Returned to the Island

[sueb]

Hello All,

Having just returned to Cyprus after 3.5 years back in the UK. I thought that I would share with you why we came back to Cyprus to live full time.
Lived here from April 2008 till June 2013. Bought off plan in 2002 got the keys in 2004. Have T.Deeds in 2007. Came for holidays from to 2004 till 2008.

The weather- not great at the moment. This time though we have had central heating installed. Did live up North in the UK!

Cost of living is cheaper here. Married to accountant there has been many a spread sheet to investigate this.

Fruit and Veg is so much better. Has taste and lasts longer.

People actually talk to you.

Less rush and bustle life style.

Just the right amount of shops for what we need.

Crime is low and feel safer out and about even at night time.

Having your petrol put in your car, tyre pressure checked and the service you get at the car wash.

TV systems are now much better provided for here. Still find it hard to watch anything good but hey ho that would be the same in the UK.

Have found dealing with mobile phone companies easier here. Able to get a contract within 20 minutes of being in a shop. Cancelling a contract in the UK took 2 visits to the shop and many calls and live chats on line.

My husband turned 65 in October so now a OAP. - young at heart. In 2008 I was 49 and he was 56 so maybe a bit young to retire from working life.
On our return to the UK I had a job to go to ( my previous employer). Hubby was house husband and this allowed me to focus on the job. It should be noted that even though he registered for unemployment allowance and was looking for work he did not get it. Had always worked and had 42 years NI contributions and only 1 day sick in his working life.

Last time we came we only sent over 45 kg of items - one thing being a Dyson vaccum cleaner. This time having a container delivered.
All very easy to sort out and due to be delivered tomorrow. Yippee!

In 2008 we sold our house in the UK but this time we have rented it out- fingers crossed it all goes well.

We are both looking forward to starting our next chapter of our lives here in Cyprus. I always did call it home.

Sue Peyia

[Houdinibun]

Welcome back!
Much of what you say applied to us when moving - in particular the more relaxed and outdoor way of life. We have an 11 year old daughter who started school here in September and being able to get a full days work done in time to collect her and then have an afternoon to spend together is wonderful!

[sueb]

Come on people share why you like living here?
Hints and tips to making life easy!

A topic for all to join in with.

[LouiseCastricum]

We came to Cyprus from The Netherlands more then 22 years ago and still love our life here. We bought off plan. No regrets at all. Of course we have seen many changes, some of which are good some less, but changes take place everywhere.
For all new comers..... learn at least some of the language. It is so much appreciated. Simply start learning the Greek alphabet and practice by reading the free supermarket magazines. You learn so many words for daily use that way.

[ast]

Weather / Food / Lifestyle thats the attraction for me, i guess that cover most things really ?, We dont live in Cyprus full time as we have ongoing business commitments in the UK but we have owned our house here for 14 yrs and spend as much time here as we can.

[Sandra]

We bought an apartment off plan in 2002 and planned to retire here but then grandchildren came along!

We bought a villa in lower Peyia three years ago and planned to spend at least six weeks each visit, this we have kept to! We both love the island and visit as often as possible. The weather, social life, people seem to want to talk and even supermarket shopping is not such a chore.

We would love to live in Cyprus and talk about this often but cannot make the move as would miss the family terribly.

Enjoy your move and hope all goes to plan.

Roll on April 2017 when we are next due to visit.

[ApusApus]

My Wife & I moved here permanently 2 years ago and we have absolutely no regrets! In a nutshell, our quality of life is so much better than it ever was in the UK!


Shane

[galexinda]

It's refreshing to read about someone returning to Cyprus to live and makes me appreciate even more how lucky I am to live here. Fell in love with Cyprus in 1977, but never thought I would retire here!

[Lazydaze52]

Reasons I like living here, let me think...

Breakfast on the patio in the sun, even in winter it's lovely for mid-morning coffee breaks
Eating fresh fruit from the trees in our garden
Walks along our local beach
Swimming for most of the year
Wandering into the village for lunch or dinner at the local taverna
Knowing that even though it's grey and wet today it won't be long before the sun comes out
Last but not least meeting up with all the new friends we've made

[Anarita John]

Unfortunately, we are still swallows. We regard Cyprus as our main home and we spend around 6 months of the year there. Two things have stopped us from moving there permanently, firstly the increase in retirement age in the UK and not being able to get health care free. When we bought in 2002, Rosemary was still due to get her state pension at 60. Shortly after our retirement from full time work, it increased to 62.5 and is now 66. My state retirement age has increased to 65.5. Therefore as non UK pensioners, we would not qualify for long term health care. The other reason regards our house purchase.
We love Cyprus and really miss it when we are not there.

[sueb]

Hello all,

Update on events.
Today received our items from the container. Yes a really bad day to be unloading. In the end it worked out perfect. No rain from 11.15 to 1 pm and then threw it down.
All items delivered the chappies were most helpful even putting up the coffee table. Nothing broke. Have just put 'things' away for the moment a good sort out due next week. Took away all the wrapping and going to collect the empty boxes in the New Year. Great service from the UK and this end.

Lovely to have a settee to sit on this evening after sitting on patio chairs for 2 weeks.

[paphos]

Firstly thanks sueb for an insight into your move. I have been pondering a move for some time but have chosen to rent for 6 months a year in order to get the best of both worlds and healthcare in the UK. One of the main factors for me was that the long term rents in Cyprus are incredible value and a six month rental can be as cheap as what some people would pay for 1 family holiday.
Renting has many benefits such as not having the worry about the property or having the expense when back in the UK plus the ability to move if your neighbourhood goes downhill. Saying that, there is nothing like owning your own property and renting always reminds you of not being able to put roots down but I suppose the choice is always down to what suits one's individual circumstances.

[sueb]

Hello Paphos,
Sorry not able to call you by your real name.

Welcome to the new site. It looks like it is going to be a great addition to my daily read.

I can see the attraction of doing 6 months here and 6 months in the UK- as long as you pick your months for the UK. Ha Ha

We have been lucky that where we bought has changed very little and that has been a big plus for our return.

Renting out our property in the UK is new to us last time we sold up. I really want it to work as the hubby wanted to sell. Our daughter is in the property business in the UK and her advice was to rent it out. We are with her company for the rental with her overseeing things. Fingers crossed all goes well.

In the end we all have to do what is best for the lifestyle you want.

The thing is to enjoy what you have where ever you are.

All the best for 2017.
Sue b

[Habibi2007]

I wish we had done the same thing. It was always my husbands dream to move here permanently. We lived hear for 3 years in the 80s and have holidayed here many many times and always loved it my husband lived here as a young child in the mid 50s as his father was a foreign attache with the Home Office so he does feel an affiliation for the place and he was also posted hear with the United Nations in the late 70s. So a lot of history, after much research we went ahead sold our house and moved here 15 months ago,for me it was the biggest mistake, I always had reservations, unfortunately I have not settled, it's not about missing family or the home we sold, as I have been used to moving around as my husband was in the Army for 26 years. And my children live in different parts of the world so I'm used to not seeing them.
For everyone this is not the utopia it's made out to be. Just because the sun shines most days. For others it's the life they embrace and will probably not return to the UK. But it just isn't for me.
I think if you can live the life of half the year here and half in the Uk you have the best of both worlds.
You do not hear on these forums about the many people who return to the Uk for whatever reason. Whether it is family reasons, or for their health or just plain homesickness, or like me they realise it just was a mistake.
We are lucky we are in the position of being able to move. Yes it has cost us money to have all of our furniture shipped out here. We have made our rented villa feel like our own home. But it just isn't working for me.
I have spoken to loads of people both permanent residents and also people like yourself who spend half their lives in the Uk and half in Cyprus. Some are very happy. Others would like to return to the UK but cannot afford to. And others who although they like Cyprus and have homes here do not live here on a permanent basis and say they would never wish too.
I think when you have realised that this is not for you and you tell people they are horrified. Why would you not want to stay in Cyprus they say, give it a bit longer and it will grow on you they say, why do you want to go back to cloudy old England, as if the only reason they are living here themselves is the weather. Yes it does make a difference it's nice to get up every morning to sun and warmth. But that is not enough to keep me here.
But to everyone who dreams of retiring here I wish you well and hope you live your dream.

[ApusApus]

I wish we had done the same thing. It was always my husbands dream to move here permanently. We lived hear for 3 years in the 80s and have holidayed here many many times and always loved it my husband lived here as a young child in the mid 50s as his father was a foreign attache with the Home Office so he does feel an affiliation for the place and he was also posted hear with the United Nations in the late 70s. So a lot of history, after much research we went ahead sold our house and moved here 15 months ago,for me it was the biggest mistake, I always had reservations, unfortunately I have not settled, it's not about missing family or the home we sold, as I have been used to moving around as my husband was in the Army for 26 years. And my children live in different parts of the world so I'm used to not seeing them.
For everyone this is not the utopia it's made out to be. Just because the sun shines most days. For others it's the life they embrace and will probably not return to the UK. But it just isn't for me.
I think if you can live the life of half the year here and half in the Uk you have the best of both worlds.
You do not hear on these forums about the many people who return to the Uk for whatever reason. Whether it is family reasons, or for their health or just plain homesickness, or like me they realise it just was a mistake.
We are lucky we are in the position of being able to move. Yes it has cost us money to have all of our furniture shipped out here. We have made our rented villa feel like our own home. But it just isn't working for me.
I have spoken to loads of people both permanent residents and also people like yourself who spend half their lives in the Uk and half in Cyprus. Some are very happy. Others would like to return to the UK but cannot afford to. And others who although they like Cyprus and have homes here do not live here on a permanent basis and say they would never wish too.
I think when you have realised that this is not for you and you tell people they are horrified. Why would you not want to stay in Cyprus they say, give it a bit longer and it will grow on you they say, why do you want to go back to cloudy old England, as if the only reason they are living here themselves is the weather. Yes it does make a difference it's nice to get up every morning to sun and warmth. But that is not enough to keep me here.
But to everyone who dreams of retiring here I wish you well and hope you live your dream.

Thanks Habibi, that's a great insight in to how you feel! I have a simple question what isn't for you in Cyprus & what do you crave to go back to the UK? Opps, guess that's 2 questions!

Maybe others having feelings on this as well


Shane

[Poppy]

Good post Habibi2007
Everyone is different and we have lived here now for 10 years but are going back next month. For us the bubble has burst and we decided to return now before we get too old to do it. There are lots of things we like but also lots of things we hate with a passion ( animal cruelty being no 1) and yes I know there is cruelty in the UK but not so much in your face as here. Every single day on Facebook we have pleas for financial help from many many dog rescue sanctuaries and we try to help where we can but you just can't help every one. We have rescued two dogs ourselves which are returning to the UK with us. So many people come over here with very limited resources, not yet in receipt of pensions, no jobs, no idea how they will manage financially if they are ill and still try to live as though they are on holiday - yes booze and fags are cheap but surely that is not all there is to life? We realised when we returned to the UK for a holiday this year how many things we missed and had forgotten that yes the UK has glorious beaches, many of which are dog friendly , as are the pubs and Hotels where we are going. In her first post Sue B said that people actually talk to you here but when we were in the Dales earlier this year we were amazed how friendly people were. One day we went on a short walk and must have chatted with at least a dozen people who we met along the way! I am absolutely positive that we will miss aspects of Cyprus but am sure we have made the right decision as we made at the time the right decision to come here when we did. If we had not then we would have always wondered "what if" so no regrets just a new and exciting chapter of our lives!

[Habibi2007]

I will try to expand on my original post as to why Cyprus is not working for me. And this is just my own personal view.
Life here is very rustic, this has not really changed since the last time we lived here in the early 80s, obviously certain things have changed after all it is over 30 years since I had last lived here but in reality life still goes on pretty much the same with the added advantage of now being in the technological age. But still there is not enough amenities and facilities they certainly havnt moved on. There is a harsh reality to living here, and for me this is one of them.
When you are on holiday you are in a different frame of mind, you only see the nice things, you see the sunshine the lovely warm sea, the beautiful scenery. You have lovely meals at tavernas, and lay in the sun.
Then you return to rainy old England, and then dream about the lovely holiday you had and you return again and again in the same holiday mode, not really seeing around the corner or looking deeper.
Then you dream about moving over permanently if you can or when you retire. Then you do all of your homework, research and find out everything possible about the place you eventually want to retire to. This is what we did by reading forums, finding out about health care. If we would have enough money to live on. The cost of renting a property etc. None of this did we go into with our eyes closed. So I feel we were well prepared.
But as Poppy said in her thread that the bubble had burst for her and the abhorrent cruelty to animals here in Cyprus, this is something I have witnessed since moving here. To be perfectly honest I had read about the animal cruelty on some of the Cyprus forums but I never realised how bad it was until we moved over here. You don't really know about all of these things until you move here, you've eventually take off your Rose tinted glasses and looked around the corner.
Why do people move away from the Uk? Everyone moves for there own reasons, some it works for others it doesn't.
There is no particular thing I'm going back to the Uk for but for me the grass was not greener on the other side, im not sorry we moved here as my husband would have always said what if.
I think it would be helpful on these forums if people really told it like it was and realise moving abroad is not always the land of milk and honey. But for some it is and I wish them all the best.
Good luck on your move back to the UK Poppy for a new chapter in your life.

[Polemi Dave]

I think it would be helpful on these forums if people really told it like it was and realise moving abroad is not always the land of milk and honey. But for some it is and I wish them all the best.

I think many of us do "tell it like it is" Unfortunately so often on forums people ask advice and discount anything that does not fit in with their dream.
Paphos is in fact two different places, by the coast in mainly English areas and in the hills with mostly Cypriots. The hill people are very much matter of fact with animals, often they are important source of food. I don't know any of my neighbours who are cruel to animals, they are too important to them. Yes there is cruelty to animals, but there still will be after you shut your eyes and return to UK. Often this is sited as a reason to return after thrashing round to find the real reason, which usually is as simple as falling out of love with Cyprus.

The usual length of stay for ex-pats is 5 to 10 years. It has always been so. Non-one is asking anyone to justify why they decide to return. However if you decide to make a long term stay, you need to try and integrate with the locals, make local friends, speak at least some of their language substantially beyond "good morning" "excuse me" and "thank you".

I agree Paphos and particularly Polemi is not the land of milk and honey, but it is my home and I have no desire to live elsewhere. I certainly would not encourage anyone to move out - quite often the reverse if people are blinkered by their dreams.

[Dominic]

We are relatively new arrivals to Polemi and we love it! We came here with our eyes wide open though, and did plenty of research first.

As far as I am concerned, they can carry me out in a coffin.

[Polemi Dave]

As far as I am concerned, they can carry me out in a coffin.

Make sure you pay Nikki at the council office the cemetery tax then.