Glad you’re sorting it out, Mike. Hope you’re cold/cough goes soon too.

Bargins on Eby

"New scientist magazine 109 copy's to go to a good home from 2001-2002

Ask for a pacific copy or whole lot"

Synchronicity: sorry for the long post...

As a teen, George Michael was my idol. At the time I knew he had Cypriot origins, but Greece and Cyprus were of no interest to me. As he grew older, I came to really respect George for living his life according to his own rules, just as he had espoused as a young man. I would have loved to meet him but never did. My wife too had a massive crush on George and we have both loved his music and followed his life and career throughout our life together,

A few years ago, we heard George had built a place in Cyprus. A couple of years ago we heard it was somewhere in the Paphos area. About a year ago, we learned it was in the same general location as us, but that's still a few square miles of terrain, much of it rural or banana plantation.

I wanted to visit George's former home to feel the energy and also to say thank you for the influence he had on my life. My wife found some pics of the house in a design article but it's set low, not very large and amongst plantation. After a couple of tentative wanderings, I woke up about a fortnight ago and something told me we would find George's house. We went as far as the plantation extends without sight of it. We returned by a slightly different route and a small unremarkable road led off to one side. Somehow I just knew we were close and I insisted we "turn a different corner" just like George had sang. It didn't look like there were any houses down there, but we rounded a bend and within a few yards we were in front of this small but incredibly beautiful modernist house. Sure enough, it was George's house that we had seen pics of: Empty now and will likely stay that way as Cyprus law on estates is very slow.

It's so neatly tucked away, yet it's not set back from the little road and it's not fenced in any way. The outside space is so tranquil and beautifully formed. It has something really special about it. The energy was so strong and so overwhelmingly benevolent, we were both pretty moved. We said our thanks for all George had given us and left the place bathed in afternoon sun. The visit made our day to say the least. We walked slowly back home, still in disbelief that a short journey on foot had brought us so close to someone who had been a big influence and brought us both so much happiness.

Looking on Facebook that night, I clicked on a video (Nothing to do with music). When it finished the next video that popped up was of George Michael! What's more he was talking about his Cypriot origins and his Cypriot name. It seemed like a clear sign he had heard us.

We went back today, because we were drawn to do so. On the way I put a Yello album called "The Eye" on my iPad as I walked. Oddly it stopped playing (it's never done that before. I couldn't see in the bright sunlight so I just clicked down to the next album and let it play. It turned out to be none other than "The Final" by Wham! It made me feel so good walking in the sunshine. When we arrived I told my wife. She lifted up her iPod to reveal.... The Final by Wham! Which she had chosen herself. She has many of his albums but she chose the same one.

We expressed our thanks and felt the energy again, just like last time. After spending a few peaceful,moments. We walked down to the sea and back up. I released my iPod from pause, only to her George singing "Turn a different corner and we never would have met".

Sometimes you don't need explanations: You just "know" something special has been given to you. 

I don't think I've ever had such an experience but there have been many 'junctions of serendipity' in my life where something important took me on a new path to where I am now.

Too busy getting on with life to live it.....

Know the feeling.

Our second eldest got an Alexa for Christmas off her boyfriend. She hates it. I asked why? She says I'm in by myself,all comfy with the cats,reading a book nice n peaceful but boyfriend remotely activates Alexa into playing very loud death metal!

It now lives in a drawer.

I get irritated by having to put up with real people around me, let alone virtual ones! I couldn't hack Siri, Alexa, Google or Cortana. Anyone else hate them?

I even hate it when my computer pops up a message that calls itself 'we', as in "we are just updating Windows".
Gŕrrrr!

Wear T shirt permanently