So you’re probably thinking I’ve turned into a walking bad smell after reading the title of my column. I can assure you that’s honestly not the case, what I mean is that they don’t really have baths here. North Cyprus may be my motherland, but unfortunately there are a lot of essentials missing and plenty they need to catch up on. Almost every summer we’ve travelled to Cyprus as a family since I can remember for the holidays. As I got older and began to go abroad on my own, one of my highlights visiting would be the cold showers I’d take two-three times a day. It was so hot that I couldn’t possibly shower with hot or warm water, especially if I was sunburned can you imagine the pain? Trust me you don’t want to imagine it either!
The last two years I’ve made at least two trips in winter and this time I haven’t looked forward to the showers, simply because that’s all they are- showers. It might sound odd but I don’t think I’ve come across anybody who has said to me: “I’m just going to have a shower” or “I’m getting in the shower” in winter. Whether it be members of my family or friends, not one of them has ever said: “I’m going to have a bath.” It’s just occurred to me why, but you’ll find out as you carry on reading.
I’ve just had a nice hot shower and am sitting at the kitchen table, in loungewear and my hair wrapped in a towel, while I write this. Never did I think I’d miss having a bath so much, only two and half weeks after moving country. Don’t get me wrong, almost every household I’ve been to including the one I’m staying in has a bath-tub, they’re just never used for having a bath. How could you not want to have a long hot bath on a wet and cold Sunday? It’s Monday evening at the moment and the rain, thunderstorms and flooding that comes with it earlier today was draining as usual. All I wanted to do was get home and lie in a hot bath for half an hour, but when you’re living on a small island that’s hot probably nine months of the year it’s not that easy.
Unfortunately, they don’t have a drainage system like the UK does, nor do they have enough rainfall to prevent them from suffering drought, so baths are a no-go zone. When I take into consideration just how expensive essentials like food, toiletries and even travelling is, it’s easy to empathise with them for not having baths. Filling up a bath-tub even half way, is like giving your pay-cheque away before you’ve even got it! Sad but true. There’s a water shortage and they cannot afford to be wasting it. I guess it’s a luxury I’m going to have to sacrifice for a very long time, well at least till the next time I’m back in London. God only knows when that will be so here’s to getting used to hot showers for as long as winter decides to stay in North Cyprus. Appreciate being able to have a bath you good old Londoners, you’re luckier than you think!
