A much nicer day and a good look around the garden and the rain has done it the world of good, everything is blossoming and looking very green. My basil that I planted a very short time ago is ready to transplant. I love fresh basil, my favourite herb. The pictures are of only one of our gardens.
Cyprus Today see link All good things in the future then, the prospect of food and drink prices going up. They say it is because of government taxation. Well done the government. Just what we all needed. “Some products could increase by 90%” There has also been a ban on olive oil imports…I bet they are wishing they hadn’t destroyed so many olive trees now. No one listened and even Jack who tried his best to rescue the trees (we bought two of them) left the island long ago.
Imported cheese is set to increase by 30-40%. 90% tax on imported water. The knock on effect of course will be a hike in restaurant prices. I am not just ‘whingeing’ here. There is a solution, issue peoples deeds for their houses, they pay their taxes and it will bring in millions of lira each year. I am not a politician but this is all so simple. Along with deeds being issued, instead of the endless years waiting it would also give people confidence to buy here. At the moment how can anyone want to buy here. To the left in front of us is one ‘half built’ site, to the right in front of us is another. People have paid for these houses and lost their money. The list goes on and on, Kulaksiz 5, Aga buyers, Victoria Homes to name but a few. I wonder just how many people don’t have their deeds here or are unaware that there have been mortgages placed on their ‘Homes’ without their knowledge.
I hope all the readers of this diary have their deeds, if not see link It seems that this will be the forum that highlights property problems. There is stength in numbers and support there.
In the afternoon we had the footie matches on. A win for Man U but Everton played well. Then Spurs, shame they didn’t get their three points. Last but not least, Hammers. They played well in some of the game and then seemed to fall apart but I think they did well. Looks as though Mal won’t be watching them next season as Digiturk only show Premier matches.
There was a letter in Cyprus Today which I just had to duplicate here:
Cheap airline tickets to TRNC? Yeah right!
“We have just been on the Turkish Airline booking site to purchase tickets for May 26th from Manchester to Ercan for a holiday.
The return cost for two is £1,136.00. Distance approximately 2,130 miles.
By comparison, Manchester to Karachi, similar dates: return cost for two £!,818.00, distance approximately 4,008 miles.
Both journeys require a change at Istanbul.
Further comparison: we could have booked a seven day cruise around the Med for £635 each.
Is it any surprise that the TRNC hotels, restaurants, bars, shops etc are all empty?
How can these costs be justified? Is Turkey also applying embargoes of sorts on the TRNC because they certainly are not helping matters.
The TRNC desperately needs a new national airline. Oh, silly me, wasn’t one going to start up recently?
Are there any entrepreneurs in the TRNC able to encourage an independent (non Turkish) airline to fly in?
To add insult to injury, an ad on the side bar whilst typing this email: “70% off Turkish Airline Tickets”
MK
Liverpool“
[slideshow]
Thought for the Day – “Earth laughs in flowers” – Ralph Waldo Emerson