Paphos People

I have done something to my knee and was referred to a physio yesterday, who saw me in the triage clinic. He has made an appointment for me to be seen today at the hospital to be issued with a brace or maybe crutches.

But he told me to wear something loose, such as shorts. Shorts! There is frost on the ground up here in the hills, and he doesn't have to climb out of his warm pit at 5 a.m. and shiver his way to work.

Just because Cyprus is a holiday island, and the sun shines most days, doesn't mean it is warm enough for shorts. I think the breeze is bloomin' cold even when the sun is shining.

Is anyone else still wearing shorts and t-shirts, or am I just nesh?

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

Siberia gets the blame for latest freeze
By Andreas Avgousti

THE DEARTH of rain and unseasonable cold have been attributed to the Siberian anti-cyclone that visits our island annually.

The weather phenomenon has been affecting Cyprus since the end of December and seems to have overstayed its welcome this year round.

The Mail asked senior meteorological officer Loizos Stefanou to explain what the Siberian anti-cyclone is: “Anticyclone means high pressure.

“The air masses move parallel to the concentric formation of the anti-cyclone. The anti-cyclone moves clockwise, heading south from Siberia, turning on Cyprus and heading for Europe.”

A recession of the anti-cyclone is a necessary but insufficient condition before any rain can fall.

Air masses from Western Europe must also approach Cyprus so that low pressure is created.
Data from the Bureau of Meteorology shows that the precipitation of January 2008 is at a worrisome four per cent (4.6mm) of the expected precipitation that usually occurs in the first month of the year (102.4mm).

Up to now, this has been the worst precipitation on record since 1901, adding to the island’s water woes.

The water in the dams is, at best, at 46.3 per cent of capacity in one of the smallest of dams at Arminou. At worst, it is at 0.4 per cent of capacity in the medium-sized Kalavassos dam.
Kouris dam which is the largest is carrying a measly 4.1 per cent of its capacity.
It is not just the drop in precipitation we have to worry about.

The temporal and long-term effects of the cold the Siberian anti-cyclone has brought with it are also a concern.

Meteorological data shows that during the first fortnight of January, actual temperatures have been as much as seven degrees Celsius below those expected.

It is forecast that temperatures of approximately 13 degrees in the day and around 0 degrees at night will continue into this week.

An important consequence of the low temperatures is that ice forms on roads, making them slippery and therefore dangerous.

The Traffic police are on alert and have made announcements warning drivers to be extremely careful.

Agricultural products have not escaped unscathed from the unusually cold temperatures.
The potato plantations have suffered irreparably, with large quantities in Famagusta’s Kokkinohoria area being decimated.

The decline in greenhouse temperatures also means that tomatoes, cucumbers and the like have been affected.

Citrus fruit production has also received a blow, with the damage gradually becoming apparent as citrus trees begin the premature rejection of the fruit.

Potato farmer spokesman Andreas Karyos said that the effect on agricultural products “will have a severe knock-on effect on the economy.”

Hi Verity,

Hope you get your knee sorted without having to wear shorts.

Sitting here with two fleeces on, plus all the usual clothing including my thermal vest, just annoyed I got rid of my long johns.

Get better soon.

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"Your dog is your friend, your partner, your defender. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true until the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion"

Hi Trish. I wore trousers that aren't too tight and just pulled them up.

Got fitted with a brace and have crutches. It is sooo inconvenient. Almost got my theatre slot cancelled, too, as they didn't want to anaethetise me without knowing whether my knee joint is infective arthritis. Looks like it will go ahead next Thursday, then I have to see an orthopod to decide what to do about my knee.

Good start to 2008. And there was me thinking I could be fit at 50! Still got a few months to go before I get to that big birthday. I might make it yet.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

So another BIG occasion for PaphosPeople member to meet up & celebrate then

It's nothing that can't be put right, girl. You are not that far behind me. Just think on.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

From what I hear, she's not that much better off than you either