Stuck in hospital without being able to walk after a traffic accident, one South African decided it was time to write his memoirs. BEJAY BROWNE meets him
It’s hard to believe when meeting author Paul Lambis that just a few years ago he was involved in a serious traffic accident that left him lying in a hospital bed, unable to move for months.
A few years on, Lambis is a graphic designer and editor of a popular Russian magazine in Cyprus, and has just published his second book, Where is Home?. His first book – The Turkish Princess – was published in South Africa.
Following the accident, Lambis decided to use his time laid up to write down his thoughts, which form the basis for the book.
In a strong South African accent, he says positive thinking, a strong belief that he would walk again and the support of his family and friends enabled him to overcome the devastating accident.
Lambis says he is now walking thanks to the power of a positive mind. “I decided I would get up and walk one day. To this day the doctors are at a loss for words, they said the 17 or so breaks I had in my pelvic bone and my spine made it virtually impossible to walk again.
“In particular one friend inspired me to write this book, which is an autobiography written in a casual style. I want people to read it and feel as if I’m talking to them.
“One of my friends, Deena, said, ‘you’ve been through so much and you make people laugh so you should write it down’. She told me to write my experiences on a daily basis. And she was right, if you remember the hardship and what you endured to get to where you’re going, you appreciate where you are.”
Describing it as “an entertaining autobiography of an overweight boy growing up Greek in South Africa”, thirtysomething Lambis talks about the challenges of life from puberty through to adulthood.
“It’s a motivational, humorous book. I think it’s important to learn how to laugh at life before it turns around and laughs at you. I want people to view life in a different way.
“I’m trying to find what home really means,” he says.
The larger than life, likeable author quips that as a teenager he was taught that there are three things you should never discuss: sex, politics and religion. In Where is Home? he discusses all three.
In the book, bored and unhappy with his less than affluent life, Lambis (Mr X) begins a voyage of self-discovery. Using his life experiences, Lambis searches for a new home and a new life.
Born in South Africa, Paul Charalambous – he’s shortened his name for this book – moved with his family to Cyprus ten years ago. “South Africa is one of the most beautiful places on earth but the crime rate has increased dramatically in recent years and I had a family, so we decided to emigrate to Cyprus.”
Lambis says he has always been proud of his Greek heritage and he visits Athens – where most of his family lives – at least once a year. “My family is Greek and they try to keep their cultural heritage in a non-Greek world”.
Lambis is an advocate of positive thinking, saying like attracts like. “Getting up and walking was the first step to going home for me in more ways than one,” he says.
Where is Home? is available from most bookstores throughout Cyprus, and is available online from www.paul-lambis.com. €13.99 or €18.99 for a limited edition gift set
PAUL ON
Greek family life
‘The telephone can be located 30 centimetres from my Dad; yet he still calls my mom to answer it when it rings.’
‘In a typical Greek home, the mama always has this crazy hold over her son. She constantly worries if he will ever bring home a women exactly like her.’
‘I believe my family has realised that I am blue- blooded. The red carpet treatment I get whenever I visit, is a mere formality.’
Being overweight
‘My father would often compare my eating habits to a slot machine. Everything going in and nothing coming out!’
‘It was a tricky time being overweight, having to convince the gym teacher that a swimming costume lies underneath a bulging belly.’
‘I struggle to find comfort in an aeroplane chair designed for a midget. When I try to open the tray before me, it meets my stomach in mid air.’
His new life in Cyprus
‘Cyprus functions at the same speed as most Mediterranean countries; things move slowly and unhurriedly.’
‘Evil eye…a charm used to ward off anything negative, including individual persons, inflicting injury or bad luck, by an envious or ill wishing look.’
People
‘Women describe themselves as the ‘martyrs’ in the relationship; they carry the world on their shoulders, and the men recline on their sofas, with nothing to worry about.’
‘I understand humans to be nomads; changing homes, adopting a new lifestyle, altering beliefs- the path is continuously changing.’
