Sunday, February 22/2026

Courtesy kibrisgazetesi.com

 Late afternoon and a couple of gunshots from the mountainside remind us that this is the last Sunday in February and therefore the last Sunday of the hunting season in North Cyprus. There has apparently been a proposal to extend the small game hunting season into March, citing, among other reasons, changes in climate. However, KUȘKOR, the Birds and Nature Conservation Association, have protested, saying that March is breeding season and that in fact with climate change some partridges are beginning to breed earlier, meaning that the end of the hunting season should be moved back rather than extended.

Meanwhile police reports for the day include the account of a 47 year old female who failed to stop at a traffic stop. Then fled the scene. Raises a couple of questions. Why are police/news reporters obsessed with the age of everyone? Possibly because it’s the bit they’re allowed to report. And suppose it would be interesting if the driver were, say, thirteen, or ninety-eight. However the more interesting bit comes later:

“A search of the vehicle revealed that he was in possession of a metal detector without authorization from the relevant authorities. The individual was arrested.”

The “he” is probably a translation error. There is no third person gender in Turkish. He and she are both translated as “o”. Particularly awkward when translation apps are used, resulting in posts saying things like “my uncle died last summer and we really miss her”.

And about the metal detector. Have never thought about buying one but would have had no idea that it is illegal to possess one here. What other laws are we likely to be breaking?

Saturday, February 21/2026

Don’t usually acquire books and olive oil from the same source but today’s Saturday market is a happy exception. Karen, who runs the book stall in support of animal rescue, also harvests olives and sometimes has olive oil for sale. 

So today we collect, as arranged, a litre and a half bottle of olive oil. And, as we’re at the stall, acquire two previously unread Ian Rankin novels  and three Robert Harris books. Would have stopped at four books, but Karen points out that there’s a discount when you buy five so go with it. Besides spring is here so more time out on the terrace, which means higher proportion of “real” books. And it’s in a good cause. 

Friday, February 20/2026

Second day of Ramadan, but we, happily, are not fasting. A bit cloudy but no rain and not cold so we’re back to our usual Friday gathering at the Blue Song.

We go to the bar when we arrive and the bar tender says “two draft”. I’m impressed. “You remembered”. Then he goes to the cooler and takes out two bottles of Efes lager and two glasses. Would raise an eyebrow in query were I so accomplished. He explains with a nod toward the tap.”Not good today”. Fair enough.

Stop for groceries on our way home. 

Fruit and veg and a half dozen eggs. But most important the Ramadan pidesi, Ramadan  bread.  Sesame studded and at its best when still warm, as it is now. Seems a pity that those observing Ramadan have to wait until after sunset.

And, from the for what it’s worth department, North Cypriot press Kibris Postasi reports that Whitehall has not given permission for US operations against Iran to be conducted from RAF Akrotiri in southeast Cyprus, apparently as a result of concerns that the UK might be found to be violating international law.

Thursday, February 19/2026

Courtesy Kibrispostasi

Officially into the Ramadan month of fasting. Sunset roughly 17:30 now, although it varies with the exact geographical location and there are websites happy to provide the info. As with Lenten observances, it’s easy to focus on the deprivation aspects, and they certainly exist. Between dawn and sunset those observing (who are certainly not all those who are nominally Muslim) are required to abstain from eating, drinking (including water), smoking, and having sex. Naturally the prohibition on sexual activity is meant for those who are married - sex for practising Muslims is expected to be within marriage.

However the emphasis is not exclusively or even primarily on denial. Ramadan is meant to be a time of spiritual renewal. Of reflection, empathy, charity and community care. Iftar, the evening meal after sunset, is often a warm family affair. There are also public iftar meals provided by charitable organisations such as the Red Crescent or institutions like universities and government bodies. Everyone is welcome, Muslim or not, as the sharing should be inclusive. Those unable to fast for reasons of age or health or other causes are expected to make donations to contribute, but are not the only ones donating.

 

 

Wednesday, February 18/2026

Storm warning issued by Girne municipality, Girne being the regional centre ten miles to the east of us. Wake up to amazingly strong winds and the sound of lashing rain. This has to be the stormiest winter we remember experiencing in the Mediterranean, and there have been over twenty of them. On the other hand winters here really don’t last very long. 

Like the phrasing, particularly the bit about taking precautions against adverse events such as roofs being blown off - be prepared to duck? Though not as amusing as the tongue in cheek posting by a FB correspondent: “With all this wind I’m worried about the caravan in the garden. We didn’t have one yesterday.”

Unsurprisingly, the skies were far too cloudy to spot the crescent moon today, but the assumption is that it was there beyond the storm and Ramadan will begin tomorrow. For the observant this means fasting between dawn and dusk for the following month. Times of sunrise and sunset are calculated for pretty well every location in the world, in modern days easily checkable on the Internet.

And tomorrow’s forecast is for sunny skies and gentler winds.

 

Tuesday, February 17/2026

 Before Ash Wednesday comes Shrove Tuesday. The word shrove is derived from shrive, meaning to give absolution after confessing sins. Pretty solemn nomenclature compared to pancake day. And fat Tuesday always sounds   rather more indelicate than the romantic Mardi Gras - until the realisation hits that Mardi Gras translates literally as - Fat Tuesday.

But both fat and pancake refer to the using up of foods that won’t be eaten during the coming days of fasting - meaning meat, eggs and dairy (as well as wine and olive oil). Thus, prudently, pancakes were traditionally made the day before Ash Wednesday with the last of the butter, eggs and milk.

So Beverley and John have invited us for dinner on pancake day. And we rightly expect pancakes but are in fact regaled with a full meal from soup made from their own tomatoes - duly roasted, blended and frozen - to superb crepes, John’s specialty, following a full meat and roast potato main course. 

Joined, discreetly, by Henry, the oldest of the four rescue dogs, and two of the rescue cats. Not to mention excellent company. Pat is there as well, and kindly gives us a lift home.

Monday, February 16/2026

Courtesy BBC

Season of fasting coming up, for those who observe. Between lunar, Gregorian and Julian calendars it takes some sorting. Once had a student ask if there were any way of predicting when Easter would be. Before I had my mouth in gear a not particularly academic classmate said ‘Yes, it’s the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox’. And that’s pretty well it for the western Christian church.

There are western Christians in Cyprus. A few Roman Catholics as well as Christians of various denominations among the ex-pat contingent. But most Cypriot Christians, living almost entirely in the South, are Eastern Orthodox. The Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar which occasionally produces a date for Easter that matches the western - but usually doesn’t. (Christmas, on the other hand, is celebrated in Cyprus and Greece on December 25,  same as in the west, but this is not true in all Orthodox countries. Don’t ask). 

This year Lent begins next Monday, February 23, for the Orthodox in Cyprus. The Orthodox don’t do Ash Wednesday. They start Lent with Clean (or Green) Monday. Considerably less penitential than Ash Wednesday. No meat, but the tradition is to eat seafood and salads, often at outdoor picnics.

In Muslim countries, including North Cyprus, the penitential season is Ramadan, starting this year, tentatively, on Wednesday February 18. The date is based on the lunar year, and, in fact, the tentative bit is down to the tradition that Ramadan begins with the first sighting of the crescent moon. Used to be by the naked eye, and still is in some places, but TRNC - like Türkiye - now relies on astronomical calculations. Answering the question of what happens if the skies are heavily overcast for several days.

Thus the beginning of Ramadan is, coincidentally, on Ash Wednesday.