“The first corner property had a good terrace space, and the land adjacent to it wouldn’t be built on, meaning a secure natural haven for future years. There was no pressure to buy, but it took us only a couple of days for us to make up our minds.”

They sold their small, three-bedroom, mid-terrace house in Redditch for £115,000, and moved to Cyprus in February 2005. They paid £125,000 for their spacious, two-bedroom, detached Polis house. There’s room for guests, which was just as well last June, when their daughter had her wedding in Cyprus.

“It was a wonderful celebration of our daughter’s new life – and ours,” says Nigel.

“Polis is so cosy and intimate and really feels like home already,” explains Lynne. “It has the feeling of what an English village used to be like years ago.”

“There’s plenty of countryside to explore on walks and we already have a favourite bar in town,” adds Nigel. “Costa’s Corner, run by Maria and Costa, offers the very best of Cypriot hospitality. They’re so genuinely friendly and really love their customers.

We’re perfectly content with our life here and just hope that overdevelopment doesn’t spoil it. That’s the only reason we’d think about moving again.

“Even if we do get a patch of bad weather, we know it won’t last, so it never dampens our spirits. Though living close to Birmingham did mean that we always had a great range of cultural activity to soak up whenever we felt like it, the fact that we have to travel a bit further from where we are now, to Paphos or Limassol, doesn’t bother us at all.”

They’re also positive about the island’s healthy, low-cost lifestyle. “Overall, living here is around 35 per cent cheaper than in the UK, and on top of this, property prices are still on the rise. The asking price for a similar property next door to us is now £138,000 and we’re sure that our corner plot is worth at least £143,000.

“Local produce is much cheaper than we were used to paying in Britain, and we also tend not to waste much food here. We shop daily for fresh ingredients, with trips to the local stores being very much part of the social setup here.”

Nigel enjoys a few rounds of golf 30 minutes away at the Trade golf course, where he’s won a championship trophy. The better weather makes his golf even more pleasurable. Lynne relishes the opportunity to read more than she ever had time to before. They’ve recently started Greek lessons together, though Nigel warns: “It’s not the easiest language to master, but we’re trying very hard and our teacher makes it all a bit of fun when we’re struggling!”

Lynne says it’s important to learn the language, but not because you have to: “It’s a great way of interacting more with local life.”

They spend Fridays as volunteers at the Haven coffee shop, which supports the Paphos Christian Fellowship International, and they’re involved with other church activities. Their lives are as active as they were in the UK – they just don’t have the stress.

“We’ve just discovered a new walk from Polis beach to Latchi fishing harbour, where we love having lunch,” says Lynne. “I favour the local stifado dish, and Nigel often opts for fresh sardines and kleftico, washed down with oodles of local red wine. It’s good value, with a carafe of wine at just £5, starters for £2 and main meals at £5. It’s excellent quality, as it’s always home cooked.”

Lynne no longer doubts the decision to quit Britain when they did. “I didn’t realise just how stressful it was until after we had moved to Cyprus,” she says. “During a trip to the UK, I spent a few days back at work to help out. The stress was bearable only because I knew it was only a matter of days before I’d be heading back here. I hadn’t realised how much my work was taking out of me.

“I am so glad we took the step when we did. We both still have so much enthusiasm for life, and in sunny Cyprus it’s easy to appreciate the life we have!”