So would it be really unreasonable of me to.......

[McDreamy]

....tell a senior Army Officer exactly what I think of him the next time I see him at the bus stop?

I am thinking yes but he is really getting on my tits!!

So the same as my dh - he is a 39 year old Lt Col.

I was only joking about point allocation!

Mine's a bit older than yours - he's 47. DH picked up Cdr at 38/39 and then there's this huge long wait to see if he gets further.

From what he and others in the same position say, promotion to Captain just ain't happening - 4 last year for the whole RN, and so people are either leaving, or finding a nice job to see their time out. Dh didn't want to do the MOD treadmill (chasing non existent money) or commute, so got an appointment to Brussels, ds and I stayed in UK, and then when he got another job here, we moved out. If we can swing it, we'll stay until he retires, as he's in this appointment until 2010, and then it's only 3 years to go. Scary thought - I'll be 47/48 and my dh will have retired from the RN. We may go for an extension or a civilian job out here. Nice lifestyle, great beer, fab chocolate, what's not to like?

If we're doing points, do I get 2 for doing 2 years of Flemish lessons?

It sounds brilliant being in Brussels. Lucky girl. It's always tough to know what to do sometimes. I have sort of followed the flag but delayed my own career somewhat.

Not sure about points for Flemish lessons. I can speak a little Arabic and Russian.

I have a tennis net (but no court), does that count? Oh, and a croquet set!

Brussels is great and I'm enjoying the time out, as I was teaching for 5 years previously. I could teach here, but I do the voluntary stuff, and am about to embark on the silly season. I start an OU course this weekend; the PILs come with friend in 3 weeks; I am marking two allocations of GCSE papers (to keep my hand in professionally); dh goes off to Germany for a 2 week gliding exped, and I start my MA hopefully in January.

Fantastic! I am studying towards an MBA with the OU. I am having some time out due to 3 month old dd!

hf, I finished my MBA with the OU a few years ago (whilst still in the RAF so they paid for some of it!) Was good stuff, and has got me to a few interviews since I think.

I haven't studied in anger since my PGCE in 2000, so I'm doing an OU course in writing essays, which is only a 12 week course. I'm in the process of applying to Lampeter to do an MA in World Religions which is distance learning, and designed for RE teachers who can't give up work to study full time. I could do one at Leuven which is near Brussels, but you need a referral from a priest (problematic as I'm agnostic) and to be RC (again, lapsed Anglican).

The MA will help if I go back to teaching in the UK, as it will show I haven't just sat on my rather broad beam out here, and help my academic knowledge, so it's win, win. That's also why I'm doing the GCSE marking to pay for it. I want to fund this degree, as dh put me through college after we got married for my BA.

Notyummy - you are a Civil Servant now? I am too!

I veery recent civil servant in my case...as of last week!

Wow! All the acronyms to learn, the bureaucracy, oh the fun! What grade have you gone in at? This is not for points, just curious!

. You mad people.
I got 8 points on the original list and my dh is a RAF Sgt. I always knew I married below me .
I am also on two committees and have a Silver Cross pram and a triple strand pearl necklace (wannabe obviously).

Saltire/McDreamy - Is it Euros in Cyprus now?
Liminaki is my fave restaurant in Pissouri. It used to be called Pepis and is next to Pepis supermarket.
Our fave place was Pissouri. We used to rent a villa there when my family came to visit so have great memories inc going out in one of the kayaks and paddling along side turtles .

hf, gone in at GRade 6. Apparently this is quite unusual...and you are right, there is loads to learn. Immersed in the world of Ministerial correspondence as we speak!

Very good indeed. 2 grades above me! 1 point for you. Word of warning and advice. Stay squeeky clean - don't have an affair! Not that you would. Go to the pub with lesser mortals when you get the chance. Get a mentor - good for advice etc.

THanks for the advice. Most of the people in my office seem friendly but fairly old and crusty, so it shouldn't be too hard to hold myself back And, er, obviously there's the small matter of the wedding vows...

We have a female grade 5 here who seems very approachable, and has 3 kids, so I think I will see if she can be a mentor.

Just got back from Liminaki's - wow!!! It's lovely, and soooo friendly!

Yes Euros in Cyprus now - vvvvvvvv expensive out here at the moment

Really??? . Is the petrol expensive now too?
about the Euros! I missed that.
Liminakis is just lovely. We ate there nearly every night when we got the villa there as it was just so good the first time we went we wanted to go back and try the rest of the menu. After cocktails at the Columbia Beach Resort natch .
Best breakfast ever at the Columbia Beach hotel too. I want to go back ......

We like the resort so much we have become members for a year and go up most weekends, just lovely!! I will really miss that!

No petrol is very reasonable especially when compared with the UK but the Cyps have cashed in on the transfer to the euro and price of food, clothes, shoes etc have increased! Even the thrift shop isn't the bargain it once was!!!

. Actually the thrift shop seemed expensive for some things when we were there as the cost of clothes in the UK had fallen so astonishingly eg they wanted CY£2 for a school polo shirt when you could get it for £1 in the UK. However I always used it for dd1. She had no new clothes at all .
I always though the clothes in Cypriot shops were a lot so I would prob fall over in now. Someone told me texting is now very expensive too.
Main question though is could I still afford a cleaner? If yes I am happy .
What a great idea to join the resort. I am not sure they did that when we were there ....

I think you will def be able to afford a cleaner

It's the shops that have increased their prices and with the exchange rate (£ and euro) things just work out very expensive esp as you say when clothes are so cheap in the UK. Children's shoes are so expensive!

Are you def coming back? When? Reds are here at the moment, 3 displays a day for the next 4 weeks at the mo

Oh no. I wish. Just dreaming, though dh will apply .