Holiday Review: First Choice Holiday Village - Cyprus

We booked the First Choice Holiday Village in Cyprus on the back of our previous year's holiday to the First Choice Holiday Village in Egypt.

I really expected the holidays to be pretty much of a muchness.  A standard that all holiday villages have to meet.  I was surprised to find this was not the case.  It was not a problem, but the two holidays were completely different.

The Holiday Village in Cyprus is pretty much in two halves, the old half and the new half.  And unless you've been, you wouldn't know this.  We were in the old part.  We were a long walk away from the kids pool and play area, quite a stride from the restaurant and the entertainment.

But this wasn't a bad thing as we had a one bedroomed apartment style room which backed onto a swimming pool.  (that's our room on the left with the pagola)  The pool went from nothing to about 1.6 meters with rocks for jumping off and ... a bar!!  Were all inclusive so access to the bar was vital.  The Pina Colada's were to die for, albeit in a small cup, I really couldn't have managed an "adult" glass full.  There was enough sun loungers for everyone in the surrounding rooms and the next pool along was only through the bushes.  It really was very convenient.

The appeal for most families at this kind of resort is the kids club.  It appeals to me, greatly.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appeal to my children who refuse point blank to be entertained by strangers.  We managed to get the oldest into a few sessions, but they really are good sessions.  Canoeing, water games, high rope walking, scavenger hunts, there really is something for every child there.  Its certainly not all sticking and gluing.  This is all in addition to the fact that the kids team will basically take the kids for the night to watch the entertainment.

The restaurant was not vast.  The poolside food was basic, chips and hotdogs with a bit of salad.  The daytime meals were adequate, salads, chicken, the usual buffett food.  The evening meal offered a little more choice, but still no great shakes, the standard all inclusive menu we have all come to tire of.  The real gem when it came to food was the Mexican restaurant.  You have to pre-book and have a voucher to eat there once a week during your stay but seriously, the food could keep you going for a week.  There was so much!!  It was the most child friendly food establishment I have ever been in.  I can't sing its praises high enough.  Unfortunately, the greek restaurant was the polar opposite.  They didn't really cater for children and we were sat on the roadside.  They were clearly more interested in the "paying" customers.

All in all, a great holiday.  I was dubious at first when we were in the old part of the vast complex, but if we return, I would request the old side and shun the new!  Great value for money at less than £2,500 for a family of 4.

Disclosure Notice:  I have not been contacted by First Choice or the Hotel Alliathon to write this review.  The holiday was not provided by a third party and my views and opinions are entirely my own.

Best Kept (Purple) Secret

You know the saying, Comfortable in your own skin, well I've never literally been that comfortable in mine. It's dry and itchy, particularly at this time of year.

The products I have been able to use have always been limited, the cheapest being Johnsons and the most expensive being Dr Hauscha. However, I tended to plump for Dermalogica. I'd have the luxury of being able to wash off the Ultra Calming Cleanser in summer but in winter the water just dries my skin too much.

Being the organised kind of person I am, I never run out of things (Ha!!) The day I ran out of cleanser was the day I had a networking meeting and it was a big one. I was running the meeting and it was a full house. One of the guests I had invited was my friend Jillian who just so happens to supply proto-col products. So who better to ask for a sample to tide me over until my Dermalogica arrives?

Jillian came up trumps with not only a sachet but a travel sized pump dispenser Cleanser, a spray toner and a Gel Moisturiser! So, being the girl I am, I went home after the meeting and removed all my make up with the products just to try them out!

The cleanser is very much like Ultra Calming Cleanser and the Moisturising Facial Gel is the nearest to Barrier Repair I've seen. It's not quite as silicon-ey and slippery but it has the same skin smoothing quality and leaves the face feeling fresh and supple.

The best point surely has to be the price at just £12.95 for a 100ml pump dispenser as proto-col does cost less than Dermalogica but no!! It's the collagen! All the products contain collagen alongside other wonder ingredients including coral seaweed.

I converted after a week and bought full sized products. I love my proto-col

The full range can be viewed on Jillian's website http://www.purplesecret.co.uk

I have not been approached by proto-col or Purple Secret to write this review.  I have been supplied with complimentary, trial sized products of proto-col skin cleanser, proto-col skin toner and proto-col Moisturising Facial Gel courtesy of Purple Secret.

Poker Night

Last week I was extremely excited to be again embarking on an adult leaning course. Having improved my knowledge of beer I felt it time to learn another skill - Poker.

Driving back from work, listening to the Radio Wave charity auction day, a lot came on for a poker lesson at The Genting Circus Casino. And is was only £40 for 10 people to learn to play poker!!

So I bid £60. And I won!

The confirmation letter came through and to my delight I was informed there was also a Buffet laid on! So I gathered my friends and we met up at the casino.

For anyone who has not been to a casino, they're not the James Bond style Monte Carlo kind of place you would imagine. They're relaxed with a few tables, fruit machines and croupiers in shirts and waistcoats.

So Gordon and Tony taught us the basics with Nicci catering to our every whim. We really couldn't have been made to feel more welcome! Franco in the restaurant ensured we had enough food to last until new year and we were treated to a dealer for an extra game after we ate.

So the game was on. Visors down, poker faces on. We were playing for money. Thirty quid of it.

I think I went out on about round three after going All In but it wasn't lack of card skills, it was because I was convinced my friend would lie and bluff his way to a win. As it turned out he did have a good hand when mine was rubbish!

We all thoroughly enjoyed the night. It was different, we were out, laughing and having a good time something that too few people do nowadays.

If you fancy learning poker, the Genting Circus Casino do lessons every Tuesday and Wednesday. I can't recommend it enough! If you are nervous or clueless, this is a great setting to learn.

I have not been approached by the Genting Circus Casino to write this review. I received a two hour poker lesson for 10, twenty free drinks and a buffet as the winning bidder in the Radio Wave charity auction.

The 18 Years and Over Rated Fish Tank

When we started fishkeeping, I thought the Gourami's were hard work. They fought all the time and one in particular stressed the others so much a couple died.

So I got livebearers. My friend had some platy and they looked calm. I got two mollies and two guppies.

A few weeks later, my gorgeous suede effect Black Mollies both had babies. We didn't notice until it was pointed out by my fish keeping brother-in-law. We witnessed a few being eaten by the bully Gourami but managed to land several into the safe haven of a floating baby tank.

We thought that was it. There were no males in the tank. Except the babies. They started inbreeding!! The majority died or were eaten.

So, we got three female guppies. Then we had roughly 20 baby guppies arrive. And again, we did our best but only the strong survive. Many died and many were eaten.

So whodunnit? Who's eating the neighbours? I think it's the Clown Loaches - but that's another story

I certainly know with all this breeding and cannibalism, if it was a film, it'd be an 18! Fish keeping is certainly over rated.

My Dinner Party Horror

Despite being at the age where we should do dinner parties, I've always avoided them wherever possible. Not just hosting, but attending as well.

It's not that I'm anti social, it's just something we've not really ventured into ourselves or actually been invited to that often!

The second dinner party of my life reinforced my gut feeling of avoid, decline and make an excuse.

It was sold to me as a wine and tapas night. I love tapas and this time my gut said feed me, get drunk and find some jeans that fit.

In the run up it was changed to wine and meze with the promise if moussaka. I was still in and even getting enthusiastic. I asked if beans on toast at 5pm would be necessary, as there was a large number going, but I was assured, there'd be plenty to meet my gargantuan appetite.

As it turned out, my appetite was proven to be gargantuan. A bit of feta, spinach and ricotta fillo's were nibbled on and I was soon discretely asking when the moussaka was coming up. Thirty minutes and I could fill my boots.

Literally. I was in the other room when my moussaka hit the floor.


Much laughter came from the kitchen along with an invite to view my moussaka. Which I thought was a bit odd. I didn't care what it looked like, I was starving and drunk!

I was met with a plate repeatedly thrust at me with the mantra "it's ok, I mopped the floor today!! Just eat it!"

Erm no. I can't. It's not a haribo subject to the three second rule. It's a plate of food off the floor.

I looked at "chef's" wife for assistance but she pretty much couldn't breathe for laughing, not only at Chef's attempt to feed me but at my horrified face. (think Miss Harbourne off Ladette to Lady)

I was really uneasy about offending Chef, who afterall, had driven to the restaurant to collect the dishes he'd promised to make some three weeks ago! After quick consideration, I risked losing a friend so as not to eat off the floor.

Turns out I wasn't expected to eat it, it was purely for comedy value. Or at least that's what Chef's claiming!

You wouldn't. Would you?

I certainly wouldn't. I'd book a holiday to avoid another dinner party but I don't expect I'll be invited again!!

Actually, A Really Remarkable Coat

Coats are vital.  Vital because I love them.  I have a lot of them.  I have actually misplaced two of my coats which to me is a real reason to replace them with this....

The Remarkable Coat from www.joebrowns.co.uk

I love this coat.  I found it in a supplement that fell out of Good Housekeeping (which I never buy and only bought because of the Easy Christmas promises it was shouting at me at the checkout).  Therefore, I take this as a sign to welcome this coat into my collection, wear it when it looks like snow and hang it up for all visitors to see on my Display Coat Hanger (wall light fitting in the hall).

Also, it's really affordable at £79.95.  I do think I will invest in a pair of victorian style, hob nail, boot shoes to complement it's gorgeousness though, so I'll start the search now.

Joe Browns have not requested my raving and gushings about their product, in fact they probably don't know I want it - But if you do come across this post, I'm a size 10!

Extra Curricular Learning - Real Ale Tasting

If you're going to take on an adult learning course, it's always best to do one you enjoy. One where you have an interest and love of the subject. So I chose the Lancashire Wine School.
(It's a school!! And they do courses!! Therefore, adult learning!!)


Now, I've been a regular at the school since  it opened and when Colin announced his Lancashire Day Beer Tastings, I was straight on it. For educational purposes, of course, not for the hotpot and 6 bottles of beer.


I've never been a beer fan due to the gas factor. It tastes fine but I would be mortified if I belched mid conversation and I know I'm not alone.

Colin Burbidge - My Own Personal Booze Expert

We tasted, in generous half pint portions, 7 beers (Yes! One more than expected!) from Lancashire breweries. The selections started off pale and ended up dark with Thwaites Nutty Black.

Most of the girls on the course preferred the lighter beers and were getting squinty and squiffy the darker we went as the tastes soured slightly. The general consensus was India Pale Ales were extremely drinkable.

Additional note to prove I have learnt something on my adult education course:
India Pale Ale is so called because it was originally made to ship to our boys in India in the days of the Raj. It was made at a higher strength so it travelled well in the boats.

The surprise for most was the ability to eat a large plate of hotpot, with potatoes and vegetables, after already having two pints of beer, and then still being able to easily drink the remaining pint and a half!

The Hopstar Lush was my favourite. It had a bonfire toffee taste. If you like Caramel Latte's or Creme Brûlée, this is the real ale for you.

As is usual on these events, all the tasters are sat around one big table and at the start only really talk amongst their own group. About half way through, it's like a pub full of regulars with stories being shared and plenty of laughs.

A great night, and it looks like Port and Cheese will be my next outing to Wine School!

This is a completely independent view of a course I paid full price for. I have not been approached or paid by The Lancashire Wine School for this review, nor have I been encouraged to mention the beers listed.