Culture…with or without a shock

“AD-LIB”
The newsletter of
Paphos Third Age
(P3A)
www.paphos3rdage.org
December 2015
Culture…with or
without a shock
Ros Sparrow hails Pafos2017 in
her message from the Chair
Like many of us, I love living in Paphos and see the place as my home. So when I learned
the town was to be European Capital of Culture 2017, I was curious, and since attending a
promotional event in March, I have been really impressed by the passion, energy and vision of the organising team Pafos2017.
To give you all a taste of what is happening, we invited Erica Charalambous to talk to us on 7th November. Erica
was part of the bid team that won the Capital of Culture title for Paphos, despite its being the smallest town ever to
have been chosen up to that point. What really seems to have swayed the awarding committee was the concept of
an “Open Air Factory”. The message was that although once a thriving artistic centre, Paphos has hardly been a hub
of cultural activities recently. The bid team’s ambition was to rebuild the town’s cultural life, bringing people together
to create something new.
A two-year warm-up programme is underway, with film, theatre and music performances involving artists from
around Europe, as well as Turkish Cypriots. You can subscribe to the event mailing list via www.pafos2017.eu.
Erica now leads the “Community Countdown” which aims to engage residents of all nationalities in the effort to get
Paphos ready.
Numerous projects are in the pipeline, encouraging people to take more pride in the town, while having fun working
together. Families have joined in sprucing up neglected areas. They have painted murals on ugly walls, done street
art, and in a forthcoming project they will build a maze in the Park next to the Azia Hotel. They also hope to
rejuvenate the now-derelict Bar Street in Kato Paphos.
Another way to get involved is by occasional volunteering at events. A wish list is circulated every month, so you
can offer to help with a specific task e.g. handing out programmes at a performance. Quite a few P3A members,
including myself and several group leaders, are doing this and find it very rewarding.
The Pafos2017 organisers are not part of the Municipality; they can’t waive a wand and fix all the roads (although
the new Mayor seems to be making a serious effort). But with a limited budget and a lot of creativity, they are
determined to make Paphos a more attractive, cultured and socially integrated place to live.
Still on the Capital of Culture event, let’s not forget the contribution made by Tête-à-Tête, a marvellous new quintet
of singers created by a P3A member.
For some of us, the event highlighted an important part of Paphos Third Age – the part which says PAPHOS. We’re
part of the wider community in Cyprus, south and north. As guests, residents and expats it’s good to have
opportunities to help and cooperate with the citizens of our chosen homeland.
IN THIS ISSUE OF AD-LIB you’ll find coverage of the amazingly wide range of subjects
covered by our groups…both home and away.
HOME with a report on the progress of a new cookery group and how to make a special greetings card.
AWAY with news of two major field trips by the Geology Group, which took in some of the most astonishing
sights, scenery and rocks which Cyprus has to offer – and explained how they came to be.
And much more, including the re-entry problems and triumphs of two members who have gone to live in UK.
FULL CONTENTS ARE ON PAGE 2
P3A Committee members
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Secretary
Group Coordinator
Events Organiser
Technical Officer
Magazine Editor
Ros Sparrow
Nigel Harris
Wally Oppenheim
Danne Johnston
Dale Ikin
Linda Maidment
Jeremy Wall
Brian Chalcraft
Nigel Harris
Contact details: http://paphos3rdage.org/committee.htm
Contents
Message from the Chair …...1
Group News……………. … 2
Committee…………………...2
Saturday Talks………………2
Our P3A………………………3
Card Making………………. ..4
World of Cookery……………5
Geology 1………………….6-8
Classic Films………………...9
Play Reading………………...9
Natural History……………..10
Geology 2……………….11-14
New Chess Group…………14
Saturday Talks and Events
5 December, 10am-noon
Mike France on the Role of Magistrates
(Droushia Heights Hotel)
January 2016 (tbc) Prof Demetrios Michaelides on Hellenistic Cyprus
February 2016 (tbc)
Paul Joyce on Admiral Cochrane
March 2016 (tbc)
Barry Heywood on Antarctica
16 April 2016
Tai Chi Demonstration by Mei Rees
For further information on venues and subjects to be covered
in the Saturday Talks please contact Jeremy Wall.
jglwall(at)gmail.com
New Year, new ideas...and new groups
I hope you have all been enjoying your various P3A clubs and activities this autumn, writes Linda Maidment,
Group Coordinator. No doubt the Group Leaders have been working hard planning programmes, organizing
various trips and making the groups you attend an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
We had a second Group Leaders meeting and lunch on 3rd October. This gives Group Leaders an opportunity
to get together to discuss any issues and the various challenges they have running their groups. It also gives
the P3A Committee an opportunity to show our appreciation for all their hard work. In future this will become
an annual event.
Our constant challenge is giving you, our members, the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of different groups.
We are, therefore, always trying to think of ways we can encourage new groups and ideas.
Look out for a new drive at the beginning of January and please do take part – we do need the support and input from our members to continue to be such a successful and vibrant organization.
In the meantime, whether you are here or away have a very Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.
P3A groups: where to find them and how to join
The P3A website http://paphos3rdage.org/groups.htm has a complete list of groups together with details of
meeting times and Group Leaders. Click on the group title to see contact details.
IF YOU WISH TO JOIN A GROUP, PLEASE CONTACT THE GROUP LEADER
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The Story So Far...
Our P3A: some
home thoughts
from abroad
By John Rathband
My wife and I left Cyprus 18 months ago, giving
up on our ex-pat lives, primarily to develop and
enjoy our love of live theatre and other culture.
Having been outside the UK for 20 years, 15 of
them in Cyprus, we were ready for a new adventure.
Our house on the south coast of England was
already set up, and we had joined the local U3A
a year or so before despite not being around
enough to attend groups.
Back in Britain, Vivienne and John Rathband
Now as ‘full-time’ members we could explore in
found adventure...and some nostalgia
greater depth what a U3A in England has to offer.
At the beginning of the financial year, an Enrolment Day is held for all members, offering an opportunity to pay subscriptions (£25!).
Each U3A group is represented at other enrolment tables by its leader (called ‘conveners’
here). At our first such Enrolment Day I approached one of the tables and asked if I could join
the group. ‘Oh no, I’m already full,’ was the reply.
I persevered: ‘So what are you doing here?’ I asked. ‘I’ve been told by the committee to represent my group,’ she said.
This experience was repeated again, at which point I was about to give up when I saw the man
who runs the walking group and successfully joined up. No waiting list here!
I dropped by the history table to learn that she was covering famous Victorians; strangely
enough she didn’t have a waiting list either....
I examined the U3A accounts to be amazed by the high annual postage costs, due – we discovered – to the high percentage (30%) of members not on the internet. Email had not yet touched
this sleepy area…
The other even larger cost was the hiring of halls, representing some 37% of total expenses.
Further inquiries indicated that no groups were self funding (apart from walking and similar
outdoor active groups).
We decided to join a neighbouring U3A – more switched on and only £10 pa – with a well balanced set of accounts and where all groups are self supporting. We both joined several activities, and a few months later I helped set up a Current Affairs group.
So, we’ve gained in culture, given more to the taxman, miss the sunshine and more importantly
the many friendships we left behind. But after a while as in any environment, we’ve adapted ...
well almost, I still need to get on an aircraft once every six weeks or so!
John and Vivienne are Life Members of P3A, so they’ll always have a warm welcome in Paphos
3
Here’s how
to send
very special
greetings
First take a piece of card
29 cms long and 15 cms
high and place it flat in
landscape mode.
Next, score down the card
from top to bottom at 6,
8.5, 20.5 and 23 cms. from
the left hand edge.
See Picture 1 (top)
Then in the narrow 2.5 cm
sections, mark down 6 cms.
and draw a line across.
Cut out this section to give
a turreted effect and either round off or cut off the top six corners.
See Picture 2 (above)
Follow this by cutting three pieces of backing paper (gift wrap is ideal) 1 cm shorter and 1 cm thinner than each of your
three large panels and glue in place. Finish by upcycling old greetings cards to give your desired effect, and zig zag fold so
main panel comes forward and narrow panels go behind.
See Picture 3 (left).
If you enjoyed this, why not pop
along to Andros Tavern on Monday afternoons between 2 and 4
p.m. and see what else the Card
Making Group can offer you?
Please contact Wynn Walton
(99876165 or [email protected]) or Terri Curtis (99898400 or [email protected])
4
A taste of
America
launches
a trip
around
the world
The Paphos group of Around the
World in 80 Dishes was launched
in September, writes Jill Dare.
There was a wealth of ideas and enthusiasm, which produced plans and
themes for meetings well into next
year.
People in Cyprus have lived in many
other countries, and not only enjoyed
the food but brought back the recipes
for things familiar and unfamiliar.
Even the familiar took on a new look
as we tasted each other’s dishes.
Our first meal together in October had
an American theme, and really it could
be described as a feast.
‘Real’ burgers, Grannies’ Boston
Baked Beans, ribs, pulled pork with
mac’n’cheese and all the trimmings
were followed by a baked New York
cheesecake and the showstopper Key
Lime Pie.
Move over Paul and Mary – there is
a new star on the horizon!
I do want to emphasise though that
the group is definitely NOT competitive – we just enjoyed the opportunity to get together and explore the
cuisine of another country.
At the moment there’s still a place at
the table if you’d like to join us.
Pictured from top: the showstopper Key Lime Pie; Graham pleads
for more (a third helping of Boston Baked Beans!); and the group
enjoys the American meal
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Mud, Mud, glorious Mud…
In the first of two reports on a busy time for the Geology Group, Janet Allen
tells of a day-long visit to some of the most riveting sights Cyprus has to
offer. See pages 11 to 14 for a second major trip - to the Troodos geopark
The group with Dr Zomenia Zomeni (centre, pale blue shirt) at the site of the red mudstones, Secret Valley
The Geology Group was honoured in October with a field trip led by Dr Zomenia Zomeni, Head of General Geology, GIS
and Cartography, from the Cyprus Geological Survey Department in Nicosia. The Department is celebrating 65 years
this year, having been started by the British in 1950.
The theme of the trip was to examine the formations of the Mamonia Complex. The complex includes several different
formations which range in age from what is known as the Upper Triassic Period to Mid-Cretaceous (230-75 million years
ago) and consists of igneous, sedimentary and minor occurrences of metamorphic rocks. These formations make up two
main groups: the predominantly sedimentary Agios Fotios Group and the principally igneous group, the Diarizos.
The trip took us through eight different stops, the first at Eledia village to find the extensive evaporate deposits of gypsum representing a significant event known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis. This was caused by reduced connectivity
between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, estimated to be around 5.5 million years ago. At every stop Dr Zomeni
gave very lively and interesting explanations, showing her extensive knowledge of the area. This in turn prompted questions and discussions all through the trip.
We saw that the Pakhna Formation sediments (stop 2) are cream to buff-brown alternating layers of chalks and marls.
It is approximately 350-400m thick, rich in planktonic foraminifera deposited in a techtonically unstable shelf, adjacent to
the emerging Troodos island. These Pakhna reef limestones contrast sharply with the bright white chalks of the underlying Lefkara Formation. We saw the alternating bedded chalks and cherts exposed along the road from Nata to Axylou
(stop 3). They belong to the stratigraphic unit of the Lefkara Formation: this section includes interbedded micrite (white)
and grey chert, also darker layers of greenish grey.
Continued on pages 7 and 8 >
6
ABOVE: Close examination of the Lefkara Formation
chalk and chert, Axylou–Nata road.
RIGHT: Agios Fotios Group sediments, Souskou
village
> continued from page 6
Next we examined the pillow lavas at Fasoula village (stop 4) which possess olivine phenocrysts. They have a
brownish colouration due to replacement by a mixture of iron oxide and carbonate. A number of pillows had bands of
zeolite which were parallel to their top surfaces. We then examined the sediments of the Agios Fotios Group (stop
5), rich in plant remains.
By this time we were getting a little weary and it was off to Kouklia for a hard-earned lunch at the Efrim Tavern (put
on by Maria). Fully refreshed we visited the Kouklia Fold (stop 6) which has deformed the Pakhna Formation
chalks. Much lively discussion followed as to how marine gravels could have ended up at either end of the fold!
What we encountered next was definitely not for the fainthearted! (stop 7). We, the intrepid field-trippers were well
rewarded for our scrambling through bushes, avoiding thorns and prickles and taking care not to slide down slopes,
when we came upon this amazing sequence of sediments including the red mudstone of the Agios Fotios Group, to
be found at the far end of Secret Valley. We were followed and questioned by Secret Valley Security but thanks to
the presence of Dr Zomeni, we were deemed “official” and allowed to continue in peace!
“Wow!” “Amazing!” “It was well worth the scramble!” were some of the exclamations uttered as we drank in the
scenery. This sequence - pictured on page 8 and in the background of the group photo on page 6 - belongs to the
Episkopi Formation. What can we say - it was fantastic!
The trip was rounded off by a stop at Petra tou Romiou (stop 8) and down on to the beach - see pictures on page 8.
This location is where the Mamonia Complex makes its first appearance in SW Cyprus. The large, light coloured
‘sea stacks’ rising out of the sea are fragmental reef limestones.
The limestone blocks consist of recrystallised fragments with lava inclusions. The succession, part of the Diarizos
Group, includes volcaniclastic sandstones,tuffs, purplish-coloured pillow lavas, cherts and mudstones.
We all returned home feeling tired but well-rewarded for our efforts after a very interesting
day-long field trip.
Our thanks go to Dr Zomeni who made the trip varied and eventful, and we look forward to her
promised second trip in the Spring!
If you are interested in learning more of what the Geology Group does, please
contact either Keith Adair on 99792579 or Anneke Irwin on 99152875
7
ABOVE: The impressive red mudstone of the Agios Fotios Group, a part of the Episkopi Formation
LEFT: Limestone ‘sea
stack’ at Petra tou Romiou
BELOW: Clambering up
the stack to see the lava
inclusion
8
P3A celebrates stars of stage and screen
Two hours a night
is time enough for
the classics of film
On the first and third Tuesday evening of the month between October and June, the “Classic Films” group meet at
Technopolis20 in Paphos at 7.00pm, writes Paul Clarke
The term Classic Film, for us, has a structured, yet also
flexible definition. Generally, every film selected will have
some kind of critical acclaim and be at least 10 years old.
Many will have received Academy Awards but not necessarily. Quite a few films will have been made in Hollywood. Each season we will see a number of British made
and foreign language films. There is however one constraint which applies to any film we watch. It is not about
content, as you may be thinking!
It’s all about length; the film duration is limited to a little
over a couple of hours.
This allows us and the Technopolis staff to arrive home
afterwards at a reasonable time! If you were hoping to
watch Doctor Zhivago (excellent movie) for instance, I’m
afraid it can’t happen.
To assist many members whose hearing is less good these days, all films are screened with subtitles.
These can be quite useful for everyone if the sound quality or the actors’ diction is a little lacking.
Here are a few of the films we have seen in the last couple of years:
Vertigo (1958)
Out of Africa (1985)
Brief Encounter (1945)
Life is Beautiful (1988) The Hours (2002)
The Spy who came in from the Cold (1965)
Chinatown (1974)
Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
The Piano (1993)
We do have room for some more members. If you would like to join us,
click on this link for contact details: http://paphos3rdage.org/classicfilms.htm
The play’s the (reading) thing...
The Play Reading Group was off to a flying start for the autumn season in September when
nine members came to read Murder in Play, a comedy thriller by Simon Brett.
This proved to be very successful and enjoyed by all, with lots of laughter and fun,
especially as some of us had to share scripts and we had men playing ladies’ parts with
falsetto voices. The play kept us guessing right up to the
end with an unexpected twist, writes Andrew Dare.
We then went on to read Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, set in the last century, which proved
equally enjoyable but a bit more serious and rather topical about the role of women in the
family, which at the time was very restricted .
Because we do not have to remember lines or act we can encourage members to read with
emphasis and character and sometimes in different accents - which all makes for a fun
afternoon in a very informal setting.
Why not come along and try for yourself? We now have 13 members - men and women.
9
Pashas
and a
passion
for
natural
history
By David
Sparrow
The butterflies of Cyprus were the subject
of a talk by Ros Sparrow to the Natural History Group in September.
53 species have been
recorded on Cyprus. Some are rare migrants or extinct, but during a typical year around 48 to 49 species are observed.
One of the largest and most spectacular is the Two-tailed Pasha - pictured above - which can be seen along the Kyrenia Range and in parts of Troodos, where its host plant (its caterpillars’ food) grows: this is the Eastern Strawberry
Tree (Arbutus andrachne).
Further information on the butterflies of the island can be found on Eddie John's website at
www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk. Eddie also runs a butterfly recording scheme for the island; several of our group
members are regular recorders.
Ros also gave the P3A Monthly Lecture on 21st November on “What a Plant Knows”, which was a fascinating introduction to the sensory capabilities of the plant kingdom.
In case you are wondering, I am taking a break from speaking myself, while I work with Eddie John, my co-editor, to
complete a book on the Wildlife of Cyprus. This five-year project, involving over 40 co-authors, is finally close to its
end and we hope to be in print with it during the first quarter of 2016. This has meant an interruption in the normal
monthly Natural History talks, but these will resume in January.
On Monday 25th January Antonis Petrou will talk to the group about Agios Georgios island (on the north
side of the Akamas ) its underwater environment and plans to protect it.
Following a proposal made by Antonis' NGO for the island to become a Marine Protected Area,
the government has included it in the Akamas Management Plan.
On Saturday 5th February Martin Hellicar, Research Coordinator at Birdlife Cyprus, talks on bird migration.
Meanwhile the Dragonfly Study Group approaches the end of its third year of recording dragonfly species in Cyprus.
We now have a database of over 10,000 sighting records.
For those who ask why on earth anyone would do this, one reason is that this was previously a neglected and underinvestigated area. These colourful and aerobatic insects are fascinating to study and it has proved to be a very fruitful subject for investigation.
Dragonflies are very good indicators of healthy environments, spending the first, juvenile stage of their lives feeding
on tiny living things in a pond or stream, and their adult stage catching insect prey in flight, so they need suitable
water and a flourishing ecosystem.
Recording schemes in place all over Europe show that in northern countries (especially Germany and the Netherlands) dragonfly populations have actually recovered from a low in the 1970s, due to stricter pollution control and
wetland conservation efforts.
Studies of flight seasons and distribution also shed light on the impact of climate change. For instance with global
warming, southern species have been observed further north. We look forward to continuing the research next year.
10
In the second of our reports on Geology Group expeditions, Keith Adair
tells us of the day the group went high into the Troodos mountains, to the
geopark and gardens centred on this massive reclaimed asbestos tip
Of mountains and mines
The geology group field trip on the 3rd November took us high into the Troodos Mountains. A total of 31 members
and guests, with picnic lunches and warm clothing, boarded the coach for Amiantos.
At a viewpoint overlooking the old open-pit asbestos mine at Amiantos we observed the extent of the old mine
workings. Mining was at its peak from 1926 to 1988 employing 10,000 workers thus making Cyprus Europe’s largest exporter of asbestos.
The asbestos type here is “chrysotile” or white asbestos and is easily identified as small parallel fibres in veins in a
rock called “serpentinite”. The fibres were extracted once the rock was crushed. Each one hundred tons of rock
crushed would yield just one ton of asbestos fibres.
The 99 discarded tons were haphazardly dumped to create the massive spoil heaps we saw before us. In 1996 an
ambitious project commenced to stabilize the spoil heaps and plant them with trees and shrubs in an effort to restore the area.
The mine primary school and the mining company offices have been transformed into state of the art visitor attractions; the Troodos Geopark Centre and the Troodos Botanical Gardens respectively. But we were not to be visiting
them just yet.
Travelling eastward through Kyperounta and Chandria we arrive at Teichia tis Madaris - the second highest peak
(1610mtrs) in the Troodos, We were here to study “sheeted dykes”, however we were not alone. Prof. Tony Morris
with two staff from Plymouth University and a group of 4th year MSc geology students were on a similar mission.
What a coup! The very kind professor took time away from his group to give us a short talk on - what else! - sheeted
dykes. Unconnected with Dutch sea defences, “dykes”, in geology terms, are formed through a process known as
“diaperism”.
They form when partially molten igneous material (magma) deep under the ocean floor, is intruded vertically upwards through fractures in the dense crustal rock above. “Sheeted” because new dykes will intrude into earlier
dykes which have cooled and hardened – dykes within dykes – with no other rock material between each intrusion.
Continued on pages 12, 13 and 14 >
11
ABOVE: Prof
Tony Morris close-up
above right explains
sheeted dykes
and seafloor
spreading to a
most attentive
audience
RIGHT: Sheeted
dykes of the
Teichia tis
Madaris remain
erect like manmade walls
.
12
Of mountains and mines
> Continued from page 11
Leaving a cold and windy Madaris Ridge behind, our next stop was the Geopark Visitor Centre. The geologist curator
Constantia Achilleos welcomed us and showed an excellent 15 minute video on the geology of the island, before a
guided tour of rock and mineral exhibits.
She followed this with an overview of asbestos, chromite and copper mining in the Troodos. Photographs and
memorabilia from the early 1900’s provided a great visual insight into the history of this fascinating period of Cyprus’ industrial, social and economic past. The park is open all year round and entrance is €3.
The group poses for a farewell picture before leaving the Geopark Visitor Centre
Our penultimate stop was the Botanical Gardens, still in the old mine complex and just around the corner from the
Geopark Centre. Andreas Paradisis, the Forest Officer, welcomed us and began the tour with, again, an excellent 15
minute video, this time on the flora of the Troodos. Informative static displays, well marked in English, describe the
restoration of the mine area, the distribution of Troodos vegetation and the seasonal changes of the flora.
The grounds are divided into a number of themed sections, Arboretum, Viewpoint, Aromatic Plants, Endemic Plants
and the Central Square. The best month to visit is May. Entrance is free.
Our last stop in the Troodos was to inspect the “Moho” or to be precise the “Mohorovicic discontinuity”. In 1909 Andrija Mohorovicic, a seismologist, concluded after studying the behaviour of seismic waves, something which implied a density change between the rocks comprising the Earth's crust and those of the mantle.
He calculated the depth of this boundary to be about 8–12 km under the oceans and 40–50 km under the continents.
Cyprus is one of a few places where it is exposed on the surface. It can be seen at the roadside on the “Old Seven Sisters” Platres to Troodos road (see picture on page 14).
Here you will walk on rock that was once 8km beneath an ancient ocean floor.
A suitably awe-inspiring thought to end a day of wonders.
13
ABOVE: At the Moho David May describes the greenish mantle rock
“harzburgite” adjacent to the brown crustal rock,” dunite”
King of games
moves to its
opening gambit
By David Greensmith
I have played competitive chess over the
board for 50 years, right through from my
school days, until retiring to Cyprus this
year. The language barrier at the Paphos
Chess Club is a severe handicap.
All the players have known each other for
years, and tended to ignore me on the
couple of occasions I visited. So, regrettably, my chess has been limited to the Internet since I
arrived here in February.
It occurred to me that there may well be others like me within the P3A ranks, and I wondered if
there is therefore scope to set up a group and play a few games, maybe once a fortnight at a
venue to be agreed. Players would be expected to bring their own boards and sets (and clocks if
they have them). We could hold mini tournaments and so forth if there is enough interest, and
could in time perhaps expand to teach people who want to learn how to play the King of Games.
If you are interested, please contact me in the first instance by e-mail
([email protected]) or by 'phone at 99103156.
14