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"The Switch"

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"The Switch"

Postby Schnauzer » Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:12 pm

I have just signed off on a 'Completion of Works' certificate which affords me access to my newly re-furbished apartment, the 'Builder' guided me through a long list of 'Extra' items which were added to the original specification and I laughed when he indicated that all the 'Light Switches' were actually 'Gold Plated' and he enquired if such an 'Extra' was my personal choice.

Actually they were not and he wondered why I laughed at his suggestion that they might have been and joined me in laughter when I explained the reason for my amusement, you see, I recalled an incident of my childhood when my Father was engaged in an argument with a 'Building Contractor' who had just completed the repair and decoration of the house we lived in, I clearly remember my Father angrily pointing to the 'Light Switch' in the kitchen and insisting that it should have been painted the same colour (Blue) as the rest of the woodwork, the 'Switch' was mounted on a circular wooden back-plate affixed to the wall, it was also circular and (I believe) made of a 'Dark Brown' material called 'Bakelite', the back-plate was stained and varnished and probably quite acceptable to most people.

I have often noted that 'Cypriot Householders' (even to this day) have an extraordinary predilection to paint 'Light Switches', I have even seen those quite modern 'Square Plastic' examples painted to suit the decoration of the room, even sprayed in 'Gold'.

I do wonder if any 'Forum Member' is acquainted with such a practise, it could be an indication of our origins, particularly since many of the 'Greek Cypriots' favour the colour 'Blue' (for their houses, doors and 'Switches') whilst the 'Turkish Cypriots' seem to favour 'Pink'.

Quite an interesting topic for an 'After Dinner' conversation, methinks.

And one which will ALWAYS remind one of one's 'Origins'. :lol:
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Re: "The Switch"

Postby tsukoui » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:29 pm

The associations with 'pink' and 'blue' have changed over the years. I have read that a hundred or so years ago, 'pink' was viewed as a manly colour while 'blue' was something for girls.
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Re: "The Switch"

Postby GreekIslandGirl » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:52 pm

If it doesn't move out of the way in my household .... it gets painted over! :D

Love that all-over-white Santorini look, steps, walls - and definitely blue woodwork.

Another still-practiced Greek habit is whitewashing halfway up trees.
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Re: "The Switch"

Postby Schnauzer » Tue Sep 17, 2013 1:43 am

I have just spoken to an associate of mine who is currently in 'Belfast', during the course of our conversation I mentioned the 'Gold Plated' light switches of my new apartment and the subject of painting them in days gone by was mentioned.

I was quite surprised to learn that in some areas of 'Belfast' (where the 'Union Flag' is revered above all else) the habit of painting them is still widely practised and in fact, the house in which he is about to spend the night, sports a particularly impressive 'Switch' which is situated in the hallway, the 'Back-plate' is 'Red', the actual 'Switch' is 'White' and, unbelievably the 'Tumbler' ( little knob) is carefully picked out in 'Blue'.

The owner of the house was engaged by my associate in a discussion on the topic of such dedication to 'Colour Deployment' and found that it is considered a 'Duty' to advertise one's allegiance to 'The Crown' and such dedication is quite evident in many areas of 'Belfast'.

Many houses are painted in 'Red, White and Blue' and even the 'Kerb-Stones' are intermittently adorned in such a fashion.

How 'Quaint' to see a throng of 'Patriotic Painters' kneeling in the gutters fully equipped with their tins of paint busily brushing away in order to trumpet their devotion to the 'Foreign Flag' which fluttered over the slaughtered bodies of their own countrymen not so long ago, how sad to note that those same 'Painters' are probably oblivious to the fact that the colours should be 'Green, White and Gold'.

How true that those loyal folk that occupy the lands of 'Eire' (the REAL 'Sons of Erin') would not expose themselves to such ridicule by 'Painting' (in 'Tricolour') the 'Kerb-Stones' of their proud cities, nor the 'Switches' of their abodes, be they ever so humble.

There's an old 'Irish Adage'....."The Devil painted King Billy's Bollocks GREEN"..... A 'Prophetic' sign of things to come perhaps ?. :wink: :wink:
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Re: "The Switch"

Postby Paphitis » Tue Sep 17, 2013 2:17 am

I think painting switches and nice woodwork is extremely daft.

I mean I can understand older generation Cypriots doing it, but from my experiences they had absolutely no idea anyway.
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Re: "The Switch"

Postby Schnauzer » Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:06 am

Paphitis wrote:I think painting switches and nice woodwork is extremely daft.

I mean I can understand older generation Cypriots doing it, but from my experiences they had absolutely no idea anyway.


You are absolutely right about the older generation, having read your comment, I phoned an elderly chap who currently lives in a 'Refugee' house just outside 'Dherynia', I asked him about his interior and exterior decorations, he confirmed that he has painted all the 'Switches' AND 'Ceiling Roses' in every room of the house.

His colour scheme is predominantly 'Blue and White' (inside and out) and he is a 'Greek Cypriot' originally from 'Ammochostos'.

The 'Ceiling Roses' are matched to the 'Switches' and the panelled doors are picked out in two colours 'Blue Styles','White Panels' and YES, the 'Accessories' are in concert...................'Blue' :lol:
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Re: "The Switch"

Postby Schnauzer » Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:08 am

Further to the above, I forgot to mention that the older style (Brown) 'Power Sockets' are also given the same treatment. :wink:
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Re: "The Switch"

Postby Schnauzer » Wed Sep 18, 2013 12:32 am

GreekIslandGirl wrote:
Another still-practiced Greek habit is whitewashing halfway up trees.


When I was a young lad, my Father often regaled us (young children) with tales about an extremely riotous individual who was forever in trouble with his neighbours and constantly either under threat, or challenged by those who sought to depose him and perhaps rob him of his reputation.

I believe the chaps name was 'Παλικαρος' (which in English translation could be 'Roisterer') and seems to be quite appropriate since the fellow was quite a notorious 'Drinker'.

As is often the case with unusual characters, the local people became very wary of him, almost as one would imagine the townsfolk of 'Dodge City' would give their famous 'Gunslingers' a wide berth (particularly when they had been drinking) and as a result of their caution, they devised a plan which would save them from the violent fury of the fearsome 'Παλικαρος' which was becoming almost a nightly occurrence when he came home 'As Drunk as a Lord' and usually ended up punching anything he either bumped into or came into contact with, which was invariably a 'TREE'.

Therefore, I DO believe that the habit you mention is probably the result of that very same story and, if so, is worthy of entry into the annuls of the 'Folklore' of 'Greece' (or 'Cyprus') since the same habit is quite common there also.

Not quite 'On a Par' with 'Aesop' or 'Homer' BUT, certainly equal to 'Cervantes' and his tales of 'Don Quixote' wouldn't you agree?. :wink:
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