of engineers to call at your home to fix the issue.
Our Standard Customer Service Plan is free. Here is what we provide...
1. Pre-sale help and advice. Various types of internet connection are available. To make sure that we have all the information that we need to properly advise you, we ask a lot of questions on first contact. We explain and discuss your options, so should you decide to use our service, you are happy with the outcome. Questions like :-
(i) Where do you live ? Some areas are difficult to get a good internet service with 'standard' equipment. If this is the case, we will tell you about the options that are available to you.
(ii) What type of property is it ? More than one wireless router may be needed to fully distribute internet through the property and garden area. Some apartment blocks are tied into contracts with a particular ISP forcing occupants to share an internet connection. With the appropriate information, we can best advise you.
(iii) Are you a holiday home owner staying temporarily, or do you live here permanently ? Do you need a pay as you go subscription, or an annual contract ? We discuss and present the least cost option to suit your circumstances.
(iv) Do you use an IPTV television service ? You may need the internet connection and wireless router to be installed by the TV (this positioning may mean that a single device cannot distribute a full wireless signal throughout the rest of the house).
(v) Is the internet connection going to be used by more than two users simultaneously, for different purposes ? You may need two, or more wireless routers installed and may also need a bandwidth management solution.
(vi) Usage - Business and/or Distant Working (Video calls - Zoom, VPN etc.) - IPTV - General Internet (Surfing, Social Media, Emails etc.) - Connecting and monitoring security cameras. We discuss and make recommendations.
2. Having determined your exact requirements, we complete and submit your order, arrange an installation date and time and liaise with you throughout.
3. Call, or message us to report any future technical problems. We check the system, liaise with the ISP, seek a resolution and if required, arrange a service call.
4. We check and sort out account issues.
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North Cyprus Information
Posted: 7th October 2024
In the beginning...
At the beginning of 2003, we looked at the finances of our business in the UK and...
...it didn't take long for us to realise that we were working six days a week to cover our overheads and financial committments to the UK Government (Tax, VAT, N.I. etc.) and one day a week for 'us'.
We asked ourselves whether working so hard for such a small percentage of the revenue was fair and justifiable and we decided that it wasn't and wondered whether we could find a way to live a less stressful and more wholesome life ?
Read more
I am going to write in greater detail about what we were doing and what happened in the twenty odd years leading up to 2003BC ("Before Cyprus") but not yet. This is just an introduction to explain why in 2003, we ended up "Lock, Stock and Barrel" in Cyprus.
Living in Blackpool, as we did, our seasonal business relied heavily upon the passing trade that we received from Holidaymakers and Day Trippers. By 2003 however, there weren't so many holidaymakers unfortunately and Blackpool was failing as a "Holiday Resort". The vast majority of the "Family" Holidaymakers were going on cheap package holidays to foreign countries where they were guaranteed 'good' weather and plenty of sun. Unhappy with the hordes of weekend party revellers from the "Booze Buses", most of those who weren't going abroad, had stopped visiting Blackpool altogether. The groups of scantily-clad girls ("Hen Parties) and randy boys (Bachelor Parties) who disembarked into Blackpool's Central Car Park each weekend, didn't mix well with Family Holidaymakers.
We were in the Mobile Phone Business, but our large shop, which was just a hundred metres away from Blackpool Tower, also sold Watches, Lighters, Sticks of Rock, Kiss me Quick Hats and many other items, more commonly known in the trade, as "Swag".
Every business owner suffers some sort of inconvenience and hassle. It's something that business owners learn to live with, coping with aggravation from groups of drunken party revellers and marauding shop lifting gangs however, without the support of the Police (under a certain value of stolen goods) is not something that everyone can handle and to some, this type of "aggravation" can be frightening, worrying and very upsetting.
That unfortunately, was Gwyn's perspective on our business and at 10pm one night, as I pulled the shutters down on our shop, Gwyn said: "That's it, I've had enough !" I could tell by the way that she said it, that she was quite serious. This came after a spate of violent encounters that I'd had with Shoplifters, Thieves and Drug Addicts. It was too much for Gwyn and by that time, she had seen enough !
Between 1985 and 2003, Gwyn and I had started and managed a number of businesses, but 'I' had been in one kind of business, or another, since 1978 and after twenty odd years, seven of which had been spent selling Mobile Phones and Accessories, I decided that Gwyn was right. It was time for a change. Not so much a "Lifestyle Reset" as I understand it is called now, more of a run and a jump with a forward flip into the unknown !
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21st October 2024
Should we leave the UK ?
No matter what set of circumstances you face in the UK, deciding to leave and live elsewhere is not something in my opinion, that you can easily do and certainly not in a single sitting.
There are so many things to consider and weigh against each other, that I don't think you can ever be certain that it is the right thing for 'you' to do and for some people who do decide to leave, unfortunately for them, it turns out to be the wrong decision.
Read more
The fear of making the wrong decision and the consequences if you do, is what makes it such a difficult decision to make.
Identifying each advantage and disadvantage is not easy, keeping a record even harder and weighing them all against each other is so complex that I don't think 'Ai' can even help in the process.
Trying to take so many different factors into account is probably impossible and that is why I describe the process as 'organic'.
In fact, I don't think that you ever make an actual decision, you just embark on a process that begins with the seed of an idea which over time, as you think about it, grows into a tree of many branches, each one representing a single factor.
I could be scientific and list a number of factors that need to be considered during the decision making process, but there are too many and I am too long in the tooth to be bothered, in any event, everyone faces a different set of circumstances (which is exactly where this 'ramble' began). I suppose that what I am saying is that no two people are the same and that every set of circumstances is different.
It is not a decision that you can make with a degree of certainty, it is more of a feeling, or an intuition. So, let's leave it like this...
...release yourself from the obligation of making a decision. Plant the seed and watch it grow and if and when you feel that it is the right thing for 'you' to do, trust your intuition and go for it !
Leave your comment
26th October 2024
Why Cyprus ?
Our business was busy during the Summer holiday season and quiet by comparison during the Winter months.
We had no other option therefore, other than to take our annual holiday during what was aptly named the "Kipper" season (January to March).
Read more
Finding a 'good weather' destination during the Winter is not easy, especially when yours truly doesn't like, in fact, is terrified of flying.
The Canary Islands and Florida were the destinations of choice, but the ten hour flight to Florida was off-putting. Nevertheless, with the help of Diazepam, I got on the plane and we holidayed there three times.
In the holiday season, our shop stayed open late, especially during the illuminations when we closed between 8pm and 10pm and after a hard day's work, it was either a microwaved Marks and Spencer meal when we got home, or a meal at our favourite Greek restaurant which conveniently, was just a short walk away from our shop and tempted us every evening. We dined there at least twice a week, sometimes three, or even four times.
We knew the owners (well, we would, wouldn't we) and on each visit, after eating, we usually joined the owner (Giggi) for a drink at the bar and it was during one of the conversations that we had, that we talked about holidays and Giggi explained that his Cousin owned a travel agency in Cyprus. We didn't know it at the time, but Giggi is Greek Cypriot.
Over the next few weeks, we had several conversations about Cyprus and eventually, we decided to book a holiday in Cyprus through Giggi's Cousin's travel agency.
Our first holiday in Cyprus was spent at the five star Coral Beach Hotel and Resort in Paphos.
That's where this story should end because I have given some context and answered the question "Why Cyprus ?"
Nevertheless, I will continue because our first visit to Cyprus didn't start so well.
We arrived at the resort late in the evening and queued with many other people at Reception. When it was our turn, we gave our name to the Receptionist and they said that they didn't have a booking for us. I telephoned Giggi and explained. Within a couple of minutes, Giggi's Cousin contacted them and we were given the VIP treatment in fact, for the first night, they gave us the President's suite which was very nice. The next day, we were given a choice between several luxurious suites and decided to take one with a sea view and a patio door opening onto the garden. Everyday, they put fresh flowers, fruit and a bottle of wine into our room. So, it's not what you know, it's.............
To finish this story, let me tell you that whilst we were in Cyprus, we visited Giggi's village and his family home which was standing empty. I went into the back garden and picked some oranges from one of the trees. We refrigerated them and returned with them to the UK. The day we returned, we visited Giggi's restaurant and he was reduced to tears when we gave him the oranges from his family's garden.
What brought us to North Cyprus ? All will be explained in the next chapter.
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28th October 2024
A holiday in Florida convinced us.
In 1990, we holidayed in Florida and part of our itinerary was to visit the Orange County boat show. We were avid water skiers and had a ski boat moored in the Lake District and this is why we had an interest in boats and boating in general.
Then, American built boats cost considerably less than their European counterparts, in fact, £100,000 bought a boat that the purchaser could comfortably live aboard and with internal waterways across the length and breadth of Florida, living aboard a boat whilst travelling around was an attractive proposition that we seriously considered.
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We also looked at property with a mooring. Living in a house with a boat at the bottom of the garden was something that Gwyn and I had discussed and dreamed about and suddenly, that dream was a reality.
The thing that scuppered our Floridian boat dream was the fact that the maximum that we could stay in America was 90 days. With a fear of flying, travelling to and from America was not something that I felt that I could do without suffering anxiety.
So, why is this relevant in a story about leaving the UK. Well, it's because looking at boats and houses in Florida led us to question whether we wanted to spend the rest of our lives in the UK, or whether perhaps, we should move away to live somewhere else. It was the seed of an idea that over the next thirteen years, grew into a tree of many branches, each one a problem to solve, or an objection to overcome. Over the next thirteen years, we focused our attention and waited for the opportunity to arise.
9th November 2024
Reply from : .....and Sally
Morning Paul and Gwyn
Oddly, Sally and I had a similar situation when the Financial Crash came in 2007 and our business suffered accordingly.
We had a narrowboat that used for holidays but to live on one permanently was a different matter, so that was eventually ruled out.
We considered buying a Wide Beam Boat but moorings, insurance and waterways licence overall costs were more than living on land.
So, as we had lived in Cyprus in 1974 for 9 months and in 1986 for 3 years we considered moving back but due to the South being a part of the EU this was discounted.
The North was more favourable at that time so in the April of 22 we came over on a recce and decided that if a move was to be done then the North was the preferred location for our retirement.
Little did we know of the eventual changes that were to pass in 2023 that would affect so many expats, but we are here and enjoying our preferred lifestyle.
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6th November 2024
In 2003, the opportunity to leave the UK did arise.
Just before Christmas 2002, whilst closing our shop one evening and following several violent incidents with shoplifters, thieves and drug addicts, Gwyn made it clear to me that she had seen enough and that she no longer wanted to continue.
She stayed at home over Christmas and whilst I was managing the shop without her, a conversation with a friend who called in to see me, started a sequence of events that led us to transfer our business to another person who I also knew and suddenly without fanfare, or celebration, we were free to do what we had decided to do 12 years earlier - to leave the UK. Before we could do this however, there were many things that we had to do and we didn't know it at the time, but there was also going to be a false start and an event that resulted in us changing our plans altogether.
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Daniel, our Son, attended a private, religious school which, if I remember correctly, only had a little over one hundred pupils. Daniel had been privately educated from the age of three. Anyway, in 2002, when the school that he attended closed for the Summer holidays, we received notice that it wasn't going to re-open ? That was it ! Daniel was 15 at the time and so during the Summer, we registered him on an adult course at the local technical college, but he didn't like it and didn't settle
We worked long hours, especially during the Summer months. Daniel had his own key to the house and when school was out, most of the time, he was left to his own devices. Working so many hours, Gwyn did the best that she could, but often, Daniel was asleep when we left for work and spent most of the day with his friends. They were all good lads and we had very little trouble, but most days, the first time that I saw Daniel was after work, late in the evening. I used to tell him that one day, we were going to take him on an adventure and that was one promise that eventually, we did keep.
The closure of Daniel's school and failure of the Technical College 'idea' meant that we were free to leave the UK, but this was just one of the Ducks that we had to get into a row. Daniel 'was' committed to his friends however, and he didn't want to leave them and was upset when he did.
I'm not sure that it was the right time for us to leave the UK, but then, I don't think that we could ever be absolutely sure about such a big, life changing decision. There's an element of risk involved that we could not avoid and looking back, we took a big step into the unknown. We did what we did and things haven't turned out 'too' badly.
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14th November 2024
On your Marks, Get Set, Stop ?
There's no doubt that we are all conditioned to work, to produce and to pay our taxes. To graft away whilst paying into a system that benefits some who are less fortunate (I don't mind that) and others who are less deserving (I do mind that). There are not enough people putting in and too many people taking out which is completely unfair (in my opinion). Too many people eating and drinking in the catering carriage of the gravy train (MPs, Government Ministers, Highly paid Civil Servants, the CEO's of big companies etc. etc.), too many people travelling on the gravy train using a free rail card (spongers who are gaming the system) and not enough grafters (tax payers) shovelling coal into the gravy train's engine. To throw my shovel away, jump down from the train and walk away was a relief. No more shovelling coal into the hot fire, ringing in sweat !
As I walked out of our shop for the last time, I remember thinking that this is how it must feel to be released from prison, like starting out with a completely clean slate. Being reborn. Walking out into a new world with countless/endless possibilities. A different part of my brain kicked into gear, free from the burden of running our business, I was suddenly able to use a completely different thought process. I was able to think about things in a totally different way.
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A computer analogy - my operating system had been updated with the latest software version and I wanted to explore all it's new features.
Euphoria (extreme happiness coupled with intense excitement) is not something that we feel everyday and it's probably better that we don't. If we did, it wouldn't be "euphoria". It's good while it lasts, but it doesn't last and the sooner we come back down to earth, the better, and hopefully, without a bump ! To leave the UK and move to Cyprus wasn't going to be easy. There was a lot to organise and many things to do. To make it happen, we needed to be resourceful and determined, but we were 'well' up for the challenge and both of us knuckled down and got on with the job.
Where to start ? Well to begin with, we must visit Cyprus to do some research with a view to finding somewhere to live and purchasing a property. Don't forget, this was more than twenty years ago and there wasn't as much information on the internet as there is today. We did do some online research, but we felt that we needed to get the full story straight from the horse's mouth - a local and trusted Estate Agent (I know, what ?) Anyway, that was the plan at least.
We booked our airline tickets and a Hotel in Paphos, locked up the house and before we knew it, we were in Cyprus, visiting Estate Agents, trudging around properties during the day and out for a meal and drinks in the local Restaurants and Bars in the evenings. It was exhausting ! I don't know where we picked up the most helpful information, probably in the Bars and Restaurants. What I do remember though, is that as soon as we mentioned that we were looking to buy a property, every bar owner and waiter had a cousin who could help us !
With a bit of time off for good behaviour, we looked around for two weeks. We looked here, there and everywhere, but we kept returning to a bungalow that we had been shown in Tarla. A bungalow which the Estate Agent said "is nearly finished" which meant that the bags of cement had been delivered and the builder was out looking for some sand. Thank goodness that it wasn't because it was a nice area and if it had been "nearly finished", I think that we would have said "yes" and paid a deposit, but as it was in the very early stages of the build process, we didn't feel a sense of urgency and carried on looking round at different properties.
When the two weeks was up, or just before, we decided to extend our stay a further two weeks and had to reorganise our return flights. We visited a Travel Agents to arrange this and as we left, new tickets in hand (so to speak), my mobile telephone rang. It was a UK number, a number that I recognised as being a friend and business associate's. I answered and it was Mary (my friend's wife) who told me that Bernard had suffered a stroke and that he was in hospital and wasn't well at all. She asked me to return to the UK to help to sort out Bernard's business affairs. Bernard's business was big and multi faceted and it wasn't going to be easy, but they had been good friends to us for many years and so I agreed without hesitation.