Frank and Joan's news for 18 April 2009 in Northern Cyprus

Frank and Joan's Adventures in Northern Cyprus

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

This morning was half yearly blood donor day, organised by the BRS at Girne hospital. No problem except nobody told me that these BP pills would make it very difficult for the very small needle hole to heal up. Oops, very wet and red shirt sleeve.

Tomorrow is general election day, results will be confirmed by Tuesday and the consensus of opinion is that the National Unity Party (UBP) will be the party in control. There are a total of 160,000 citizens entitled to vote for 350 party candidates and 8 independents and there are a total of 50 seats in the parliament. A bit of a bun fight then. Alcohol is not allowed to be sold tomorrow between the hours of 9am and 6pm. Don't ask me why, maybe there is a past history which instigated this ruling.

There is still talk in the paper of talks about reunifying the island, but many say it is a stalemate and the UN is claiming that the compensation pot for peace could be $20bn just to solve the property issue and tha

t they will not pay. Others say that this is like the last chance saloon for the two Presidents and with the result of the Orams case due out next month the whole issue could escalate again.

There have been a couple of burglaries in Karsiyaka and Lapta over the last couple of weeks, both occurred when the owners were out attending official functions or in one case visiting UK. The blog sites are suggesting that they may have been targeted by British crooks. Don't know how they can come to this conclusion when there are so many Turkish mainlanders here without work, but it could be true and if so very very sad, but then you all know my opinion of blog sites and hideaway postings to them, they tend to generate unsupported rumours very easily and often maliciously.

The same thing is now applying to the letters page in the newspaper. A letter attacking somebody, or voicing an opinion and at the end of it "name supplied". If you don't have the courage to put your name to the letter then don't write in the first place. Note to the editor....Don't Publish!

The legal challenge to the UK government's refusal to allow direct flights to TRNC will take place on May 18th in the London High Court. We await an interesting outcome.

Ten pin bowling has come to the island with two new alleys opened up in Karakum and Gazi Magusa. These are apparently proving very popular and now there is a £3million leisure complex being built just off the new by-pass, due to open in September. Probably before the by-pass as things go here.

Interesting to read that four out of ten of the Dolmus buses, which ply their trade between Girne and villages such as Lapta, are operating illegally. That is incredible to comprehend considering there are supposed to be so many more roadside police checks these days. You have to ask also, when was the the last legal MOT test done on some of these things.