Saturday, August 02, 2025

Mandela and Octopus

The weekend begin with  Mandy packing her tote bag, slapped on the factor 50, and headed off to the sun-drenched Cypriot village of Peyia.


Mandy enrolled in a Mandala Dotting Course. And no, that’s not some trendy dance move or yoga thing. It’s proper mindful business involving paint, patience, and an eye for symmetry.

Held in a shady little garden,  the course was run by Ren, who taught the ladies how to dot on ceramic tiles.

Saturday afternoon saw us drive over to Kyrenia beach restaurant for lunch. As we hit the coast line we could see the kite surfers riding the waves with their colourful sails above,
it could’ve been painted. It was the perfect backdrop as we settled down at our table.

As always, we were greeted with the warmest of welcomes — smiles and a little wink from the waiter who remembers Mandy’s order better than she does. It’s that kind of place.

Rob, being the braver soul, went for the grilled octopus. Tender, smoky, and beautifully charred on the edges. Served with a squeeze of lemon and a chilled glass of white, it was the standout dish of the day.