Frank and Joan's news for 08 July 2006 in Northern Cyprus

Frank and Joan's Adventures in Northern Cyprus

Our adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....

Saturday, a supposed day of rest from running around, but no not this week. Joan had me out at Esentepe, a long way the other side of Kyrenia, by 10 a.m., to install furniture in to a customers villa. It is nice to see some of the designs of other villas and have to admit, whilst we were waiting as usual for the promised delivery at 10.30, which turned up at 12 o'clock, we had a chance to sit in the shade and discuss our villa.

Many of you will remember we decided some time ago to put it up for sale as the constant stair climbing was not really good for Joan's arthritic knee. Well we maybe have come up with an alternative. Have the underneath filled in with lounge, dining room, kitchen etc and a set of stairs going up indoors to the smallest bedroom. That way when we convert our existing lounge to our bedroom we can come down and maybe stay there for the most of the day and as a builder friend of ours said, where would we be able to buy a piece of land like this anymore here at a reasonable price. So watch this space, providing the price is right of course.

What the paper, Cyprus Today, says.

Don't read too much in to that handshake. Talat and Papadopolous met for the first time last week. There were specifics on the agenda for the meeting but seemed to be no mention of discussions re the Cyprus problem. A statement from the presidents office later said that it was very clear that Mr Papadopolous does not intend to work towards ending the Cyprus problem.

As part of my recent kitchen equipment installations I have been driving passed the Amaranta Valley site regularily and am sorry to say that nothi

ng is moving there yet. But now it is reported that there is a war of words between Gary Robb and the government about the fact that he says that they, the Government, have broken their promises and guarantees on his return. The government is now saying that the money, which is a very large sum, will be released within the next few days allowing work to commence and that Gary Robb was talking out of frustration at the speed of action here.

Drastic measures to prevent water being wasted are being proposed. Hose pipe bans, car washing, curbs on swimming pool usage etc. are being considered. New regulations will come in to force says the government, in two to three years time. Things move very, very quickly here.........

Penalty notices from 11 of the new speed cameras will start to come in to effect on 15th July, maybe they have got electric to them at last. All we need is a postal service which can deliver the fines notices.

Telsim, the 0542 mobile service, has been taken over by Vodaphone. That should be interesting and maybe it will cause some changes to charges and services.

The architect arrested last week is still in a Greek Cypriot jail and now it is reported that a letting agent from this side had rental agreements seized from her car as she went over on a shopping trip. Question, why, why, why take any documents relating to properties here when it is widely reported that they are looking for them and you? Leave the damn things at home, it only requires a modicum of intellegence to see this.

Now here is a beauty. An Internationally recognised award has been made to Cyrpus Turkish Airlines for its safety systems and the general manager says that the aim was to improve all standards. I wonder if this is part of that improvement system that was sent to me this week.

After every flight, CTA pilots fill out a form, called a gripe sheet, which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form and the pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Here are some of the actual maintenance complaints submitted by the pilots marked with a P and the solutions recorded marked with an S by maintenance engineers.

P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft

P: Something loose in cockpit S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear S: Evidence removed

P: DME volume unbelievably loud S: DME volume set to a more believable level

P: Suspected crack in windscreen S: Suspect you're right

P: Number 3 engine missing S: Engine found on right wing after a brief search

P: Aircraft handles funny S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious

P: Mouse in cockpit S: Cat installed

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. S: Took hammer away from midget

Only a joke, promise.

The Orams case starts in UK on July 18th. Enough said!