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Our
adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
  
The actual date today is December 8th and I am responding to three e-mails telling me off, for not updating. Sorry folks but when you have done the supermarkets, installed kitchens and just had a few beers with friends it is often difficult to find things to say, but here goes anyway.
Friday evening, the usual winter haunt for the evening with most of the layabouts, is Dean's bar at the Celebrity Hotel. Next time we all meet up there I will take the camera and you can get a look. Very cosy winter place, but it is actually under the roadway that runs through Lapta, from Kyrenia to Guzelyurt. A bit like an underground station and no windows, but they have made a great job of seeing that we are all comfy and even got some TV's and Sky Sport
Joan and I went over to the south early this morning and I suppose the fact that I had to do M&S and one or two other stores, with broad hints being dropped, means Xmas must be approaching. Ok I have got the message. Managed to drop a hint or two myself. They had a very nice 19", Samsung LCD monitor screen in a shop called Electroline, just need a nice big red stocking to hang at the fireplace and maybe a few drinks for the old fellow. Speaking of drinks for Santa, try this web link sent to me, all you need to do is use you arrow keys to manoeuvre Santa from glass to glass, but don't touch the train lines.www.banditos.info/speles/sobersanta2.swf" target="_blank">www.banditos.info/speles/sobersanta2.swf">www.banditos.info/speles/sobersanta2.swf
Saturday is of course newspaper day, so what's new?
TRNC workers don't want low-wage blue collar jobs, says the headline. The usual thing here, now we have a "University Degree !!!" we want to be a boss straight away. I think we ex-pats have heard all this before but at the end of the day some sort of job training is needed before anybody can be expected to be effective in the work environment. What would be interesting would be a campaign to try to get government employees to do some work, then we could clear up the backlog of permits and residency applications.
Last week I mentioned the proposed changes to the constitution regarding the property laws. Well it seems that there is a lot of objection within the opposition parties. If you recall, it was said, that the proposed change was intended to push the European Court of Human Rights in to transferring the hundreds of claims on their books to the TRNC claims court. The opposition see this as giving in to the Greek Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots say that would not take any notice of any proposals to resolve the property disputes from the "Occupying Administration". Lets see what next weeks papers say.
TWI flights are back on again from 22nd March 2006, they are using a company called Atlasjet and will fly from Stanstead to Ercan on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For those of you in UK who may be interested call Preston Travel in North London on 0208 446 4181 and ask for Ann Haki. She tells me that flight prices start at £205 dependant on period of stay.
The "Homebuyers Pressure Group" seem to be very active and have got the ear of some government ministers and now hold regular meetings. If you have problems with builders etc then they may be worth contacting and even if you are just contemplating buying over here, then their website holds some useful information.www.homebuyerspressuregroup.com" target="_blank">www.homebuyerspressuregroup.com">www.homebuyerspressuregroup.com. When they first set up I have to admit that I thought they where just going to be another collection of aggrieved people who shouted without direction and upset many officials here. Sorry folks, it seems that you have got it together.
Spent most of Sunday fitting gutters around our two upstairs terraces, that's because the water runs off and down the lower walls and we just had them painted last summer. That's also my excuse for not getting the website updated last weekend, but sometimes some maintenance is essential. Monday was all the way out to Alagadi, where the lads were installing air conditioners in two houses and Tuesday three lots of kitchen appliances; busy old time at the moment.
Anyway we both had told Michael and Barbara about the super value for money food at L.D's, Derek and Sandra's new place, so we all four went down there this evening to prove how right we where. Agreement all round, which was nice. Afterwards, the girls dropped Michael and I off at Dean's bar to watch the Liverpool game.
We had a call from Han's and Trix, our Dutch friends, earlier
in the week, to say we had not seen one another for a little while. We suggested a meet at the Hayat restaurant, which used to be called Alakerim and is opposite Victoria Homes offices. Joan and I had been there a few times since Reg, the owner of Victoria Homes had taken over the place, together with his mother and always been pleased with the food and the prices.
Luckily Hans and Trix agreed, so we were able to enjoy an evening of catch up with good food. It is strange, we have lots and lots of friends over here and it sometimes difficult to find time to see people as often as we would like.
John and Sandy decided to have a little dinner party this evening. This was actually in honour of John's birthday at the weekend, but they had only got back from UK on the Friday so needed to have a little breathing space beforeentertaining the "Layabouts". A good evening was had by all and Michael couldn't resistplaying the fool, can still hear Barbara now, saying "Michael" in that tone of voice!!!!!!!.
We all met thelatest recruit to the Layabout club.
Xmas is definitely coming, the various charity organisations are having their bazaars. This morning Joan and I went in to Kyrenia to the Animal Rescue bazaar at the Pia Bella hotel.Father Xmas came to visit in the horse and carriage from the Colony Hotel, a reasonable substitute for a sleigh and reindeers. As the area allocated inside the hotel entrance was a bit tight, Santa had all the kidsvisit him in his carriage and took some of them around the block for a little ride.This evening, Joan and I met Atay, his wife and daughter at Henson's restaurant for dinner. Atay is the owner of the Bosch importers in Nicosia and although he and I had been out to lunch on previous occasions we had never met his wife before. Also his daughter is studying law at Warwick university and is over for the Xmas holidays, so we got the chance to meet her also.Saturday is good news day ion the papers:-For those of you who have yet to complete residency applications, the fees have been brought down from 214 YTL to 130 YTL per person per year. It would seem that some of these changes are as a result of the BRS continually lobbying the government here about the inaccuracies relating to ex-pats against other immigrants. Wouldn't you know it, Joan and I have just paid up the 214 YTL each to renew.There is a growing opposition to the proposed amendment to article 159. The attorney general has even said that the proposed amendment is illegal and would be challenged in court. So it looks like it might be back to the drawing board.The proposed big by-pass to relieve the traffic in Kyrenia is still apparently on hold. This seems to be because the contractor with the lowest bid has been unable to come up with the necessary information for the Tender Commission. Even when the construction finally starts, it will take two years to complete, so looks like we will have to put up with gridlock for sometime to come.We are still basking in temperatures of around the mid 20's every day but the forecast suggests that this might be changing. Rain and 16/18 degrees from Wednesday onwards, guess we will have to finally find those winter sweaters. I suppose at least my old friend "anorak" would be OK here
This evening Joan and I took Sandra & Del out to the 5 Mile restaurant. It had been Sandra's 60th birthday a few weeks ago but they had been so busy reconstructing the new L & D's bar and restaurant (previously known as Carol's) that we had not been able to get it together.
The 5 Mile is a very good restaurant and we had been there once before with Michael & Barbara. It was a great shame that on this particular Sunday evening we were the only four people eating there. They did say that they had been busy at lunchtime. Suppose we would class this restaurant in amongst our special day list, not among the cheapies but certainly good.
Joan and I had decided to have air conditioning installed in our lounge, dining room and master bedroom. We neither of us like air con to live with in the summer and had had it moved from our bedroom to the guest room, a couple of years ago. But these are different as they include heat exchange elements and can therefore be used in lieu of central heating. The exterior units are much larger but obviously that is because of the heaters built in. The alternative idea would have been to have central heating installed, a much more expensive exercise to do retrospectively and we felt that this might have more advantage for anybody who might eventually want to buy our place and have the advantage of summer air con. Yes folks, it is still available for sale...................Today was the day when the boys came to start the work. A bit of a dusty business as it is necessary to drill large holes through the walls to take the connecting pipes. They managed to complete two of them and are coming back Wednesday to install in the lounge.This evening we actually read all the operating instructions and tried out the heat in the dining room. Brilliant, but we found out that you can set the things as high as 32 degrees, guess that's if you want to use the room as a sauna
Bit of a regular week really, apart from going out to L & D's with Roger and Gill this evening for something to eat then in to Deano's for a drink afterwards with Michael and Barbara, because it is nearer home and they are getting quite hot on the old drinking and driving. On our way home we actually saw a very serious accident on the main road and the condition of the vehicles showed that the old problem of speed was probably to blame, plus overtaking on a bend etc. some of the standard practices over here.
Barbara Smith's **th birthday. Joan had said to Barbara that
she would do a meal for those invited so that came out as a total of 10 guests. Because the weather is still holding mild, the decision was made to have dinner early afternoon, that made it possible to have pre-dinner drinks outside on the terrace. December 17th and still midday temperatures in the low 20's, brilliant, but it does go quite cold around from around 4 o'clock. Anybody remember Joan and Richard going in the pool on Xmas day two years ago, can't see that happening again.
Around 3 p.m. we all went indoors and Joan served up a dinner for us all. Homemade soup, followed by a choice of either Chicken Tikka Marsala with Byrani Rice or Beef Provencal with Mashed Spuds. We served this up buffet style as with 10 people it was easier to say
"come and get it" folks. Barbara had done a French Apple Pie and an ever so slightly alcoholic Fruit Salad to follow. Just a few beers, some red wine, liqueurs, cheese, chocolates and coffee seemed to be part of the great afternoon. Who said we live a grand life out here? It's what you make it folks, good friends, good weather, good food etc.etc.
Interesting reading in the papers this week.
Confusion at immigration. Apparently there have been changes to the entry visa regulations which now gives foreigners entering the TRNC only 30 days in the country instead of the previous three months. Now that's interesting, because many people have just nipped across to Turkey every three months to avoid having to do the residency bit. I am always asking why people do that, if you want to come and live here than abide by the regulations. They may be chaotic and a nuisance but at least they are there to be obeyed. I have heard that one complete family have been asked to leave the island because they have made no attempt to adhere to the regulations.
On the subject of residency permits. There are moves afoot to bring the cost of health checks down to an even level for both Turkish nationals and third country foreigners. Currently we pay 360 YTL and Turkish nationals pay 107 YTL. There is a draft bill before government to equal this out for both parties, hopefully this should be in place by the new year.
The property issue is still hot and the subject of much discussion at government level. The proposed amendment to the constitution is still being actively discussed in parliament and there are many opinions, but clearly the property issue is the biggest stumbling block to any settlement between the two sides, should there ever be one. Current opinion seems to be that esdeger land is still very safe as there is a compensating piece of land on the other side. Other exchange type land, that has been built on, is also considered relatively safe as there are clearly added values to be be taken into consideration, even if it was a new title deed issued by the TRNC government. The only land that might be offered back to original Greek Cypriot owners, in the first instance, is land which the government here still holds title to, all other land and property issues would only be resolved after any settlement.
Richard and Paul are heading off to the UK and then America for a holiday starting Thursday, also Steve and Hayat are going to Australia to visit friends and family so a get together was deemed essential before that. This evening they all turned up at our place for dinner. The request was for basic food, so that's what they got. Joan had made enough extra soup for the Saturday dinner so that we could start with that tonight and this was followed by bangers & mash with Heinz beans. We actually brought back a load of Tesco pork & leek sausages especially for this requested meal, we rounded off with a homemade apple & blackberry pie, good wholesome food. At one stage there was a single sausage left and I thought, tomorrow lunch, but oh no somebody nicked it whilst I wasn't looking. Great night and a lot of laughs.
It's Christmas time again and of course that means school nativity shows. This year, despite the fact that Joan no longer works there we just had to see the performances. The school is now so big, with both a Primary and a Secondary School, that they decided to split the shows over two evenings.
This evening was the turn of the little ones, up to class 5. As always the very little ones in crèche stole the show, all dressed up in their Santa outfits. We also got a performance of "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer" from one of the reception classes, although Santa looks a little apprehensive. The other reception class gave an equally enthusiastic performance ofGoldilocks and the three bears, complete with all their own bears. We were then entertained by the story of Mary and this was followed by a Santa who actually popped upout of a chimney, when prompted by a bang on the box by teacher. As usual all the kids came back on stage for the final sing-along. A super evening as always, with mince pies and mulled wine being served up in the school dining room. This year the older kids had made the mince pies themselves, a little heavy on the pastry and light on the mincemeat, but at least well cooked in the ovens supplied by you know who. Plug!!!!!!
Afterwards, Joan and I went down to L&D's for some supper. Nice and basic again, cottage pie, chips and beans, with in my case a large Carlsberg to help it down.
Joan and I went over to the south, known locally as "the dark side" to get some of the things that are for Xmas such as fresh sprouts and a fresh turkey. We bought a 5.5 kilo turkey for the equivalent of £14.50, fresh sprouts and parsnip to roast. It is unfortunate to have to go over south to shop, but last year we paid almost twice that price for a turkey here, sometimes we get that feeling of - Here come the Brits with all that money - sad.
This evening it was the turn of the more senior members of the school. We were treated to some dancing,some poems and a sort of pass the microphone performance. All very different to the shows we have been used to in previous years, but the school is getting much bigger now and the older kids want opportunities to express themselves much more in their own way. I really liked one particular T-shirt worn by one of the older boys. One of the teacher/pupil written sketches was a skit onthis is your life, very funny and extremely well performed. The closing of the show was started by all the "Angels" who had been around the stage for most of the evening and the finale was some very enthusiastic dancing by the entire cast. Very different, very funny and I can only say, beat that next year.
Joan and I went up to see Sarah and Sophie before they went off to UK for Xmas and of course to take Sophie her Xmas present.Sophie is growing fast and crawling well now. Somebody had bought her a little Santa Claus outfit so we just had to havea photo in that
Just had to include this photo of our Smudge as she thinks nobody can see her hidden here. Last year when she was so small she was more destructive.
This evening Joan and I went to Liz & David's Xmas
Eve party. Twelve of us enjoyed a really great evening with the usual quantities of laughing juice flowing and Liz did us really proud with her buffet of food, especially the really low cal trifle, honest I'm joking. I don't know who was trying to give the blame, for what and to whom, but guess that laughing juice was working well. Great evening and I think we went to bed at 2.30 a.m. on Xmas day.
Oh well the late breakfast again...
Christmas Day and for Joan and I a deliberate day on our own. For the last few years we had had visitors and Richard had always stayed with us over the holiday period. Well this year Richard obeyed his mum and went to UK for Xmas, on his way actually to the US of A for a holiday.
As a result of a fairly late night, thanks Liz & David, we had our breakfast around 11.30 a.m. made a few phone calls to friends in UK and Holland, then went down tothe beach for a walk. When we got down there we saw two ladies coming out of the sea, having had their Xmas day swim. They and the men with them were driving a hire car, but we had already guessed, tourists !! The temperature was around 18 degrees but with a cool windbringing waves in from the Turkish mainland direction. A lovely way to spend an hour and really set us up for a nice warm evening in front of the open fire after a super Christmas dinner. We had managed to get a couple of bottles of 1997 French, Chateau bottled reds and these were really enjoyable.
Disaster day. This morning I switched on my desktop to a horrible grinding noise and a message that basically said, I ain't going nowhere! For a few days I had listened to what was probably a noisy fan in there and today it decided, I don't want to make that noise anymore, I'm just giving up the ghost, especially as you were going to install that lovely new LED screen Joan bought you for Xmas.
Now isn't it just lucky that they don't recognise Christmas here in this country, so Comaks, the shop who put together this box just over a year ago, were open; and so I was able to take the whole thing down town for them to sort out.
When I got back from town, we went round to John & Sandy's, who were holding a sort of open house, as their son Christopher and his girlfriend were visiting for Xmas.
Well I got my computer back today so now am able to look at last weeks news for you. There will be no Cyprus Today until the new year now, so make the most of this.Remember that last April, when Anne & Reece Mahoney were murdered in their home, well this week a 17 year old Turkish lad, was sentenced to life imprisonment, after a unanimous guilty verdict, in the Kyrenia court.The governments controversial new property bill, which provides for the possible return of former Greek Cypriot properties abandoned in the North, became law this week after being rushed through parliament. There is a general opinion that the law has only been forced through, despite opposition objections, to satisfy the European Court of Human Rights who maintain that the current TRNC Properties Compensation Commission did not allow for the possibility that properties could be returned. The government is adamant that the law excludes, for immediate return, properties for which TRNC title deeds have been issued. These properties can only be addressed for compensation together with an island settlement agreement. Confusing to say the least, but personally I feel comforted by the fact that we have a property built with our money, on land that is genuine exchange and therefore any possible compensation in the future must be offset and we have greatly added to the value of the land bought. Accordingly the new law allows a Greek Cypriot to apply in the TRNC for the return of property or agreed compensation. The South is making moves to prosecute any Greek Cypriot and possibly imprison them for up to 4 years, should they make application in the TRNC, aren't they just the nicest people, even to their own. A construction chief in the TRNC has accused builders of making a profit by going ahead with uncontrolled and unplanned developments. The president of the Turkish Cypriot Civil Engineers Chamber is calling for licensed projects and building certificates to be more common in contracts of agreement between estate agents, builders and buyers. Now that would be an interesting development, but surely a register of really qualified builders who adhered to a set of building rules would also work as you would only buy from those registered. Now I do believe that something along these lines actually exists so maybe, ask your estate agent if the proposed builder is registered and ask for proof.See that Cherie Blair has now got involved in things over here (the Orams case; bless them for ever going to the Greek Cypriot court in the first place), maybe she might persuade her husband to recognise the problem here, or is that asking just too much! Having said that I understand that President Talat may well get a chance to meet Tony Blair in January, I suppose The lovable Tony only wants to see if there is a free villa going for his summer holidays.Almost the end of another year. Joan and I will be out on New Years eve and will let you know what that was like, when we surface on New Years day probably,
All the best laid plans can sometimes go astray. Roger & Gill had a flood because of a burst pipe in their CH system, we had to change our plans to go down to L.D's and Barbara & Michael were going to be on their own at home so we all gathered at Roger & Gill's to celebrate the New Year.We all had a good laugh and a great evening together. At midnightthe girls had great fun with a box of party poppers we had bought, they were incredibly loud and we guys had a big decision to make about the bottle of 12 year old malt Michael had brought round. A late night as Joan and I got home around 2 a.m. just nice time to make call to UK, also as we where walking through the door the phone was ringing with a call from Holland.Before we start the new year web pages we just have to let you seeone of the reasons why we like it here so much, a chance to eatbreakfast outside and wish you all the very best for the coming year.This morning I received a super link from one of our Swiss contacts, click to enjoy our good wishes. |
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