PALS Magazine FEBRUARY 2011 by Pals

Polis and Latchi Scene Issue 86

February 2011

Cover Picture is a Painting from the Centre of Therapetic Inventions Art Exhibition

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Hello and welcome to the February issue of the PALS Magazine. First Created and Published by

Sandra Westwood

I wonder how many of you noticed that age-old January mistake on the front cover of last month's issue and how many of you made the same error on cheques and correspondence in the last few weeks? I hope that we have all got used to being in 2011 now!

in July 2003

Issue 86 February 2011

+357 26322453 +357 99171120

I am very happy to report that we have had a tremendous response from our local schools for our children's drawing competition, especially from Polemi and Giolou. The kallikantzaroi have taken all shapes, sizes and colours and a lot of time and imagination has obviously gone into their creation. This, of course, makes the task of choosing the winning entry difficult but the boat trip prize will be awarded shortly and you will be able to see the picture in the next issue.

+357 26322453

Design, Art & Typesetting Shields Printing Shields 99377451/2 Contributors: Patricia Bates, Keith Dutfield. Sue de Groot, Caroline Grossmith, Charles Purdy, David Pym, Nagaraja Rao, Sue Rolfe, Kim Shut, John and Penny Smith, Michael Wright All correspondence to: A.P. Associates (CY) Ltd Marina Latchi Complex, Block C, No. 10 & 11, Latchi Polis Chrysochous, Paphos, Cyprus Tel: +357 26323538 Fax: +357 26323539 editor@palsmagazine.com

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller

I am sure that you are all as grateful as I am that the winter has been relatively kind to us so far – let's hope it stays that way! Even so, I am sure that you will find plenty in this issue to interest you over the last of the winter weeks. If you do the prize puzzle and think of captions for the competition, don't keep them to yourself –send them in to us and you could win one of our great prizes and have your name in print! We will all soon be thinking of the sun returning and all that this entails, both from a personal and a business point of view. So, if you have a product or service that relates either to the beginning of the tourist season or could be of use to those of us that live here, now is the time to consider your advertising needs for the Spring. Myself or my staff are here to assist you so please give us a call. I hope that all of you who are celebrating Valentine's Day have a wonderfully romantic time and find our features on this subject interesting and inspiring. I will leave you now to enjoy the magazine and I look forward to talking to you next month. All the best

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor Following on from the recent letters to you concerning the insurance difficulties people have experienced at the Pyrgos/Limnitis border, I have some additional information that may be of use: The company is Can Sigorta Insurance and the telephone number is 00905428542439. The very helpful man's name is Osman and he will take your telephone instructions and meet you at a pre-arranged time at his office, Âź hour drive from the border, with all the necessary paperwork.

said by the priests, I found the ceremony quite moving, with the doves being set free to represent the holy spirit as the young men shivered nearby. I'm sure that this was partly due to the cool air and partly the anticipation of retrieving the ornate cross

You have to purchase a minimum of 1 month's insurance and there are discounts that apply for three or twelve months if you are going regularly. I hope this is of assistance to you and your readers. David Pym, Polis Dear Editor Myself and my family attended the epiphany benediction of the sea at Latchi harbour for the first time last month and I wanted to share my thoughts about it with you and your readers. Despite the fact that I did not understand a lot of what was being

once the priest had cast it into the water and thereby receiving blessings for the year. Three brave men dived into the cold water after the cross without hesitation and stayed there for a good 10 minutes, each getting the chance to return the cross at least once. Whatever your religion or nationality, perhaps a date for next years diary? Susan from Polemi

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

More Letters to the Editor Dear Editor In the interest of the many people who have been regularly attending the concerts by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra in Paphos, I would like your assistance in informing the general public over the Paphos district why they will not be coming in the forseable future. The CSO have advised me that they will not be giving any concerts at the Markideion Theatre in the next 3-4 months because it apparently does not comply with the health and safety - law standards, not only for the musicians, but also for the public. They told me that at the very least, there are not enough dressing rooms, which are also very small for the musicians as well as the soloist and the maestro; there are not enough toilets and the ones that are there are not clean; no water; the temperature of the theatre is not regulated which, apart from being inappropriate for the musicians onstage, might cause problems to the instruments. The CSO advised me that they have drawn the attention for all these matters to the Municipality of Paphos who manage the Theatre. They have promised to make the necessary renovation and arrangements in order to meet the required standards, for both the musicians and the very loyal audience. What action, if any, we are able to take I do not know, but

perhaps if enough people complain to the Mayor and municipality of Paphos they may realize that there are many people who are extremely upset about the CSO's decision being necessary. Going to Limassol to attend a concert is not really an answer, especially for older people and those who live out in the Polis area, as it is a long way to travel. I Thank you for your interest in this matter which affects so many ex-pats of many different countries as well as Cypriots. Kindest regards Patricia Bates , Kissonerga

Brookseys Place Next Events Sunday Lunch (Bookings Only) 13th and 27th February 13th and 27th March Garden Club 2nd March and 6th April. 11am Darts Every Thursday 7.30 onwards

FOR RENT Lovely 3 Bedroom Villas All With Air Conditioning, Central Heating And Swimming Pool Available Now In Polemi, Lasa and Skouli Villages Agios Dimitrianos Telephone 99683177 For More Information

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

7 EN.A.D.FC Polis Your local Professional football Club Keith Dutfield

The club continues to challenge for promotion and currently holds a promotion place lying third in the table having played 16 won 7 drawn 6 and lost 3 with 27 points. The Board are doing everything they can to support Team Coach Costas Socratous to gain promotion to the Second Division and win the Cyprus FA Cup of Third and Fourth Division Teams.The squad has been strengthened with an experienced mid field player Costas Metaxas who has signed in the January transfer window and the club is also looking for perhaps one more player probably a striker to add further depth and strength to the squad. Wednesday 12th January N.A.D.FC Polis Chrysochou 3 Po Xylotymbou 1 EN.A.D. took the lead in the 8th minute with a cleverly worked move finished off by Alexandros Giakakoglou.They then completely dominated the first half going two up when Socratis Socratous drove home through a melee of players at close range following a free kick. The first half saw an excellent display from Athimos Georgiou who ran the opposition ragged in mid field. EN.A.D. should have been at least four up at half time having made eleven attempts on goal. Mysteriously Georgiou was substituted after 55 minutes and shortly afterwards PO Xylotymbou pulled one back with a well placed shot in the 59th minute. As good as EN.A.D were in the first half they were equally as bad in the second half. Fortunately for EN.A.D. Tiago Rosado a second half substitute weaved his magic in the box and lifted the ball around an opponent forcing the player to handle the ball to avoid Rosado completing his move. The referee immediately awarded a penalty and up stepped Aleksey Stepanov in the 94th minute to confidently drive his spot kick past the keeper with the last kick of the match providing EN.A.D.with a 3-1 lead to take to PO Xylotymbou for the second leg. CFA Third Division EN.A.D.FC Polis Chrysochous 3 Elpida Xylofagou 1

victory over Elpida Xylofagou reclaiming a promotion spot with 27 points in third place. The visitors came with the intention of roughing up their opponents but their bullying tactics failed to pay off.EN.A.D. stood up to the pressure and probably for the first time this season in such circumstances maintained their discipline. Their efforts were rewarded in the 32nd minute when Tiago Rosado crossed the ball from the left side where Andreas Nicholaous' attempt on goal was saved and Alexandros Giakakoglou scored with a well placed shot. EN.A.D. added another goal before half time in the 45th minute when a superb cross from the right by Dimitris Giannakou was met in the middle of the goal by Alexandros Giakakoglou who headed home superbly for his second of the match.Elpida came back at EN.A.D. with a rare break away move in the 60th minute to pull one back with a well taken shot from a right side cross. In the 66th minute EN.A.D.struck again. A left side cross of sublime quality made by Socratis Socratous was met by EN.A.D.s Portugeese maestro Tiago Rosado whose shot was well placed to the far side of the net. This completed an excellent victory with EN.A.D's two strikers on target and a man of the match performance from Alexandros Giakakoglou. Supporters Club The Supporters Club continues to meet at the Village Inn Latchi on the first Monday of every month. Anyone requiring further information about the Supporters Cub please contact Keith Berry on telephone number 99269314. The next meeting will be on Monday 7th February 2011 at 700pm. EN.A.D.FC Web Site www.enadfc.com The Web Site will be revamped in the coming weeks with new photographs of the players and the Polis Chrysochous Municipality Stadium. You can keep up to date on all club matters including Match Reports, Statistics, and Fixtures. Forthcoming Fixtures in the Polis Chrysochous Municipality Stadium

EN.A.D. got their season back on track with an emphatic 3-1 12th February 2011 EN.A.D.FC Polis Chrysochous v Frenaros Famagusta 19th February 2011 EN.A.D.FC Polis Chryasochous v Assias Nicosia. Remember the Under 21's also play the same clubs on the same day. These games kick off 3 hours before the First Team The players Staff and Officials invite you to come along and support your local team and help them to achieve their Seasons Objectives and at the same time wish to thank you for your fantastic support this season.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

All

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

9 Local girls go to Larnaca for a Jumping Lesson Caroline Grossmith

Beth, Lana, Eve and Sophie woke up to their Christmas treat from the Lysos stables with a mixture of excitement and anticipation! After one or two years of riding the beautiful tracks and trails around Lysos and learning to walk trot and canter their trusty mounts, it was time to travel to Dhekelia Saddle Club – 'DSC Ride in Cyprus' near Larnaca. This is the

There is even a Polo field and a bar so the spectators are amused too! After singing their way to Dhekelia in the Land Rover, the girls were introduced to their ponies, brushed them, picked out their feet and helped to tack them up …. Then off to the mounting block and up on their ponies for their first lesson in the school. After the girls had lunched by the beach, and the horses munched their hay in the paddocks, they were back on board for their jumping lesson. Kerpaz! Beautiful riding by them all – they were flying! Here is Sophie on Bella showing us how it's done. Not so much singing - more like lots of snoring on the way home …. Some tired and very happy girls.

technical side of the rideincyprus.com operation with amazing facilities for learning dressage, show jumping and crosscountry.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Wonderful Art in Paphos On 17th of December 2010, the Centre of Therapeutic Interventions of The mental health Department of Paphos, with the support of the General Hospital and Municipality of Paphos, exhibited paintings by the clients of the Centre.

The exhibition consisted of seventy paintings using Acrylics on canvas with vivid colours and shapes and one of these works of art is featured on our front cover this month. Once again, every piece was sold. All of the proceeds go back to the Centre to assist Paphos General Hospital in its funding.

The exhibition was held at The Polychoro Politismou 'old electricity building' in Paphos.

The Minister of health, DR. Christos Patsalides opened the show in the presence of The Mayor of Paphos, Mr Savvas Vergas and other MP's.

This was the third consecutive year that the centre has exhibited and again with great success and very positive comments from everyone.

We spoke with the person in charge of the Art programme who stressed the importance of running this course and how therapeutic it is to the people taking part, especially in assisting them to improve communication skills, personality and being more functional in their everyday life.

Look out for the date of the next exhibition in PALS Magazine. PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

God Speaks... Through His Word “Repent and be baptised everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38) I wonder what your reaction would have been if you had been standing in the square in Jerusalem that day, and had seen and heard that big burly, uneducated fisherman, shout out those words. Crazy man – religious fanatic – he's drunk – disturbing the peace! Actually, there was no peace that day to disturb. Jerusalem was crowded with thousands of locals and visitors. But there was a measure of attention given to Peter as he shouted above the noise. In fact, it seemed that the more he spoke, the quieter the crowd got. In the end, that shout from Peter to repent, was an answer to the crowd's own question, “what shall we do?” You might have thought that the crowd would have lynched Peter, rather than be touched in their heart with his message. After all, he had just accused them of putting Jesus to death, Then he had gone on to tell them that this Jesus had been made Lord and Christ by none other than God Himself! Talk about signing your own death warrant!

repented before God, turned away from their wrong thinking and living, were baptised, and had all their sin forgiven by God Himself! Jerusalem was rocked that day with the news, and in the days after, as more and more repented and gave themselves to Christ. The big question to you, on God's lips, is what have YOU done with His Son Jesus, whom He has made Lord of All? No, you haven't crucified Him (not physically anyway!). Maybe ignored Him. Maybe mocked Him. Maybe blamed Him. Maybe kept Him at a distance. “Be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36) What shall we do? The answer is in God's words through Peter:“Repent and be baptised everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38)

CHRIST’S CHURCH

Something happened in the hearts of many in that crowd that day. They realised that they had wronged Jesus, that they had misunderstood God, and that they were now on very shaky ground in front of God. Do you know, that on that day, in that city, about 3000 people

Art & Craft Group, Steni Village (next to the Church) every Thursday 2-5pm Bring your own project and meet with like minded people for help and exchange of ideas. Mosaics, painting and many other crafts being done. Classes held some weeks when demanded. All welcome. €2.00 per week to support the craft museum of Steni. For more information call Joanna Burgess on 99175988.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

The Journey - Part 12 Sue de Groot

Safaga, Luxor, The Nile and a Guide called Miss Thatway We have sailed 74 nautical miles from Sharm El Sheik to Safaga, Egypt. Safaga is a small resort on the Red Sea, and is 200 kms east of Luxor, one of the world's most popular destinations. During Egypt's first 1,000 years of history Thebes was little more than a provincial capital, however, during the New Kingdom (1550 to 1070 BC) the city became the empire's capital. After Alexander the Great expelled the Persians from Egypt in 323 BC, he established the rule of the Ptolemies, who embellished the city with monuments. The city was destroyed in subsequent centuries and then buried by the sands. It was not until the early 18th century that a Jesuit priest discovered Luxor, correctly identifying a mass of sand covered ruins on the site of the ancient capital. June and I are awake fairly early as the buses are due to leave at 08.10. They leave later. We pick our tarot card for the day: June - “Am I looking after myself properly? I can only say yes if I really mean it”. Sue “That which you resist will remain, what you accept can be let go

of”. Two very philosophical statements which will stay with us for the whole day. The buses are ready, and today we are going in Bus no. 5 to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. This is going to be a 3-½ hour drive. Bus no. 5 is almost full, and we are too late to get to our favourite seat behind the toilet, since one of the passengers, who is a filthy rich American, must have bribed someone to let him on the bus first, since he is sitting there. Never mind, we sit behind a British couple, and a Dutch couple who live in Australia, so we make friends. After a long drive, taking photos along the way, we reach Luxor, which is not smack bang in the middle of the desert, but is a fairly substantial town. In the middle of this town is the Temple of Luxor but we drive past it in a hurry, although June and I manage to get photo shots from the bus. Our guide is an Egyptian lady, whom we call “Miss Thatway”, since everything she says is preceded by “That way”, I.e. “That way we built the tombs”, “that way we bury the kings” and “that way, we dig them up again” and “that way we can only see three tombs” and “that way, we do not have enough time to visit more tombs” and “that way, we can be back on the bus in time to go for lunch”. Mel, one of the ship's crew, joins the bus. It is usual for one or two of the crew to have a day off to join an excursion so that they also can see something of the cruise. Mel is a jolly Malaysian boy, always smiling. He proceeds immediately to the bus toilet and sprays it, c.q. sanitises it. Then he says “That way, you don't smell Egyptian!” (?That way, has he been talking to the guide?). It is now time to stop for lunch (about 12 noon now) at the Sheraton Hotel on the Nile. We have passed many Nile cruise boats on the way, some of which have swimming pools and lounge chairs on deck with parasols and I begin to wonder whether I really ought to do a Nile cruise because these boats are luxurious floating hotels. There are feluccas on the Nile (which is quite wide here) and the lush fertile valley of the Nile has been with us for some time. The fields are full of sugar cane, and many poor houses are situated along its banks. Lunch at the Sheraton which was very nice, but we eat only a little, since we are getting quite fat with all this food, and we are not that hungry. After lunch back into the bus….

Next month: Valley of the Kings

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

14 Polis Charitable Foundation- Annual Boxing Day Dip Eight stalwart dippers went into the cold sea at 12 noon on Boxing Day 2010 in order to raise funds for our nominated charities. Sponsor money should come to about €600 – maybe more but at the time of going to press final figures were not available, with €123 donated in the collecting bucket on the day from our spectators.

not called upon as all the dippers that entered the water came safely ashore under their own steam. Perhaps next year we can persuade some of the spectators to take part and enter the water. Every penny we take goes to our nominated charities, the organisations we have helped during 2010 have been: The Friends' Hospice, Paphos Margarita Liasidou Home The Mayor's Fund (providing food vouchers for needy families) Cyprus Kidney Association (ECG machine for installation in Paphos Hospital) Alzheimer's Association (much needed equipment for the day centre) Thanks to everyone who has supported us during 2010 and we hope to see you again during the coming year. Happy New Year to everyone from all the PCF volunteers.

This was the seventh year the dip has been held and the occasion is always well supported. Our youngest dipper was Sonny James Worsley aged just 4. He was supervised in the water by his Dad but in the end he had to be persuaded to come ashore. The photo shows Sonny receiving his certificate. Our grateful thanks go to Chris from Crystal Marine for once again providing boat cover and first aid cover, thankfully his services were

Don't forget our bookshop in Polis is open Monday to Saturday 10.00 a.m. until 1 p.m. for the sale of books, DVD's, Videos and Cards.

Invitation To All Artists And Artisans ONLY 9 MONTHS TO OPEN STUDIOS 2011! Applications are invited from all artists and artisans residing in Cyprus to participate in Open Studios 2011 Registration opens on 1 February 2011. Please visit the website www.openstudioscy.com and click on “Apply here”. The directions for registration are straightforward. If you want to find out more before registration, simply click on the“Contact Us” button and we'll get right back to you with the answers to your questions.

EN.A.D.FC Polis Chrysochous Annual Christmas Dinner 18th December 2010

The Registration Fee will not be increased for 2011 and remains at €95.00. The fee will include showing your work on the 2012 calendar!

The club Annual Christmas Dinner was a huge success with 270 members and guests in attendance. Special guests included the Minister of Health , The mayor of Polis Chrysochous Angelos Georgiou and the Manager of the CO-OP Bank Maria Hadjitheodosiou, EN.A.D.s main commercial sponsor. The Club Coach Costas Socratous and many of the playing staff were also there and it was an opportunity for club supporters to meet the players and discuss the current campaign.

While visiting the website, have a browse and familiarise yourself with the concept of Open Studios – an idea now well established worldwide and fully operational in Cyprus since 2006. Each year we improve the experience and would like you to be a part of it. For further information, please contact 99 752 687

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

FOR RENT TO LET: Spacious new 1 bedroom fully furnished apartment in Mesa Chorio, Paphos. Has a/c, large fitted wardrobes, parking, pretty private garden. Close to the International School . Would suit a professional person or a retired couple. Tel: 99171120.

CLASSIFIEDS COLLECTORS ITEMS: Canon cameras all with their own cases: Epoca 35-105mm, Ixus Z50 (pocket), EOS 300 2880mm (complete with zoom lens). All reasonable offers considered. Please ring 99171120 Brand new: SPORT Pathfinder 1 person Inflatable Kayak €250.00. Telephone 26323538. Brand new: Aquaglide Inflatable ‘Takeoff’ a Giant 12” diameter - lots of fun - €470.00. Ring 26323358 Brand new: SPORT Pathfinder 2 Person Inflatable Kayak € 300.00. Telephone 26323538. Building land for sale: Migliou Village, near Ayii Anargyri Spa Resort. Sea views. 290 sq meters, 100% building capacity. Tel: 99632618 Antrias Hobby Shop: Stock clearance of models and remote controlled aircraft, boats, cars and bikes. Phone 26991113. For Sale - Scooter: Peugeot Tracker 50cc red. Good tyres, new battery, recently serviced. Good condition. €550. Telephone 99989725 For Sale - Generator: Second hand, hardly used. Honda 20i. EU inverter. Telephone 26323538 Practice Italian Language: I am forming a small group to meet informally to converse in this beautiful language. All levels welcome. Call 99171120 or e-mail editor@palsmagazine.com. Canoeing Club: Any adults or children who are interested in joining this new club please contact 26323538 or e-mail editor@palsmagazine for further information. Qualified Post-operative Care Assistant for daily or constant supervision of patients in the Paphos/Polis area. Please contact Miss Barbara Cuthbert for further information. References available. Tel 99172069 Stathmos 1,2,3 Trading (in Polis opposite Akis Express) BUY, SELL OR TRADE clothes, jewellery, handicrafts, electrical appliances. We will sell any item for you if it is in

a good condition. Also, picture framing. Tel Cat on 99825289 Yard Sale at PAWS Dog Shelter, Acheleia, Sunday 6th March 2011.Cars welcome to set up at 8am 10 euros per car. Buyers 9am.Refreshments and toilet facilities available. For more information contact 99806317 For Sale: Electric Lawnmower, Make AL-KO; Electric Strimmer, Make Power Plus. Only six months old. €75 for both items. Call Bill on 96695487 Get Fit, have Fun, & feel Fabulous! Exercise classes will be starting in your area, including salsacise & Pilates. All abilities & levels welcome. Call Rav on 99981294. MSc. Qualified Instructor All Creatures Great and Small Home from Home comfort - going away on holiday or business? - rest assured your pet will be treated as part of our family! Call us on 99179190 or 99172069. Paul & BJ Roxy's Dream Massage To Relieve all Working Pain - Full Body Massage 30 euro an hour. Foot & Leg Massage 15 euro - Head & Shoulder Massage 20 euro. For appointment Tel. 99017518 Long term letting Villa in Pomos village with outstanding sea views. For more details tel 99171120 Antifouling Now In Stock. Various colours, types and sizes at very competitive prices. Call the Paragon Marine Chandlery on26323538

Do you have a service, product or item to sell? Advertise it here, only €8.50 for a 30 word advert. Email or telephone before 15th February to be included in the next issue.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

St. Valentine's Day Living on Aphrodite's Island of love and beauty, we are well aware of myths and legends and there are many from all over the world about Valentine's day and it's patron saint. Some are mentioned below, but whatever the origin, it is always the present that one should focus on – So, this Valentine's Day, forget about any worries and negativity in your life and indulge in a celebration of love and all the happiness it has to offer.

February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began on February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

We do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then perform a sacrificial fertility ritual directed at both women and agricultural land. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D and the Roman "lottery" system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome,

Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly c e l e b ra t e d a r o u n d t h e seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first massproduced valentines cards in America.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Inspirational Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas Romantic Hand Made Chocolates The luxurious taste of heavenly hand made Cyprus Chocolates created for you by the renowned Master Chocolatier John Adams. Truly chocolates as they should be – mouth watering, melt in the mouth magic.

• An enormous (10cm) champagne cream filled, gaily decorated heart – in white or dark chocolate, beautifully packaged and sure to impress. • An even larger, intricately patterned, chocolate heart made in dark or white chocolate. • A huge gold boxed chocolate key bearing the words “The key to my heart”. • Different sized bars of chocolate all containing messages of love in different ways. • A heart shaped box made of chocolate and containing a small selection of our chocolates for lovers. • Our traditional earthenware containers filled with a variety of Valentine flavoured chocolates, Rose – Aphrodite - The 'Garden of Eden' Spiced apple and others, all surrounding the large centrepiece champagne heart. Chocolates of this kind are all hand-made and unique. Served in traditional red earthenware bowls, they make tastefully innovative Valentines Day gifts

The classic 'Cyprus Chocolates' are in demand not only in Cyprus but all around the world. The innovative range of chocolate cups containing a true taste of Cyprus – Zivania, Kommandaria, Palouze, Klyco spoon sweets, Cyprus coffee and many others. Made in the Chocolate workshop in Platres, (the village of Kings and Poets), these chocolates are poetry and enjoyed by Royalty.

A complimentary glass of champagne will be waiting for you when you arrive at the Pangratios Tavern in Miliou Village to enjoy their special Valentine's Day menu. They are located in Miliou Square and the building is steeped in history – it was first built in 1847 as the village school with accommodation above for the teacher and Yiannis, the village elder at 93 years young, remembers it as his school. More about that in PALS next month.... It was refurbished in 1937 as the village coffee shop which closed in 1986. Katerina Yoannidou re-opened in 2010 as a traditional taverna and coffee shop where you can enjoy wonderful food and good wine in a great atmoshphere. They are open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday and for lunch on Sunday. Reservations may be made by calling 70003757.

As a limited seasonal edition - until February 14th only - the Chocolate Workshop is offering an additional range of 'chocolates for lovers':

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest cardsending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Unique Valentine’s Presents Available Locally The Outlet Store, for a great deal more… The 6th November 2010 saw the opening of a new store named 'The Outlet Store'. It is situated on the main Coral Bay to Kato Paphos coastal road, close by the St George's hotel and almost directly opposite the UKCA club. Spread over 2 floors, the ground floor offers men and women's branded sportswear, designer watches and costume jewellery, ladies shoes, handbags and lingerie, along with other accessories, gents' underwear and an array of other products. In their sizable basement area they carry a large range of competitively priced electrical goods, including LCD TV's, video cameras, mobile phones, alongside many household appliances. You will find everything from irons, kettles, toasters, deep fat fryers, grills, food processors and vacuum cleaners through to the more sizable fridges, freezers, fridge/freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and more. We spoke to the owners Colin & Louise about their new store; Colin said “we wanted to make a difference for our customers, providing quality products at a competitive price. We make everyone 3 promises; 1 - We will guarantee our electrical

goods and stand by that guarantee. 2 - We never carry any fakes, everything is original and genuine, and 3 - We will give people value for money”. If you can't get to the store, then their internet shopping web site www.theoutletstore.biz launched on 1st January this year, has a selection of items available to buy on-line. The website currently offers their electrical items, D&G designer watches and their exclusive lingerie, all of which are available for delivery throughout Cyprus. For sportswear, shoes, bags and sunglasses you will need to visit the store. With Valentines Day in mind the ground floor hosts an array of perfect gifts. Their Ladies and Gents D&G watches are popular and stylish. There's Jewellery, fashion watches and lingerie for the ladies and a few 'boys toys' including lightweight, super slim Medion full HD digital camcorder or their Hewlett Packard touchscreen wifi mobile phones, both for less than €100. We asked Colin and Louise about how things have been over the first 3 months of opening. Louise commented “we're very pleased to be getting positive feedback from our customers, people like the competitive prices, the quality of the goods and the range of products we stock. It's been a great start and we look forward to 2011. Everyone at The Outlet Store would like to wish the readers of The PALS Magazine a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and we look forward to welcoming you into our store in the coming weeks''.

Romantic Tipi Break A Special Trek For One Couple Only 2 nights 3 days riding, 4-5 hours a day

Day 1 Ride through forest, through river and along valley to meet Land Rover for lunch for two overlooking Evretou reservoir. Ride through villages onto the Akamas peninsula. Candlelit dinner for two in tipi. Stay in tipi.

Day 2 Ride to Lara Bay where the turtles lay their eggs. Lunch on the beach. Afternoon ride across the Akamas with spectacular views. Stay in tipi with candlelit dinner for two.

Day 3 Ride across the Akamas and goat grazing country, through villages to lunch at the reservoir and back to the stables via the deserted Turkish villages, abandoned in 1974. Enjoy the wonderful views over the valleys and marvel at the clear view of the join between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates and volcanic, fir clad mountains of the Troodos massif. We d d i n g s ca n a l s o b e arranged at the Paradisos Hills Hotel! Accommodation for the night before and/or after the trek can be arranged at the hotel. For more information or to book this adventurous and romantic experience, contact Caroline on 99777624 or visit www.rideincyprus.com

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

TAKE AWAY SPECIAL OFFERS Free Gift for Orders Over €40 Free Delivery For Orders Over €30

Fantastic & New to Cyprus Heating and Cooling using normal water filled Radiators... No Dangerous costly Gas or Oil required. The heating and cooling is done by a NEW patented, Electric Boiler and cooling unit.

Making homes Cool in Summer and warm in Winter. We are looking for ... AREA AGENTS. People who are able to have fun and enjoy life while making up to & proven, €150k per year. You can own an area exclusive for 3 years.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Speci a Menu l Valentin eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on 14 th Fe s Day br in comp cluding a uar y, lime of ch ntar y glas ampa s g ne

Crossword

Answers in next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue of PALS Across 6. Woman who works in a bar (7) 7. Jowl (5) 8. Cry of a hen (5) 10. Adage (7) 12. Vitality (6) 13. Exceptional intellect (6) 15. Cockroach (6) 17. Virginal (6) 20. Husky (7) 22. Sorceress (5) 24. Imbibe (5) 25. Unrealistic person (7)

Sudoku

Down 1. Public walk (4) 2. Small package (6) 3. Proficient (5) 4. Closely trimmed (6) 5. Dread (4) 8. Live together (7) 9. Long-continued practice (5) 11. Implore urgently (7) 14. Insert (5) 16. Prickly (6) 18. Person who hunts with hawks (6) 19. Lancashire coastal

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Where is the Loo!!!!!!! Nagaraja Rao

In winter months it is quite natural to visit the toilet more frequently than in summer. Water in the body is lost through sweat, invisible perspiration, air breathed out and other outlets. Kidneys get rid of only the remaining water that is in excess of body's needs. However, the kidneys need to excrete at least 500ml of urine in 24 hours (known as the obligatory urinary volume) to enable it to remove all the various waste products that accumulate everyday in the body. How many times should one visit the loo? The bladder has two functions – storage and expulsion of urine. The number of times one visits the loo is determined by the amount urine that is produced in a day (this usually depends on the amount of fluid drunk) and the capacity of the bladder. On the average kidneys produce between 1300 to 1500 ml of urine in 24hours (less in hot weather and more in a colder climate). But the volume can be considerably more if the fluid intake is large or if the person suffers from conditions such as diabetes. A normal bladder in a healthy individual can hold in excess of 700ml of urine but in general, people find the need to go to the toilet when the volume is between 300 and 500ml. That means, the average number of visits to the toilet is about 6 in twenty four hours. Because kidneys produce less urine when you are asleep at night, it is unusual to get up at night from sleep to urinate. To digress slightly…. Where are the kidneys, and what do they do? All of us have two kidneys, one on each side, in the loin area. Some people are born with only one kidney, with fused kidneys (called horse-shoe kidneys) or one of the kidneys in the pelvis rather than in the normal position in the loin. The main function of the kidneys is, of course, to get rid of the waste products that accumulate in the body as a result of the daily metabolic activity through urine. Kidneys also do other important jobs – they make a substance called “Erythropoietin” without which the bone marrow cannot produce red blood cells. Kidneys also convert Vitamin D absorbed from the diet or manufactured by the skin into the active form which helps the absorption of calcium from the intestines. They also help to maintain the balance of salts and minerals in the blood. What causes frequency of urination? There are a number of factors which increase the frequency of urination but these are the common ones: Weather: In cold weather, very little fluid is lost through skin and in the breath. The kidneys then make more urine to

compensate for that. The opposite is true in hot weather. Excess fluid intake: Obviously if you habitually drink large quantities of fluids you are bound to visit the toilet frequently – the kidneys and the bladder are just doing their job (I saw many patients complain of frequency which was in fact due to their large fluid intake of up to say 5litres a day!!) Conditions unrelated to bladder: A good example is diabetes. Normally urine does not contain any sugar because the levels of glucose in the blood are tightly regulated by insulin with the liver playing a major role. In patients suffering from diabetes (which is untreated), because of the high levels of glucose in the blood, the amount of glucose in urine increases. This in turn draws in more water from the blood hence producing a larger quantity of urine. Drugs: Many drugs increase urine output but the most common ones are diuretics (water tablets). These deliberately increase urine production by stimulating the kidneys to get rid of excess quantity of water that is accumulated in the body, (which occurs, for example, in heart failure). Social and other circumstances: Some people tend to visit the toilet more frequently when they are tense or nervous. If you are planning to go out, it is not unusual to visit the toilet frequently just before leaving home, just in case the toilet facilities outside are inadequate. Bladder conditions: There are many bladder conditions that produce urinary frequency. Physical reduction of bladder capacity (examples: scarring of the bladder produced by radiotherapy to pelvic organs, tuberculosis of the bladder, a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder called interstitial cystitis). Acute bladder infection (cystitis) can produce severe frequency because the infection makes the bladder sensitive. A common cause for frequency is an “over active” bladder or bladder instability. The precise cause of this condition is not clearly understood. Normally, the bladder (which is made of muscle) should contract only when the brain gives the order once you are ready to pass urine. In people suffering from this condition, the bladder starts contracting on its own, when a certain amount of urine accumulates in the bladder (which is usually much lower volume than normal). The onset of this contraction gives the urgent desire to pass urine. This condition also makes people wake up from sleep to pass urine. Medication often helps but does not “cure” the condition. In men, enlargement of prostate is a common cause for frequency both during the day and night. Medication helps but it needs to

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Greetings From Kathmandu John and Penny Smith

We arrived here safely on the 31st December and have quickly settled back into our Nepali way of life. We have the luxury of an apartment that is almost new and hot water every day although the power cuts are already at eleven hours a day which is very tough and scheduled to reach eighteen hour cuts before we leave. Our colleagues at the Early Childhood Education Centre welcomed us back with great enthusiasm and seem to have saved all sorts of jobs to keep us busy for the three months we will be here. Our special task for this month is a seminar for Principals which is to last two days this time. We have also met up with Abhi who manages the charity projects we are supporting at the travel company Himalayan Encounters. Abhi wants to express his sincere thanks to all those of you who organised fund raising events or attended them. He and all the staff at Himalayan Encounters are overwhelmed that we have returned again to help the children of Nepal and that you have been so generous in your giving. The most exciting news of all is that the school for the deaf children in Nuwakot now has sixteen pupils rather than the twelve that we met last year. The home that is being built to house them during the school term, when they have to be away from home as it is too far to travel back and forth each day, has been built to accommodate twenty children. It is fantastic news

that families with deaf children have increasingly come forward to have their children educated but this of course will cost considerably more to establish than had first been anticipated. All that remains to do with the building is to complete the toilets and wash rooms. We have been asked to fund the cost of equipping as much of the house for the children as we can with some of the money that we have brought from Cyprus. This week the order for the beds, which are to be made in Nuwakot, has been placed. Nearer the end of our visit the mattresses and linen will be purchased and taken up from Kathmandu. We are off to see the work so far and work the children at the start of February and will be able to tell you lots more about this next month and include some pictures. We are making a start on learning some sign language so we can communicate with them. We are also busy costing science equipment for the school attended by the village children in Chitwan in the South of Nepal together with sports and art and craft equipment for their youth club.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

PALS Magazine October 2010 www.palsmagazine.com

26 Win an EXCLUSIVE PALS Magazine mug plus a unique Euro keyring! Winner is first correct entry out of the hat

Prize Puzzle

Closing date for entries is 12.00pm 15th February 2011

Samurai Sudoku puzzles consist of five overlapping sudoku grids. The standard sudoku rules apply to each 9 x 9 grid. Place digits from 1 to 9 in each empty cell. Every row, column and every 3x3 box should contain one of each digit.

January Solution

Name

Winner: Mrs Joan Hunt

Telephone Email Address Send competition entries to: PALS Magazine Latchi Marina Complex, Block C, No. 10 & 11, Latchi, Polis Chrysochous, Paphos Or fax +357 26 323 539 or send scanned entry by email: editor@palsmagazine.com By Akis Express: PALS, Polis Chrysochous By hand to PALS office, Latchi Harbour By entering this competition, you hereby agree to abide by the competition rules. The full rules are on display in the PAL Office, or are available on request by post, fax or email. Winner(s) will be notified as soon as reasonably practicable after the Competition draw/decision. No purchase is necessary. One entry per applicant. All entries must be received by the deadline for that Competition and late or incomplete entries may, in the absolute discretion of the Company, be disqualified. Proof of posting shall not be deemed proof of delivery. No responsibility can be accepted for entries which are lost, delayed, misdirected or corrupted during delivery to or from the Company due to any computer malfuntion, virus, bug, delay or failure of the postal service or other reason whatsoever. Competitions are not open to: (a) the employees, agents or subcontractors of the Company; (b) any Competition sponsor or its employees, agents or subcontractors; (c) the immediate families of such employees or sponsors.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

27 NEW LOW COST HEATING

USUAL PRICE €4,995 SPECIAL OFFER TO FIRST 30 CUSTOMERS ONLY €3,995 5 RAD SYSTEM Need less than 5 radiators or more than 5 please call for prices or visit the website

YOU CAN SEE THIS AMAZING SYSTEM WORKING IN CHLORAKA

If you want piping hot radiators in your home call us now. We only have this offer for the first 30 orders call now to avoid disappointment

Call now for details

96721669

www.calfri.eu ASK FOR GRAHAM www.calfri.eu

1,000s Installed around Europe stop USING THE PLUG IN HEATERS stop USING THOSE GAS FIRES YOU CAN EVEN DRY YOUR CLOTHES ON OUR RADIATORS...JUST LIKE IN THE UK

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Carnival Time Is Approaching To many people, February is the month of hearts and romance, with the 14th being Valentine's Day. But in Cyprus, to many others, especially those who love the preparation, anticipation and the excitement that comes with parades and street parties, the February carnival celebration is the main focus once the Christmas and New Year festivities are over.

given up for the period of Lent, when abstinence from all such pleasures of the body is called for. The first week of Carnival is called the Meat Week (Kreatini), as it is the last week for eating meat before Easter. The second week is known as the cheese week (Tyrini) as this is when cheese and other dairy products may be eaten. The Pentecoste, which is the period of 50 days of fasting before Easter, commences with Green Monday right after the end of the Carnival, on 7th March. Paphos Carnival is a fantastic fun family event, with both traditional and modern activities going on. The music is loud, the colours bright and the fancy dress and costumes are amazing, both in the procession and the crowds watching. THE CARNIVAL PERIOD STARTS WITH THE ENTRANCE OF THE KING CARNIVAL AT 5PM ON 28/2 OPPOSITE THE MAIN POLICE STATION ANDTHE GRAND PARADE IS ON 5/3 ALONG POSEIDONOS AVENUE, STARTING AT 3.30. FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING 26932014.

The Carnival always takes place the weekend before Green Monday and is an opportunity that is supposed to allow everyone to indulge in all earthly pleasures before they are PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

ENJOY!

29 Come up with the funniest caption (in the opinion of the PALS Magazine staff) and win yourself a plate of COD AND CHIPS at Tammy’s Traditional Fish ‘n Chips in Latchi!

Send competition entries to PALS, see page 3 for details.

Closing date for entries 15th February CAPTION:

NAME ADRESS

LAST MONTH’S WINNER:

“Darling, you really must start flossing your teeth!” Mrs Gill, Skoulli Village

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Latchi 99377443

New Year Win For The Tigers The Tigers began 2011 by playing a non-league game away to Ay Nics Stags and came home worthy winners 35-11. Both sides were somewhat rusty after the festive season but were soon into the swing of things and playing controlled and committed rugby in the true spirit of the game. It was good to see some new faces in the Tigers line up all of whom performed admirably.

Porter scored a great try out wide midway through the second half and unfortunately came off with a broken wrist but before going off for the fix was heard to say ”I'll be back and make the fullback position mine”!! The new ground at Tala is now seeded and we all await the green green grass of our home ground. In the mean time we will continue to play all our games away.

“Ginge” Carruthers was voted man of the match by the Stags having had a great game in the back row. Cameron Carrington-

Paphos Tigers Rugby Football Club

Greek Lesson • Τα όνειρα ενός παιδιού Ta onira enos pediou A Child's Dreams • Ανδρέας (Andrew) έχει πολλά όνειρα Andreas exi polla onira Andreas has many dreams • Όχι µόνο στον ύπνο του, άλλα και όταν είναι ξύπνιος oxi mono ston ipno tou, alla kai otan ine ksipnios Not only in his sleep, but when he is awake • Αν ήµουν βασιλιάς του κόσµου, θα σταµατούσα τους πολέµους An imoun vasilias tou kosmou tha stamatousa tous polemous If I was king of the world, I would stop the wars • Αν είχα χρήµατα θα αγόραζα παιχνίδια και βιβλία στα παιδιά An ixa xrimata tha agoraza paixnidia kai biblia sta paidia If I had money I would buy toys and books for the children

• Αν ήµουν πιλότος, θα πετούσα ένα αεροπλάνο An imoun pilotos, tha petousa ena aeroplano If I was a pilot, I would fly a plane • Θα έπαιρνα την οικογένεια µου και θα πετούσαµε στην Ελλάδα για το Πάσχα Tha eperna kai tin ikogenia mou kai tha petousame stin ellatha gia to pasxa I would take my family and we would fly to Greece for Easter • Θα τρώγαµε µεζέδες και αρνί στην σούβλα και θα χορεύαµε ελληνικούς χορούς Tha trogame mezedes kai arni stin souvla kai tha xorevame ellinikous xorous We would eat meze and lamb on the skewer and we would dance Greek dances

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

Winter Warmers Greek and Cypriot soups are made today as they were made hundreds of years ago. These soups are mostly purely natural and very nutritious and the ingredients used are often either cereals or Greek milk products such as Trahanas. By processing wheat, maize and pulses, many wonderful Cypriot soups are prepared which acquire a rare and particular taste with the addition of pieces of fish or bits of meat and poultry. In many countries soups are very popular all year, but of course particularly in the winter, and can served at any time during the day or night as a snack, starter or a main meal.

Fasolatha

(Dry Beans in tomato sauce) Ingredients to serve 4: 1/2 kilo of dry beans 1/4 cup of olive oil 1 onion finely chopped 2 carrots sliced 2 stalks of chopped celery 3 ripped tomatoes diced 1 tbsp of tomato paste Salt and pepper to taste Finely chopped parsley for garnishing For Accompaniment: Fresh green onions or a big onion cut in quarters Black kalamata olives Fetta Cheese Plenty of fresh bread

1. Place your beans in a bowl or a pot with water to cover them and soak overnight. 2. Drain the next day, replace the water and bring them to boil. 3. Drain again, replace the water and bring them back to boil. 4. Lower the heat, cover the pot and cook for about 50 minutes. 5. Uncover from time to time and check the water and stir. 6. Add olive oil, chopped onions, sliced carrots, chopped celery, diced tomatoes and tomatopaste diluted in warm water. 7.Salt and pepper to taste. 8. Simmer for about 40 minutes or until beans are tender and a thick sauce is formed. 9. Serve hot with fresh finely chopped parsley for garnishment.

Spiced Pumpkin Soup 1tbsp chopped fresh root ginger 1 small red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 2tbsp chopped fresh coriander bay leaf 1kg pumpkin, peeled, and diced 600ml vegetable stock salt and pepper single cream to garnish Note: butternut squash could be used instead of the pumpkin

Ingredients: 2tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1garlic clove, chopped

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. 2. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes, until slightly softened. 3. Add the ginger, chilli, coriander, bay leaf and pumpkin and cook for another 3 minutes. 4. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. 5. Reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. 6. Remove from heat take out the bay leaf, leave to cool slightly. 7. Liquidize the soup, return to pan season to taste. 8. Reheat gently and serve.

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

32 FEBRUARY2011 Helping Local Animals in Need Games night (Past Porto Latchi Restaurant), at 7.30pm, 9th February & alternate Wednesdays. Play Cribbage, Rummikub, Cards & Dominoes. 2 euros to play. * Win Prizes on the Jigsaw Jackpot *. Food available from 6.30.

FEBRUARY EVENTS Bookshop Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00am to 1.00 pm. Although predominantly English books and magazines, we also have a selection of German, French and Greek. Also on sale are Greetings Cards, CDs, DVDs and jigsaws. Phone – 99077352 – shop hours. Quiz Nights (the original and still the best!) Every fortnight at the Latchi Village Tavern – next dates for your diary are - February 3rd and 17th, March 3rd, 17th and 31st. €2.00 entrance fee donation. Winners' prizes. Scrabble Every Wednesday at the Latchi Village Tavern, 10.15am for 10.30am start. €2.00 entrance – highest scoring word wins 25% of the Pot.For more information - phone Jackie on 99067608

‘MR AND MRS’ NIGHT.. at DROUSHIA HILLS RESTAURANT on Tuesday, 22nd February. 20 euros, includes a 3 course buffet. Great Fun! ******** Phone 26322495. 'BOULES' AT THE ARGAKA PICNIC SITE : starting at 10.00am. Come and play 'BOULES IN THE ROUGH' with a friendly group. 2 euros each. Boules available for new players. No experience needed. Tel 96537205 WE ALWAYS NEED 'BRIC a BRAC', Household Items, Books, DVD's, & Clothing for our 'Duckpond' Market stall, at Chlorakas, every Sunday and Wednesday, 8.30am to 1.00pm **** Please call 99903205 Thankyou. HELP POLIS ANIMAL RESCUE GROUP TO HELP THE ANIMALS PLEASE put donations into our jars around the area & leave DRY CAT FOOD at; • 'HOLITEC' OFFICE (By 'Crystal Marine' Office, Prodromi); • EASY SHOP Minimarket, Latchi. Not PALS Office please. • DUCKPOND Market Stall, Chlorakas. WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP WITH FUNDRAISING, FOSTERING KITTENS, CAT FEEDING, TRANSPORT etc. & we have many lovely PUPPIES & kittens that need good homes. If you can help in any way please call 97839240 Visit our new Website;

www.polisanimalrescuegroup.com

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

33 Important information for Cyprus ex-pats How to save money moving your pension

Charles Purdy, Director, Smart Currency Exchange

Many British ex-pats in Cyprus send or receive money to or from the UK and in the process they unintentionally lose money. In some cases, losses can be up to tens of thousands. Initially, most ex-pats are introduced to the international payment process when they make a payment or payments from the UK to Cyprus for a property purchase. The general series of events consists of the property buyer putting down a deposit and then sending one lump sum or a series of staged payments from their UK bank to a solicitor's account in Cyprus. Afterwards, their international payments tend to become smaller and sent on a regular basis. Many Brits receive their UK pensions, investment payouts or funds from savings through UK bank to Cyprus bank transfers. And in some cases, many Brits send funds to the UK for mortgage payments or to top up their UK funds for visits. There is no doubt that banks profit from international currency transfers. So today, I am going to explain how a Forward Contract works. Aside from saving you money on better exchange rates and reducing or eliminating fees, expats have a wide range of options. Rather than being forced to take the exchange rate on the day that the money needs to be transferred, there are alternatives. The most common option is to buy a Forward Contract. A 'Forward' will allow you to reserve a currency exchange rate today, yet not have to pay for it in full or send the bulk of the money until an agreed date in the future.

If the exchange rate stayed at this level, then they would effectively lose one month's pension payment over the course of the year. Banks often fail to offer, or even mention the alternative of fixing a currency exchange rate for use in the future yet it's such a valuable tool. The option of buying a 'Forward Contract' gives you peace of mind that your pension payments won't decrease in value. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article, please feel free to give me a call on (00 357) 26 030 213. Or visit www.SmartCurrencyCyprus.com for further information and to get your FREE educational reports. It's often the people that wait until the last minute that are forced into buying at the worst times – don't let that be you!

Take John and Jane Wilson as an example. They moved to Cyprus during the middle of 2010. They were worried that sterling may again lose value against the euro so they contacted us and explained that their joint pensions came to £2,120. They wanted to make sure that the amount they received each month didn't decrease due to changing exchange rates. After talking with us, the Wilson's decided to buy a 'Forward Contract’ for a full two years. This means that they fixed a set exchange rate for the course of the next 24 months. They set up an automated standing order system that allowed their pension to be sent to our bank in the UK on a monthly basis. Once the money arrives at our bank, it would be exchanged from sterling to euros at a rate of 1.203 every month for the next 24 months. In August, they received €2,550.36 in their Cyprus bank account and will continue to receive the same amount every month until the middle of 2012. To set up this facility, the Wilson's simply had to open an account and pay a small administration fee for the regular payment system. If the Wilson's decided against fixing a currency exchange rate, their monthly amount would vary each month. As such, it would decrease along with a weakening sterling rate. For example, in November 2010 they would have received an amount 7 % lower - from €2,550.26 down to €2,374.40! PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

34 The Pro's and Con's of Building Your Own Property By Kim Brown, Director of The Overseas Guides Company The process of buying land and building on it is very common is Cyprus and although there is a very small supply of beachfront land, there are many inland plots available. Finding land is done in the same way as locating a property – you can contact estate agents, developers, announce your quest in the local coffee shop, review newspapers and conduct a search on the Internet. The advantages of building your own property include: • You have much more control over the location and design of theproperty. • You can get very well priced quotes, as builders will be competing amongst each other. This has the possibility of driving the price down. • You can decide on the building materials including the roof, insulation, plumbing, carpentry and you can decide on the brands and quality of the tiles, fittings, flooring, bathroom and kitchen. • You're the boss – the builders will be working for you, not a developer, so what you say goes. This is good in that the build could be quicker - building teams will not be spread over a huge development. The disadvantages of building your own property include: Contrary to what many would like to believe, building your own property could be more expensive than buying off-plan. This is due to: • High fees from architects, construction engineers and surveyors. • All construction materials along with fixtures and fittings will be purchased as one-off buys rather than getting discounts that developers experience from bulk buying. • Your time is needed much more than if you were buying offplan. Remember – even if you hire a project manager, you still have to oversee the work! • If you have an issue with the Cypriot culture or dealing with the available workforce, it promises to be hard going. • Many builders work for developers and they may not be available to work on your property all the time.

people experienced in the trade will find the process daunting. Contrary to Kate's experience, I met an 80 year old expat who personally designed his property, purchased the land and assisted in the build: he felt that the experience had gone swimmingly and had enjoyed the whole journey. I suppose it's like anything – different people experience things in different ways. Perhaps it's a question of temperament? If you're relaxed, easy-going and look at life as an adventure perhaps a self-build is for you. If you're a worrywart and things don't often go your way, building your own property might be a disaster! Either way, I cannot stress enough that you need to do your research carefully and talk to those that have already gone this route - before embarking on it yourself. Kim Brown is the author of the Cyprus Buying Guide. The guide is a publication dedicated to exposing poor practice, property buying pitfalls and providing an educational instruction manual to buying and/or investing in Cyprus property. Go to www.cyprus-buying-guide.com/pals.htm to obtain your free mini-guide while stocks last.

Answers For Last Month’s Puzzles

January Crossword

A good friend of mine, Kate, decided to undertake a self-build in Cyprus. Kate had lived in Cyprus for over 10 years and during much of that time she worked for a medium sized property developer. I'm happy to announce that her self-build has been completed and she's absolutely thrilled. However, I have to add that Kate explained that the process was expensive, full of complications and hugely frustrating. She told me that getting workers to the site at the right time was nearly impossible, materials were costly and often delayed while time scales completely went out the window. Kate is pleased with the end result yet she warns that even PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com

January Sudoku

PALS MagazineFebruary 2011 www.palsmagazine.com