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

Yesterday we were supposed to be doing the annual charity walk across the mountain to Karsiyaka. Guess what, it was cancelled due to more heavy rain and also some serious damage to the roads over the mountains from the recent storms. The suggestion is that it will now take place at the end of March.

Saturdays headline is, " Natural disaster is worst flooding in living memory". The Turkish troops were put on alert as the torrential rain continued. The deluge tore down bridges, flooded homes and business premises, breached dams and brought TRNC to a standstill.

The amount of rain that fell reached 18cms in the 24 hour period to midnight. There were landslides across some of the highways that run close to mountain sides closing a number of main roads. Guess our little newly created river was small in comparis

Other news includes a heart operation for our chaplain at St Andrews Church, the Rev Michael Houston. We understand that he is recovering well and we wish him a speedy full recovery.

The building contractors are still threatening the government with action should their demands not be met. (see last weeks posting). I personally don't see how this government can overcome the worlds financial crisis all on it's own and solve their problem of little or no business. Despite their cries for help they continue to build empty shops, that are far in excess of anything that is ever likey to be needed here, unless the population quadruples over the next couple of years.

Does anybody recall discussions about the Treaty of Guarantee signed in 1960 by Greece, United Kingdom and Turkey. This treaty was the agreement under which the island was to be governed and the signature parties were supposed to support and if necessary intervene should things not work out. The Greeks forced a change to the constitution in 1963, then in 1974 they sparked a military coup that ousted President Makarios. The British did their ostrich trick and buried their heads in the sand, which they have continued to do ever since and the finally Tuirkey intervened to allow their own people to live in a sort of peace ever since. Now the Greek Cypriots have passed a resolution in their parliament, that The Treaty of Guarantee, which is still technically effective, should be scrapped. Will somebody please tell me "What chance peace talks" whilst this political stupidity goes on.