“I’m going home I’ve done my time.” It’s a line from an American bubblegum 1970s song. Much maligned the song may be, but it now seems somewhat heartfelt when you consider how much crap Cypriots have had to endure from politicians over the years since Turkey illegally invaded Cyprus.
It was in 1974 that Turkey invaded the sovereign state of Cyprus. Nobody helped Cypriots at the time and despite many seemingly meaningful attempts at a peace process, Cyprus is still a divided country. I know, I live in Cyprus and have done for nearly a decade. But what I don’t know and what nobody knows, apart from some Koreans, is what it’s like to live in your own country but not be allowed to go home.
Sound crazy? Did to me all those years ago when my wife and I arrived with our two Springer Spaniels late one September night. But having never experienced the trauma of having to leave my home, in a mad rush, or lose my life, have my kids killed and wife raped I have never felt any affinity with the dispossessed of Cyprus. But those who have been dispossessed are now thinking of taking the bull by the horns, shaking it and then planting their feet firmly in the soil of where they were born and defiantly telling the world, “F*** you. This is my home.”
There is a movement growing of once-upon-a-time residents of what was a vibrant coastal resort in northern Cyprus who since 1974 have found themselves to be refugees. These families are fed up at the lip-service and platitudes politicians on both sides of the divide have served up to them over the years. Now, they want to take their own future into their own hands and shape it the way they want it to be shaped. These people are the heroes of Cyprus, not the self-serving politicians.
Despite there being a United Nations patrolled divide between the north and south of Cyprus, only one of two in the world, Korea being the other, it seems those who have ancestral homes in the north have had enough. They want their homes back.
Only one small fly in the ointment of ultimate success I can see. This movement seems to be guided by a family member of one of Cyprus’ leading property developers. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it.
Tom Kane © 2017
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The hilarious story of Tom Kane’s move from the UK to living in Cyprus.
REVIEW
5.0 out of 5 stars
A humorous and interesting tale of a British expats struggle to make a new life in Cyprus. By Kens Coston
If you want to forget your troubles for an hour or two while living through the humorous exploits of someone else’s misfortunes then this is the book for you. I chuckled in some places, worried in some places and was sad in others. Overall, it’s a fun read and well worth the very low cover price. Tom Kane has a style of writing that is very endearing.
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