Frank and Joan's news for 16 August 2009 in Northern Cyprus

Frank and Joan's Adventures in Northern Cyprus

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

Sunday morning and Tiggy jumped on me at 5.30 to demand an early breakfast, she just eats all day at the moment, but have to say that she was sick twice yesterday, but a call to the vet assured us that it was probably the very strong anti-biotic injection from Friday that caused this reaction.

Because I am now wide awake I got up and did some hedge cutting before the sun got up to its usual fierce level. Its surprising how much you can get done before 8.30 a.m. when life becomes too hot.

The Prime Minister has responded to the strikers, after last Wednesdays cabinet meeting by saying that if you don't accept what the government needs to do to recover the country's economy then I will get others in to do your work. Now even CTA are getting in on the act, including the pilots, how stupid is that when this company is already totally bankrupt. Ah well there is always Larnaca airport, shame but if needs must.

So the government did not climb down and the PM is saying that things like receiving overtime pay

ments equal to the monthly salary, has to stop now. He quoted the situation of doctors in the health service, doubling their income with overtime. Joan had a conversation with a local this week and she said that in her opinion, government workers went in for their 4 hours per day summer working, did nothing until it was almost time to go home and then started working on overtime pay. This lady was quite adamant that this sort of attitude had to be changed. Guess that it is not only the weather that is going to get hot around here.

Lawyers are now having a go at expat buyers and saying that those with problems should not be blaming the lawyers. They are getting incensed that forums etc are clearly putting some of the blame for mortgages on land, builders fiddling the system and not adhering to contracts etc on them. I suppose that many who have problems would say "If the cap fits". It is however important to realise that there are rules here which many have ignored, such as make sure that the land is clear of any encumbrances, get your permit to buy before proceeding with contract signatures, particularly when buying off plan. Remember that often here, the lawyer is acting for you and the builder at the same time, make sure that does not happen.

A leading union man and an economist here, claims he has proof that the previous coalition government, spent 50 million TL over budget during their last month in power. Guess they knew they were on their way out and just wanted to leave a bigger problem for the new boys.

Start of the Premiership this weekend, maybe I will go and see Liverpool's first game this evening, unless it comes up on our satellite channels. So glad that I am not an Everton supporter today.

We have had a couple of viewings on the villa this week but so far no come back on them. No I lie, I actually met one of the viewers this week in the supermarket and he said, "absolutely loved it but not for us as we have 4 kids ranging from 10 to 21 years". Oh well, next time maybe.