A fine balancing act

As the sun has now properly turned its dial up to 'hot' on the island, our town's popular hot spot of McKenzie is once again coming to life, which means I will now give it a wide berth!


It's just too trendy for me! I won't deny that the place looks great and it is lovely to see it so full of atmosphere and good times, but I personally miss the McKenzie of a couple of years back, which was a family beach lined with a mix of trendy and traditional; busy but not sardine-can busy. Its new incarnation plays its music too loud and leaves its sands littered with cans.


There is a fine balancing act between progress and tradition. We want to progress, we want to be modern, we want the latest things and the coolest places, of course we do. But we want to keep our identity too… our charm, our character, our customs, our original face. But we simply cannot have our cake and eat it too.

The danger of fighting so hard to keep the traditional is that we end up making the traditional false. We put the old in (metaphorical) glass cases so that we can preserve it, desperately trying to make it last, but in the process it becomes contrived. It becomes just a jewel on display. I don't want this! I want our Larnaca of old to naturally continue and for people to love it and cherish it so much that we don't have to fight to stop it dying – and in the process put it in a glass case. I want it to naturally, and normally just be part of the town.


I am not against modernisation or progress – without it we would still be riding donkeys and having to go to the toilet in a hole in the ground. Without it we wouldn't be getting our lovely new Piale Pashia, new bicycle lanes and attracting the trendy folk from all over the island to McKenzie. It's just such a fine balancing act and I don't know how long we can continue to juggle.


Larnaca is a fantastic blend of old and new, but my fear is that people will so embrace the new that they forego the old and we will eventually end up being some space-age town. We are not there yet, but the changing face of McKenzie is a small step in that direction, as sooner or later, the traditional restaurants that have been there for years just won't be able to compete with what the young and beautiful want. They will be ousted for yet another trendy place to take their spot and we will be left only with fast food and over-priced salads.


I have no conclusion to this comment, other than to encourage everyone to rediscover the roots of Larnaca – as well as enjoying the modern trappings – so that both can continue to co-exist, and so we can prevent the traditional from eventually being bullied out.

 

 

Emma's Lunch Boutique Bakery - Interview with Vanja Radivojevic-Savva



Elegant rose-, peony and orchid-decorated wedding cakes, Disney-inspired birthday cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, push pops, meringues, brownies, minions and the list of her repertoire could continue…

We have seen her sweet creations at birthdays, weddings, baptisms, business events, as she has been working on delicious and breathtaking sweet creations for the past few years from her home base in Larnaca. Vanja Radivojevic-Savva’s unique products adorn many special family or corporate celebrations and at the next Larnaca Parents Network’s monthly event on 21 May, 2014, she and her team at Emma’s Lunch Boutique Bakery offer a slice of confectionary expertise to those interested. Beata Pal-Christodoulou, an LPN mum went to see Vanja and asked her about her life as a cake-creator, a businesswoman and above all, a mum of two girls…

You are hosting a cake decorating workshop next week. Whom do you recommend this workshop for and what are the techniques, skills you will teach participants at this event? Will they be able to prepare and embellish their own cakes at home, following this session?

This workshop is great for beginner decorators. We will learn how to roll out fondant, how to cover cakes and create simple 3D designs. After this session you should definitely be able to decorate your own cakes.

How did the idea of opening your own bakery come to life? Were you always in the kitchen with your mum as a young girl? Was she your inspiration and role-model in becoming who you are now?

I never spent much time in the kitchen, besides helping mom or grandma with little things. I never really got into it until I got married and had to! Once I had kids, I wanted to make things as amazing, as they could be for them and I wanted to be the one doing it for them. That is how the “cake making” came about. My mom, however is my role model. She has been a private business owner since I can remember. She never gives up; no matter what, she does what needs to be done to the fullest and to the best of her ability. She is always ready to help. She is strong and kind and giving.

Was it an easy transition becoming self-employed after being an employee at a big company? How did you feel moving away from the corporate world and starting your own business?

Starting this business was a decision that came about because we came at a crossroads. I was working from home and we were getting so many orders that we had to make a decision. We had to decide whether to start turning down some orders to make a more manageable, leisurely schedule or going at it full steam and opening a shop officially. There was not much time to wonder about it, once we created a business plan and a feasibility study, we went ahead with it. I guess, being exposed to entrepreneurs, like my mom and dad, it was an easy transition. Although sometimes I wonder what I was thinking. Being employed by others is definitely an easier life.


How did your years on Wall Street help you in this new venture? What did you learn there that you can apply now?

Having a business background was an enormous help. The skills I gained, I still use on a daily basis. Experience with previous bosses definitely helped in deciding the kind of business owner I want to be. Generally, from making business plans, marketing, dealing with customers, etc., everything comes from that first invaluable experience.


What is one word that encapsulates your character?

I would say, being unrelenting - when I set my mind to something, I go for it and do not give up.


You have hired new people in your new shop. Does it mean that Emma’s Lunch could grow, despite the challenging economic climate in Cyprus? What is the secret of your success?

Emma's Lunch will definitely grow. We are eyeing a small internal expansion, to accommodate for the growing demand, as our little kitchen does not fit us anymore - although this is still in the examination stage. How we do it? It is consistency, attention to detail, respect and appreciation of our customers and of course having an amazing team you can rely on. I am lucky to have people I can count on in my team, they are the backbone of this business, because without them, I just couldn't do it alone and we would be nowhere. That is why hiring someone is a long and arduous process that requires a careful selection. We want to find people with skills or people, who can be taught the skills and be productive and not disruptive to the team.

How do you find the balance between busy working days and spending time with your family? How do you organize your days? Is there a typical day?

There is no such thing as a “typical day”. Each day is different and there is always a new challenge. The good thing about being your own boss is that you can create your own flexible schedule. So, I am lucky to be able to pick up the kids from school and take them to afternoon activities, be there, when they need me. Working 9-5 would not afford me such a luxury.

What has been the most challenging cake order?

I have to say it was the first Mickey Mouse Club House cake. It had a wooden structure as well! Once we managed that one, everything else was a piece of cake!

What has been the biggest disaster in the kitchen you have ever had?

I would not call it disasters, they are mistakes that happen, but can be easily corrected. Disasters for me are when cakes are out for delivery. I do not want anything to happen and if I get a call much sooner from delivery than it takes to get there, I always assume the worst.

What's your favorite cake to eat?

My favourite cake.... I can't eat cake.... especially when it is ready. It is because I have tasted all the crumbs before that, but I do love our amazing red velvet. Yum! My other favourite product of ours is the chocolate chip cookies. I cannot stop eating those. Whenever there is an order, I ask our baker to create extra!

Do you have a sweet tooth?

I do have a sweet tooth, I have always had... There is no way around it now.

How do you keep your family on healthy meals when you have a cake shop within arm’s reach, full of delicious sweets?

With my present work schedule it is very difficult for me to prepare meals at home as well. I am extremely lucky to have my mom and mother-in-law, because without them I don't know what I would have done. We go to my mother-in-law for lunch every day after school. It is a big family and she creates giant pots of food that is enough for everyone. It is even enough for unexpected guests that may come. So, there is always tasty and healthy food and enough for Lia, my younger daughter to take to school the next day. We eat dinner with my mom a couple of times a week and at weekends either at our house or hers. So, I have been spared of cooking for some time now. The challenge is limiting sweets, but as long as everyone is on the same page and all the food-providing family members know what to give and what not to give, we are ok. We are getting there, although, if I had to give anything sweet to the kids, it would be one of our cakes, because they are homemade. There are no preservatives, all true, fresh ingredients, so I prefer our cakes to store-bought chocolates.

What is the next step of growth, looking into the future? Could we see a network of island-wide shops of Emma’s Lunch bakeries?

That is definitely in the plans since day one. The challenge is choosing the right time and place. We have been open for 1.5 years now, so another shop is a bit further still.
What is your next personal challenge?

My next personal challenge is finding more time with my kids that doesn't have to do with driving them from place to place. I also would like to pull out of the cake-making process as much as possible to concentrate more on marketing and dealing with customers.


Thank you!


Emma’s Lunch Boutique Bakery Cake Decorating Workshop – LPN May event

When: Wednesday, 21 May, 2014 8pm

Where: Aradippou, Pavlou Liasidi 8, Shop 1 (behind Lidl)

What: the event will be showing participants how to cover cakes with fondant, create simple sugar roses and a fondant dog. You will be decorating your styrofoam Cake as you please with the designs you’ve created. You will learn basic cake decorating techniques. Bring your own rolling pin!

Cost of materials: 15 euro (including styrofoam cakes and fondant)

Length of class: 1.5-2 hours

Places are limited, please call Vanja to reserve: 99382652



No Caesarean again! - Natural Vaginal Birth after Caesarean in Larnaca by Veronika Christodoulides

Having a spontaneous natural birth, even after a caesarean, is usually no big deal. But for Larnaca or Cyprus, in a private clinic, it is. Cyprus has an average of 60% of caesareans in privateclinics and 45% in public hospitals. This is one of the highest rates WORLDWIDE. Something is going very wrong over here, and I very much doubt that all these women are asking for a caesarean, like everybody keeps saying. 

You can have a natural birth after a c-section in Cyprus, but it is not the standard thing to do, as I experienced with my last pregnancy. The medical details and statistics about Vaginal Birth after Caesarean (short VBAC) are available on the web. This article is about local information on therapies in Cyprus. Here in Cyprus, you need to know the right people who will direct you to getting the right information. With my first child I knew from books which therapies might help, but I did not know that there are people in Cyprus that do these and could help. This time round, I knew whom to ask.

The most important factor for having a natural birth was my strong wish that drove me. You have to speak about it with your doctor from an early stage on, since some doctors might not do VBAC. Then you have to make sure the reason why you had your previous Caesarean does not exist in this pregnancy. For me, it was the wrong positioning of the baby.

Like the first, my second baby turned head up around week 30. This time I took it more seriously since that was the reason for my caesarean. Bare in mind I was never 100% sure whether I could actually have a natural birth, until I came to the clinic with strong contractions to give birth. But with my baby's head up, I would not have even gotten that far. So when my private doctor Costas Christoforou saw my daughter's head up, he said that it is most likely my body is a certain shape, which will force all my babies into this position. Well it made sense, but I was devastated. I really wanted a natural birth for the sake of my baby and my body.

This is my personal road to a natural birth from a wrong positioned baby:





One method to stimulate a baby's movement is moxibustion. It relaxes the uterus and gives it more space to move. There is an anaesthetist who is also trained in acupuncture that does this in Larnaca,
Dr. Claire Hadjikakou. I had learned about her from Tina Poetis preparing for my first baby with her antenatal class, but I went to Dr. Hadjikakou too late with my first baby (after week 37). This time I was early enough, and my husband and I did this therapy at home every other day. Very relaxing for the belly, but the baby did not turn.

Of course I did pregnancy yoga and pilates twice a week which you can do with Rachel Petrou at The Body and Soul or with Anna at the Earth Spa or with Marina Kyprigenea at the Zogonos Holistic HealthCenter to stay fit, practice conscious breathing and to be prepared for my little birthing-marathon. There are also a couple of positions which you can do regularly which might help the baby turn. Well it might have worked for others, but not in my case. Having said that, I did not want to miss any of my yoga and pilates lessons!

The next person I turned to was Doula Claire Anne. She came to my house and took my wish for a natural birth seriously, which was great emotional support. She showed me a few helpful things but most importantly she introduced me to ElinePedersen- Chiropractor here in Larnaca. Here I learned about Webster technology and how chiropractic can help you during pregnancy. In short, when your pelvis, which is holding the uterus with the baby inside, is not in place, there might be some restrictions which stop the baby turning. This tension from the misalignment or previous scaring can cause tensions in the ligaments of the uterus which prevent the baby to get in the right position. After my first session I felt so much better. I was less tired, did not need to turn that much during the night and after the fourth treatment the baby turned. It was a bit more than two weeks before my calculated birth date and she was finally in place!

(Another option is an External Cephalic Version of the baby by a gynaecologist. It was not an option for me. If you go for this method, make sure that your doctor really knows what he/she is doing.)

In the end I gave spontaneous vaginal birth without any medication to a healthy girl.

Looking back at both of my experiences and for anybody who is hesitating: I recovered so much faster after natural birth. Yes, you have to be prepared and it is exhausting, but it is definitely doable and a very special experience. The c-section is fast and seems painless, but the physical and emotional trouble you have afterwards with the recovery is so much stronger and longer for both you and the baby. I remember not wanting to wear trousers for months, not because I did not fit but because they were bothering my scar, while I was back in my pre-pregnancy jeans only 2 weeks after my natural birth. And I am not even starting to write about the emotional sadness of me feeling after my c-section for month.


The first child usually is the more difficult one. Despite fully breastfed we had colic, sleeping problems.... The second one now is such a happy baby. So balanced and she found her own rhythm with eating and sleeping so fast. All right, we also learned as parents and know now what we are doing: but I am sure in our case, our first child would not have been so difficult if she could have decided when to come out by herself - naturally.

So if they tell you to go for Caesarian because of a wrong positioning of the baby or a previous c-section and you want a natural birth - perk up your ears and see what you can do for you and your baby. Even if the baby does not turn, it is good to know that you did everything you can do and do not have to look back afterwards thinking, this could have been done differently.

If you are in a similar position and need support do not hesitate to contact me through the LPN or facebook or any of the people mentioned in the article.

The importance of family time


With today's busy lifestyles, many parents and grandparents want to spend more "quality" time with their children or grandchildren. But what is quality time? "Quality time" is time spent doing an activity that is meaningful to the parent and child. It is time when family members really get to know each other. Quality time is spent focusing attention on the other person and sharing thoughts and feelings.

Spending time with our children can be fun and educational for us and for them. Much of the child's basic learning takes place in the many informal situations that occur daily in the life of the family. These informal occasions for learning include all the times the family members are together doing ordinary things, such as getting dressed, talking over the day’s happenings, dealing with problems.

Children need to know they are loved unconditionally. The cry of children today is, "Love me for who I am, not what I do. Love me for being who I am, even when I am naughty, not winning, placing, and showing". That does not mean that you have to approve of everything the child does. What it does mean however, is that even though the child misbehaves, we still love and accept the child and provide support.

Children learn about families from the time they spend in their own families. They learn about birth and caring for another person when a new baby comes home from the hospital. They learn about loss when a family member dies. They learn about marriage and relationships by watching their mothers and fathers interact. By living in a family, children learn to share, how to stand up for their own rights, and how to love another person.

We help children develop positive self-esteem by communicating the value we feel for the child. Words of encouragement and love help provide children with the courage to try new things without worrying excessively about not being able to do them.

Dance Show - With Miss Gemma

DANCE SHOW next Sunday 1st June, 4pm-5pm FREE ENTRY!! 

All classes & locations coming together at The American Academy Junior School


Please come to support & bring your friends!! Thanks x

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