Fri 27 Mar: Purcell had InSeT so I didn’t need to go in. Instead I drove to an MLD school in Ickenham, Pentland Field School and spoke to a group of around 25 students about humanism and answered some of the questions they had sent me via their teachers in advance.

Tue 24th Mar: In the evening we went to a Jazz concert at The Palace Theatre in Watford to see students of the Purcell School on stage! With guest musicians they played the music of Tubby Hayes.

Sun 22nd Mar: Refereed an U14 cup quarterfinal at Maccabi FC and then went to The Stables at M. Keynes for a Cheilidh dancing event.

Sat 21st: I went to The Met Club in the morning to mentor a young 15yr old referee. The first such mentoring session.

Sun 15th Mar: Flew back to a sunny but cold Luton in the morning. Then celebrated Mother’s Day with Stefanos round our place and lots of pizza!

Sat 14th Mar: Went round to cousin Ellitsa’s house where Pambos cooked some fish! Saw little Eliana playing on the piano and then Charalambos who plays the violin and their dad came round (Maria’s family).

Fri 13th Mar: Shopping for souvenirs and then drove to Nicosia where we met Kosma and Christaki, my cousins. We then drove up to Kykkos and Throni. Amazing places!

Thu 12th Mar: After a short run towards the salt lakes we drove to Visakia where we managed to find a man who fixed the cross on my Nounnas grave. We then drove up to Pedoulas where we found the old school where I went as a child for a summer camp.

Wed 11th Mar: On the return from Páfos we stopped at Limassol and met Yiannis for a brief chat. We then met Niovi Kerkidou for a chat about her book and the unaccompanied children group. Back in Larnaca we went to the theatre in the evening where we saw a play on important women through the years which included Elena Hadjiafxendi.

Tue 10th Mar: Got the TUI bus up to the village of Letymvou and ran the Wine Run 5Km. It was a hilly run but it was fun. After the run there was wine tasting and nibbles and a guy playing Cypriot music on the laouto. As well as a medal we were also given a bottle of wine!

Mon 9th Mar: A relaxing day. Walking around gingerly. In the afternoon we went to the Mall and met up with Skevi.

Sun 8th Mar: Early rise to catch the 5:30am coach to the start line. At 7am we set off for the Marathon with a finish at the castle. In the evening we went for a lovely meal at The Windmill restaurant.

Sat 7th Mar: Drove to Páfos for tomorrow’s Marathon! In the evening we ran the Sunset 5k run.

Fri 6th Mar: Short jog along to Mackenzy beach and back, then walked around Larnaca some more. In the evening we went to see a ΘΟΚ production. Serious stuff, but I enjoyed it.

Wed 4th Mar: Drove to Nicosia and had a coffee and a long chat with journalist and historian Mihalis Michail. We then went to Astromeritis and saw my auntie Sofoula and my sister Nitsa who happened to also be visiting. We then went to see the graves of my godparents at Visakia and my dad & brother at Astromeritis. On our return towards Nicosia we stopped at Peristerona and saw my aunty Maroula uncle Zinoni and cousins Petro, Elli, Anthi & Hristalla. Then onto the Zodia club/restaurant. The choir was practicing and got to hear a bit of their singing! Then our get together with Efi, Mihalis, Maria, Demetris, their two kids, Louis, Athos and the solicitor who helped me with ID and passport, Harilaos Velaris.

Tue 3rd Mar: We went for a morning jog to the airport and back and then discovered a lovely shopping area with a bakery and a fruit stall! Then walked to Mackenzy area for a lovely ice-cream. In the evening we went back to the theatre to see the play “Edo leme SOS”!

Mon 2nd Mar: Another early rise! Drove to Nicosia to the Harilaos Velaris solicitor offices on the 7th floor. He wrote a document to be my signed statement to make my Cypriot ID under the name Panos Fellas. After going to the “judge centre” to get it officially signed we went to the office for issuing IDs and passports. All done in under two hours! They should be arriving by DHL in London soon after the 18th! In the evening we went to the municipal theatre, met with Efi and Michali and watched the film “Christi”!

Sun 1st Mar: Drove to Luton nice and early and flew to Larnaca in Cyprus. A few hours later, a drone hit a runway at Acrotiri Base and got everyone in a panic.

Thu 26 Feb: Drove to the Roxeth project organised by Dot Withers which provides science tuition to students that can’t afford to pay. Met four of the students and helped in a lesson on radioactivity.

Fri 20th We had the annual Watford Area Humanists meal at Toni’s Greek Tavern.

Tue 17th Feb: Went back to the Purcell for more work on the back of Avison.

Mon 16th: Went to Purcell and continued the clearing of the corner of the school behind Avison. I made a start yesterday. Then went for a run and then late lunch at Harvester before going to Hatfield Odeon to see “Hamnet”.

Sat: 14th: After a short run I drove to Yhe Purcell and started doing some clearing work at the “corner”. An evening at The Palace Theatre watching the amazing Queenz!

Fri 13th Feb, Half term begins at Purcell. Completed 3 weeks back teaching A Level and GCSE. After school I went for a run with the two Emmas from Purcell admin dpt. In the evening I went to Moeen’s where we had a mini reunion of ex KFA students, and it was because of the sad occasion of Moeen’s mother’s death, we enjoyed catching up.

Wed 11th Feb: Went to the Seb de Krom evening concert at The Purcell school. Two groups of 5 musicians playing 5 jazz numbers. And of course Seb days after his 55th birthday on the drums.

Sat 7th Feb: Went to Barnet FC where I was one of four referees at the Qatari students football tournament. I did the final.

Wed, 4th Feb: Went to the Theatro Technis to see “The Ophiolite”, a play about mixed marriages, mixed cultures and traditions between England & Cyprus. Very powerful!

Mon, 2nd Feb; Went for brunch with Stefanos at the Toby Carvery. Couldn’t eat much for the rest of the day!

Sunday, 1st Feb: Run the Watford Half marathon in 2:00:16. As always a very hilly race. Dot Withers ran her first ever Half Marathon today!

JANUARY

Fri 30th Jan: Awards night at Watford Joggers. I got one more Motiv-8 and another Gold standard Beechnut.

Mon 26th: First day back teaching at Purcell for a few years! Strange but enjoyable.

Sun 25th: Early start to the day as we went to Bedford for the 10 mile race. It went quite well, finished in 1:25:37, average pace around 8:30 min per mile.

Wed 21 Jan

Went into Purcell for the lunchtime concert and popped in to take a look at the resources in the system. Getting ready to go back to school on Monday to teach for three weeks to cover for Jim.

ln the evening went to watch the Watford v Portsmouth game. A poor game, ended 1-1.

Tue 20th Jan: Drove early to Chater Junior School and gave an assembly to around 240 pupils. Then I went to the lunchtime concert. Just before that I got an email from Purcell. I was asked to cover for 3 weeks of Physics teaching. Then I went to visit my mum and sorted out her free tv license.

Mon 19th Jan: Drove to Leighton Buzzard and have an assembly to a group of around 120 year 5s. I gave them an introduction to humanism and tried a couple of activities/games. They enjoyed it!

Sun 18th : My expected Sunday morning game was called off because of the overnight rain. I picked up this other game at Future Academies, an U16 boys cup game. It was very eventful. 5 yellows, 3 reds a coach sent off, and when he came back to the touch line to give me more abuse, I abandoned the game.

Tue 13th: Drove to Welwyn Garden City to an Interfaith meeting where the speaker outlined the Christian Science church. Met a couple of interesting people and a possible invitation to go there in the future and give a talk on humanism.

Mon 12th:

A gentle jog followed by lunch at La Iguana’s. First time there and it was nice!

Sun 4th:

Very cold and frosty morning. Did a gentle 10 mile jog to King George and back. Then went to the Dial up at the old Garden Rooms to see Alex and the other performers.

I took part in Alex’s impromptu podcast at the end.

In the evening I did the first Greek & English hour shows on Koubebi Radio.

Sat 3rd

Went to South Oxhey for their 500th ParkRun. It was a frozen solid path most of the way round!

Fri 2nd

Drove to Ellington to visit Kia and her family and of course our godson Dimitris.

Thu 1st

Jogged to Cassiobury Park and run the Park Run. We then went to Barnet, picked up Vaso and went for a meal at the Potters Bar Harvester.

We then went back to Vaso’s for cake!