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Our
adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
   
According to the local papers the Greek Cypriots are making a right fuss over the fact that Mr Talat was offered the chance to award the winner of the formula 1 race in Turkey, his trophy. It appears that the TV announced him as the President of The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Oops, but then he really is isn't he? Anything to try to get some political mileage, why not sit around the table and have some sensible dialogue, there is no other way to break the stalemate, unless of course there is some reluctance on one side to find a solution, hush my mouth.
Now that is strange. Two guys were arrested with some 10YTL (about £3.50 each) fake notes. I would have thought it would have cost almost that to make good fakes. That's really bright.
New measures are being introduced to cut down on tax evasion. The government reckons that evasion is around 60% of due tax which is very high, but then if you look at the creaking administration here where very little work is done it's not really surprising. I was still offered something at a 15% discount this week if I paid cash!
Yesterday evening we were fed by Barbara and Stewart which was quite brilliant as at the moment we are sort of camping out as what was our kitchen is now reduced to a free standing fridge still wired in with everything else just piled up where we can find space.
I suppose it is some sort of progress but Joan is getting inceasingly worried as have had confirmation that Bill and Margaret arrive on 24th September.
This morning we had to go to Nicosia on business so had the opportunity to nip over to the south to collect our light fittings. It is a great pity to have to go over there to get them, but the choice is infinitely greater and that does not even take in to consideration the financial advantage.
At least the new bed we have ordered and the new curtains are all from this side and very nice too. We are really looking forward to seeing the completed project.
Just a quick entry as the result of the Orams case is out. I have been sent this BBC news report and although many will already be aware of the outcome, it may still be of interest to others.
THE HEADLINE READS>
A Sussex couple seeking to keep their dream holiday villa in northern Cyprus have won their High Court battle.
Linda and David Orams, from Hove, built their property in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus four years ago after buying the plot with retirement funds.
They were taken to court by Meletios Apostolides, who said his family owned the land, near Kyrenia, in the 1970s.
He had insisted that either the villa was knocked down or the Orams handed their property in Sussex over to him.
Mr Orams, 61, and his wife, 59, spent their £160,000 savings on buying the plot and building the villa and pool.
'Substantial victory'
They bought the land from the registered owner in accordance with the laws and land registry system of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) - which was declared after Turkish troops invaded the area in 1974.
But Mr Apostolides, a Greek Cypriot, insisted the land was rightfully his because his family had been uprooted from it by the Turkish invasion.
A statement issued on behalf of the couple said the judgment was a "total vindication" of their position.
It said: "It is a substantial victory in a battle by them to maintain and retain their retirement home and their home in England.
"The judgment allows others in the same position to invest in TRNC without the threat of enforcement of judgments rendered in the Republic of Cyprus in the EU."
Their counsel, Cherie Booth QC, had argued that the case raised a matter of fundamental importance for people who lived in the Turkish-controlled region in relation to property dealings.
Mr Justice Jack's ruling that a judgement obtained against the retired couple in Nicosia was not enforceable in the English courts followed a four-day hearing at the High Court in London in July.
I am told that Mr Apostolidis has also been ordered to pay 75% of the court costs, which are estimated at £650,000, and one e-mail suggests that the Orams could now pursue him in the EU court for possession of his property if he does not pay. Me thinks that the governement in the South was probably funding him anyway.
It is also noticeable that Mr Justice Jack mentioned the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in his ruling, does this mean recognition? My guess is that they might just be a little unhappy across the border this morning.
Will be back later with earlier news of this month, promise.
Wow, real progress today. All the new windows arrived and by the end of the day most had been installed. They are really nice quality and it will be nice to have double glazing again. When we had this house built, double glazing was not yet available in the TRNC. Guess we might be looking at all the old windows and getting a price to have them done as well as we are really impressed with them.
The lounge is going to be rally light and airy with all that glass around and we have managed to retain part of our old shaded terrace under the archway and also a nice a view to the pool
Also today they made a start at re-installing the usable cupboards from the kitchen upstairs. It seems as if we will be able to make use of many in the new kitchen but now we have to be patient whilst they make the new carcasses so that the worktop can be refitted and we can maybe boil the odd kettle again.
The painter has been here for a couple of days now and that is always a good sign that the end is nigh. Maybe next week we can start moving down, fingers crossed.
Sad day yesterday. Liverpool got beaten by Everton, 3 nil. Michael went down to watch but I had painters, tilers, the builder and uncle Tom Cobley here so had to give it a miss. We were even 40 minutes late to Pat and Brian's afternoon party. Still we enjoyed the good food etc that she had put on for us, just another one we are going to have to pay back when we get our home together, but we are looking forward to the opportunity.
There has been some very worrying days during the last week here. George and Susan had their daughter her partner and grandson Bradley over for a holiday. They had also brought over two friends together with Bradley's girlfriend Grace, one of the many I believe. Bradley and Grace have had a wonderful week in the pool. We had been out weith them a couple of times and on Wednesday been over to eat with them all. During the day they had all been worried about Grace, who was unable to keep any food down at all. Late in the evening they eventually went to the local hospital and were all transferred to Nicosia General. The insurance company had been by this time been made aware of the problem and together with the British Consulate took over. All was in the end resolved by transferring them to the South, where Grace was operated on for a blocked intestine. The latest news is that she is out of intensive care and they should all be on the way home in about 1 week. Worrying times but all's well.
Pages and pages about the result in the British High Court about the Orams case. Not surprising really and I suppose that they are really to be congratulated on the result and we should see some upturn in the economy here as a result and not before time, however I and many, many, many others will always maintain that she should have thrown the suumons in the bin and the Greek Cypriots would not have had so much publicity to help almost destroy the economy here over the last twelve months.
Have had a couple of days of interesting meetings with a Thorsteinn Adalsteinsson from Iceland. He together with many friends and family members have bought some apartments in the next village and they are looking to us to get them some kitchen equipment and some furnishings so guess I will be busy for the next couple of days sorting that out.
This evening, Roger and Gill invited us round for dinner as they had heard or seen our dinner for two attempt last night. With a small gas stove and a bit of packet pasta you can easily get dinner ready.
Things are progressing now as the stairs now have their marble treads just ready for a coat of paint to smarten up the black. Yesterday the electricians came back and fitted all the sockets and lights, then the carpenter fitted our old front door from upstairs so we are at least secure now.
Getting there slowly.
Very sorry folks, I know that we are 10 days minus any sort of diary notes but in all honesty we have been driving the builders very hard to get us back in to some sort of order. Can't see any point of going back over old things so have posted some new photos for you to look at and want to tell you about one or two important things.
We found a new very good restaurant here in Lapta. On the seafront side there has always been a hotel called Haci Ali Hotel, but it has been little used as a hotel more a sort of private home for a very rich guy. Well now he has opened up as a restaurant. The site is quite stunning, the food excellent and the prices very very reasonable. Guess together with The Saffron we now have two very good local places to dine.
Joan and I took a very quick trip over to the south side on Thursday last, as we were in Nicosia anyway and needed to get a new matching light for the lounge area. Whilst we were there we spotted a pirate ship in the Africa shop and there in lies another story. This thing is quite large and would not go in our Rav4 so on Friday morning George very kindly went over with me in his big Citroen estate, guess what we could not get it in to there either. Next try was Jeff and his big Kia People Carrier with many seats removed. He and Susan went over early Saturday morning for the third attempt and finally there it is a pirate ship just. It looks absolutely great in situ and we only bought it because of the "Wow" factor.
Yesterday the builder sort of handed over the downstairs area, well at least he asked for some more money so that is probably a sort of hand over. Knowing that Bill and Margaret are arriving tomorrow, Sunday, we were very grateful for the super help from Susan and George to do some cleaning, unpacking of everything and a general sort out. I was able to fit the equipment back in to the kitchen at last so we at least will be able to boil an egg for breakfast and both the lounge and the breakfast room are looking real good. Sometime during next week our curtains will be hung so that will complete the look and then I can get the big heater/air con unit moved from upstairs and the gas fire connected to tanks outside ready for the winter months.
Remember that it was said in the papers that the Orams case was not over, well the right to appeal has been granted, not a big surprise really and the Greek Cypriot lawyer involved has threatened to issue another writ against somebody in Karaman who is supposedly living in a property that belonged to a Greek Cypriot. They will never let up with these sort of actions that keep the publicity level high until the whole issue is resolved and that can only be done by the politicians with a will to resolve the isssue.
Finland currently holds the EU presidency and it would seem that they are trying a big Diplomatic drive to end the economoic isolation of Northern Cyprus and to avert a crisis between Turkey and the EU later this year. But their Foreign Minister is saying that the chances are looking slim as some parties are still making unreasonable demands and this would suggest an unwillingness to resolve the issue.
Finally to close the week off, Joan and I got up at 6 a.m. and continued to sort out things. George and Susan, who had joined us at The Haci Ali restaurant last night came round about 9 a.m. and between us we got things sorted for a bedroom for Bill and Margaret and so Joan and I were able to set off about 3 p.m. to Larnaca to collect them. To cap it all off, we put a chicken dish in the oven to be ready when we all got back, only to find out that we had had a power cut whilst we were out, so had to kick start the whole thing when we got back. At least it was part cooked and we all got a chance to relax over a drink and a catch up chat.
Saturday evening 30th September. The builders are still swarming all over us, Bill & Margaret are visiting and tomorrow morning at 4 a.m. we are all getting up to go to Istanbul for 5 days.
It's been a very busy week so if we have not responded to your mail forgive, we will as soon as we get back. We just want a rest away from it all for a few days to recharge the batteries and what better way than to get away with some good friends.
See you next weekend.
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