It’s started…I just saw a photo of the first Christmas tree that’s gone up in Nottingham. Oh dear, and even worse we are beginning to choose and practice Christmas songs in the Military Wives Choir http://www.militarywiveschoirs.org/ – whatever next? I’m not really complaining though because I’m very used to talking about Christmas in September or even July, which is exactly what Churchads.net does each year, trying to help churches engage with free advertising campaigns. This time around they have some interesting posters as part of the established ‘Christmas Starts with Christ’ campaign, which aims to save Christmas from becoming just another secular festival – do check out the posters on http://christmasstartswithchrist.com/ and tell me what you think.
I’m not really thinking Christmas though because it’s not the right weather yet. We’re having blustery days and what Cyprus calls ‘storms’. This seems to involve lots of wind, some clouds, and a few big drops of rain, that never really become anything. It’s hot and sunny, so I’m still waiting for what we call rain and locals have promised it will come….but not for a few weeks probably.
In the meantime I’ve been finding out about wild life on the island ( No, I don’t mean Aya Napa). A trip across the border took us to some amazing ‘umbrellaless’ beaches of golden sand where the only competition for space to lay out the beach mats were wild donkeys! Yes, we’ve been having a lovely time with Eeyore and all his family. The donkeys were amazingly tame and very happy for us to stroke them, coming right out into the road and getting cars to stop, so that people could pat or feed them through the window. One little herd (google says they can also be referred to as a drove or pace) came and grazed on grass in the sand dunes by the beach. We even had our own donkey who called round each morning and evening at the beach hut we stayed in overnight. He particularly enjoyed cheese rolls, but not sure if he should have had them. We all thought he looked thin and in need of building up.

The only problem we faced were the ‘donkey terrorists’. I didn’t realise they existed until one evening we were driving through a very donkeyfied area of wild country and spotted a red van stopped on the road ahead with some blokes shouting and waving their hands at a donkey, as we approached we realised with horror they were trying to scare it and get it to make a noise and they even picked up stones to throw as it trotted away into the bushes. Words of disapproval were spoken from the car and we drove on – the offenders were fairly large as it happened. Later they passed us and hooted and jeered. Disgusted and somewhat outraged by their behaviour on behalf of the very gentle wild donkeys of Cyprus, we all wondered what should be done. Various sticky ends were contemplated some which involved clearing their vehicle from the road and others wanted some unmentionable ‘army-type’ solutions. Unfortunately, none of us were quick thinking enough to take down their registration and report them to the police or possibly give their position to the Typhoon pilots currently training out here.