The siren’s sad song - Paula Manoli-Gray

PUBLISHED BEFORE SUNDAY

Tomorrow (Sunday), the war sirens will go off at 5.30am to mark the first wave of the Turkish invasion in 1974. For many of you, it will be a distant sound, but for us in the area of Vergina – which is near to an army camp – it will be blaringly loud, almost as though it is outside my front door.

As the daughter of someone who fought in that war at the tender age of 19 - and has been haunted by it ever since - I am no stranger to the history and pain, so I am not against marking the date in some way. But whenever those sirens go off, I think about the people who are not aware of what they symbolise and how frightened they must feel, as well as my young children who will be shocked awake by the harsh sound at that early hour.

For many tourists who already arrive in Cyprus thinking that the conflict could be reignited at any second, the sound of unexpected war sirens must make them jump out of their skin, unless they are very distant and can be passed off as an emergency vehicle. Every time I hear the chilling sound, I imagine the panic that must set in and wonder if there is enough information out there explaining and preparing visitors. For that matter, is there enough information for visitors about the situation in general, other than thinking that 'the Greeks and Turks don't like each other'?

The sirens are also a stark reminder that although the staus quo of the invasion remains, the two sides are in a stalemate rather than a conflict and that it could easily have been a different situation when you look at Israel and Palestine and their ongoing violence and bloodshed. We are not 'lucky' and our situation is tragic, but on the other hand, we ARE 'lucky' that 40 years on there are not militant groups on either side staging terrorist acts. For all intents and purposes, life in Cyprus is peaceful – at least on a daily basis and on the surface - which in this day and age is something quite extraordinary considering the situation.

Sadly, due to the long, drawn-out nature of the occupation, the generations who were and are most affected will start to dwindle, and the younger generations will only know the island as it is. And with the bigger variety and number of foreigners calling the island their home; many of whom do not know or are not particularly interested in knowing the history – evidenced by their love of taking holidays in the north - there won't be many left who care. And this might be the biggest tragedy of all.

So, I guess however inconvenient the sirens may be, they might be the only thing left that will remind people that our situation is by no means fair and that it shouldn't be considered the norm. At least with the sirens, people who know what they symbolise cannot fail to hear them and be reminded, and those who do not, will always ask why.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 19/07/14

‘Butt’ out of our beaches - Paula Manoli-Gray

Cyprus has once again topped the list for the cleanest bathing waters in Europe, and also has a large number of beaches that are holders of the prestigious Blue Flag award.

This is both welcome and wonderful news, and it makes me proud that our coasts are considered so highly outside of the island. But it also makes me wonder just how filthy the rest of the beaches around the world are if ours are so much cleaner in comparison!

For one, the cigarette butts alone would be enough to make me strip the coasts of their high awards and titles if I was the one judging them. My blood boils every time I see my kids make a sandcastle out of cigarette butts stuck together with a bit of sand.

Smokers reading this are going to get on their high horse and get all defensive about how cigarette butts are biodegradable and that they are not a hazard to the environment. Yes, smokers have the right to smoke – even on the beach if they want – although it stinks and spoils the natural ambience, but they don't have the right to leave our children playing in piles of their cigarette remnants.

First of all, it is darn right ugly, and seeing as we all – including the smokers – use these beaches for a large part of the year, don't we care what we are lying or swimming in at all? Furthermore, a lot of young children do pick things up off the sand and put them in their mouth, or as I just mentioned, end up sitting in them and making cigarette sandcastles.

They are also most certainly not environmentally friendly. It is a myth that cigarettes are easily biodegradable. Yes, some have been found to degrade within 1-12 years, but others never decompose at all. If a smoker wants to use the 'biodegradable' argument then I would ask them this: would you like to see paper bags and tissues littered on the beach just because they too are 'biodegradable'? Just because cigarettes are sand coloured it is not okay to camouflage them in the sand.

And what about marine life ingesting cigarette ends? The safety of our sea creatures is already fragile, but if that doesn't sway people, consider this: whatever a fish eats, we eat. That lovely sushi you tuck into most likely has cigarette butts in it, ingested by the fish then by you through the food chain, and that really is 'food for thought'.

Of course, it is not just cigarettes that are spoiling our coasts and smokers are by no means the only perpetrators. I have seen a large and unusual number of items floating in the sea, and whilst that is in no way excusable, I can at least pick them up and throw them away – a task that would be near impossible with all the cigarette butts.

We all have a responsibility to keep our coasts clean, not only for the sake of receiving awards and accolades, but because our health and future as an island is as much entwined with the sea as it is with anything else.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 21/06/14

Bare it all… but only on the beach! - Paula Manoli-Gray

After a patchy period, I think we can safely say the hot weather is here to stay and it is officially summer 2014!

I love the sea. Not the beach, as I don't care for sunbathing and have become more paranoid about skin damage as I have got older, but the sea I adore and can happily spend hours and hours of bliss in the briny waters.

Unfortunately, there comes a price for the pleasure of enjoying our coasts, and that is the requirement to strip off into something much smaller and more revealing than I would wear at any other time. Personally, I don't wear leggings, short skirts, hot pants, tight tops, or skinny jeans, all on account of my wobbly bits and imperfections. I hate communal changing rooms in clothes shops and the gym. If a gust of wind threatens to blow my (long) skirt up I will be filled with terror. Yet, you will find me on the beach in my swimwear like none of these issues matter. It's not that I suddenly become more confident, but simply because 'it's the beach'!

And what about hair? So many women run like the wind if it threatens to rain for fear their hair will get wet and frizzy… but not at the beach!

How does the beach manage to strip away our normal inhibitions and have us parading around in smalls? It always amuses and confounds me as to why we have one rule – or set of emotions – for our everyday wear and another for the beach. It is as though there is an invisible line where we feel okay on one side, but not on the other. If someone tried to take a peek at our underwear at any other time or in another place, many (like myself) would probably not be happy, and would be embarrassed, mortified or humiliated. But not at the beach, we simply call underwear 'bikini' and it is magically okay!

Of course, there are also many who live for the chance to strip off and show their honed, toned bodies. You will find them mainly at the trendy spots of McKenzie, dancing in itsy bitsy swimwear and turning the colour of chocolate – most likely without adequate sun protection.

As for me, I like to spend my summers on the un-trendy beaches, anonymous and modestly presented, face covered by a huge hat, hoping I don't run into all the people I work with on the 'outside world'. I would never want them to see me in my underwear, but I guess none of that matters here… because it is THE BEACH!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 14/-6/14

Follow the leader - Paula Manoli-Gray

I am always getting those 'million dollar ideas' for new businesses to open in Larnaca, and if I actually had the guts / could be bothered to follow through, I might have been a millionaire by now. But it's not just a lack of burning ambition that is stopping me, I also know that if I do happen to hit the bulls-eye with the winning idea, within a month there will be 20 more businesses the same, and they would probably all open up right next door to me too!

This is a problem we have. Someone will do the research, the work and put in all the effort to find something that can succeed. They open, they do succeed, but the lifespan of their great idea is then cut short by the copycats who decide to follow the leader and open the exact same business.

Larnaca is not a big town; therefore it cannot sustain 20 of the same great idea. For example, on Faneromeni, there is a florist/nursery that has been open there for as long as I can remember. For some reason, which I cannot fathom, in recent years another two florists have opened opposite. One florist in the area could make a decent living. Putting three in a cluster means that they will all suffer as the business of the area will be split three ways, or the lion's share will go to one. What sense does it make to open next to the same business? What on earth is the logic of the newcomers? Eventually, all three will close down.

It's the same for everything from clothes to frozen yogurt. Recently, a new coffeehouse from Greece has opened in multiple locations. The locations it has chosen are clever; commercial streets of office blocks and some retail outlets, but not in the town centre or seafront where it is most popular to open a coffeehouse. They are rammed! They hit the nail on the head that trendy cafés in trendy locations are for weekends and evenings only and that during the daily grind, people working in offices and shops want a coffee fix. It is a logical idea and you will find this formula in all cities, but for some reason, Larnaca was focused on trendy areas only, until now. Naturally, another coffee chain is starting to open on the same streets. Eventually, some of the locations – of either one or both franchises - will have to close.

The lifespan for restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs is also short. There is a mad rush to go somewhere new, which quickly dissipates and there are very few establishments that have staying power and can claim to have been open for more than 5-10 years.

Whilst the financial crisis has seen a lot of new closures, we were always prone to this phenomenon of open-shut-quickly and I guess we are kind of immune to it now as a town. But I will not be sharing my million-dollar idea with anyone. As long as I can still get my frozen yogurt fix (a trend that left years ago but has now thankfully come back), then let them get on with it!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 30/04/14

The month of bombings - Paula Manoli-Gray

I don't know how it is for your particular areas, but it distresses me to say that that the annual tradition of setting things alight or being potentially maimed – otherwise known as The-Firecrackers-of-Easter – is in full swing in my area.

First of all, I want to know where these young children, who are left to run riot in the streets at all hours, have obtained these fireworks. Their parents must be aware of it as they are letting them off in their own neighbourhood, just doors away from their homes, in the parks. Unfortunately, the two parks are directly next-door and opposite to my home, so these menaces of society are right on MY doorstep letting off bangs and bombs. I do hear the parents shout at them to stop or come home, but it seems as though they are fully aware that their 6-11 year-olds have these fireworks in their possession, and are okay with it, as long as they are 'careful'.

The police force does indeed run an awareness campaign every year, and yet every year gangs of young children continue to have access to fireworks. The very least they are intimidating and noisy, in the worse case, children have lost eyes and fingers, and yet the 'tradition' continues unabated.

Alongside the fireworks is the foraging for bonfire fodder for the fire that burns an effigy of Judas during one the church services. Every year this too gets out of hand with the youth taking/stealing anything they can get their hands on to build their (illegal) bonfires, including items that are not suitable for burning or that can become toxic when burnt. Plastic chairs and toys, synthetic clothing, household rubbish… you name it, it goes on. I have seen groups literally take anything that is not nailed down, and one year, a group of youths was ransacking the salt lake path, pulling down the beautiful (and protected) trees willy-nilly.

As much as I love the run-up to Easter, I hate the month-long assault of firecrackers and pipe bombs, and the nightly bonfires which rage out of control - it terrifies me. On the night itself that marks Christ's resurrection, the island sounds like it is in the midst of full-scale war and the ear-splitting pipe bombs must terrify unsuspecting tourists. I wonder how many of them genuinely panic that the war of 1974 has been reignited? Of course, on that particular night, the fireworks and bombs are let off with the consent of the church… and how the heck are these children making their own pipe bombs, is that not terrifying in its own right?

I am all for traditions and appreciate that we have some unique ones, but let's be serious for a minute. If we are allowing children to purchase and let off fireworks in public without supervision, and if we are allowing children to ransack the streets to build big bonfires in the name of religion, then we are going seriously wrong somewhere. The youths participating are not devout Orthodox who are doing this to demonstrate their religion and their profound feelings on the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, they are doing it because it is a dangerous, thrilling, rebellious, naughty kind of fun.

So, as I do every year, I will cover my ears and pray that no one loses a finger or an eye… for what else can I do?

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 29/03/14

Time to be nice! - Paula Manoli-Gray

It's been quite a few years now that I have noticed that people in general are becoming more hostile and defensive, so I wonder if it's time to change the broken record of how we present ourselves to tourists and stop claiming that Cypriots are warm and welcoming and will all invite you into their homes for coffee!

I am guilty of it too. As a writer, I have penned many an advert, brochure or article regurgitating this character of open arms, and whilst this may still be the case in mountainous villages, in the towns that friendliness has long packed its bags.

This isn't a 'Cypriot thing' – I remember going back to England after a long absence, memories of the wonderful customer service in shops still in my mind, only to find a rude and unhelpful workforce in most places, with some of the youth speaking a version of the English language that I could barely decipher. I came back vowing never to compare British shop staff with Cypriot again as neither was better than the other! It seems this is a global pandemic of misery, dissatisfaction and negativity.

So, who or what do we blame for this inwardness? Is it the rise of social media that has made us forget how to interact with others with common courtesy, and made everyone so self-absorbed that we don't care, or are not interested if its not about us? Is it the belief that we can't be happy unless we accrue as much as we can, so if we have anything less we are left with a gaping hole of dissatisfaction that our lives are not fabulous enough? Or in the case of Cyprus, is it the 'golden era' that prevailed when Cypriots started having access to designer labels and trendy cafes, thus giving them the illusion of grandeur and a rise in snobby showiness (and we all know how that turned out…) Maybe it is the influx of different nationalities that have slowly diluted the traditions and the small 'we are a family' island feel we once had? One thing we can't blame it on is the global crisis because most people were miserable long before this all began.

Recently I went to deliver an envelope to a client.  Upon entering the building, the faulty door slipped out of my hand with a loud bang. I popped the envelope under the door and as I exited the building the same thing happened again. From a window above, an angry female venomously shouted in Greek 'Excuse me, do you want me to wrap the door up so you can take it with you?' I apologised and explained that the door was faulty and had slipped (a fact she knew), to which she replied sarcastically 'twice?' It was then I recognised her and called her name 'XX, is that you?' At that point her whole demeanour changed and she said 'Oh Paula, I didn't realise it was you, why didn't you knock on the door.' There was no apology, no acknowledgement of the disgusting way she spoke to me. Once she realised she knew me, she was no longer hostile, but why should she be hostile to anyone? Why is there such suspicion and contempt for everyone? What are we all so afraid of?

Yes, everyone is currently rallying round to help those in need and there is indeed a real sense of community and spirit as a result of the crisis, but can we all – wherever we live, whoever we are – please start being nice to one another again?

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly 22/03/14

Outrage with dignity - Paula Manoli-Gray

It's been nearly a year since the infamous Haircut on bank deposits, and despite it being a hard and depressing time for the island and for the majority of individuals, it has certainly gone by fast.

At the time, I couldn't imagine what the state of the island would be like a year down the line and my head was filled with thoughts of Armageddon-type scenarios, especially in the period where everyone was panic withdrawing their money, and some places wouldn't accept credit cards.

One friend and her husband started growing their own food in a bid to become self sufficient as he had convinced her that people would be fighting in the streets for food as the crisis deepened. I have to admit, I stocked up on torches, batteries, matches and tinned food!

But what really surprised me is the lack of riots… although I am not sure if this is a positive or negative aspect of us as a society.

On the one hand, some might say that our lack of rioting and outrage is a sign of apathy, weakness and laziness. They would argue that in other countries all over the world, the people have risen up and displayed their unwillingness to accept the decisions that the powers that be have made on their behalf. They would probably be disgusted that we appear to have sat back and allowed ourselves to be used and abused.

But on the other hand, this shows that we are a nation with dignity who know that to start taking to the streets, setting them alight and looting, whilst attacking the police, would only do us more harm than good. You only have to look at the state of the countries that have taken to this method to see that it only makes things worse and prolongs the country's decline – sometimes indefinitely. That is not to say there haven't been protests and strikes, but there hasn't been any of the ugliness seen in other countries. Those on this side of the fence could further argue that the people of Cyprus – of all nationalities – did something far more powerful and impacting; they rallied around and supported one another.

In a previous column, I spoke about the real sense of community that the island has, and how people are showing compassion and generosity to those who are suffering the most. Even those who don't have much are giving to those who have even less, and I am so proud of my island for reacting in this way of love and humanity, instead of raining destruction and violence on its towns to demonstrate the pain and strain we are under. With this attitude, the island is going to bounce back far quicker than those who wrote us off have predicted.

It was never going to be easy or painless and at times the injustice and conditions that prevail make me want to scream. The weight of the sacrifices that so many are making seems insurmountable.

But when it all feels like too much, I try and think how things will be in yet another year's time, and I know in my heart that the way we chose to handle the situation will be a credit to us all.

First appeared in the Cyprus Weekly, 01/03/14

The rainbow will eventually appear - Paula Manoli-Gray

I was fortunate enough to attend the mayor's English talk a couple of weeks back, which was organised by the fantastic Larnaca Parents Network, who are a real credit to the town.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect and imagined that the mayor would probably spout a lot of political rhetoric and side-step questions that he didn't like. What I experienced instead was a very frank, humorous and informative exchange between the mayor and the people who had made the effort to attend, and who genuinely cared about hearing what the future of Larnaca holds.

Looking around the room, it was very encouraging to see the diversity of nationalities: Cypriot, Anglo-Cypriot, British, German, French, Israeli, Hungarian, Russian, and probably others that I hadn't discerned. All of these people chose to live in Larnaca and clearly love the town, and this wasn't lost on the mayor who seemed to be impressed, not only by the turnout and mixture of people, but also by the legitimate and intelligent concerns they all had.

Personally, I left feeling that the best of Larnaca is to come, and I truly feel that in a few years from now, this lovely town is going to go from strength-to-strength.

I honestly would not live anywhere else in the world, and I would hand-on-heart still advise and recommend Larnaca as a place to live to anyone – right now. This is despite the hardships we are facing because I still believe that it is a paradise compared to other places, and that this is only a temporary phase – even if temporary means five years and some very difficult times in the process.

The efforts of the fabulous Larnaka Tourism Board (LTB), combined with the municipality, and even organisations such as the Larnaca Parents Network, ensure that things can only get better. The LTB has launched so many projects and improvements that have made our tourism offering better year-on-year, despite the lack of hotels in the town – something that the mayor readily admitted is an issue.

Some of the changes may not be obvious to the average citizen as they are aimed at attracting visitors, but I am privy to them as I do some writing for the LTB, and it never ceases to amaze me how tirelessly and innovatively they work. For example, they have made Larnaca a top destination for some big sporting events that are really putting the town on the map, and they are constantly organising programmes of complimentary events and activities for guests.

But, that aside, if someone was wondering what the future holds for residents rather than visitors, then there is plenty happening there too. The town will either have a new marina or house the hydrocarbons – both of which are going to bring in money and jobs, as will the casino if Larnaca becomes the host.

The mayor's vision for a unified seafront is very exciting, as is the thought of how the town will look – complete with a large network of bicycle paths – once the major roadworks are completed before the end of the year.

I don't underestimate the suffering that is still to come, but I like to believe that after every storm there is a calm… and a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly - 08/02/14

The sound of a thousand closing doors - Paula Manoli-Gray

I find it so heartbreaking driving around Larnaca and seeing yet another shop has closed down, and as dramatic as it sounds, it feels akin to a kind of death.

The closures are happening at such a frighteningly rapid rate, and sometimes it really surprises me which stores have fallen victim to the economic massacre. Shops I had thought were popular or doing well are suddenly empty with the horrible big, red 'for rent' sign plastered on the front. I now find that sign so ominous and loaded with deeper meaning… representative of how the owners struggled, and a black mark added to the unemployment statistics. Each shop is more than a shop, it's lives and livelihoods, and I find myself wondering who the people behind the shop window are; how many people they employed both visibly and behind the scenes, and how they will now all cope. It just goes to show that you really never know what is happening behind closed doors.

It must look terrible too for visitors. Some shop rows - such as the one that leads towards the police station and seafront – are almost completely empty. They look abandoned, sad, pitiful and ugly, but most of all, desperate. For me, they really are the defining symbol of how badly we are doing, just as they will be the symbol of prosperity when they are (eventually) full again.

I am not very mathematically or business minded (an understatement, the truth is I am completely useless at both!), therefore I cannot understand the mechanics of all this closure. Is it possible that every single business is suffering to the brink of collapse; that every single person is completely without money? Where has all the money gone if no one has it? If everything keeps on closing, what then happens? Where will we 'get stuff from'? Surely people still need some things and surely not every single person is at the point where they cannot afford to buy anything other than bread and milk? I am sure that sounds very dim-witted to a lot of people, but none of it makes sense to me.

In trying to see the silver lining, I wonder if this means there will be a real shake-up and change to our commercial face? We had lost the Larnaca of old when we replaced it with lots of international franchises. They were welcome for various reasons, but they also meant that Larnaca's town centre just became another cloned European town centre with exactly the same brands and shops that you can find in any other generic European town centre. I hope that after they have all fled our little town (as many have already done so), that local, independent shops will open in their place. Of course, there has to be a lesson learned here for local businesses – that they cannot charge extortionate prices and that to survive they have to respect the customer in both what they offer and how they treat them – something which was sorely lacking previously, and a reason that I – and I am sure others – stuck to the shops they knew from abroad whose prices were more reasonable.

We have many lessons to learn, and much regeneration to put into motion, and I hope this time, that we do it right, because we simply cannot go through this all again, and those lonely empty shops are crying out for life.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 01/02/14

Bugged by bugs - Paula Manoli-Gray

This time of year is a particular worry as a parent of two little ones as it is the dreaded bug season.

We literally live in daily fear that one of our two will catch a virus of some sort as it inevitably means the other one will too. And if hubby and I are particularly run-down, then so will we - just like dominos knocked down one by one!

Of course, it is not nice for anyone to get ill, child or adult, but parents of young children will know exactly what I mean about the worry, as children's immature immune systems are far more susceptible. If you are lucky, a stuffy nose is all you will have to contend with, but even that is tricky to handle as you struggle to squirt stuff up their noses, suction their snot (if they are too young to blow it themselves), battle with the fear that their mild cough will turn into pneumonic-bronchitis, and put up with their neediness and whining. If you are very unlucky then you will enjoy countless wash loads of clothes and sheets that come courtesy of tummy bugs and their colourful and frequent vomiting and diarrhea, or the sheer panic of monitoring a child's raising temperature.

This year, there has been an outbreak of Scarlet Fever in Larnaca, which causes a sore throat with white spots, swollen tongue, fever and rash - a horror straight out of Medieval times. And there have also been reports of Swine Flu on the island. It almost makes you want to put your kids in a giant protective bubble and never let them leave the house again.

But, I don't ever remember being this ill this frequently when I was a child. Am I remembering incorrectly, or were we just not so sickly in those days? My mother wouldn't allow us to stay home from school unless we were 'dying' (her words!), and I had very few sick days my whole childhood. Clearly, something was different back then – was it our immune systems or the bugs themselves?

It seems that nowadays, my kids spend the entire winter season with a runny nose at least, and it's not as a result of nutritional deficiencies. I am somewhat of a hippy mum in that area and I supplement them (naturally), give them herbal teas, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, probiotic powder, elderberry syrup, astragalus, all manner of inventively hidden fruit and vegetables, fresh air and cuddles… and still they get ill!

To be honest, bugs absolutely petrify me because you never know who is harbouring one until its too late, or how bad it will be. What if the next time round it is a new, incurable Super Bug, like in the film Contagion?

The bug season also rudely reminds me that for all our bravado and power trips, man is not the one in the driving seat, and it makes me all the more aware and appreciative of the importance of good health, above all else. I am just hoping 'the bugs' will be appeased by my awareness and acknowledgement of their power over us and take pity on us this year!

Bedtimes and bazaars

The run-up to Christmas is great if you have kids as there is no shortage of events to take them to in Larnaca, but the thing that really grinds my gears, is their late start.

We – like most parents I know in the English speaking community – feed our kids early (6pm) and get them to bed at a reasonable time for developing brains and bodies (7.30/45pm), but half these events start too late for us to attend them. It seems to be the cultural norm, and accepted for Cypriot children not go to bed until 9pm, and some later still, hence the late start times.

When I tell my family in the village that we can't come for dinner because they are inviting us at 9pm, they are incredulous and tell me off for sending my 'poor' children to bed 'with the chickens'. Then they try to tell me that the early morning wake-ups (my kids typically wake up at 6am) are because they go to bed too early. I completely refute this as we have had later nights when there is an occasion we cannot miss, and they have still been up at the crack of dawn. My kids can't handle later bedtimes, and to be honest, neither can I – parents have got to have some down time at the end of the day!

Whilst my kids (and often I) are tucked up in bed, I can hear the children of the neighbourhood running riot well past 9pm on weekdays and past midnight on weekends and the summer. Surely these children are falling asleep at their school desks, or at least, not concentrating the way they should?

Moving away from the start times and on to the events, we have been particularly bombarded with charity Christmas events this year, and they all follow the same format of 'bazaar' with handmade gifts and decorations and a bit of musical entertainment. Due to our dire situation they have been organised in their droves, and whilst I am all for the spirit of giving, we can't give to all these events and spread ourselves so thinly, especially when the majority of them are almost identical in what they offer.

In my humble opinion, the town should have organised one mega, massive, properly organised event where all the charities could combine forces and split the proceeds. I am talking about a huge extravaganza with Santa in his grotto, good quality stalls, bouncy castle, clowns, face painters, Christmas music, fairground rides, proper Christmas food and drink, big name celebrity performances, children's characters, arts and crafts, Christmas film screenings, story time and, and, and. One big, magical affair that would attract crowds from all over the island, thus making more money for charitable causes than these multiple little bazaars must be making.

I would suggest it for next year, but I am really hoping that by then everyone will be in a better position and won't be in such desperate need….

P.S… Merry Christmas!

This piece first appeared in the Cyprus Weekly newspaper Saturday 21/12/13.

Blowing Hot and Cold

As residents of Larnaca, we often hear from visitors how lucky we are to have such lovely, hot weather most of the year round, but unless someone lives here, they cannot appreciate the balancing act that our climate presents.

First of all, we don't really have 'seasons'. It's more like one and half seasons – one that is comprised of unending months of hot to sweltering heat, and a half season that is a cross between autumn and winter and can give us anything from slightly cold to bone chilling temperatures. And it seems we are not very adept at coping with either properly…

Yes, it's great to live on a sunshine island, and lounging around on beaches all day doing nothing in the heat is a lovely idea, but when you live a real life in it and have to do boring, 'lifey' things - such as going to work and food shopping - it becomes very uncomfortable, which visitors just can't comprehend. I, like many others spend the day going from the car to air conditioned interiors and back to the car again trying all the while not to end up an unsightly sweaty mass… but at least everyone else is sweating with me so it's not social suicide to turn up dripping from the heat!

But the thing that really throws me is the extreme, sudden change from hot to cold to hot. One minute it seems like summer is literally never going to end after starting in May and dragging on till the start of December, then it hits us with the force of a snowball. There we are moaning that we have had enough of the heat, yearning for winter clothes, reminding ourselves that maybe we should start changing our wardrobes round, then boom… icicles on our toes. Then the mad scramble ensues to grab whatever cardigan is at the front of the wardrobe and the strange feeling of moving from sandals to closed shoes, a big adjustment to make in the face of the violent and sudden drop in temperature.

It happens the other way round too. One minute we are comfortably and happily able to take a stroll in reasonable temperatures, then the next day the sun is out in full force and walking anywhere further than to the car – to take us to our next air conditioned interior (see above!) – is to risk total skin melt-off. The weather in Cyprus never eases us in gently, it just changes in the space of 24 hours.

I find that the worse thing is trying to keep children the right temperature; how many layers in the cold, fan or air-con in the heat? As our houses don't seem to be designed for either kinds of weather, this balancing act with little ones is a very difficult one and I never feel I have it quite right.

So, I am not sure if I prefer sweaty patches or icicles… but I would like a bit of adjustment time either way!

Christmas: a magical yet irritating time!

So… are you feeling Christmasy yet? There is no escaping it now; Christmas is right up in our faces with no regard for personal space, and I for one have real mixed feelings about this time of year.

Firstly, I won't accept the Christmas season before December 1. I know that shops and supermarkets have to start early because their competitors start early, and I know the municipality has to start early as there are so many trees and decorations to put up around Larnaca… but I really don't like Christmas in September, October or November.  The tree does not go up in our house before December 1, and I turn off Christmas music when it comes on the radio. This is no bah humbug attitude, but one month of the same songs and garish decorations is more than enough and I don't want to be sick of Christmas by mid-December, I want to enjoy it for a reasonably set length of time!

On the one hand, I like the spirit of the festive season; the fact that it is Jesus' birthday and that it brings out the empathetic and charitable side of people. I love getting together with family and friends and buying them gifts. I cherish seeing the awe and joy the whole Christmas package brings my young children from Santa and gifts to decorations and music - I even like Christmas crackers and wearing silly hats.

But I can't stand the greed, materialism and hypocrisy. I get sad when I see the panic people feel when they know they can't afford to celebrate properly or buy their children nice presents. I hate the way shops are so blatantly cashing in, thinking only of how their tills are filling up. I don't understand atheists and agnostics fully relishing Christmas simply to have a good time. I don't like the pressures, the overindulgence, the pretence of getting on with people or being more lenient or sympathetic just because of the time of year, and I especially hate hearing the response to bad news '…and it's Christmas', as if whatever awful thing has happened is so much worse just because it takes place in December. And why do a large number of children's Christmas films feature a deceased parent – it's horrible!

Its sad that so few remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place, and that many children think it is simply a holiday about Santa coming to bring them gifts, which is not their fault as that is what they are taught. But at least in Cyprus we have not reached the point where it is taboo to mention Mary, Joseph, Jesus and a manger.

But before you brand me Scrooge, I do think this Christmas will be more sincere. It seems to always come back to this darn crisis, but the truth is, once again the crisis is bringing out the good in people. And this time round it really will be the season of goodwill, from the municipality promising that every citizen of Larnaca will enjoy this magical time, to so many generously donating presents for poor children.

All we need now is snow!

Larnaca Parents Network expanding and seeks volunteers

Supporting the parents of Larnaca – in all languages !

The Larnaca Parents Network (LPN) is expanding its services to include Greek and Russian in addition to English, with the aim of making it the one-stop-shop for Larnaca parents seeking information or support – whatever language they speak.

Founder of the non-profit organisation – Sharon Mckinley – has seen the success of the LPN grow since its inception in 2012, and has the full backing and support of the Larnaca Municipality, who will now be including the LPN events in its official monthly events diary. The LPN also coordinates with the Municipality for the donation of items for needy families and other services.

As a result, Sharon is seeking volunteers who are able to assist in any way they can: “As the LPN continues to grow, we need more help from people who are willing to donate a bit of their time – as much as they feel they can, and whenever they feel they can. It won’t be anything difficult; it could be assisting at an event where we are collecting for charity, or if anyone fancies writing for our blog, we always welcome pieces. I would also like to get our posters put up in more places so that our events can receive more publicity and need people who are willing to undertake this task too.”

Sharon moved to Cyprus six years ago with her partner of 14 years, Grant, whom she met when the two worked on a cruise ship. Sharon had always been drawn to the island, having worked here as a nanny in her early twenties, and it seemed like the ideal place to relocate and set up their company ‘Progress Cyprus’, which trains staff for cruise ships internationally.

In 2010, the couple had their son Alex and Sharon suddenly found herself propelled into a different world as a mother… one she was not familiar with. Feeling alone and not sure where to turn for support, she realised that many others must also feel this way and decided to set up a blog site where English-speaking parents could find useful information on the services available, events, child-friendly places and advice, which blossomed into the LPN of today.

She explains: “I initially started the LPN in English because that is the language I speak, but I don’t want it to be an ‘ex-pat thing’ and always planned on expanding it to include Greek and Russian. This is now becoming a reality as we welcome new members onboard who can speak these languages and are willing to assist in getting the information out there in their own languages.”

Aside from the website, the LPN also holds monthly coffee mornings and talks – all free of charge. The talks cover a range of topics from expert speakers and Sharon feels that this is something everyone should take advantage of: “Our events are fantastic! We have had such amazing speakers who have most recently talked about empowering women, managing stress, Cyprus herbs, and raw food diets. These people kindly donate their time to hold the free talks and I want everyone to take advantage of their knowledge and expertise. We have some great talks lined up for the future, including one with the mayor of Larnaca in January where he will tell us all about the works currently taking place in the town.”

But Sharon is still not content and wants to give as much as she can to the community which - as she says - has given so much to her as her adopted home. In the pipeline for 2014 is a new members card that will offer island-wide benefits and discounts for families, and she also has plans to take the network island-wide with each town having its own tailored Parents Network.

For more information, or to volunteer, visit the website: www.larnacaparentsnetwork.com or email info@larnacaparentsnetwork.com

Telephone :96585496

Not the Barbarians of Our Reputation

Cyprus is constantly getting a bad rap for its treatment of animals, and the animal shelters and charities of Larnaca certainly have their work cut out trying to protect and care for animals with little or no funding, and a severe lack of volunteers. There is no doubt that there are people that practise cruelty to animals, and I am not going to argue that fact as we see evidence of it daily, but on the other hand, I also see evidence of many animal lovers and responsible pet owners and wonder if our reputation is a little unfair and outdated.

You only have to take a walk down the Salt Lake to see how many dedicated dog owners are there at all hours of the day giving their very healthy and happy-looking pooches a long walk. There are a large number of pet shops in Larnaca that seem to be doing well, and every pet owner I know treats their animal like a member of the family. So why are we considered to be so heartless compared to the UK and other European countries?

A quick internet search brings up numerous stories from the UK of animal cruelty; cats in washing machines, multiple animals kept in squalor, animals used for fight matches to the death – to name but a few. The RSPCA received 1,163,428 calls to their 24-hour cruelty line in 2012, which is an average of one call every 30 seconds, yet the British have the reputation of being animal lovers whilst the Cypriots are considered to be something akin to butchers of the sweet and fluffy.

If someone were to cite the tradition of hunting birds and hares on the island, then it could be countered with the tradition of fox hunting in the UK or bull sports in Spain. I am not talking about the illegal practise of using mistnets and limesticks here, and I don't particularly agree with these kinds of sports, but in all instances, the sports have their origins in traditions that will take time and education to break. The people partaking are more likely to be ignorant or conditioned rather than vindictive individuals with a penchant for cruelty.

I am of the belief that this issue and reputation are borne of the fact the island is small, therefore any instances of animal cruelty are obvious, whereas in larger countries they can become lost, and that wherever you go in the world you will find animal cruelty and animal lovers in equal measure.

Of course, we have a very serious issue with poisons and their regulating. The use of Lannate and other poisons is a disgusting and terrifying reality that puts our children as well as our animals at risk and needs to be dealt with properly. But our reputation speaks of a whole population of sick individuals going around poisoning animals when it is the minority that act in this evil way.

I don't want anyone to think I don't value animal life, or am in denial that cruelty exists. My point is quite simply that this is an unfair reputation that we are all tarnished with without being given credit for the many, many people who love and cherish their pets, and this is something we should all work on changing.

Main Feature Article
Larnaca Parents network expanding

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper, 30/11/13

Paula Manoli-Gray - The Pain of Parking

I have lived in lovely Larnaca for most of my life, but there are many shops and other establishments that I have never set foot in, despite often driving past and thinking 'that looks nice'. The reason is very simple; if I can't park, then I am not going in!


This rule of mine also extends to the shops that are in those fiddly roads you have no idea how to get in and out of too – like the Aradippou/Larnaca road that takes you to the Nicosia roundabout, and the area of Debenhams (either side). I am sure I have missed out on lots of great things as a result of my unrelenting policy, but I cannot understand how and why people open their businesses without having any proper access or parking for potential customers? I am not one to risk parking illegally or dangerously just to pop into a shop, so if I can't easily or legally get to it, then I just won't bother.


I am not lazy, and I am happy to walk – like parking up in the multi-storey or municipal car parks in town and walking around the shops – but so many shops are randomly inserted into residential streets or perched on main roads, without car parks nearby. If I were the Queen of Larnaca, then I would implement a policy of having shops clustered in areas with ample parking, and forbid a random shop opening in the basement of someone's house! If I were to take it one step further (as is my anally retentive need for order and organisation), then I would demand that shops were grouped logically too – like Tottenham Court Road in the UK where you will find all the electrical stores together, or London's Savile Row where the tailor's shops line the street. At the very least, I believe that it should be a legal requirement for establishments to have at least three parking spaces (except for the supermarkets who quite rightly have their own car parks). Maybe it is already a law that I am unaware of, which wouldn't surprise me as hardly any laws are implemented and upheld anyway…


The other issue that drives me nuts – which is probably borne from this lack of parking – is when shop-owners (illegally) prevent people parking outside their establishments unless it is for their particular store. They put signs up to that effect and shout at people who park outside but then go into the shop next door or across the road. We kind of accept this, but in actual fact, the kerbsides do not belong to the property they are in front of and are public property, therefore, we have every right to park there and not use the shop, but would we dare? I have heard many a tale of drivers suffering abuse, and even damage to their cars for parking outside someone's business and not going in!


The most puzzling thing is that new buildings are being constructed without parking taken into account so it isn't just that the population and number of cars have exploded and can no longer be catered for. Someone please make me Queen on Larnaca so I can get this sorted, otherwise I will just have to keep going to the same 10 shops – where I can park - for the rest of my life!

The Cyprus Weekly -This Week from LPN Mum Paula Manoli Grey

The bitter pill we give our kids

Two weeks ago my son awoke with a hoarse, wheezy cough so I took him to the chemist who identified it as laryngitis. I was told that he would need corticosteroids, to which my response was that I wanted to start with a natural remedy and see how it would go. The chemist was disapproving, telling me that if it got worse my son could have trouble breathing, but gave me what I wanted; a 100% thyme syrup and eucalyptus nasal spray. A couple days later, he hadn’t got worse and the cough had turned productive (a sign he was getting better), and a week later he was perfectly fine.

The chemist was just doing his job, and another parent may have taken what he recommended without question (why would you question a qualified medical professional?), giving their child strong medication – with side effects – completely unnecessarily. Now, I am not an irresponsible mother, and if I had seen him taking a turn for the worse I would have followed up with conventional medicine. Nor am I critical or against chemists, doctors or anyone who medicates their kids, as the simple fact is, medicine saves lives and we are lucky to have it. But we are so scared of our children getting ill that at the slightest sniffle or cough we immediately jump straight to the hardcore stuff and don’t give them a chance to heal with the use of their own immune system. We also expect them to get better almost instantly, certainly within a couple of days, when in reality, these kinds of common colds and coughs need a good couple of weeks to pass.

I am fortunate to have an amazing paediatrician who always gives nature or my children’s own immune systems the chance to fight and heal first. If that doesn’t work, then she moves on to the medicated options. But from what I hear from other parents, not all doctors follow this route, which is why Cyprus is now top of the pops in Europe for dishing out antibiotics to children as though they are sweeties.

It is a vicious cycle as the children who are allowed to fight illness develop stronger immune systems to then fight subsequent illnesses, whilst those who are dosed in medication then get sick easier and more frequently as their immune system becomes compromised. It’s scary stuff and a real worry to every parent, after all, our main priority is their health and if we are told that that this is the way to do it, who are we to question it?

I am no doctor, so I don’t want anyone refusing medication for their children based on what I have written (not that I flatter myself that my words are so powerful, but I have to be sure that I am not the cause of a child suffering without medication they actually need…), but I do wish that there was more awareness on the over/misuse of medication and the harm it can do to children in the long run, and that really is a bitter pill for us to swallow.

Main Feature Article:

Cyprus natural medicine cabinet

Event Diary16-22-nov

This column first appeared in the Cyprus Weekly, 16/11/13

Keep Paula updated with News & Events : paulamanoli@hotmail.com

Event Diary 16-22 NOV

Library today, 9.30-11.30am. Soulla’s Saturday Morning Library.  Story and songs for children. Library books for children and adults. American Academy Junior School. €1 per child. Soulla: 99801141.

Theatre today, 4pm. Alice’s Wonderland by Little Muse Theatre. Written by Catherine Beger and directed by Torkild Lindebjerg. Theatre Scala. Admission adults €7, children €5.

Charity today, 7pm onwards. ‘They Think They Are Stars’ Extravaganza, organised by The Golden Hearts Charity in support of the Cyprus Kidney Association, Larnaca, who contribute to the Kidney Dialysis Unit of Larnaca. Laxia Palace, Protaras. Admission €10 including a meal. 99050649 / 99392258 / 99111450.

Theatre Sunday, 10.30am. Children’s (Greek) theatre ‘Bouki Boo, The Elf of the Forest’.  Performed by The Children's stage of Skala Theater, written by the educator Eleni Artemiou Photiadou and directed by Monica Meleki. Skala Theater.

Dance Sunday, 11am. Dance from around the world with ‘Rithmos’ Dance Association as part of the CTO’s ‘Musical Sundays’ programme. Seafront Stage, Phoinikoudes. Admission free

Exercise Wednesday, 10.30am – 11.15am. Mama & Me, mother and baby exercise class. Wow Action Park. €5 for the class or €8 for the class, tea/coffee and the play area. Angela: 97610998.

Talk Wednesday, 8pm-9.30pm. Pampering to Purpose - Women on the Edge of Evolution’ with Heleniq Argyrou (M.A.), organised by the Larnaca Parents Network. Zogonos Holistic Health Centre. Admission free.

Cinema Wednesday, 8pm. Le Captial, directed by Costas Gavras. Screened by the Larnaca Famagusta Cinema Society. Refreshments available to enjoy during the film. Admission €3 members, €5 non-members. 99434793

Pottery Thursday, 7pm-10pm. Women’s pottery painting evening with refreshments. Splash ‘O’ Colour. Prices dependant on item, and start from €7.50. Leoni: 99095148.