CEYLAN HASSAN
You read right, winter is finally here in the land of North Cyprus. So it has been almost a year and a half since living on this little island, but for some reason I still feel like a tourist most of the times.
When shopkeepers or taxi drivers pick up on my accent and say “Where are you from?” I think to myself here we go again the brief explanation spills out as I say, “I’m Cypriot, but I was born and brought up in London and I’ve lived here for a year and a half now,” then comes the “Could tell by your accent?, Why are you here? Etc” oh does it ever end? Maybe one day.
But this isn’t the only thing that makes me feel like a tourist either, it’s so cold that I feel out of place. It’s nothing like London I can assure you, because it’s absolutely freezing inside, in the mornings and the evenings, but when the suns out, off goes the hat and jacket! Can you imagine that in London? Just isn’t possible! But with a day of constant rainfall and two days of grey skies, I was certainly happy to wake up to sunshine and blue skies on Sunday morning. Winter may be here and as much as I love it, the grey skies do get the better of me with blues trying to slowly creep on me, don’t think so winter not this year.
But winter has taken my voice as I type away, my cough is dreadful and a trip down to the pharmacy up the road was a must. I was coughing so much on Tuesday night that I couldn’t breathe properly- that was scary. Don’t worry Mum and Dad I’m still alive just coughing and losing my voice but I’ll be okay.
Winter is colder here believe it or not because the inside floors of houses are tiles so forget walking around the house in socks. I’m sitting on an electric blanket in two layers with another blanket wrapped around me. Like I said, nothing like London, even though it’s only dropped to around 12 degrees or so it feels like minus five! Plus it’s snowed on the Trodos Mountains on the South side, a visit this year to see some snow is a must.
I’ve just realised it’ll Christmas Eve by the time you read this and my niece will be five on Christmas Day, so to those of you who celebrate enjoy festive season and time off.
And princess, Happy 5th Birthday! I cannot wait to celebrate with you on your birthday and watch you continue to grow.
With love and peace from North Cyprus, the island of love and unspoiled beauty….
