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Our
adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
 
Thats it, early morning, 4 a.m. to get Arie over to Larnaca on his way back to Amsterdam. No problems at the border crossing this morning so we were nice and early at the airport.
Joan and I took advantage of the fact that we had to go over anyway so did some shopping whilst we were there, this really in preparation for Sunday, when Arie's mum and dad arrive for 10 days. We have not seen them for three years now so it will be great to catch up with them again.
This time we have put a stop to the remaining building work that needs completion as some of it is indoors and means wet paint, at leastw eare able to use everything and they can have their own bedroom and bathroom, providing we get it cleaned up in time.
We had one heck of a storm here last night, some really strong winds which played havoc with the garden. Just something else to try to tidy up before Co and Henny arrive on Sunday evening. Some of the higher plants and shrubs suffered the most, we now have a leaning jasmin on its wrought iron frame which I think we are going to have to cut right back in order to try to secure the frame properly again. At the bottom of the garden, one of the bourgenvilla came down trellis and all so we think that the answer is to cut them right back down to just over wall height where they are less susceptible to the wind blowing across the fields.
At least this is the time of the year to start doing any replanting in the garden so we can have a busy winter period sorting things out. Lets hope that this storm has now blown its course as we have had about one week of really wet and windy weather.
Just to come back on this date. Forgot to mention tht Joan and I tried the old Silver Grill restaurant now renamed "My Place". Seems it is being run by a Swedish lady and a Turkish partner. The food was excellent and priced around the same as the Safron and the atmosphere indoors is much improved making it feel much warmer then hitherto. Unfortunately the plates were cold, the veg likewise and the lady seems to have rescued a mongrel which is around in the restaurant. We will try again in a few weeks as we mentioned these points to the owner and a Swedish friend who was in there that evening.
Our builder finished a number of the little jobs that needed attention, in particular the new patio door shutters on our old bedroom and all the tiling work between the new windows and shutters. This meant a lot of extra cleaning work so Joan asked our lady from the village to come in for an extra day and help her get things straight. At last we have things looking really good and reasonably straight.
According to this weeks Cyrus Today newspaper, Gary Robb has been arrested and remanded for 3 days. This time it seems to be on some sort of charge relating to his military service and his citizenship and a fake document which said he had completed military service in UK. All of this looks like somebody is still trying to find a way to stop him continuing his Aga Development work. Will the truth ever come out, I doubt it and in the meantime all those of you who invested in Amaranta Valley are suffering whilst this lot here weave their magic spells.
It's official. The wettest October since records began 31 years ago and a weather warning has been issued for more extreemly strong winds.
Shirley Valentines has closed down. Jan and Nasser have decided to sell up and have now auctioned everything off. Those of you who use it on holidays will have to wait to see if anybody else is prepared to take on the lease.
An article in the paper about The Internet Club, our service provider for broadband etc. As I have said recently we have had a few problems due to some idiot trying to get into their service and destroy their customer base. It appears now that even the police are involved in trying to prove a case against the perpetrator. Lets hope they succeed and stop this stupidity as this is the best providor on the island and they don't need nonsense like this.
The Ministry of Tourism has introduced an incentive to boost tourism next year. Tour operators are to be paid £25.00 bounty for every tourist flying in to Ercan and staying for a minimum of one week in a TRNC hotel. Should bring the prices down just a little to encourage people to come and see.
LD's have started to do Sunday lunch for all the roast dinner lovers. It's clearly winter time again when restaurants start to do this. This was their first week and a sort of test case so we reveived a call to say would we like to go. For us it was a brilliant idea as Joan and I had to be at Larnaca airport in the evening to collect Co and Henny off the Amsterdam flight.
An opportunity to clear some of the garden damage for Joan whilst I did some website work, see I do think about reporting to you sometimes, but of late it has just seemed to be a bit chaotic around here and guess the next week is going to continue like that, as we have guests until 16th November, who do not speak a word of English so we are going to have to be with them all the time.
We got back home around 10.30p.m. and of course had to sit up for a couple of hours and hear all the news and of course Henny had to inspect the house as she has never been here before. It's a bit of a miracle really that they ever came over as Co is petrified of flying although when he arrived he was saying things like, no problem really, that was easy, this flying is just for us real travellers...... Wait till he starts to twitch a bit on the 15th.
A day around home, apart from a trip down to the vet with the two cats. Smudge and Tiggy are both due there annual MOT but also Tiggy has been limping really badly since Saturday evening. It appears that she has been bitten under her left front leg and it has started to go septic so that means every morning this week to the vet for an injection. Oh boy.....first catch your cat!
Henny went down town with Joan and then later we took them around the village a bit so they could get some idea of where we live. Easy does it, sit in the sun and enjoy the relaxation seems to be the order of the day for them just now.
We had to go over to Nicosia today for some business so took the opportunity to take Co and Henny over with us and show them around the old town area. We just hope that with the time we ahve in between all the things we are busy with that we can show them as much as possible of our island home.
This evening we took them to Haci Ali's restaurant which they enjoyed very much, especially when comparing the prices aginst what they pay in Dutch restaurants.
Now that the weather has improved, that is much less rain, we have been able to get George in to lay a new front door terrace for us. This has made the entrance way look much better and we are no longer walking over the gravel and Joan's old flower bed.
I took Co out and about with me today when I was involved in putting in a couple of kitchens, he finds the different properties here somewhat interesting, especially the ones built on the edge of ravines!
We did the only thing we could do this evening, as it is Thursday, introduce them to the delights of LD's, They had been told by Arie that the cod in cream and white wine was to die for, so chose that to eat even before we got there. Well it lived up to expectations and they thought the evening was super. It is just a great pity that Co does not speak a word of English and therefore misses a lot of the friendly banter that goes on, especially with George around.
As Joan and I have had a couple of busy days with customers we had set the weekend aside to spend some time with Co & Henny.
This morning we set off quite early and went over to the South. First we got a couple of pieces of shopping we needed, loaded them in to the car and then set off up the Troodos mountains. We were very lucky with the weather as it looked a bit misty up the top as we approached, but when we got there it had cleared and we were able to take the really scenic route of to Kynosos, which is where The Makarios Monastry is. If you remember we went up here with Bill and Margaret in September and put quite a few pics on the site. But let me introduce to Co and Henny seen here walking to the entrance way with Joan.
After we visited the monastry we then went further up the mountain to a village restaurant we know where they always have a buffet lunch on. Enjoyed by all immensely and no more cooking today needed. Guess they really enjoyed the day out as they talked about the mountains all evening.
Sunday morning and a bit of a lie in with time to read the papers.
Gary Robb and his partner have both been released on bail on the charges of forging documents so that Gary Robb could avoid military service here. The plot thickens.
Remeber the story about George and Susan and the electric pole, with the JCB driver attempting to lift it back in to a hole. Well this week there is a report in the paper about just such a digger operator being electrocuted trying the same thing. So much for health and safety.
Road safety is also an issue with suggestions that everybody drives around with their lights on just like in the Scandinavian countries. On the same page there was a report of 76 road accidents, 4 deaths and 23 other casualities during the week. Surely lights will cure this stupidity and speed has nothing to do with it. I jest!
An interview with the new Tourism Minister suggests that incentives are the key to inceasing tourism here. I mentioned earlier that he is to offer money to tour operators who bring tourists in to hotels here. Now he talks of better prices on flights and environmental control by limiting development against the big plan. All lovely talk, but can they make it stick against the greed element.
A lot about the Turkish accession to the EU, but no doubt lots of that in your papers also. There is still very heavy criticism of the EU for allowing the south in to the EU and not keeping its promise to free up trade etc to the north. One columnist in this weeks paper asks the question "how long before Turkey tells the EU to get lost?"
Being Sunday we also used the opportunity to intoduce Co and Henny to English Sunday lunch. LD's, as we said last week, had started to do their winter menu, which included Sunday lunch. This week they had roast pork with crackling on the menu. Now we have not had any crackiling since our last visit to Uk so that was delicious, but more next time please.
Thank you Susan for a brilliant web picture chance. Sort of let me at it when reaching for the wine. Anybody would think she had never had a glass of wine before......
The last couple of days I have been busy sorting out one or two customers installations but I was able to take Co around with me and he enjoyed the fun of looking at all the different villas and apartments and the extra trip across to Nicosia to make payments to some of our suppliers.
This afternoon I had taken some time apart to take them both out to Bellapais to see the Abbey and its surroundings. They found the village and the old houses very fascinating so I decided to take them up the mountain to Karaman. Because we have been up that way many times and my little Toyota enjoys the very narrow and steep hills up there, I was able to wind my way down from the top of the village and come down the back mountain road. The views are quite stunning that way and providing your passengers are not afraid of heights it makes for a super drive.
This evening we introduced them to the Saffron restaurant which they voted, the best yet.
Co & Henny's last day of their holiday. Henny just wanted to sit and enjoy the sunshine this afternoon so I took Co out for a drive around. We went up the mountain through Lapta village, which takes you up to an area called Baspinar and from there he was able to take many more pictures down to the village and out to the Med. I then went out along the Kayalar peninsula where there nare some lovely views and we finally stopped at Horse Shoe Beach restaurant for a beer on the way home.
As it was an early start we ate indoors and had an early night. We have enjoyed their company lots over the last 12 days and have agreed to go to Holland next year to spend a week with them and not leave it so long between future contacts. Guess we forget that we used to just nip over to Holland for along weekend when we lived near Dover. We could leave work at 5 p.m. and be at their house in Nieuwkoop, before 11 p.m. their time.
Ugh, another 4 a.m. start to get those two to the airport. Really must get our visitors to book more sensible times. I suppose that the profuse thanks from them both and the tears in Co's eyes when they left showed that they had really enjoyed their stay and probably missed us more than we realised.
One thing about these early starts is that we can spend some time looking around the shops over in the South. Not that we really wanted to buy over there but we have searched high and low for some carpets for in the new lounge and could not find anything we liked. Well this time we struck lucky and found just what we wanted.
Lovely, a day having our new house to ourselves and then a quiet dinner in with a DVD and a bottle of wine to wash it all down with. It's great having old friends to stay, but it is also great when you get your own space back.
Collected Gulnaz, our cleaning lady at 8 a.m. this morning as yesterday she was far too full of cold to come to us. Also Serkan our builder sent his guys along to do some of the final bits of work. Most of the work still to do is down to the painter and he is so keen to get finished taht he wants to come on tomorrow, Sunday.
Guess the papers have got some interested bits in for this week.
For all of you with an interest in Aga Developments it would seem that Gray Robb has been cleared formally of all money laundering charges against him and he should now be able to start building again. There are a couple of charges relating to other matters against him, but the Attorney General reckons this should not hinder progress. According to the papers only £500,000 is frozen in accounts here with a further £1.5 million being frozen in a UK account. The current estimate for completion is £6 to £9 million, so as the paper says "where's all the money gone".
There are plans for a further 18 hoile golf course. This time it is to the west between Akdeniz and Guzelyurt. There is no indication of timescale but the developers are suggesting it will be built to United States Golf Association standards. Quite ambitious.
Asphalting has begun on the new Girne bypass. According to the builders the first section could be open by April next. That will be a great relief to the traffic congestion in Girne.
The roof of the Kukri restaurant was destroyed by fire last Saturday night. There is a suggestion that the first fire engine took 30 minutes to arrive and then contained no water, this is of course is denied by the fire service. The damage is estimated at £20,000 and the current owners are suggesting it will be months before they can open again.
Oh yes forgot to mention the very sad result of the Arsenal, Liverpool game. What a sad time to be a life long Liverpool supporter, serves me right for being born within the sound of The Kop.
Final stages of the painting being done today, so if the weather is nice at the weekend I will put some last pics of the updated villa on the site. The painter actually worked all day Sunday as well, to get things finished for us and we have to confess that it is nice to get to the end of the project.
For this afternoon Joan and I were invited up to Sunny Lane School. Oh boy, has that place expanded since Joan first went there to help out as school secretary, almost 4 years ago. Then they had 28 pupils now the total is in excess of 200 and they have a full Secondary School with its own headmaster. The reason for todays vist was the official opening of the new astro turf sports pitch. Between the two main buildings, of Primary School and Secondary, there was a grass patch which was used as a sports and play area. This has been totally revamped as a full sports area with football, tennis and basketball pitches laid out on the new astro turf pitch. The official opening ceremony was performed by the Minister of Education who was clearly impressed with the standards laid out by the school and hoped that it would be possible for matches to be arranged between Sunny Lane and local schools. After the official opening we were entertained to some Seven aside football from pupils of the Secondary school.
Instead of cooking this evening, Joan and I decided that we should try out the newest fish and chip restaurant in town. The CodBaba, situated next door to the Turk Bankasi branch that we use. We had agreed to meet Clive Wilkinson and his wife Angela there and we all declared it to be OK and very reasonably priced.
The start of pay back time. All those free meals we ahd from friends whilst we had no kitchen are no hopefully going to be repaid by having people to dinner here.
This evening Michael & Barbara together with Stewart & Barbara, were treated to the five dollar tour of the changes and then a full roast dinner. We know that there is really no compunction to pay back their kindness but the evening was very enjoyable anyway and the food super, this despite Joan's dodgy elbow.
Remember about two years ago Joan ended up in the local hospital, because her left elbow joint had swollen so badly that it was very painful, well it happened again over the weekend. Last time after numerous blood tests it was diagnosed as the old arthritis and she was put on steroids etc. Well this time we went to see Mr Erhard, an alternative medicine man who came highly reccomended, he took one look and said inflamed glands in the joint. We told him about the arthritis diagnosis last time and he said nonsense, or words to that effect. He treated Joan with a laser pen, asprin to take away the pain and an inflammatory gel which she has to put on four times a day and wrap the area in clingfilm. Now comes the fun bit. At night we are to take some white cabbage leaves, crush them with a rolling pin, wrap them around the joint and seal the whole with clingfilm and a bandage. This we a have done for the last two days and nights and guess what, the swelling has reduced lots and the pain is going away. A right cabbage patch doll she has turned out to be and the smell of rotting cabbage early in the morning is quite something, even the cats are not impressed. Having said that, what about all the treatment of two years ago you might ask!
IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS..........
This was sent to me courtesy of another website (North Cyprus Biz)and shows the copyright of the Cyprus Times newspaper.
"Arrest the lot" 23/11/2006
A NEW LAW has gone into force that paves the way for sentencing anyone who resides, builds on, purchases or sells property formerly owned by Greek Cypriots in North Cyprus to seven years in prison.
Greek Cypriot Minister for Justice and Public Order Sofoklis Sofokleus said that Turkish Cypriots or anyone involved in the purchase or sale of such property will be subject to prosecution, regardless of their nationality.
President Mehmet Ali Talat warned that the latest Greek Cypriot move, will lead to the closure of the check points between the TRNC and Greek Cypriot South.
Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer described the move as a sign of ill intention which will help worsen the relations between the two peoples of the island. He also warned of retaliation.
That's the attitude of the Greek Cypriot Administration, after they passed a new law that powers the Greek Cypriot police, whom are more than happy to cause problems for anyone who crosses the border to the South, to arrest anyone regardless of nationality who is using Greek Cypriot property in any way.
First they started by putting arrest warrants on Estate agents who are selling property built on former Greek Cypriot land, then they arrested a couple of architects who had blueprints in their possession. Now the Greek Cypriot Administration has gone the extra mile and has passed the law to arrest and prosecute anyone, including Turkish Cypriots who live in, have built on or are simply residing in a property that was owned by a Greek Cypriot prior to 1974.
A new law has gone into force paves the way for sentencing anyone who resides, builds on, purchases or sells property formerly owned by Greek Cypriots in North Cyprus to seven years in prison.
The Greek Cypriot Minister for Justice and Public Order Sofoklis Sofokleus said that new law will also apply to Turkish Cypriots who are currently residing in or using property formerly owned by Greek Cypriots in North Cyprus.
He said that Turkish Cypriots or anyone involved in the purchase or sale of such property will be subject to prosecution, regardless of their nationality.
Mr. Sofokleus said that the move should just how serious the Greek Cypriot Administration approaching the issue.
The Greek Cypriot Justice Minister added that the Russian couple arrested on Saturday at the Ledra Palace checkpoint while trying to cross into South Cyprus, on charges of having purchased a house in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be tried under the new law.
President Mehmet Ali Talat has warned that the latest move by the Greek Cypriot Administration to detain' and imprison those using properties formerly owned by Greek Cypriots, will lead to the closure of the check points between the Turkish was Republic of Northern Cyprus and Greek Cypriot South Cyprus.
Speaking on BRT television, the President accused the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos of trying to raise the tension between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, in a way which will make a solution to the Cyprus problem - impossible.
Accusing the Greek Cypriot side of playing a very risky game, President Talat described the move as "very dangerous".
The Prime Minister described the move as a sign of ill intention which will help worsen the relations between the two Peoples of the island.
He said the move will also help deepen the division of Cyprus and said the one that has to be detained is the Greek Cypriot Leadership who urged its people to reject the Annan plan.
Calling on the Turkish Cypriot People not to panic, Mr Soyer said that if the adoption of the new legislation is confirmed the Turkish Cypriot Side will have no other option but to retaliate.
The news which appeared in Greek Cypriot Newspapers on Monday caused rage and worry in the TRNC, due to the obvious fact that a great portion of the population were using this kind of property. It is not known how the Greek Cypriot Police is going to determine who is allegeable for arrest and who isn't, but the Turkish Cypriots in major are not happy with the decision and are now reluctant to cross the border.
Serhat Ozkuran who spoke to the Cyprus Times said that this law would cause nothing but stopping the Turkish Cypriots from crossing the border, while Haluk Sonmez asked if the TRNC Government was going to reciprocate with a similar law for the Turkish Cypriot property in the South.
Hamit Caydas said that if the law was to be implemented the crossing points would end up closing and it would be a huge setback for the reunification process.
Olgun Amcaoglu claimed that this new law was a reason for war. He added that in the case of implementation of the law there would be a need for a new Peace Operation.
© Copyright Cyprus Times 2006
Guess anyone who is using Larnaca needs to be especially careful over the next few months and keep all papers away from your luggage etc.
Many e-mails already about yesterdays news regarding the new found attitude of the Greek Cypriots. The whole message to be got across is surely, wherever possible use the local airport and if for logistical or financial reasons you feel you must travel via Larnaca, then whatever you do, don't carry any papers or other items that would indicate possible property dealings or ownership here in the North.
Friday evening, the Stumble Inn here in Lapta, together with Pat & Brian and Jeff, who is here on his own until Sunday evening, when Ann gets back. A couple of beers and a not too late night seemed the best option.
Sometimes when life just goes on as normal it is difficult to find interesting things to talk about. Three trips to the supermarket and another dinner in a local restaurant must get boring for you all. However the newspapers do sometimes give some interesting items, such as:-
A two month moratorium to curb the concrete sprawl on Girne Mountain. The government has introduced this to curb the concrete sprawl overtaking the countryside. All applications for developments involving more than one house are suspended until the end of January, when officials aim to have permanent planning legislation in place. Not unexpectedly, the construction industry is complaining already. What always strikes me, is the fact that it is mostly foreign investors from the Turkish mainland or elswhere who are the main benificieries of development and for sure they are not worried about the destruction of this once beautiful island and the polution of the environment.
A lifelong gunners fan and a Turkish Cypriot living in London, has been displaying the TRNC flag at matches for years. Now in the new stadium he is regularily in a more prominent postion, so the club received complaints from other football fans. They could not possibly have been Greek Cypriots, could they? The club took advice and then announced that he could continue to display the flag as banning the emblem would be an act of discrimination against Turkish Cypriots. Now thats a right result.
A 55 year old Brit was arrested at the border on Friday with property related papers on his person. It turns out subsequently that there is more to this than meets the eye as this man Kenneth Hawkins also has property in the Paphos area and had done some sort of property exchange deal here and clearly the border police were acting on a tip off.
More about the need to obtain permission to purchase before commiting to property. It would seem, according to The Homebuyers Pressure Group, that more and more people are being told that "Permission to Purchase" is just a formality, but some get turned down for a variety of reasons, having invested heavily here in the first place. Maybe the secret is to rent here until your permission comes through and then commit your capital. At least get a clause in your contract that says you can have all your money back, within a stipulated timescale, in the event of permission being refused.
Late start after a nice long lie-in with a good book. The full English sitting out in the sun and then an evening birthday party.
Our next door neighbour, Barbara, is 21 plus a few more months, today and invited a whole mass of us, to wish her well around her dinner table. In fact she had to lay out two dinner tables to cope with the 18 people invited. Well done Barbara, a great spread and a very pleasant evening for us all.
Confrontation day with Cyprus Turkish Airlines today. Remember back in June, when we went to the BRS dinner which was a fund raising event in aid of the Girne new accident and emergency ward. The BRS had raised £44,000 over the last 12 months to fund this development a great effort by all involved. Well for this event CTA had offered a free return ticket to UK as a raffle prize. A friend of ours, Sandy, won this prize, did not want it, so offered it for auction. As the whole thing was a good cause and we wanted to go to UK this Xmas anyway, I kept bidding until I secured the ticket for £205.00, which is about the cost of a ticket anyway. The BRS then told CTA, by fax, who had won the ticket and that we would want to use it at the end of the year.
Well about four weeks ago, when we had decided on our travel dates with our friends who had agreed to put up with us at Xmas, we went to Ankara travel, who are agents for CTA in Girne and asked them if they could sort out this ticket plus one other for our chosen dates. Their attitude was no problem this could be sorted out. Well for the last few weeks they have continually asked the sales office for our tickets, finally, yesterday afternoon, the Marketing Manager of CTA made a decision that he had always decreed that the ticket should be taken up by 30th November latest. Now unless I am very much mistaken this now means I have to travel tomorrow morning, a bit short notice! At no time has anyone ever said to anyone involved that there was a deadline on using this ticket and unless something happens to change their decision, I feel a headline coming on:-
CTA WITHDRAWS ITS OFFER OF A FREE TICKET IN AID OF A GOOD CAUSE.
Not for one minute do I think they will feel ashamed of their actions, but it might make me feel better. I'll let you know what happens.
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