Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Prior to this pandemic

We were packed like sardines through security

Rammed on buses to and from the terminal .

Then hours in an aluminium tube full of recycled air

Transit through Istanbul the east west hub

Look at TRNC a plane from Germany two dead holiday makers and the economy in lock-down

How do we regain confidence to travel and accept social mixing

The World has most definitely changed that’s for sure.

Travel has/will change that’s for sure....personally I’m sure a LOT of airlines will go bust. Flybe already Bite the dust but today’s press is full of the likes of Virgin and EasyJet needing bail outs in the very near future. BA laid of 36000 staff yesterday.

It’s been proved that this terrible virus can live on hard surfaces for over 17 hours. So one example is the meal trays on board a plane. Most low cost carriers try to turn around their flights in 30 mins. Surely That won’t be possible from now on due to them having to be deep cleaned. Hence knocking their business models complete out of sync.

A lot of airports are talking about not having enough income to see them through this crisis.

How many hotels,bars,restaurants will survive? Who will have enough money to go on holidays? Who will WANT to actually travel ?

I’m sure in time life will get back on track but the new normal will be a very different normal to what we knew pre virus.

So, instead of being the "Odd Couple" who never went out much, never left the Island since 2007 when we got here, did not take holidays because we have dogs and don't trust any of the kennels in the North, just stayed at home mostly and enjoyed our own company to the full - we will become the normal people once this pandemic is over with.

Strange how things change!!!

Maybe we won't see our visitors every year from now on, probably will never fly again (no loss there) and the sudden surge in IT technology will change things forever for a lot of people. Those businesses that survive will use more "Homeworkers" than ever before, more web sites will spring up, information flow will increase dramatically and home deliveries will become the norm for many people. All the reduction in travel by air/land will help improve the air quality and people will start to exercise more now they can breathe clean air. There are many pluses to the effects of a lock down despite the many drawbacks as well. I can only hope that more good will come out of this event than bad.

waddo wrote: ↑

Fri 03 Apr 2020 10:20 am

So, instead of being the "Odd Couple" who never went out much, never left the Island since 2007 when we got here, did not take holidays because we have dogs and don't trust any of the kennels in the North, just stayed at home mostly and enjoyed our own company to the full - we will become the normal people once this pandemic is over with.

Strange how things change!!!

Maybe we won't see our visitors every year from now on, probably will never fly again (no loss there) and the sudden surge in IT technology will change things forever for a lot of people. Those businesses that survive will use more "Homeworkers" than ever before, more web sites will spring up, information flow will increase dramatically and home deliveries will become the norm for many people. All the reduction in travel by air/land will help improve the air quality and people will start to exercise more now they can breathe clean air. There are many pluses to the effects of a lock down despite the many drawbacks as well. I can only hope that more good will come out of this event than bad.

"did not take holidays because we have dogs and don't trust any of the kennels in the North"

Please explain...

Or maybe technology allied to R & Development will find a cure and we will all eventually return to normal with just maybe temperature checks before entering an airport. It takes a lot to stop the world rolling on.

waddo wrote: ↑

Fri 03 Apr 2020 10:20 am

So, instead of being the "Odd Couple" who never went out much, never left the Island since 2007 when we got here, did not take holidays because we have dogs and don't trust any of the kennels in the North, just stayed at home mostly and enjoyed our own company to the full -

I was in your club too, 3 dogs, 2 house cats and lots of visiting pussies we could never go away, far too much responsibility for one person. I arrived 2004 and the first time I left was 2016 for 3 days to Turkey and my last visit to the UK was July 2019 for 4 days as it was my father's 90 when I had 3 great friends who covered the animal feeds and just being there for them. Luckily I work so they are used to lots of time when I am not at home. 2020 the animal numbers are down but where would I want to go?

Groucho, Difficult to explain without hurting some people's sensibilities as it seems, in this day and age, no matter what you say or write it can be turned around to mean something else, or just taken that the speaker/writer is being racist (the use of that one word in itself can cause you to be called racist) or any other type of person that the reader takes a dislike to. So how can I reply? I can say that I like White milk but dislike Pink and Chocolate milk - somebody will take affront to that for sure. I can make a statement or comment that 99% of readers will find amusing or instructive but the 1% will jump onto the statement/comment in total disagreement as if the statement/comment was made solely to attack them!

However, knowing the risk of alienating the </> than 1% of the reader base I will make an attempt to answer your query - which, by the way, I did not see as racist or upsetting in any way to myself at all.

I have kept dogs for many, many years and cared for them, loved them and treated them in the same manner that I would have my children. In all that time I have left my dogs in only three kennels and have worried for their welfare all the time they have been out of my personal care. It is true that many dogs actually love being in kennels and are sometimes reluctant to leave and return with their keepers - note I do not say owners as I believe that dogs, mostly, are intelligent animals who have and display many of the same feelings as humans. That being a given in my mind, then to claim ownership of a dog is akin to claiming ownership of a human - sorry if people disagree - which amounts to slavery. I am happy to say that I have never had a dog that tried to escape, I have had dogs that tried to find me when I was not there! Even after being away for an extended period of time (Up to 3 years in one instance when due to military commitments I had to leave my dog with my parents) I have never had a dog that was not pleased to see me on my return nor one that ever forgot me!

The kennels I have used in the past have been in the UK and are not cheap by any means - after all would you stuff your children into a cheap B&B whilst you went off on a cruise somewhere? Good kennels are expensive and the cost is nothing compared to the quality of care that they can give your animal whilst you are not there - remembering it is not only physical care but the mental anguish that dogs can suffer when suddenly they find themselves apparently abandoned by their normal keeper!

So in answer to your question - see I get there eventually - if you can point me in the direction of any kennels in the North that can either meet or exceed the services of this kennel in the South: https://www.happyvalley.com.cy/ then I would be happy to go and look at it for a start. I know I can not put my dog into a kennel in the South by the way but there is absolutely no reason at all that if such an establishment exists in the South then a similar one could exist in the North. The local population has changed it's ways a great deal with regard to animal care over the past 20 years and I am surprised that none of them have attempted to provide the sort of quality services available in the RoC - it is after all a money making venture.

Waddo, I agree with you about kennels. The one time I did put my dog into a kennel here (which was recommended to me as the very best), He came home with a lot more than he went in with - he was crawling with fleas, and his bedding was filthy and stinking. Fortunately I found a good dog sitter for future trips.
Our boy went to the happy doggy home in the sky a year ago so we can go off without worrying where he will go now . Well, we can go away once the present situation has passed!

Waddo, leaving the question of dogs to one side, I have to admit, we are another "odd couple" who only go back to UK in particular, once every 3+ years. I know people here who go back frequently as they want to see their grandchildren at birthdays, school plays etc , weddings and funerals. They insist on going back for health reasons (we don't). Much as we love our children (BTW they range from 60 down to 50) and grandchildren from 11 to 30 they have different lives to us now, lives that at times seem strange after 15+ years of living here. I know they all love us to bits, but they have adventurous natures and are continually jetting around the world (of course that has come to a dead halt for months to come). They will continue to live their lives, with or without us oldies and not traipsing back to the UK two or three times a year will be the way we live and probably die here. I have to admit there are times when I think this and every Government doesn't really want us here, but they are stuck with us!!!

PS; Forgot to say we have 5 dogs that we love to bits and on the few times we left them, missed like hell and couldn't wait to come back to them.

Waddo, a big thumbs up from me for your comments re dogs, cats and not leaving them. To true animal lovers they are akin to children and deserve the best care you can give them. As to 'The Virus' - I am pretty sure that after quite a short period of time, people will revert to their old way of life and forget all about it. Not those who have lost loved ones of course, but as the old saying goes 'life goes on' and it is what we make it, to an extent.

"..stuff your children into a cheap B&B whilst you went off on a cruise somewhere.." Do you have the details of the B & B?

Hector, It's the thought that counts - lol. If I tried that with my kids now (one is 48 and the other 50) I would end up counting my teeth on the floor! But love them through I do, I would cheerfully chuck all five grandkids and their three offspring into one of them, just to keep them from A), drinking all my beer when they visit. and B), giving me ten minutes peace and quite!!

Never had this problem with dogs - sit, stay, quiet!!!!!! All in fun.

How will we even feel about going out for meals once they say everything is clear of this terrible virus? Do not think we will for some time after they say we are clear!!

waddo, there are quite a few of us here in the TRNC that live in happy seclusion as the norm. That fact alone is quite a comfort to know. Fully agree with your conclusions about cats and dogs. The pleasure and re assurance we get from our pets is immeasurable. If you don't get it, you are not treating them right.

kendra, it is something we have talked about at length because we may not go out often but we do like to on occasion, now comes the questions about do you trust the conditions in the kitchens, are the staff as clean as you always thought they were and most importantly - how long has the food you are about to eat been in the establishment you are eating in?

I think we will not be eating out for some long time after the all clear is given, personal choice!

Waddo our Jack Russells, two, sisters, were 19 & 21 when they decided to leave us.

I have been here 18 yrs. Never been back to UK my daughter comes here as often as she can. No grandchildren to miss.Been to Turkey twice for a few days but years ago now. All this toing and froing means you never really settle imo. My cat needs me she is another child for me and difficult for another person to feed as she is fussy. Keep us all safe Allah this to shall pass.