Spring-cleaning those dust-filled rugs - Paula Manoli-Gray

If you are wondering why Cyprus is currently so dusty, it's because the rugs of deceit are being lifted and new indiscretions are no longer being allowed to be swept under them!

On the one hand, it is horrible to hear of some new scandal, attempted cover-up, corruption story or exposé every day, and it suddenly makes Cyprus appear to have changed overnight from a charming little isle of warm welcomes, into one big ghetto. But on the other hand, it shows us that all is not lost, and that positive changes can happen even after a long time of ingrained habits.

I have said this before and I won't stop repeating it; Cyprus is no worse than any other country, but due to its size, things can appear worse, or more magnified. And now with the added element of things coming to the surface and those darn dusty rugs being rolled up, it can seem even more hopeless or corrupt. But it has always been that way, since the illegitimate children of village affairs decades ago, to the modern denials that issues like anorexia, bullying and mental disabilities actually exist.

For a very long time, an accepted blanket of silence and a policy of 'we don't talk about these things' prevailed – probably because it was an island of neighbourhoods. Since the financial crisis that brought us to our knees, people have suddenly had the veil lifted, and this abrupt awakening has quickly spread from wanting answers regarding the role of bankers in our downfall, to realising that in every corner of society there is an elephant in the room. 

So far, we have seen videos of police brutality emerge; scandals of the powerful or rich keeping their power or wealth through unscrupulous means; people in authority – ala sewerage boards and municipalities – breaking the trust of their positions in the worse ways; reports of rape, abuse and paedophilia coming out of the woodwork like teaming swarms of cockroaches, and so much more.

These are awful things to happen, but the fact they are coming out is good, for it means we have finally entered the Era of Accountability and Transparency. Yes, it is still in its infancy, and knowing us, it could be a long time before baby steps turn into big strides, but we have reached this point at long last. And it is not going to be a pleasant journey. For some, the 'ignorance is bliss' policy will actually be more preferable than having to face new painful revelations on a daily basis.

For me personally, the area of child safety and wellbeing is my main concern, and I feel utterly sick to the stomach when new cases of child abuse come to light – I desperately want to still feel that my island is the right place to raise my children. And this unease is especially ripe right now as my son prepares to start the first year of state primary school, and I am hearing from mothers everywhere that there is a serious issue of bullying – right from year 1. The horror stories of what so and so's neighbour's daughter went through, or a cousin's son's best friend did are shocking to say the least.

Maybe, if we tackle the 'unspoken' problems from the early years and get issues like bullying, drug abuse and the like under control, then we won't see so many of the next generation becoming the kind of adults who abuse their power, chase wealth at any expense and target the innocence of children. And that really is something to get 'dusty' over.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 28/08/15

‘Clamping down’ should be more than just words - Paula Manoli-Gray

It is always pleasant news when Larnaka Municipality states that it will clamp down on certain anti-social behaviours (of which there are many!) But it is never a guarantee that they will put their money (or that of the taxpayers) where their mouth is, so I really, really hope that this time the new law of not allowing eyesores and illegal obstructions on pavements will be implemented.

No doubt there are business owners who are up-in-arms at the new decree that only those with prior permission are allowed to put signs, tables, chairs and decorative items on the pavements and roads outside of their establishments. After all, the sight of a board menu or an 'open' sign is a common sight in town, and within reason, the practise seems fairly harmless.

But, you get establishments who think that they own the pavement and road outside of their premises, to the point that they fill both up either to stop people parking (and thus blocking the sight of their premises), or to extend their services outside. And there are those who go a step further and actually forbid members of the public to park even in metered spaces unless they are visiting their particular shop or restaurant. Not only is this unfair and illegal, but there have been many instances when the establishment owners have actually become aggressive or violent towards vehicles parked outside 'their' premises. I have personally heard of owners returning to egged or scratched cars for refusing not to abide by the establishment's demands to move along.

By claiming the surrounding areas of their business, there are many establishments that are inconveniencing and endangering pedestrians – especially those with pushchairs and wheelchairs - by forcing them to walk on the road. It makes me very cross that any business should take away someone's right to walk safely on a pavement, or abuse them if they try to walk through the obstacle course of pot plants, signs and tables, or dare to park legally outside.

The reason that this clamping down is taking place is actually mainly for aesthetic reasons. As a tourist town, rusty signs held down by an old tire do not look nice! There is no consistency to the type of signs used, and some of them are actually hazardous as well as ugly. Good luck to the municipality, as I really don't fancy their chances of policing an entire town's pavements or finding cooperative business owners!

Personally, I live in fear of parking in a legal spot outside someone's business, as they tend to peer out and give you a dirty look if you are not going inside. I normally park and run out of the car before they spot me. This is crazy but in Cyprus, people are very territorial of surrounding areas that they think 'belong' to them.

Case-in-point is the issue of residential areas where homeowners selfishly plant massive trees in the middle of pavements, or park their car fully on the pavement. It has long been a contentious issue for me, especially as nothing is being done about it.

I for one certainly look forward to a less hazardous town, and kindly request that residential areas are next on the list!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, week 03/07/15

Wobbly bits and genius ideas - Paula Manoli-Gray

Despite an unusually slow start, summer has finally made its grand entrance! The good news for residents of the island is that this year the summer will be 'milder' – or so the press tells us. That means it will be hot – too hot at times – but not super-unbearably-hot for the most part! Considering that it is almost July and we have yet to have to turn on the air-conditioning, we have done very well so far!

I cannot imagine there are too many people on the island who absolutely hate summer, because logically, they wouldn't chose to live here, but I am sure there are a fair portion, who – like me - still get a shock when it is time to bare some flesh!

Despite knowing all-year-round that summer is coming with certainty, and therefore sandals, shorts, t.shirts and swimwear are inevitable too, it is always a little traumatising when you first reveal a patch of white skin, or wobbly, cellulite-d, varicose veined or scarred imperfections! But the summer and the sea have a strange way of making us compartmentalise our body exposure. I personally wouldn't dream of wearing leggings, hot pants, a mini skirt or even shorts slightly above the knee, but I have no issue with wearing what amounts to underwear-in-a-purpose-made-fabric (a.k.a swimwear) at the beach. That said, I do choose my beaches with care and do not frequent those where the young and beautiful are living life like one big party, so that could have something to do with it…

…but I do adore the sea (I don't sunbathe, it's all about the water for me), and I love going early morning when the water is cold and calm and the sea creatures have not gone into hiding yet. Already this year I have found some unusual shells that I did not have in my collection, and have met a starfish, crabs and other assorted fish. And it is on one of these mornings, mulling over how we have once again topped the list for Europe's cleanest coasts, and how on earth that is possible when I am forever picking rubbish out of the sea, that I had one of those genius ideas that you know would be a winner but that you will never do.

If anyone from the municipality is reading, I would love them to take my suggestion on board because I really think it would help everyone to pitch in and keep our seas clean and safe. So, the idea is (drum roll please) Floating Sea Bins.

If there were Floating Sea Bins (moored down like buoys) with slots for throwing litter in, but that you could not take litter out of (like bottle banks), then maybe more people would care for the state of the seas by picking up any litter they found and depositing it in the bins. So far, the waters are generally clean but I have found too many tin cans and plastic bags for my liking. I do throw them out of the sea when I am close enough to the shore for my weak throw to catapult them out of the water, but most of the time I am too far from the sands to pick the litter out the sea and keep taking it out.

Floating Sea Bins… you heard it here first!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 26/06/15

Do you want flies with that? - Paula Manoli-Gray

As an advertising copywriter as well as a journalist, I am guilty of regularly extolling the virtues of al fresco dining on the island (a posh way of saying 'eating outside').

On many occasion I have painted a picture with words about how amazing it is to be able to eat outside in nice weather; either at home in the garden or on a veranda, or at one of the many restaurants that have lovely outdoor areas. It is a wonderful vision of intimately sharing delicious, fresh food under the sun or stars, with smiles all-round and beautiful memories created…

…I don't know about you, but as a resident of the island, I have rarely enjoyed a meal outdoors that has not been ruined by insects!

We don't eat in our own garden due to flies, mosquitoes and ants. When my parents invite us to eat on their veranda - or at the horafi where dad has a clay oven - we literally spend the entire time fighting off the flies; swatting the kids food (and sacrificing our own in the process so that our precious babies' meals are not tainted), and generally getting incredibly grumpy that we cannot enjoy what was potentially going to be another great, big, fat Cypriot feast! It is horrible. Al fresco dining is certainly not all it is hyped up to be!

But something that visitors do not realise is that having insects in and around your home in Cyprus is not an indication that you are dirty in any way… everyone has them, they are everywhere and that is just the way it is!

I sometimes read online reviews for hotels on the island where the guest from abroad has written of their disgust of finding a single, solitary cockroach or ant on the premises, and I really feel for the venue. Whilst a hoard of roaches running riot anywhere is horrible and could indeed be an indication of lowly hygiene standards, the odd roach here or there in houses and hotels is perfectly normal, and no matter how much you take care to treat against them, a rogue one will always surface. Ants too are notoriously hard to get rid of once they have taken hold and decided that your home is a good source of food! I know of people with extremely clean kitchens who simply cannot get rid of the ants, and of others whose kitchens are not so clean that have never had an ant in their life. It seems it is partly how you keep your abode, but also partly luck of the draw.

And as for mosquitoes, some people genuinely dread summer if they live in an area particularly bad for mosquitoes, or have the kind of blood that the critters go crazy for. No matter what precautions they take, my son, sister and mother-in-law especially appeal to the bloodsuckers, whilst hubby seems to appeal to them the least!

I personally do not kill insects unless it is absolutely vital, preferring to take them – or guide them – out of the house. I consider my garden to be fair game and that I have no right to deny insects any outside areas, as they are just being what they were made to be, but that said, I do yearn for the al fresco dining that I promote. And yes, whilst there are far worse problems in the world (and Larnaca), as an island built on the tradition of food and eating outdoors, that experience of spoilt fly-laden souvla really can seem like a tragedy sometimes!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 19/06/15

Defending the island’s honour in the face of FB flippancy! - Paula Manoli-Gray

I recently saw a post from a Facebook friend that showed a picture of the Cyprus flag with an eye crying one, single tear and his comment "…my beloved Cyprus exists, no longer. It has now become the home of everything that is wrong with today's world."

As a general rule, I don't get involved in Facebook debates and comments, and am not one to publically talk politics or religion, but this sweeping statement that the island is literally where everything bad is, really riled me. And so I wrote a long comment back where I nicely said that every single country has good and bad, and that I did not accept this generalised comment (in a nutshell). And of course there were additional comments from others about how anyone who cannot see how corrupt the island is, and how bad things are, is basically blind or an idiot.

It's my fault! As a writer, I am used to measuring my words and carefully writing in a balanced and factual way. So, when I read something like '…the home of everything that is wrong with today's world', as a writer, I take it literally and am offended by the inaccuracy and abuse of the English language. I am used to working to the policy that every word a journalist writes has the potential to be slanderous, defamatory or controversial if it is sweeping, generalised or not backed up with hard evidence – and that includes on social media sites too.

The writer clearly has strong and impassioned feelings about the state of the island, and when he wrote his comment, it would not have crossed his mind that he had written something that simply, cannot 'literally' be true! Cyprus is not and cannot be the home of EVERYTHING wrong with today's world, and it is not. Yes, it has many issues – corrupt politicians and officials being one of them – but it is far from the worse country in the entire world, and if we were to take this statement literally and offer evidence to argue against it, there is a whole catalogue of reasons why there are many countries where more 'wrong' things exist!

My stance remains the same as always; that every single country has good and bad people, elements, policies, practises and conditions, and whilst I am not blind to the negatives of Cyprus, I am also not blind to the positives. Sometimes the bad elements are more evident and obvious here due to our small size, and I personally choose to have a balanced view where I focus more on the good than the bad. But that said, the fact that FB friend feels this way, and was then backed up by others expressing the same sentiments (and vilifying me in the process for my 'ignorance') got me thinking. Are things really that bad here?

Well, I guess the answer to that depends on who you are and how your cards have been dealt, as one size does not fit all. And perhaps for some people it is easier to move back when they feel things have become intolerable here. In the case of the FB friend - and some of the others who commented - the common perception was that they had been 'forced to flee' Cyprus, and indeed, there are many who in recent years have left. I do not know the merits of each case, and I do not doubt that for some of them, the move back was the right thing to do and they are much happier, but I wish they would stop making out that the island is the villain and has no redeeming features…

…because in the process, they are insulting everyone who does still live here, as though we are too stupid to know any better. 

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 12/06/15

The game of ‘what if’ - Paula Manoli-Gray

Last week's fire at an area by the salt lake was a sobering wake-up call for Larnaca residents, and a reminder of how fragile we really are.

With so many daily trials and tribulations to contend with, we tend not to account for the possibility of other, more serious events. I think that this is because – thankfully – we have not experienced many of the major-scale disasters of other parts of the world, and so, our daily frustrations with government offices and bad drivers do indeed seem to be absolutely tragic on a personal level for each of us! Then something truly, potentially dangerous happens and we are forced to open our eyes to what it means to live in a world where your health and wellbeing doesn't just depend on you and your personal choices, but on those of the whole community and the governing bodies of the region we live in.

As is typical in these kinds of circumstances, the 'what if's' started to unfold as the fire blazed. As the site of the fire was roughly opposite the area where my parents live; roughly opposite my daughter's ballet school; next to my son's school, and more alarmingly, by the petrol station of the area, for me, it was a case of 'what if' it had happened when my son was at school? 'What if' it reached the ballet school where my daughter was at the time? 'What if' my parents had to evacuate or lost their property? But the biggest and scariest of all… 'what if' it reached the petrol station?

I am not aggrandising here because it was a fire of a potentially very damaging size, and due to the dry and brittle foliage of the area – as well as the petrol station – it could have been potentially a whole lot worse. As we know, the fire department did a grand job of containing it; the petrol station closed its pumps down, fire breakers were dug out and the ending is a largely happy one for the residents of the area and Larnaca, with no loss of human life or damage to properties. I won't say that any damage to the area's flora or fauna is acceptable, because it is not, and it is tragic to lose any kind of natural wealth, let alone that of a protected area, but all things considering, we (as in Larnaca) did okay.

Of course, we cannot think 'what if' because if it didn't happen, then there is nothing to worry about. Or is there? The 'what ifs' could easily be real situations, so just because something didn't happen and there is no need to lay blame, make accusations and demand justice, that doesn't mean we get off scott-free.

One of my first questions was 'should there be a petrol station right next to a school and a protected forestland of much undergrowth and bamboo – which basically becomes firewood in the hot months?' I was told that all the right safety measures are indeed in place and it is okay. But still… it got me thinking about something that I had always taken for granted – the location of the petrol station. In fairness, the petrol station was there long before the school was built, but it does make me wonder about the protocols of town planning.

And there is the issue of whether it was arson; believed to have been triggered by the mosquitoes in the area. I like to think that no human being would be so reckless as to endanger human life and cause damage to the area they live in just to make a point, but we all know that there are people like that out there.

Sadly, our wellbeing is indeed a collective issue of community, and so we all need to ensure that we are a positive force in ours, and not the (dry and flamable) straw that breaks the camel's back.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper, 05/06/15

Community garage sale for charity - Paula Manoli-GRay

A community garage and craft sale will be held on Saturday, June 06 by the Larnaca Parents Network (LPN) with all welcome to participate with a table, or by visiting the event.

The 'Table Top & Craft Sale' will offer the opportunity to clear out unwanted clothing, household goods, toys, books, antiques, furniture and any other items that can be sold, as well as original crafts. And whilst the table fee goes to the LPN's 'Give a Gift' appeal, the sale proceeds are kept by the table-holder, making it a great opportunity for people to make money and also help a good cause.

Table space is €10 if you have your own table to use, or  €13 to rent the space and table. The sale will be held on the grounds of the Greek Evangelical Church (which is opposite the American Academy's Weir Hall building) from 10am to 4pm.

The 'Give a Gift Appeal' supports needy families living locally, and for this event will be used to make up emergency parcels that the Greek Evangelical Church will distribute to those in most need.

Aside from the tables, there will also be refreshments, homebaked goods, food and children's entertainment that has been donated by Angela Ashby of Angela's Activities.

Founder of LPN, Sharon Holmes says that the garage sale will be the biggest of its kind in Larnaca: "These kind of garage sales are very popular in the UK and other countries, but not really seen in Cyprus. So many people have things that they would like to get rid of and this is a fantastic opportunity for them to also make some money in difficult times whilst supporting our efforts to help those less fortunate in the community. The old adage of 'one man's junk is another man's treasure' is certainly true and we anticipate there being lots of fantastic bargains to pick up! It is also an opportunity for artisans to sell their original crafts. We hope to see everyone supporting the local community either by attending or booking a table, as well as promoting the event for us, and we are confident that this will be the biggest mass garage sale of its kind so far."

To Book your table please call Sarah Campbell on 96396784.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper, 29/05/15

100 years Kataklysmos: from local customs to tacky plastic! - Paula Manoli-Gray

It is that time of year again… the time of year when Larnaca takes the spotlight and is the epicentre of Kataklysmos celebrations. The time of year that people from all over the island flock to our seafront and every inch of parkable – and non-parkable space is taken up.

So, what do you think of our Festival of the Flood celebrations? They keep going strong, and we actually celebrate 100 years this year! That is pretty amazing, but I don't tend to go anymore.

When I was a teenager, it was indeed the highlight of my year as we (the teens of the time!) would love the bumper cars on the beach and spent most of the time at the fairground on the sands.  I would walk from my parents' home in Drosia, so parking wasn't an issue, and we really did enjoy the whole atmosphere. People would really dress up for it in their finest and walk up and down the promenade people-watching, like they used to in the villages when my dad was a teenager and the Sunday 'peripato' (walk) to see the opposite sex was the highlight of the youth's week!

As I got older the festival started to lose its shine for me. I am not sure if it was the frustration as a driver of not being able to enter the town centre or park, or if the stalls have become increasingly tacky. Fast forward to today, and I don't take my kids in the evening at all for two reasons 1) It is so packed that I become claustrophobic pushing through the crowds and fear I will lose them, and 2) they just want to buy the dodgy-quality rubbish at the stalls and make my life very difficult when I say 'no'.

Granted, the entertainment is good and eagerly anticipated. A lot of planning goes into it and elements of the old traditions, such as the improved rhyming matches of 'Chatista' still take place, but still… I just don't feel it anymore.

The addition of uniform, white tents of recent years is also nice and gives the place a much tidier look - so it is not reminiscent of a gypsy carnival - but the stalls are still not of the greatest standard and as is the case every year, whatever one stall has, the rest have too – all from the same supplier so it is very 'samey'.

And with times changing, there is no longer the thrill of buying music cassette tapes! The stalls selling mix tapes and really, really good copies of international artist's tapes were one of the highlights of my youth! But I do give the 'lokmathes' (honey dough balls) and traditional fruit and nut stalls a thumbs-up, as well as the kiosks of local crafts (my favourite bit) as they are representative of our customs and culture.

As for the people-watching, folks still walk up and down the promenade constantly with no real purpose, but as we are living in a time when people either dress up or down all the time depending on their personality, there is no definition of 'special occasion' wear, so there isn't that pride of having dolled up for the event.

Don't get me wrong… I am all for maintaining traditions and having our own cultural events that form part of Larnaca's identity, and I love the whole atmosphere of it all, but I don't equate that to struggling to park, just so my kids can buy a fake Minion/Smurf/Super Mario stuffed toy!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper 29/05/15

Paupers in castles - Paula Manoli-Gray

We recently celebrated my daughter's birthday with a children's party at our home, and just as we did in March for my son, we invited school friends and their parents, many of whom we had not met before.

And whilst I love holding parties in my home, in the run-up to the 'event' I started to panic about how my abode would appear to those who have not seen it before. And to be honest, it looks pretty darn shocking…

It's not because we are filthy and live like savages (oh who am I kidding, I have two children, so there is never a 'tidy' moment in it), but because as is typical for a house built in Cyprus, it needs constant maintenance or looks completely rundown.

We bought our house 11 years ago from a developer who was building a row of six houses, and are still waiting for our deeds (another, different issue…) I know there are many, many horror stories that range from shoddy workmanship to downright criminal building negligence, but we were lucky to have my Cypriot father visiting every day and moaning at the builders to get things right. Had he not been on their case, I can't imagine how many more issues we would have on top of the ones we have now - the ones that make us look like we live in a house about to be bulldozed with the amount of cracks and pieces falling off!

I am acutely aware that Cypriots are very, very house proud and that many of them are particular with maintaining their homes and keeping them spic and span, hence why I start having palpitations when they turn up at mine for a kid's party and see a house that looks like a) it has been vomited on by a juvenile art fairy (that would be the children's artwork covering the cracks in the wall and the garish colours to make it a cheerful home for them), and b) it is just about ready to fall down on their heads (it isn't, but it sure looks rather sorry for itself). On top of that, our cesspit is far too shallow (another building blunder), and being that we live on a slope, fills up with the waste of all six houses, thus overflowing constantly and costing us a fortune to empty frequently. This is on top of the badly installed water pipes that have caused countless problems, the shower that was not sealed that led to major ceiling damage in the living room, and the cemented electricity pipes. Just a selection of the 'quality' work performed on our significant investment.

And yet, I think we have got off lightly compared to some of the problems I hear from other people. I have one friend who bought a property in Tersefanou who has literally abandoned it as it is a train wreck that won't get rectified by the developer, and is just too much stress and hassle to seek justice for. A very sad situation.

So why is our building industry in such a shambles? Does the nature of our climate condemn our houses to the kind of decay we witness - just as the dust condemns us to a ridiculous level of housework, or is our construction industry too lax? I simply can't understand how we have not yet worked out a method to build houses and pavements that will not start to crack and crumble almost instantly… how do they do it everywhere else in the world?

And so with so much maintenance being needed in our particular home, we just end up looking like paupers living in a castle!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 22/05/15

Progress closed on Sundays? - Paula Manoli-Gray

The recent decision to end Sunday shopping hours – which thankfully was reversed back again to allow the continuation of Sunday shopping -  left the majority of the island stunned and confused. The question asked was why would anyone want to say 'no' to an increase of jobs, greater convenience for the citizens of the island, and the encouragement of tourists? 

I for one was gutted at the prospect of losing my Sunday supermarket shopping, despite it being easy for me to do it on any day as a freelancer, so I can't imagine how frustrated those who work a 9-to-5 during the week must have felt. It would basically amount to a loss of freedom, as well as income for the many who were hired to man those extra hours.

There was once-upon-a-time a belief that if you opened on Sunday you would be 1) be sinning and 2) kill the tradition of family Sunday meals. And I must admit that I always quite liked the fact that Cyprus made Sunday a forced day of rest. But that was my view 15 years ago, and as times have changed, so have my opinions!

Personally, I believe that if you are a good, God-fearing individual, then you show that in other, far more important ways than not buying a pint of milk on Sunday! And when it comes to family, I doubt any member of a loving, close family would decline a Sunday lunch invitation just so that they can go and buy a bunch of bananas or a new dress. In short, we are who we are and we do what we do, whether we have the luxury of extra hours in the week to get our shopping done or not. Shopping on Sunday will not corrupt us!

Small shop owners claimed that the Sunday shopping hours were killing them off, as they could not afford to open on Sunday and compete with those who could. With the action they then took, did they really expect to curry favour amongst consumers? Did they believe that a magic wand would be waved and customers would automatically start shopping with them just because they couldn't go to other shops on Sunday? If 'they' think that the equation is very simplistic – no Sunday shops, no competition - then 'they' are insulting our intelligence to believe that we cannot contain ourselves and will stray if they are not open on Sunday and someone else is. At the end of the day, if there is a small shop I like and it is not open on Sunday, I will just go another day – but of course it also depends on what the small shop offers over the larger one, which is not affected by which days of the week either open.

But whilst we are on the subject, there are other opening hours that sorely need revising… that of banks, government offices and post offices. I am amazed that they have yet to be altered and there cannot be many European countries where everyone has to scramble to get essential chores done in a timeframe that is not only small, but also takes place during most people's working hours and never after.

Is it not logical to think that if everyone has to visit the above mentioned services in just a few hours of the day (and not at any time during the weekend) that they will then be slow, saturated and overworked? 

And yet, we still get annoyed when the rest of the world says that we are a backward country living in the dark ages!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 15/05/15

Where the customer is never right - Paula Manoli-Gray

Customer Service and Cyprus. Not a combination of words I personally would put together, and I have no doubt that every person who reads this on the island will have had their fair share of bad service experiences, ranging from the disappointing to the infuriating. And if it is slowly getting better, it is only marginally improving at best.

One of the worse things that occurs on the island is when the wrong price is on a label, ticket or shelf and the price at the till is higher. For most countries, it is not an issue; price on product is what the customer pays, after all, it is the shop's error and not the customer's…

…Not in Cyprus! You get told in no uncertain terms that someone made a mistake on the ticket, and what is displayed on the till/computer is what goes. Period. On so many occasions I have argued that it is not legal (from what I know), and that the customer pays the price displayed. After all, if this practice was allowed, then customers could take anything to a till only to be told an inflated made-up price by the cashier if they felt like it. Nope, this is a no brainer – price on ticket is price you pay – unless it is sale time and it has been marked down further! I have to note here that supermarkets are generally good and honour the price or special offer, even if it displays differently on the till (but I do say 'generally good' and not 'as a policy'!).

The other practice that I despise (and yes, that is a strong word but I really cannot stand it) is when you want to exchange something and are made to sign your name and write down your phone number on the receipt. This makes me feel as though the store is judging me and trying to ensure that I am not a criminal out to scam them. I also don't believe that they have the right to ask for my personal details, just because I have decided to return something (with receipt). Is this legal? Should they be able to ask for our personal details and claim this as a prerequisite for returning goods?

Which brings me on to receipts. No receipt, no exchange. In some cases, I can understand this - for example, if the goods can be purchased from multiple stores. But when the item has clearly come from a shop, displays their name, includes their ticket with the price and their name (again) then there is no excuse not to exchange it. Surely all that is needed is to scan the barcode to verify for the umpteenth time that said item cannot physically have come from any other shop! Apparently not. And don't even get me started on the 'no refund' and the 'can't use gift or credit vouchers during sale time' policies.

The reason why this topic came to mind is because for the first time in all my years living in Larnaca, the price on the ticket was honoured despite it being a Euro more at the till! To say I was shocked is an understatement! But I am not getting ahead of myself and thinking that there are big changes coming, because despite them begrudgingly fixing the issue, the manager did not make eye contact, smile or say a polite word to me the entire time!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 08/05/15

A Larnaca girl in Paphos - Paula Manoli-Gray

My family and I had a weekend away in Paphos last week, and as I always do, I found myself comparing the region with Larnaca. Not in a negative or competitive way, but more in a curious 'how is life in other towns' way.

It is always interesting to visit the other towns of the island as both a tourist and a local of the island, as you get unique take on the area, and I like to holiday on-island: 1) to make the most of areas I don't see much of, and 2) to support local tourism. But that said, it is in no way cheap or particularly cost-effective, and probably costs the same as holidaying abroad in the long run.

My first comment is that we felt very harassed along the harbour, with every restaurant vying for our business. The restaurant's staff do not specifically target tourists with this horrible behaviour; they knew we were locals and spoke to us in both English and Greek. I have to say, this relentless pressure put me in a bad mood and tainted my experience, but it was dinnertime and we were hungry so we chose a fish restaurant despite wanting to scream at the staff to stop talking to us! We were very disappointed in the size of the meals for the price of them, to the point that we would call the food portions 'positively stingy'! I suppose that is neither here nor there as we probably have our fair share of such places in Larnaca, but being that I know where to eat and stick to my favourites here, I wouldn't know which of our restaurants are also guilty of this practice. Answers on a postcard please!

That aside, Paphos - like the areas Limassol and free Famagusta - does have something that we are sorely lacking in Larnaca, and which would be a most welcome boon to parents... child-friendly restaurants with some form of entertainment. Whilst our chosen restaurant disappointed us meal-wise, it was one of the few dining-out experiences hubby and I have managed to enjoy at a relaxed pace thanks to the kids being occupied and very happy at the restaurant's play area. The other few times have been outside of Larnaca where the majority of restaurants have fabulous big play structures. Even a popular island-wide chain that we also have in Larnaca had a play area and children's character plates and plastic cups in the Limassol mall branch, whereas our Larnaca branch does not.

And, as all parents know, happy children equal happy mealtimes! Larnaca really needs to take a leaf out of the other town's books when it comes to child-friendly dining… I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that we are not a touristy resort, and therefore our restaurants are not fighting for the tourist trade? Or are we just behind on this concept? Of course, if you are not a parent, or your children have flown the nest, you probably quite like this lack of chaos when you dine, but with my two still young, it is certainly something that I would see as an improvement to our region.

Talking of malls, we visited the malls in both Limassol and Paphos, and whilst I enjoyed both, I still remain grateful that we do not have one in Larnaca. I think a mall would spell the certain death of the high street and I would hate to see our town centre suffer. And as we have Nicosia's mall just a twenty minute drive away, it is nice to have that 'going-out-for-the-day-to-the-mall' feeling and having to leave Larnaca to do it.

So, whilst I do not envy the malls of other towns, I do envy their child-friendly dining… just as long as I am not harassed to eat at them!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 01/05/15

On yer bike! - Paula Manoli-Gray

It's a good time to be a cyclist in Larnaca!

I personally don't cycle myself due to not being confident with these kind of things, but I am certainly encouraged on behalf of those who do at how much progress has been made.

The island – and Larnaca – have always been favoured by cyclists from abroad as a place to train, as well as a fantastic destination to hold major cycling tournaments, thanks to our favourable weather and terrain, but locals didn't particularly take cycling seriously as a mode of transport in modern times.

Fast forward to today and in a short period of time, cycling has exploded; not just as a mode of transport or a hobby, but also in terms of conditions for cyclists. The municipality is doing much to encourage the environmentally-friendly mode of transport and is participating in European initiatives that highlight the benefits, and it should be applauded for its efforts. Furthermore, we now have organised cycling groups that meet regularly; many families go on weekend rides; people with cars actually opt to use bikes to get from A to B instead, and the network of cycle paths keeps growing and growing and growing.

So why oh why is it that I still find myself stuck behind cyclists on the road, who are riding parallel to the cycle paths? Is there something wrong with the paths or is it a case of 'careful what you wish for, it may come true'? Maybe it is just me, but I have driven past countless cyclists who are cycling on the road, right next to one of the nice new cycle paths – two or more abreast, and it does not endear them to me at all.

Cyclists have always moaned that motorists are oblivious to their right to use the road, or fail to acknowledge them, and in turn, motorists have found cyclists a nuisance – especially when they do ride two or more abreast and take up the whole road. So I think it is fair now to say that motorists should stick to the road and cyclists to the cycle paths… isn't it? Or am I missing something?

The only thing I can conclude is that maybe the cycle paths feel restrictive to cyclists, being that they are raised up like a pavement and narrow. I can only guess that maybe seasoned cyclists like to ride at a fair pace and feel unrestricted; therefore the road is a more attractive prospect?

If there are any cyclists out there who can enlighten me, I would be interested to hear their views – did the municipality get it wrong with the paths or are they just not used to using designated areas? Is it that they prefer the thrill of the road, or something more?

In the meantime, it is still fantastic to see more and more people embracing alternative means of transport and enjoying our lovely weather and scenery. It is also great to see that international-calibre cycling tournaments continue to take place in the region, putting us on the world cycling map.

As for me, if I ever have the courage to get on a bike, it's the safety and confinement of the red paths for me all the way… with training wheels on!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 24/04/15

A broken record on a broken law - Paula Manoli-Gray

Here we go again! At the expense of sounding like a broken record, I am going to once again have a moan about the issue of illegal parking, and what is not being done about it.

I have bleated on about this in the past, but it has once again been brought to my attention due to a press release from the municipality that claims that they will come down hard on illegal parking along Phoinikoudes and Piale Pasha as from… now. They kindly gave the public the grace period of the Easter holidays to continue parking (unofficially) illegally, with the intention to now curb (pun intended) the practise of parking where you want, when you want, how you want.

I don't believe a word of it. As a broken record, I will recount once more how I have for many years watched in anger as traffic wardens select one or two illegally parked cars in a line of many, issue them a ticket, then drive off leaving the other tens of cars free to have parked illegally with no consequence. I will recount again that the majority of the time, it is red licence plate rental cars that have been on the receiving end of the fines. I will repeat myself for the thousandth time that the municipality could have been raking it in if they had either put metres on these spots or actually booked people consistently.

I don't personally know any traffic wardens, therefore I do not know if they work on commission, quotas or targets, but it doesn't seem that way judging by how many illegally parked cars they drive past. And instead of people fearing the wrath of a traffic warden's little ticket book, it seems as though the traffic wardens are actually afraid to book people. It goes something like this: traffic warden trying to do their job properly finds an indisputably illegally parked car. Traffic warden gets out little ticket book to write ticket when is suddenly pounced on by angry, indignant driver. Driver proceeds to shout and swear that they are only parked so they can enjoy a coffee for half an hour and can see their car from the café (which makes it okay for some strange reason), or that they just stopped to buy a pack of cigarettes, or that they are within their rights to park illegally for a certain time, or that the traffic warden is unfairly picking on them just because they parked illegally! Traffic warden either knows the individual (or their koumbaro) and allows them to drive off (without ticket), or warns them not to do it again and lets them drive off without ticket. Occasionally, they won't back down, or if the ticket has already been written then it is too late, but there are still a large percentage of potential tickets that are talked – or shouted – out of.

This is another one of those Cypriot chicken-egg scenarios; what breeds this behaviour – is it that the laws are so lax that people know there is no need to obey them, or is it because people are so defiant and refuse to obey laws that they cannot be implemented?

Either way, I will quite confidently bet that the next time I drive down Phoinikoudes or Piale Pasha I will find multiple cars parked infuriatingly illegally and not a traffic warden in sight, or that the game of selective ticketing will be in full swing. So, here we go again!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper, 17/04/15

Looking at Larnaca through a different perspective - Paula Manoli-Gray

I attended a meeting last week regarding Larnaca's unique selling points, where the attendees argued which of them was the absolute defining feature of the region – not because we don't have any, but because we have so many...

For some people, that may be hard to believe! It is difficult to see the appeal of your hometown objectively, especially when it is clouded by the daily grind, bills to pay, bureaucracy, frustration at the things that are not working as they should, and a lack of time to enjoy the nicer elements.

So, what do you believe separates Larnaca from other towns on the island, or other destinations even? We are actually quite a unique destination, and if that has you rolling your eyes in disbelief too, let me tell you why!

Firstly, we are the most ancient city on the island, and we have the culture to prove it. This 'ancient identity' has been retained, whilst we have also modernised. Whilst other areas of the island might have lost their original character due to their attempts to lure tourists, over-development and the like, 'we' haven't.

Secondly, despite being a popular tourist destination, we have not sold out and become a tourist resort, and this is very significant. In fact, most repeat visitors to the region come to Larnaca for this very reason. They feel that they can mingle with the locals and enjoy the town, its restaurants, nightlife, attractions and shops without being sold a tacky, 'tourist only' experience of venues geared towards visitors. What they get is authentic and no different to what we locals enjoy, whereas in certain other towns, there is a very 'you are a tourist here' feel and areas to cater for it. One of the reasons might actually be something we bemoan; our lack of big hotel resorts. Whatever it is, I hope we do not lose this characteristic.

Thirdly, Larnaca is the most compact region of the island. And by compact, I do not mean 'small', but rather, a place where you can find everything within a short or reasonable distance. Our promenades do not stretch for miles with gaps in between, our town centre is close to our coastal areas, as are our cultural and leisure attractions, and even our rural areas offer something different in just a short proximity.

Fourthly, we are a family-friendly region, yet, we are also great for the hip and beautiful! There are some areas of the island that are known for being better for the hard partiers, and there are some that are considered better for older visitors or families. We have it all! I believe this is linked with the point about being an authentic place and not a tacky tourist destination. Instead of trying to sell ourselves to one demographic of visitor by selling out, we are local life at its best, and if people want to come and experience it as we do, they are welcome to, but we don't feel the need to beg by changing our identity for them.

There are many more reasons why Larnaca is unique – we are the most central part of the island, and therefore a gateway to the rest of Cyprus, we are diverse, we are friendly (yes we are!) and, and, and!

So, if the recent crisis and the daily struggles we all face have started to get you down, it is good to remember that there are much worse places to live. Of course, that is not to say that Larnaca is the best place in the universe where streets are paved in gold, but the gold is there – in sunshine and sand, but most of all in the hearts of its people.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 10/04/15

Having a ‘cracking’ time - Paula Manoli-Gray

At the beginning of spring, I am always bouncing with joy at the prospect of my favourite season in Cyprus… until my hay fever kicks in, the wet weather continues intermittently and the 'bombings' of Easter begin.

I won't harp on about the dangers of the ridiculous tradition of youths letting off pipe bombs and firecrackers, because we all know that a) it is a crazy pastime and, b) it is inevitably going to happen in the lead-up to Easter.

What I will comment on is the faux efforts of authorities and parents to clamp down on this practise, which – in my opinion – is very half-hearted and just for show. I think that at the end of the day, the island's belief that it is a rite of passage and a right to maintain this tradition by far outweighs the realisation that it is one of the most terrifying and destructive aspects of living on the island.

The truth is, most of us ordinary, law-abiding citizens - who do not partake in the theft of items to burn and the letting off of bombs - are actually terrified, and terrorised by the groups that do it, and they are only kids. In essence, we are being held hostage by mere kids.

I live next door and opposite to a park, and the kids that are trying desperately to blow themselves up are under the age of 13. And they are doing it not only on my doorstep, but on their own too, which means that we are not the only ones who can see and hear what they are up to… ergo sum, their parents, and the local authorities can too. And yet, day after day, night after night it is the same madness, and I cannot let my kids anywhere near our parks for fear an unexploded firework might go off, and I am forced to jump out of my skin every time they let off (what sounds like) the world's biggest homemade pipe bomb. Do I tell them off? I can try, but the likelihood is that their parents will come and have a go at me with great indignation that junior's sacred right to maim himself for life has dared to be challenged.

And as for the theft and vandalism, what kind of country are we living in when a blind eye is turned to these crimes because 'it is tradition'? Sorry, there is no way that the authorities are doing enough or doing it with all their efforts and manpower, because I know of countless people who have called the police to report thefts, illegal bonfires or fireworks, and either no one has attended, or the youths have been mildly told to go away without any follow-up, warning or punishment.

As a parent, I have to be careful what I say about other parents and how they raise their offspring, but I think this is one time when I can confidently say that if your child is hanging around in parks, letting off illegal fireworks, lighting bonfires and stealing other people's property to fuel said fire, then either you know about it and condone it (bad parenting 101), or you need to have a much better handle on your child's whereabouts (also bad parenting 101). There, I said it out loud.

So, who can we lay the blame on? the people that sell fireworks? schools? the ineffective laws, lawmakers and implementers of laws? the police force? parents? or the youths themselves? One thing is certain, we are failing miserably as an island, and will probably do so until an unspeakable tragedy befalls our youth and it is too late.

First appeared in 'The Cyprus Weekly' newspaper, 03/04/15.