Devon with the Sopers

I always thought that Chris was from Cornwall but it turns out he is from Okehampton in Devon. We set off at about 9.30 and with only one toilet stop, arrived at Chris and Christine’s new flat by about 11.50. Okehampton is a lovely little town with the Dartmoor hills in the background. No sooner had we arrived and had a look around their lovely flat than Chris and I set off to Waitrose and the butchers for tonight’s dinner. Of course we also bought enough wine for a month, even though we had taken 3 liters of white, a bottle of port and a bottle of Bombay Safire.
















All sorted and Christine and Claire got back from their walk around the park we all set off to the pub that was full of Chris’s old school mates. Quite an early start, I know but we are on holiday. Chris is currently reading a book by one of his old school mates which seems quite an appropriate title for this visit.

Chris cooked a superb dinner of duck breast with chili noodles and salad followed by Barnsley chops, potatoes veg with leek gravy. All polished off with lemon sponge and clotted cream, cheese board and port. Wowee, I can hardly remember going to the Kings Head afterwards where I got beat by Eric Bristow at darts. I certainly couldn’t remember getting home and still drinking more wine, especially after all that rough cider from the pub.

Before we knew it we were eating a hearty breakfast of local bacon and sausage with farm eggs, tomatoes and beans. It was so good I set off to the butchers for some more sausages to take home with us. As Chris and Christine are off back to Cyprus on Saturday they gave us their remaining eggs as well. Christine took me for a walk around the park following the river with lovely little bridges along the way. We even went into the farm where we got the eggs from and had a chat to the farmer who it turns out also went to school with Chris.

We first met Chris and Christine the first time we went on holiday to North Cyprus one Christmas about 10 years ago. We both caught a nasty flu on arrival and so spent our first 4 days in bed freezing. Suddenly the weather turned and we got better and so started going out. We met Chris and Christine in the Aphrodite restaurant in Lapta which is quite close to our hotel Sampati and also close to Chris and Christine’s villa. The Sopers had been retired and living in North Cyprus for about 18 months when we met them and we have remained friends ever since. They moved from North to South Cyprus about 3 years ago so Chris only has to pay 5% tax on his pension there. There might be a couple of other reasons as well but being resident in Cyprus is very sensible when you get to penionable age or are lucky enough to take early retirement like Chris did. Having just sold their North Cyprus villa they decided to rent a 2 bed flat back in Chris’s home town. They are the first to rent it as the block is new and right in the town centre so its very convenient. Claire got real jealous as it is about twice the area as our kebab flat. Looks like we might be moving again soon. I wish I could get a job in Devon as it’s a lovely part of the country and rentals are so cheap. I think we might be coming back to Okehampton again this summer if we are still allowed.

Legend has it that the little bus shelter type building was the venue where Chris had his first taste of a local lass. Let’s hope that Louise is not following this blog.

Well, thank you guys, we had a great time in Devon and what a great cook Chris is, we could never have got such a lovely meal in a restaurant. We are too old now to last more than one night with the pase of the Sopers. One night is enough, we need to recover, thanx!