Turning on the Lights

Christmas Event for Pet Charity

A merry and balanced Christmas to all - Paula Manoli-Gray

Despite my best attempts to ignore any signs of Christmas, it is getting harder and harder to avoid it, so I will have to concede that yes, it is indeed getting closer.

I don't like Christmasy things too early, I think December 1 is a good time to start it all, but I do understand that shops have to start early because their competitors do, which in turn makes them start even earlier to get in there before their competitors… and round and round it goes in a cycle of not wanting to miss out, hence the date moves forward year by year!

Although I am not keen on too much Christmas too early, I do still love it because I have two young children and there are wonderful events in Larnaca with a real seasonal spirit. They love the whole razzmatazz of it all, and of course, using Santa as a behaviour tool is very handy! But every year I become more and more jaded with Christmas as an adult because I cannot stand the way it is being made into a secular celebration, like people are embarrassed to acknowledge that it is a Christian celebration to honour the birth of Christ. Even my writing it here may make some people uncomfortable, but if that sounds like you then you shouldn't be jumping on the bandwagon of Christmas and using it as an excuse for presents, gluttony and parties. There, I said it!

In truth, Christmas has now become a commercial holiday for excess and nothing more; the shops rub their hands with glee, the bars and restaurants rub their hands with glee, the supermarkets can bring out whole new ranges to cash in on, and it just reeks of greed, materialism and hedonism with a flip side of stress and feelings of inadequacy.

Personally, I partake in and enjoy the ritual of giving gifts, the social gatherings and the seasonal foods, but I am careful to balance out stories of Santa leaving stockings with the nativity story for my children, and I do remind them why it is Christmas and what it means, whilst still embracing the other elements of it. I don't deny that for some, Christmas is a welcome break from the norm, as it always brings cheer and a message of hope and positivity – and a chance to let out steam at parties too – but we need to balance it out and ensure that we do at least acknowledge the 'reason for the season'.

Cyprus' main religion is Greek Orthodox, so Christmas for many on the island is still about it's original meaning; as is Easter, but every Christmas we read stories from the UK press about how the nativity play is not allowed in case it offends non-Christian children and parents and many cards use the terms 'happy holidays' or 'season's greetings' instead of the word 'Christmas' for the same reason.

Like many things that Cyprus still does right (as hard as it may be for some to believe!), I hope my little island is strong enough to maintain its faith for its religious celebrations too because I can honestly see children in generations to come not having a clue who Joseph, Mary and Jesus are, just as we no longer have a clue why Halloween exists. Do YOU know the reason for Halloween?

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly 21/11/14

Emma's Lunch - 2nd Birthday Bash

Classic opera concert “THE MAGIC OF OPERA”

On 21 of November 2014 in Limassol (Theatre RIALTO) at 7 p.m. Moscow academic Musical theatre named after Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko, one of the leading musical theatres of Russia, presents Classic opera concert "THE MAGIC OF OPERA".

The gold voices of the theatre Natalia Petrozhitskaya (Soprano) and Dmitry Zuev (Baritone) – are participants of numerous prestigious International festivals and Vocal Competitions.

The most demanding public will be pleased of the concert program:
• Rossini, "The Barber of Seville" (Figaro's Aria)
• Bellini, "Norma" (Casta Diva)
• Mozart "Don Giovanni" (Duet of don Giovanni and Zerlina, 3rd Donna Elvira's Aria, "Champagne Aria")
• Puccini, "Gianni Schicchi" (Lauretta's Aria "O mio babbino caro", Aria Gianni Schicchi)
• Leoncavallo, "I Pagliacci" (Duet of Silvio and Nedda)
• Rachmaninoff (Prelude)
• Tchaikovsky, "The Queen of spades" ( Liza's Aria "Where from these tears", Aria of Prince Yeletsky)
• Tchaikovsky "Eugene Onegin" (The Final scene).

Piano accompaniment by Antonina Kadobnova (principal concertmaster of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Concervatory).

Duration of concert - 2 hour with interval.
Recommended age - 12 +.
Price of tickets: 20 Euro.

Breathing life back to Faneromeni - Paula Manoli-Gray

Last week's news that the old leper colony of Agios Charalambous along Faneromeni Street will become a University of Cyprus campus is most exciting! Granted, it will take years to become a reality – two years before construction is started, then however long it takes to complete it – but imagining the area full of life is wonderful.

My parents live in a street off of Faneromeni and close to the colony. As such, I spent my youth in the area and vividly remember it in its heyday. Like Dhekelia Road at the time, Faneromeni was a thriving street and its selection of shops made it almost unnecessary to head into town for shopping. From fruit to shoes, and gifts to haberdashery, Faneromeni had it all.

But like its then-popular cousin, Dhekelia Road, the last decade has seen a steady decline. To the unfamiliar eye, the street appears to be doing okay with a wide mix of establishments, and seems busy enough, but the residents of the area know it's not what it used to be.

The prospect of new life that the university will bring has so excited some in the area, that they are already planning on turning their properties into student digs, and a big name developer with a strong presence in neighbouring Drosia is also readying itself for the big day. For the struggling shops along the street, holding out and struggling for a few more years until the big cash cow comes to town offers a ray of hope. Imagine cafes, restaurants, shops and services all filled with young adults… If the street plays its cards right with its choice of establishments geared towards the youth, it may very well end up giving other popular areas of the town a run for their money.

As for the leper colony, I have to admit it always appeared creepy to me. Logically, I know that it is nothing sinister, but as a child, the stories were of residents that looked like zombies with body parts missing and misshapen features. We would never dare approach it, and it took me many years to finally pluck up the courage to drive through and have a look. What I found was a quaint and peaceful little community of small houses and a church. There were a couple of old ladies sat outside on chairs - nothing sinister at all, but my childhood impressions will always remain with me.

I don't think there is anyone left now, or if there is, it is only a handful of very elderly patients, but I do wonder what will happen to the church when it becomes a university. The church was moved to the colony brick by brick from the old colony in Nicosia and rebuilt by the residents themselves in 1955, as such, it is a piece of the town's history. I hope it is treated with respect and incorporated into the campus.

And of course, the university development comes with a national park for the adjacent salt lake, which is also fabulous news, although the combination of boisterous, carefree students and a protected natural area isn't one that really marries well on paper! I just hope that there is enough along the regenerated Faneromeni street to keep the young 'uns occupied and merry, and that we won't regret putting a university next to one of our loveliest beauty spots.

Internationally renowned speaker to hold Larnaca workshop

Dr Brenda Davies to give talk on parenting

Internationally renowned speaker, healer, consultant and psychiatrist Dr Brenda Davies will be holding a parenting workshop on Saturday, November 22 at Apothikes - an event that is supported by the Larnaca Parents Network (LPN).

During two three-hour sessions (at 10am and 2pm), Dr Davies will speak on the challenges that raising children brings, answer questions and open the floor to discussion. Topics include "negotiating various stages of childhood and adolescence, dealing with sibling rivalries, peer pressures, substance abuse, childhood depression and just trying to understand our child who is now becoming an independent being."

Born in the UK, but now based in Zambia, Dr Davies is the author of seven books and a variety of CDs and DVDs. She is the founder and teacher of an international healing and self-development school with a presence in eight countries, and teaches on topics varying from energy medicine and spiritual approaches to issues such as addictions, adolescence, sexuality, prosperity, co-dependence and suicide. Her method combines allopathic medicine with spiritual approaches, and she is also a mentor and medium. As a mentor, she helps people through 'career or crisis', and is also active in conflict resolution and peace building, whilst as a medium she is called upon to assist in soul rescue work, as well as teaching Past Life Therapy.

With a family of her own – including an extended Zambian one, Dr Davies is well versed in raising children: "As a mother of two, grandmother of three and also a great-grandmother, I know well the possible pitfalls we can fall into.  I've also raised many orphans here on my farm in Zambia, and of course, children who have been so traumatised bring with them a unique set of challenges for themselves and anyone involved in helping them grow to adulthood. I also have in my family several wonderful young people including grandchildren, who have been adopted, who then demand even more understanding of their particular issues.

"One of the most helpful things we can do is to just be there for our children.  Recently some top athletes were asked what was the most helpful thing their parents ever said to them.  It was simply 'they said they loved to watch me doing what I do'. Often it's a simple as that."

Whilst she originally studied to become a physician, Dr Davies says her healing gifts have led her on a path of helping others around the world: "I love my life and people in general and an honoured to share whatever gifts I have. My aim is always to help support others as they become the best that they can be; I am honoured to stand by, to guide and to aid healing while people find themselves once more able to stand up and, in doing so, discover their greatness."

Dr Davies has a long-standing relationship with Cyprus: "I first came to Cyprus in 1987 to visit the family of my partner who was born in Famagusta, brought up to some extent in Paphos and then in the UK. So, I have been a frequent visitor and always wanted to come and do some of the work here that I do elsewhere in the world involving healing ourselves and coming to peace within and with family, community and the world. I was thrilled to be invited to do that three years ago and am very much looking forward to being in Cyprus next week and being in even more cities this time."

Her previous workshops in Cyprus have included bi-communal work with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. This time she will be in Cyprus until November 29, during which time she will hold a variety of workshops across the island with different topics, all under the umbrella of 'healing our relationships'. Whilst Dr Davies gives her talks in English, she has Greek and Turkish translators to assist.

Participation in the Larnaca workshop is €30 per person, and reservations can be made by contacting Hatzy: 99667039 / Sue: 99622504.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly 14/11/14

The Spirit of Christmas - Frozen Winter Wonderland

Russian roulette wardens - Paula Manoli-Gray

Our popular Phinikoudes is getting a facelift, and it is always encouraging to see efforts being made to maintain our town, but there is one thing about the strip that makes my blood boil every time I drive down it - something I like to call 'Russian roulette wardens'.

I just do not understand the way the traffic department and/or municipality thinks. The strip was a no-parking zone, yet everyone parked on it. Instead of seeing cash signs and booking everyone - all day long - the traffic wardens would infrequently drive down the strip, randomly pick a handful of cars and fine them, leaving the rest untouched. More often than not, it was the rental cars that were booked – I saw it on numerous occasions. For those who illegally parked along the promenade it was a game of Russian roulette as to whether they would get a parking fine. For many, the risk was worth it, as more often than not they would make it through ticket-free, or leave the café at the sight of a warden and shout at him/her for daring to book them when they were only sitting a couple of feet away enjoying a coffee.

Then the seafront was deemed a temporary, free parking area pending the creation of a new multi-storey. Again, to me it seemed logical to add metres or some sort of pay system. Another missed opportunity for bags of extra cash at a time when extra cash would have been useful for the municipality. I imagine the people who parked in the limited spaces are those who had always parked there – illegal or not.

And then once again, the strip was made a strictly no-parking zone. The same old 'no parking' signs were once again erected, save for a few bay spots, mainly reserved for the disabled. The municipality even issued a press release stating every single legal parking spot within the town centre limits, and reiterating that those not heeding the no parking warning would be fined.

So, has anything changed? Not a jot. In fact, the paragraph on traffic wardens randomly and infrequently booking rental cars could easily be inserted here. How ever many times I have driven down the strip since it was once again declared a no-parking zone, I have not seen a single traffic warden, except for once, when hubby and I watched him hop on his bike, drive blindly past all the illegally parked cars to the middle of the strip then book one car before driving off again.

Seriously? And then we wonder why people continue to park illegally – fully on pavements, blocking access points, in disabled spots, taking up two spaces at a time. They do it partly because they are lazy and ignorant, but also partly because they can get away with it.

Phinikoudes has three choices; offer free parking once again, install metres, or if it is to remain a no-parking zone, then the traffic wardens have to actually do their job. It amazes me that the money they could be raking in is not incentive enough. Surely all those poor unsuspecting tourists in their rental cars, who are duped into parking illegally because the locals are, can be squeezed for a bit more of their hard earned holiday money?

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 07/11/14

Ayia Napa Christmas Event

Dhekelia Bonfire & Fireworks Night

Little Muse Young People's Theatre Christmas Events

11am, Sunday 14th December, American Academy Junior School hall

'Alice's Wonderland' directed by Torkild Lindebjerg

The Carnival has come to town! Mr Apollonius is a travelling showman and he is eager for his daughter Alice to follow in his footsteps. But each and every one of us has our own song to sing and our own white rabbit to chase......tumbling into Wonderland Alice meets a host of strange characters and begins a journey of discovery to find her own voice.


4pm & 6pm, Sunday 14th December, American Academy Junior School hall

All I Want for Christmas written and performed by Catherine Beger......


Charity the bag lady is homeless. She never gets any presents because Father Christmas can never find her so she decides to take matters into her own hands.
She thinks through her Christmas wish list and realizes that most of the things she wants, she already has in her trolley; all except for one thing...

10am Saturday 13th Dec and 4pm Sat 20th Dec at Little Muse Theatre

The Polar Express Storytelling Theatre for the very young

Alice & All I Want for Christmas....Tickets: 5 euros /8 euros
The Polar Express: 8 euros per child Adults Free (includes gift from Santa/Hot Chocolate/A snow storm and general madness :)

LPN Third Thursday - Surviving Cancer

Christmas Fair

Гастроли московского драматического театра "Бенефис"

8 и 9 ноября 2014 года приглашаем детей и их родителей на музыкально-волшебную фантастическую феерию «ШЛЯМПОМПО».

Ох, и непростое же это дело – воспитание…Особенно если хочешь, чтобы в результате сформировалась личность! Вот и добрая волшебница Ригби пытается обучить озорного кота Дикона хорошим манерам. А чтобы у того перед глазами был достойный пример, волшебница оживляет огородное пугало Шлямпомпо. Совершая раз за разом добрые поступки, Шлямпомпо уже без помощи колдовства на глазах у зрителей превращается в Настоящего Человека. 

Спектакль поставлен по мотивам народных английских сказок, а музыкальным оформлением к нему служит музыка всемирно известных групп «ABBA» и «Boney M», которая поднимет настроение всем без исключения зрителям.

МЕСТО И ВРЕМЯ ПРОВЕДЕНИЯ:
8 ноября – 11.00, Никосия (театр Сатирико),
8 ноября – 17.00, Ларнака (театр Скала),
9 ноября – 11.00, Пафос (театр Маркидео),
9 ноября – 17.00, Лимассол (театр Полемидия).

Главные роли в этом детском спектакле играют "звезды" телесериалов:
Евгений Вакунов («Кремлевские курсанты»,«Глухарь. Продолжение»,«Дубровский», «Только ты»),
Семен Почивалов («Папины дочки»,«Барвиха»,«Татьянин день» ,«Девичник»),
Валерия Сухачева («Монах»,«След», «Пожар», главная роль в фильме "Честь самурая").

Рекомендованный возраст: от 5-ти лет.
Продолжительность: 1 час 10 минут без антракта.
Стоимость билетов 12 евро.
Дополнительная информация по телефону 96 30 2770 и
на сайте www.magictheatre.ru

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PARENTING - With Dr Brenda Davies

Where: Apothikes, Saint Lazarus street, 79, Larnaka, Larnaca, Cyprus

When: Saturday 22nd November

Time: Choose either Morning 10.00 - 13.00 or Afternoon 14.00 - 17.00

Dr. Brenda Davies, MD is a Consultant Psychiatrist, healer, peace-builder, author of 7 books, founder and teacher of an international healing and self-development school with students in 8 countries. Her medical knowledge lends credibility when combining it with healing in her work. Brenda meets you with a down-to-earth and caring approach with a lot of humour and compassion and would be delighted to meet you during her time in Cyprus.

Being a parent if often very hard. Raising our children to have good values, good ethics and high integrity often tests us. Negotiating various stages of childhood and adolescence, dealing with sibling rivalries, peer pressures, substance abuse, childhood depression and just trying to understand our child who is now becoming an independent being, can be a bit of a minefield, while we also balance home, career and our own personal life, health, hurts and losses and still sometimes try to parent ourselves. But being a parent is also one of the greatest gifts of being human which is why we keep doing it! So why not come and ask questions of Dr. Brenda, share, discuss and have your heart soothed in this lively session of questions and answers on parenting.


Dr Brenda Davies travels from Zambia and will be conducting a range of workshops throughout Cyprus during November, charging a nominal amount only to cover costs of travel.


Participation €30


Reservations: Hatzy: 99667039 * Sue: 99622504

Starting ‘em young - Paula Manoli-Gray

My 5-year old son came home from school last Monday in tears, scared that he may never see his dad again. What could have made him this distraught at pre-school you may wonder? Surely it must be one of the children in the playground?

Nope, it was a teacher, who showed them a photograph of WW2 soldiers boarding a train with tearful wives and children waving them goodbye. She then proceeded to tell them that some of the children never saw their daddies again as they were killed in war.

No matter how cruel the realities of this world, my young son does not have to have his childhood destroyed by them. There is plenty of time for him to learn that bad things happen, and school has no right to force those realities on him for the sake of celebrating and glorifying a day in history that Greece said 'no' to Italy in 1940.

It took a lot of convincing for my son to believe that we live in different times and daddy is not a soldier who will be called to war. I had to liken this history lesson to that of knights and Vikings to make him feel that some parts of the past are almost mythical, after all, I told him, you don't see knights with swords riding around on horses nowadays.

I was absolutely livid. This is not the first time he has come home with strong political or religious indoctrination and it appears it is not limited to his school; it is the general way of state schools on the island. You may recall my column last Easter (before my son was in pre-school) where I wrote of a friend's children being traumatised by their junior school showing the crucifixion of Christ in full, gory detail in a Larnaca village school – something they routinely do every Easter.

I want my children to attend Greek school – at least for the primary years – as we live here and I want them to be able to use both English and Greek equally well, for they may end up choosing to stay here in the future. My Greek certainly isn't good enough to work somewhere where Greek writing and typing is required, and I don't want them to have doors closed to them due to a language barrier like I have. I fully intend them to learn English alongside their Greek schooling too, but I was so tempted to pull him out of the Greek system then and there and never look back.

Both my children were baptised Greek Orthodox, but I want to raise them the way I want to raise them when it comes to religion and politics. Whilst it is all very well learning the history and religion of the island, there seems to be a very biased element to a lot of it, and it is way too meaty and heavy for children of their age.

For one, how can we expect the next generation to be ambassadors of change and peace on our divided island when they come home hating 'the Turks', without really knowing what a 'Turk' is other than being 'a bad man who stole my country'. Of course what they did to our island is abominable, but fostering a climate of hate in children who should not know that hate exists is really damaging.

And as for politics, it is certainly very Greece-centric, but that there is a whole other story, and one I am not touching with a barge pole!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 31/10/14