Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

However, it would be nice if more people voted on this, and also in view of what was said today, whether there are some who would like to see things brought up to European (and other country) standards. I guess much of it is where one has lived before

I read the above (on another thread here) shortly before "talking" to pen pals in Brussels and California who both suffer from serious arthritic conditions which seriously affect their mobility and quality of life. The lady from Brussels said that in he interests of "greening" a consideable number of parking spacesin that city had been closed, whilst there had been no increase in jprovision pulic transport, with the result that traffic in that city had virtually been brought to a standstill , The lady from California said it was like that there all the time, without even the excuse of greening. I could only respond that where I live there is an increasig, and distressing tendency, to adopt European "iniatives " without thinking through the consequences, or having the resources, and creating further problems, particularly for the disadvantaged. Adopt their standards? I think not!

There are a lot of us here who from time to time have moaned about the stranglehold that EU "directives" is having on the UK, and the sometimes ludicrous consequences . It is sad that some expats are trying persuade the TRNC to adopt them, just because a particular regulation happens to suit their individual preferences.

There are a lot of improvements that could be made here, but they should be made with care to improve, not further damage, the quality of life of all permanent residents and should not detract from the unique quality of the country and its indiginous population, which I, for one, came here to experience and enjoy.

I remember a Borough Engineer in the UK, when EU reguations were first introduced compaining that the same road surface specification for Spanish
and British road surfacing would result in one melting or the other being frozen! This principle applies to many aspects of life.

Very valid points, RR. alan in particular agrees with the road surfacing one. It is very true that what is good for one place is not for another. The methods of heaitng homes, the drains, the roads (or lack of them), etc, etc differ tremendously depending on climate and the nations development.

I agree too about keeping the charm of north Cyprus and many are worried about the development of the Karpaz and whether it will kill the goose with the golden egg.

But at the same time, we need to be able to see what changes will be of the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people or for the improvement of lifestyle, which of ocurse is a difficult thing to do, and to reject those which may not best serve that particular community.

all progress produces 'victims' and in many cases it is the vulnerable, the elderly and the 'lame' or as my husband says 'They just don't want us here' - referring to places such as singapore where one has baout two seconds to cross a wide road before the lights change, etc, etc and to places where there is nowhere to park a car to allow someone such as he to alight. trouble is we humans are primarily out for what suits number one! (me included!) and it takes a lot of considered thought to realise which changes are worth having and which are not, and of course 'the wisdom to know the difference'.

what do others think of this, and what standards are acceptable and which are outmoded, or which are too progressive????

The ex pats in TRNC have over the years already spoilt what was a " little piece of heaven" as they have in all countries unfortunate enough to accept them.
It seems to be an English disease!
Complain bitterly about immigrants not conforming when they arrive in England and at the same time go abroad and expect the locals to accept their customs.
Leave the bloody place alone you idiots and if you don't like it go home !!

Marion: It is too late at night to start a philosophical discussion (particularly without a spellcheck!) but it depends on how you define "progress". A society which allows the selfish and greedy to make victims of innocent less advantaged (whether physical ability or otherwise) is only "progressing" in one direction - straight downhill. There are a lot of exampes in history. Of course we are all basically selfish - it is a measure of our strength to what extent we are able to resrain ourselves - at least when dealing withthose less advantaged.

I wish you had expressed that less aggressively Sandman , you will only encourage those who disagree to bring discord to what was intended as a serious and thoughtful thread. However, I do agree in priniple. The problem is that far from going home, the malcontents are making it so unpleasant they forcing those who went with the country and contributed to it to go home against their wishes and best interests.

Probably going to upset the apple cart here but I would like to see some improvements in health and safety.

I just wish, we were better informed and by that I don't just mean expats, I mean all living here. Whenever something is done here it happens before anybody knows about it.
This road to the monastery had to be improved and a little wider was also neccessary. I and everybody I talked to here, don't even know. how far the 'improvements' will go. There have been no public meetings for this here. The road has to be improved some of the way, as it leads to the soon functioning village Dairy as well as the the harbour by 'Blue Sea'. I have not been that way yet, but when I do, I will take pictures again.

Jonnie

I agree with you, but within reason, I cringe every time I have workman and tries to access my roof by climbing over the water tank! But it must be done slowly, thought out, and with the excercise of common sence. One of the things that I had in mind about European stanards was the situation where dustbin men (sorry "refuse disposal operatives") cant lift dustbins under Health and Safety Regs so elderly and disabled householders who are paying for a service have to move them under pain of being fined..l

One thing that does worry me about Cypriot is that (in defiance of all experience!) they have tendency to copy English ways - without stopping to think if they are (a) adaptable tothe Cypriot climate, culture and infrastructure and (b) sensible and reasonable in the first place!

Dippers Girl

You have hit on another of my concerns. If the TRNC are getting European Funding, it should be spent on upgrading the existing infrastrucure for the benefit of everyone, and cleaning up the countryside, not spent on, among other things, unnecessary road widening to encourage faster and heavier traffic and leisure facilities for a limited number of people.

And thanks for the photos and please keep them coming. Sadly it is a long time since I have been able to visit the Karpas, and with the dog problem among other things ,have to accept that I may never again. Your photos help me feel less cut off and ostricised.

Please Dippers Girl share your pics with me. I agree with you entirely, and I am not sure who pushes these changes through. I have not met anyone yet who can understand why the road needed to be SOOOO wide. maybe they are expecting large coaches to be passing each other coming and going to tthe monastery which appears to now be a tourist attraction rather than a spiritual home. Spoiling beauty in the name of 'progress' is a contradiction in terms. I had the good foortune to live in Green Belt countryside in U.K (could not afford to buy back now) . The area was beautiful and there many ,many pedestrian and horse riding paths, with buildings datng back centuries. Just a small place, but one of peace and history and beauty which people came out to see for the day from London and around. Nothing is allowed to mar the beauty and any planning applications are discussed at great length. Ifonly the same oculd be about the Karpaz. That is not interfering, but merely sharing what one has seen in other places that works.
I also thinkk that mosstof the Brits (and other nationalities0 thatt come to make this their home are pretty protective o fit, and do not like to see changes bulldozed without the proper thought of the future, in terrms of future generations and future tourism and future finance.
But I do not know how one can be keptup to date on these things as they are NOT shared - one just sees a digger or a bulldozer and it is a virtual fat accompli.
one of the problems here is that because it is still a small place nepotism can be rife.

Yes Marion, I know what damage one digger or bulldozer can do,hence"Lake Ozankoy"for the uninitiated see Marion's,pictures and article in the Star last Friday

I agree Marion, Fait acompli is the norm here.

I always like to think before I say something here and check what the rest of the village think, but mostly they do not know about it and I'm the one to spread the 'good' news, for example the 'music festival. I'm not actually totally against it. Coming from the Wiltshire/Dorset border, I have seen a new Festival created (the 'Larmer Tree Music Festival' in Dorset - very much supported by Jools Holland) It grew slowly, had the right support and now it is a great venue, very popular aqnd no problem to the country side.

But here.............................

Somebody who knows about these things, told me that if you have a load of chemical toilets to empty, you need a special processing plant to deal with this waste, which NC has not got!!!

Marion - link to my pictures here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 412767a9c2

I think this lack of of information and consultation is a result of the TCs being victims of their history. Both the Ottoman and British Empires were of the "Nanny knows best " school of Government and the short lived Republic of Cyprus did not exactly offer the TCs the chance to learn communication skills.

So I have always thought that this was an area,, where we had to accept Yavaş, Yavaş and the ways of the country we chose to live in.

However, Marions point is valid. Waiting might, no probably will mean the loss of irreplaceable natural assets for the TRNC.

Dont forget. however, that whilst large parts of the world are now stifling under a blanket of information, so much of it is cleverly manipulated disinformation and misinformation , I am appalled by how much the UK press concentrate on trivialities and as for the BBC News!!!!!! - but o/t

I spent an evening trying to find out about how and why European grants were issued and specifically for some reference to the Lapta walkway and dogs. Ended up with a thumping headache and some information I would have been happier not knowing as I was distracted into other areas of the EU, I hoped Marion , as a journalist, might have access but my request seems to have fallen on deaf ears???!!!!!

Neıther I nor my famıly had the fortune to be able to live in the Green Belt but I understand even that is under threat of "progress " now.

I used to be a srong supporter of the National Trust - they look after the countryside as well as houses - but sadly couldnt afford the subs to keep it up when I moved here.

There was an attempt to found a version of the National Trust here lead by expats (not just Brits) but it failed through lack of support. If it couldnt get funding and support then when most of the expats were truly committed to their adopted country and responsible tourism was encouraged, what chance now when most of the expats and tourists see it as their Mediterranean playground?

And dont foget the TRNC has even more urgent calls on its funds.

Has the time come to wave those nasty little pink EU Passports and try to find out just exactly what the EU can and do to preserve environment assets?






















Has the time come to use thos passports