Folklore festivals across the Larnaka region

 Larnaka is alive with folklore festivals this autumn, offering visitors a glimpse into the regions rich traditions from the coast to the hills. Click here for more info on all:

• Mediterranean Folklore Dance, Choir and Traditional Band Festival – 12-17 September An annual festival with traditional dance and music troupes from around the world participating in national costume. The colourful parades and performances are free to watch and take place on the Seafront Stage of Foinikoudes (Palm Trees) Promenade. Festival of Tradition & Culture – 1 October – Agioi Vavatsinias – The biggest festival in rural Larnaka, attracting thousands of visitors and showcasing the customs of village life. This year it takes place at Agioi Vavatsinias, one of the Rural Larnaka Honey Villages, and will feature folkloric entertainment, live cooking and gastronomy demonstrations, children’s activities and different handicrafts and handmade products.. Kornos Red Clay Festival – 4-6 October – Kornos Village – Known for its red clay and traditional pottery pastime that is included on the UNESCO National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the village celebrates with a festival where visitors can watch skilled potters at work and enjoy entertainment, traditional street stalls and cooking demonstrations.  Renaissance Fair – 19 October 19 – Pyrga –Transporting visitors on a journey back in time, re-recreating a local fair during the reign of Katerina Cornaro, the last Queen of Cyprus. Costumed performers entertain with period music, dances, games, storytelling and traditional poetry, all reminiscent of the island’s rich medieval era. Street food, drinks and an open-air market with local products and crafts.

 Larnaka takes action to improve accessibility for all visitors  As part of Larnaka Tourism Board’s (LTB) ongoing efforts to welcome all visitors there are several initiatives underway to increase touristic accessibility. Click here for more info:

• Braille Menus in Hotels – LTB is working with ‘Ena Emeis’ to introduce Braille and audio menus at six of the region’s four and five-star hotels; a first for the island. Restaurant menus are currently being adapted for persons with a sensory disability into Braille (English and Greek) for visual disability and audio (via a QR code) for auditory disability. Participating hotels are: Golden Bay Beach Hotel, Sandy Beach, Lordos Beach Hotel & Spa, Radisson Blu Hotel Larnaca, Robinson Club Cyprus, E Hotel Spa & Resort.  Innovative Ablebook App – LTB is working with the founders of the innovative Ablebook app to increase the number of tourism and hospitality establishments that offer facilities for persons with a disability. All information is included on the invaluable app, which is available on the App Store and Google Play. More will be revealed upon its completion by the end of the year. Pioneering Hotel Internship – LTB facilitated an internship at Sandy Beach Hotel for a deaf person to join the Pastry Department for one month. The internship proved to be highly successful, dispelling myths and stereotypes about people with hearing loss and their ability to work within the industry; and paving the way for more opportunities for people with a disability to work in tourism. Free Beach Facilities – Two free sunbeds and an umbrella are available to holders of a European Disability Card, and one accompanying person, in designated front row areas. Sunbeds are usually found by the lifeguard tower where assistance is available, plus there is free use of floating wheelchairs (with the supervision of the lifeguards). 

 Take to the waters in Larnaka with various sailing activities  Larnaka Bay has some of the most favourable conditions for sailing in the Mediterranean, attracting both leisure yachters and professional athletes, and hosts a variety of international races, regattas and training camps throughout the year. Sailing came to Larnaka in 1934 with the construction of the first, small sailing boat, followed by the creation of Larnaca Nautical Club in 1951. The club has since been at the forefront of sailing for the city, also representing Cyprus at several Olympics. As well as sailing, there are facilities for swimming, water polo, canoe/kayak, SUP (stand up and paddle) and artistic swimming teams. Visitors can enjoy these activities, plus sailing lessons, private charters and boat trips. Read more here. Autumn running events 

• Cyprus Ultramarathon 2024 – 10 November  – Taking place at Lefkara Community Stadium, the Ultramarathon consists of races with a limited number of running spots: 12 hour (20 participants), six hour (30 participants) and 10km satellite (40 participants). Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon – 17 November – Larnaka city’s marathon attracts thousands of runners from across the world. The coastal route starts from the Foinikoudes (Palm Tree) Promenade, passing the salt lakes and flamingos alongside the palm trees and ancient ruins that Larnaka is known for. The family-friendly event has seven different races, for all ages and abilities. 

Runners of all levels can combine a holiday with taking part in one of the events. More details and register here. For more information, read the autumn newsletter in full, click here. For tourist information from the Larnaka Tourism Board, visit www.larnakaregion.com

Review

The Giggling Squid, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield

BILL McCARTHY

Sample menu

STARTERS

A care home in Sutton Coldfield is inviting the local community to a free event to learn more about how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from scams and fraud.

On Wednesday, September, 11 from 10am-12pm, the Care UK team at Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road, will be hosting a ‘Scam and fraud awareness’ event.

Independent specialists, from Barclays Bank, will be on hand to deliver an informative session on how to stay safe at home and online. They will also offer expert information on fraud safety, common types of scams, how to protect yourself against scams and reporting a scam.

After the event there will be a helpful Q&A session and an opportunity to take a tour of the care home and meet the friendly team. Guests can also enjoy tea and coffee, and the head chef will also be specially preparing homemade cakes.

Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “Here at Mercia Grange, we understand that providing advice and guidance on the importance of staying safe on the internet and at home can be extremely helpful for everyone, but especially for older people, as they are often targeted by scams and cold calling.

“Many criminals take advantage of people’s financial worries, so we are lucky to have the team at Barclays Bank joining us. She will provide professional guidance in this area, and we hope local people will take the opportunity to benefit from her expertise.” 

Mercia Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia, and short-term respite care. The three-storey care home, which features 67 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.

For more information on Mercia Grange, or to book your place at the event, please call Customer Relations Manager, Rachel Mackay, on 0121 314 3196, or email rachel.mackay@careuk.com

Students celebrate their A-Level success in Sutton Coldfield

Party time after A-level results

Students across Sutton Coldfield’s BMet college came together to celebrate their A Level and Vocational results in true party style – complete with a DJ, giveaways and a buffet.

The event, themed ‘Two Years, One Party, One Result’ marks the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

Learners from BMet’s James Watt, Matthew Boulton, and Sutton Coldfield colleges had the opportunity to be part of the celebration held at BMet’s flagship A Level Centre.

The vibrant and positive atmosphere was enhanced by the participation of students, teachers, and parents alike, who all joined in the festivities.

Overall, A Level achievement improved for our students compared to last year and vocational results improved on last year outperforming the national average.  

Reflecting on the students’ achievements, Anna Jackson, deputy principal of BMet, said: “This celebration is a testament to the resilience and hard work of our students over the past two years.

“Despite any challenges they faced, they have excelled in their studies, and today is a moment to recognise and reward their efforts.

“Our students have not only achieved excellent results but have also grown as individuals, and we are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.

“This is a day to celebrate not just the results, but the journey that brought them here.”

More than 200 different A Levels, T Levels, BTEC Diplomas and Subsidiary Diplomas are delivered across BMet. 

The curriculum and student experience teams at BMet are committed to offering students an excellent experience at college as well as equipping them with the skills needed to thrive at university or in their chosen career.

With the Olympics underway, a local care home invited a professional boxer to kick off their own summer of sport with a special tournament.

Residents and team members at Care UK’s Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road, welcomed professional boxer, Shakan Pitters, who held the British light-heavyweight title in 2020, alongside the local community, for a day of traditional sports day challenges.

The event came as Mercia Grange joined The Big Care UK Sports Day, which saw over 130 Care UK homes across the UK host sports days for the local community and showcase what life in a care home is really like this summer.

After kicking things off with an opening ceremony earlier in the week, residents were split into teams to compete in a host of events throughout the week, including darts, archery, bean bags toss, hook a duck.

The main event saw families and members of the community join them for a host of races – egg-and-spoon, three-legged and sack races. There was also a live performance from an African drumming music group, perfect to raise the tempo. To top things off, attendees were treated to a barbecue, specially prepared by the home’s Head Chef.

Boxer Shakan Pitters was also there to cut the ribbon at the start and presented the worthy winners with medals and trophies.

Mercia Grange resident David Healey, 89, said: “I took part in the archery competition and won the second place. I look forward to watching all parts of the Olympics!”

Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “It was great to welcome the local community for our sports day festivities – the perfect way to wrap up a week packed with Olympic-themed excitement. We’d also like to say a massive thank you to Shakan Pitters for showing residents the ropes and enjoyed learning a bit about boxing.

“The day was filled with laughter and friendly competition for all involved – it also brought about a fantastic opportunity to rediscover resident’s own sporting history and passion, something we were excited to share with the people of Sutton Coldfield, and further afield.

“In the spirit of the Olympics, both the residents and local community put their best foot forward as they went head-to-head, with some very close calls in the race for medals. Here at Mercia Grange, we encourage residents to live fulfilling lives through regular activities that improve their physical and mental wellbeing – and our Sports Day was perfect for doing just that.”

To find out more about The Big Care UK Sports Day, please visit: careuk.com/care-uk-sports-day

For more information about Mercia Grange, please call Customer Relations Manager, Rachel Mackay, on 0121 314 3196, or email Rachel.Mackay@careuk.com

Mercia Grange is designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, and incorporating space for hobby and leisure activities. The building helps facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourages social interaction among the residents. 

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall welcomed celebrated composer David Lowe for an exclusive event showcasing the secrets behind his famous TV themes.

Known for creating iconic television themes like BBC News, Countryfile and The One Show, audiences were taken through a series of anecdotes in which David described how he developed the theme tunes to popular shows such as Countryfile, The X Factor and the Antiques Roadshow.

The Town Hall was thrilled when David offered to create an original piece of music to accompany the launch of the Town Hall’s new logo.

David, who hails from Sutton Coldfield, explained the last time he stood on the stage at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall was to receive his school certificate in 1977.

Returning to the same stage, the evening closed on a poignant note, when the composer asked participants of the show to choose the final notes to what will become the new theme tune for Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.

The Town Hall’s new logo was designed at no cost to the Town Hall Trust by Paul Brookes, creative director of Brooko Studio, who said: “I saw an opportunity to create a logo that truly reflects the town’s character and aspirations when asked to contribute to the rebranding.

“I’m excited to deliver a brand identity worthy of Sutton.”

We’ve been there, haven’t we. Sitting in a restaurant when a bunch of chancer decide they don’t fancy paying the bill, despite having had a perfectly good meal with good service.

The usual scam goes along the lines of ‘the meat was cold’, ‘the steak was over/undercooked,’ or ‘I didn’t order those vegetables’, followed by ‘II want a discount or even a free meal’. Then there are those who come back and say they have had food poisoning. No proof of course.

The implied threat is always there though, a poor social media review or threatening a food standards complaint.

We have also seen the owners/manager often capitulate because otherwise it is too much hassle they don’t want a scene in the restaurant/pub.

The are scumbags really who put decent businesses at risk and at the same time the jobs of the often poorly paid staff.

Now it has got worse as a Sutton Coldfield restaurant, The Bracebridge, has discovered.

Here is a story that first appeared in the Express & Star newspaper/website written by Andy Richardson and has since beeen picked up by national TV.

Thanks for allowing me to reprint

Restaurants and hospitality blackmailed by scammers

Scammers are blackmailing restaurants into paying them hard cash – warning that they’ll post negative online reviews if they don’t comply.
And restaurateurs say they are at their wits’ end that online sites can be too slow to react when the issue is raised.
Restaurateurs have faced challenges since the rise of online reviews made them vulnerable to customers who might want to seek free drinks or a discount on their bill. 
Most restaurants have encountered end-of-the-evening conversations with those who’ve effectively blackmailed venues into providing a discount or a free drink, under pain of facing a bad review if they do not.
But the problem has become more serious as scammers home in on restaurateurs and tell them that they will post numerous negative reviews in a bid to damage their business. 
Organised criminals with multiple email accounts and the ability to post numerous damaging reviews are seeking to extort funds from business owners.
Sam Morgan, boss of The Open Restaurant Group, today spoke up on the issue, revealing he has been battling extortion during the past two weeks. He has released dozens of messages from an individual who has demanded a four-figure ransom to avoid negative reviews being posted.
Mr Morgan runs six restaurants, including The Bracebridge, at Sutton Park, near Walsall. His other restaurants are near Birmingham and near Liverpool.
Mr Morgan was contacted by a scammer who demanded money and threatened to post bad reviews if a transfer was not made to a PayPal account.
He refused to pay and contacted TripAdvisor and Google to say he had been the victim of an extortion attempt by a blackmailer. When Mr Morgan refused to comply with a deadline set by the criminal, a negative online review was posted.
Mr Morgan said: “It’s frightening what people will do and as a business owner there’s only one way to respond – you have to stand firm and say no.
“If you’re weak and agree to pay, these people will simply come back for more and drain your business until it goes under.”
Mr Morgan said there were two issues that restaurateurs were having to deal with. The first was the criminal act of extortion and blackmail by people seeking cash. 
The second was the delays and non-responses from online platform, who were slow to respond to proven cases of extortion and failed to take down fake reviews, thereby becoming complicit in damaging businesses. 
He said they often had no human customer service and left complaints to AI, which frequently provided zero assistance. Mr Morgan shared messages between him and a blackmailer in which Mr Morgan tackled the issue head-on.
His message said: “It’s fake. Just like the reviews.”
The blackmailer replied: “It will work, haha.”
Mr Morgan responded: “It won’t get you paid.”
The blackmailer said: “Let’s see and remember my word.”
Mr Morgan then said he’d work to delete any fake reviews. The blackmailer responded: “If you come back to me to delete the reviews I’ll increase the amount next time.”
The blackmailer also threatened to put the exchange online. Mr Morgan told him the conversation was fake. The blackmailer replied: “No, it’s not.”
Mr Morgan wrote: “You’re such a fraudster.”
The blackmailer said: “Whatever you think you can.”
Mr Morgan said: “Why do you do this to people? I don’t understand.”
The blackmailer said: “I’m doing this because you refused to help me.”
Mr Morgan said: “Why do I have to help you. I don’t know you.”
The blackmailer replied: “Okay. Let it be.”
Mr Morgan said: “I don’t help people who extort money from people.”
The blackmailer said: “I’m busy now … Doing more reviews.”
The blackmailer later adds: “Listen if you really want to help me then text me. Otherwise, I’ll do whatever I want. I’ll not stop this until I get paid. I’ll not stop, never.”
Mr Morgan said: “So what do you want for this to stop?”
The blackmailer replied: “You know what I want.”
Mr Morgan said: “£2,000?”
The blackmailer increased the demand: “Now £2,500. If you don’t do this now, I’ll increase the amount day by day. That would be your loss.”
The blackmailer later added: “You don’t really have any option.”
Mr Morgan said the exchange was ‘dark and chilling’. 
He said: “The blackmailer was aware of the damage that posting fake reviews would do to a business that we’ve worked so hard to create. He or she was actively pleased by that – it gave them a sense of power and they clearly wanted to make us feel vulnerable.”
Mr Morgan contacted TripAdvisor and Google and shared the tranche of messages with them.
The blackmailer subsequently posted two fake reviews that rated Mr Morgan’s restaurants as terrible and provided a false and egregious account to mislead potential customers.
Mr Morgan contacted TripAdvisor and Google again. TripAdvisor quickly placed Mr Morgan’s restaurants on a watch list but there was no initial response from Google, which used an AI chatbot and had no human interface.
Mr Morgan said: “There are two really serious issues at play. The first is the vulnerability of businesses in an online world where people can blackmail companies by posting fake content. The discourse between the blackmailer and I was overt, unarguable and crass in the extreme.
“The blackmailer asked for £2,000 – then changed that to £2,500 – and was explicit in their intentions. That’s a criminal matter, for the relevant authorities.
“The second issue is the one surrounding the responsibility of Google and other online platforms, where people can post reviews. The responses from big tech are frighteningly slow, or non-existent, and in not fulfilling their duties they become complicit in the publication of fake reviews.
“There needs to be a better system in place so that online platforms are alive to the threats and fulfil their duties in respect of customer service. They can’t stop people posting fake reviews – but they have a responsibility to act immediately to take those down and now allow themselves to be a platform for publication.
“TripAdvisor was quick to take action, but Google used a chatbot that responded ‘We can’t understand your issue’. These companies make billions – it’s just not good enough.”
A spokesperson for Google said the company would assess the screengrabs between Mr Morgan and the person seeking to extort cash. It said the matter would then be escalated to the relevant teams.

With the Olympics fast approaching, a local care home is limbering up for their very own sporting tournament.

On Monday July 24, from 2-4pm, Care UK’s Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road, will be bringing Paris to Sutton Coldfield as they open their doors for local people to enjoy their own version of the Games. 

The event comes as Mercia Grange joins The Big Care UK Sports Day, which sees over 130 Care UK homes across the UK host sports days for the local community and showcase what life in a care home is really like. 

Professional boxer, Shakan Pitters, who held the British light-heavyweight title in 2020 and regularly hosts exercise sessions for residents, will be kickstarting the day. Following this, guests can soak up the sporting atmosphere and, for those daring to compete, have the chance to win their own gold medals with an afternoon of fun and games, including egg-and-spoon, three-legged and sack races.

Visitors can also enjoy a traditional summer barbecue cooked by the home’s talented head chef, while listening to live entertainment from the African Drumming Music Group.

Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the local community to join our own sporting celebrations.  

“We are part of a strong community here in Sutton Coldfield, and days like this are a fantastic way of bringing us all together for a little healthy competition and to celebrate this year’s summer of sport, all while showcasing exactly what life is like in Care UK homes.”

“The day not only promises a lot of laughter and enjoyment for all involved, but also is an excellent way for residents to meet and mingle with lots of new faces – and some familiar ones – to celebrate a summer of sport. We can’t wait until kick-off!”

To find out more about The Big Care UK Sports Day, please visit: careuk.com/care-uk-sports-day

For more information about Mercia Grange and to book your place at the event, please call Customer Relations Manager, Rachel Mackay, on 0121 314 3196, or email Rachel.Mackay@careuk.com

Members of the Armed Forces will be able to get a free hot breakfast at Tesco New Oscott cafe to mark the Armed Forces Day celebration on Sunday.

As a thank-you for their service, on Sunday 30 June, all serving Armed Forces personnel, regulars and reservists can present their MOD90 identification card at Tesco New Oscott café in Sutton Coldfield and get The Breakfast, The Veggie Breakfast, The Vegan Breakfast, Sausage Bap, Veggie Bap or the Bacon Bap for free.*

It’s the third year of offering the free breakfast, and this year it has been extended to veterans with a valid Veteran’s ID card. The promotion is limited to one free breakfast per cardholder.  

Ashwin Prasad, Group Chief Product Officer at Tesco and Exec Sponsor of the Armed Forces Network, said: “As the largest private employer of Armed Forces veterans in the UK we feel a close affinity with Armed Forces personnel. Everyone loves a free breakfast and it’s a nice way of thanking them for their service.”

Rhys Little, Chair of the Armed Forces Network at Tesco, said: “We take great pride in our connection with the Armed Forces. We’ve received the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme twice now – in 2016 and 2020 – and we were also the first retailer to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in 2014.”

YMCA Sutton Coldfield marked Founders Day which celebrated 180 years of the YMCA movement by inviting local people to celebrate with them

YMCA Sutton Coldfield, based on St Bernards Road in the town, has been around for more than 100 years.

Each year it supports around 800 young people and adults through various services, including housing, support for young carers, youth work and disability.

The organisation was created from humble beginnings in 19th century London by 22-year-old draper George Williams.

He joined forces with a group of friends to organise the first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life on the streets of London.

And 180 years on, YMCA has grown to serve more than 65 million people across 120 countries, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

YMCA Sutton Coldfield marked the occasion of Founders Day by inviting the community to celebrate with them.

Recently-completed renovation work was also unveiled.

Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust funded extensive work to The Lodge including replacing its roof and widening the doorway at the top of the ramp for wheelchair access.

The Youth Work room and the ‘Pod’ have been redecorated to create modern youth work spaces including a gaming area and dedicated podcast space funded by Comic Relief.

The Sensory room has been updated following a donation from parents of young people using the services.

The resident’s kitchen was refurbished by a group of volunteers led by Clare Whalley of Meta4 Business Coaching.

Rachel Dutta Choudhury, bid writing, fundraising and development manager at YMCA Sutton Coldfield, said: “We are so grateful for the support of our funders and the community.

“Being able to update our facilities makes such a difference to the young people we work with.”

YMCA is the world’s largest and oldest charity working with young people and their communities.

All YMCAs are independent and responsible for generating their own funds.