Take a breath in silence
I often find myself saying to stressed, overworked, younger friends, ‘Take a breath; take time for yourself.’ It’s an old saying – take a breather, and it’s one of ...
Articles
Things that get my goat!
A friend and I wondered in what cloud those who fix low-incomes live. Income tax ceilings are lifting, yet we, living alone, recycling, pay €200 for rubbish collection. Previously, as a ...
Cyprus then and now
The Citizens’ Service Office, Engomi, Nicosia is a gem in the government’s crown of inefficient public service thorns. Your appointment is made by phone, you receive an SMS reminder ...
Should we look gift horses in the mouth?
Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Anyone who loves horses wouldn’t worry about its teeth, but rather the loving care it needed when old. Cruelty to animals ...
An uncertain New Year
A friend whose daughter studied in the UK, told me ‘She’s staying there, what future has she here?’ She’s not alone in making that choice. The Cyprus government ...
Ghosts of Christmas past
Scrooge’s ghosts terrified him; I love mine. First, Bridget, my mother, and Aunt Emma, a child waking very early on Christmas morning finding gifts from Daddy na Nollaig (Santa). ...
‘I don’t care!’
Two of my favourite actors Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford starred in The Fugitive. Ford’s character falsely accused of murdering his wife; Jones the lawman sent to catch ...
Fair distribution of stored surpluses?
Les Manison’s article last Sunday had sound financial advice. How marvellous if his suggestions could be applied locally, resulting in a fair and equally supported population.
Sadly, we non-wealthy ...
What an odd species we are
I’ve known a man for years, in great shape, great life, his own home, children settled, housed, grandchildren highly educated, he sailed through life. Yet he rattles on about ...
In whom do we trust?
Tributes following the death of Katie Cleridou showed respect and affection for her strong character, her honesty and sincerity. How many political figures in the world deserve that kind of ...
Where have all the children gone?
In Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, under crime and punishment, I find ‘The righteous is not innocent of the deeds of the wicked.’ And, ‘Let he who would lash the ...
Are vegetarians killers?
A gentle friend has a small farm he loves, and one of his prime pleasures is talking about how he’s improving it, and the affection he has for the ...
The domino effect
During the Cold War, the domino effect meant a political chain reaction. It still applies with Donald Triumphant in the White House wanting dictatorial control of power; he commands and ...
Too much of a good thing
We’re all subjective when it comes to what we consume for sustenance or pleasure. The rich can be picky and pricy about what they eat, the poor are stuck ...
My war is/was more important than yours
An Irish friend in Thessaloniki wondered why there was little coverage in Europe on the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, a member state, part of whose land is ...
Have politicians lost all compassion and conscience?
Absolute power, especially held over long periods, can corrupt absolutely. Not always in evil ways, but in how the powerful can feel no compunction, once in office, to serve as ...
Holding out for a hero, Denzel!
I love Denzel Washington and although I hate violence, I watched Equalizer 3. He’s showing his age, yet unlike some of his fellow elder actors, there is something believable in ...
Separating wheat from chaff
A government in a precarious world economy fights for its survival by implementing cuts, as the Cyprus government has done, seeking out welfare/benefit malingerers.
However, careful scrutiny should ensure ...
Why the Irish are so proud of Bloomsday
The Irish celebrated Bloomsday on June 16 honouring James Joyce’s unique publication Ulysses.
It’s a rare day dedicated to a work of art, now evolving into a week’s ...
Noise can kill you
I only heard parts of an interesting programme on the BBC, because phone calls prevented me getting the title or presenter who subjected himself to reacting to various noise tests. ...
A teacher makes the difference
Would a primary or other headteacher in Cyprus kill him-/herself if their school was given a one-word, inadequate, label? That tragic result happened in the UK where Ofsted assesses ...
If only David ruled the world
The recently-widowed and aged Cypriot neighbour of a friend took to going to church in the evenings unaware she was being watched. One night, she returned to find her home ...
How much did Francis really know?
Greek American David Sedaris is an inimitable raconteur, an irreverent and brilliant wit whose jokes can be blunt, but never tainted with coarseness or discrimination. He’s gay, happy in ...
DNA and language
I’m Irish, love my country and my culture. My father’s name is described as Normo-Celtic, my sister, older by 16 years, always told me I had a retrousse nose, ...