The Holiday: This year was Cyprus. Went to watch the WRC in September and stayed on to see the beaches. The whole island is so small that we were able to cover it all, forwards as well as backwards! And we had some amazing food and wine. The traditional dish (or rather dishes) there is the mezze. Its like a set meal- one has no choice but eat what they serve. It starts rather innocuously with a couple of salads and dips, then goes on to more substantial vegetarian things, then fish, then chicken, then pork, then lamb. When when thinks that its truly over now, they take away the plates and bring in new ones for the main course! Its really hard work to go through a meal like that. One has to start preparing and planning from breakfast onwards!

We also had some very nice Cypriot wine. I have become quite a convert! The Cypriots are rather large, specially around the middle, and truly friendly, warm and welcoming.