Tis the season to be jolly?

‘Tis the season to be jolly; the season of giving, of peace and goodwill to all men. Or is it?

Not, apparently if you are a motorist. As the “big day” approaches drivers’ manners (if they ever had any) are fast evaporating.

Forget box junctions .. just drive on and block them – I mean, you don’t want to give way to anyone do you? Merry Christmas!

Mobile phone ringing? Forget the hands-free, you might miss an important call! Never mind the guys behind you as you dawdle (with the occasional swerve) along to the next traffic jam.

Unless you happen to be unlucky enough to need the services of the ambulance driver of a well known Nicosia clinic who was obviously not in a hurry today as he wandered in and out of both lanes while deep in conversation (hopefully the phone doesn’t ring when he’s on an emergency call).

Can’t find a place to park at the supermarket? I’m not surprised. The number of spaces is about two thirds of what it should be because lazy drivers just swing into a bay (make that two bays) and jump out. Not a chance that they will back up and straighten their vehicle to fit between the lines – far too much effort, and hey, they’re in a hurry. Too bad about the other shoppers driving round in circles to find a slot big enough to squeeze into.

And can anyone explain why, almost always, it is one of two well known luxury brands of motor parked like this? Did their owners never learn to park, or do they perhaps think that, because they are driving a luxury vehicle, they are entitled to two spaces?

No spaces near enough to the shop you want to visit? That’s OK, just park on the pavement and put your hazard lights on. That’s Cyprus code for saying “I know I shouldn’t be here, but I’m not going to be long”.

Merry motoring!

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.