Polis and Latchi Scene Issue 84
December 2010
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
3
Hello and welcome to December's edition of the PALS Magazine.
First Created and Published by
Sandra Westwood Once again, my thanks go out to all of you who have
in July 2003
contributed with articles and photographs which
Issue 84
help to make our community magazine a pleasure to
December 2010
read. A special mention needs to be made of Eleni Protopapa who has written our first article from the Cypriot community. Please do continue to send us photographs for the cover competition and to write about things that interest you or arouse
9th December 2010
your passion - you will see from this month's letters to me that the magazine is sparking some healthy debate!
Editor Andy Papaiacovou Mobile Assistant Editor Heather Wright
+357 26322453 +357 99171120
Despite the warm weather and blue skies telling us otherwise, Christmas
+357 26233453
will soon be upon us and the winter must surely start soon. The cooler
Design, Art & Typesetting Shields Printing Shields 99377451/2 Contributors: Kim Brown, Ken Bwye, Paul Clark, Christine Clarke, Sandra Dobson, Keith Dutfield, Jan Gibson, Sue de Groot, Caroline Grossmith, Mike Hylton, Gwen Mooney, Nigel Payne, Eleni Protopapa, Charles Purdy, Margaret Shelley, Shirley Spratley, Michael Wright, Nagaraja Rao. 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
damp evenings and misty mornings are telling us that it is on its way. The photograph on the front cover shows Georgia from Kathikas and William from Arodes sledging in Troodos a few years ago. Let's hope that the cold and the snow stay up there for us to visit
for a fun experience before
returning to our mild climate down here! Due to the festive holidays, our deadline for the January issue is 9th December, so please bear this in mind when considering your advertising requirements for the new year and when delivering your articles, letters and photographs. It just remains for me and my staff to wish all of our readers, contributors and advertisers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful
“Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.� Democritus
new year. All the best
4
Letters to the Editor Dear Editor The Cyprus Tourist Office have set up an anonymous tip off / reportline telephone number for people to report anything from being over charged in a kiosk, illegal dumping, problems with customs or import/export, bribes, or ANYTHING that reflects Cyprus badly to foreign visitors. The number is staffed during office hours and has an answerphone out of hours. They do not want your telephone number or personal details.
to thirty set builders and painters, although not all in one go! The set always has to be started from scratch as it is dismantled at the end of each production and this takes many dedicated people. Finally, of course, there are the actors who spend hours at home rehearsing their lines followed by many hours of on-stage rehearsals. Let us also not forget the Director who has the task of pulling everything together.
Gwen Mooney, Lysos
Having had this experience, I wanted to share it with you all so that next time you go to the theatre, you will have a more enlightening experience and you will think of all of those extra people it takes to give you such pleasure.
Dear Editor
Rehearsals are now in full swing for 'Dads Army' which is on from 29th November to 4th December.
THEY DO WANT TO IMPROVE CYPRUS FOR EVERYONE. So call today 22691212.
Most of your readers will have heard of Stage One theatre group in Emba and have been to one or more productions over the years. Until recently, that was the case for me too. My life has changed in many ways since I came to live in Polis and I found the need for a new challenge in my day to day life.
Nigel Payne The membership secretary, Peter Sandwith, is always pleased to hear from anyone who may wish to take an active role in the theatre. Please call him on 99984035 or visit www.stageonetheatre.com
So, I joined the theatre group club and went to a club night where I found everyone to be very friendly and helpful. I even found a fellow Christian who was a retired policeman like me. I offered my services towards the set construction as I have some carpentry ability. You may be wondering where all this is leading – I want to give you an insight into the amount of work involved in these productions as many are not aware of just how much goes on behind the scenes. There are generally four stage managers ensuring the actors are ready for their cue, sorting props etc; five make-up girls making sure the costumes are ready before final rehearsals; box office, front of house and bar staff; many technical people doing the sound and lighting to achieve a professional production and up
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
5
GOLD: This carries obvious significance. Pure unadulterated luxury. FRANKINCENSE: A milky sap or resin tapped from the rare Boswellia tree of the deserts. It is prized for its calming restorative yet stimulating properties. The ancient world used it to treat depression. It was considered as valuable as both Myrrh and gold.
MYRRH: Perhaps the most mysterious and certainly the rarest of the Gifts. It is a resin produced from trees known as Commiphora, Small scraggily trees found around the edges of Arabian deserts. It was used in ancient times as a wound healer and consequently much sought after and prized. Supplied by The Platres Chocolate Workshop in relation to their exquisite Christmas Chocolates
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
6
More Letters to the Editor Dear Editor
Dear Editor
Firstly, I would like to say congratulations to Ron Atkinson for his cover photograph last month, it's superb!
I was dismayed to read the article 'Someone Else's Problem' published in last month's PALS, particularly the incident involving the poisoning of the cats as part of a 'targeted attack'.
Myself and some friends intended to go through the new road via the Pyrgos/Limnitis checkpoint for a day in the North. The Cypriot checkpoint went smoothly but when we got to the Turkish one, we were told that the man who issued the car insurance was on an hour's coffee break. So, we went back into town and had OUR coffee. When we returned, we were eventually told that the insurance man was not in fact coming that day and as we could not go on without the insurance, we had no option but to make other plans. As it turned out, we had a scenic drive from Kato Pyrgos, including wonderful views of Morphou Bay which, incidentally can also be seen from Makario's Tomb at Kikkos. We drove for many miles without seeing any signs of life except on three occasions when a moufflon appeared, too swift for us to photograph. We eventually reached Pedoulas, which is famous for its cherries and by then, four hours after leaving Argaka we were ready for a meal and drink so stopped at the restaurant, which was very enjoyable. We returned home via Platres, Limmasol and Paphos after a long day out and our disappointment at not getting through the new checkpoint a distant memory. If anyone has a telephone number that we may ring to find out when the insurance man will be at the Turkish checkpoint, please let the PALS office know. It is a long way to go to find out that he is not there!! Shirley Ludford, Polis
Not only did the author accuse the alleged poisoner in public of this heinous act but is now carrying on her campaign in your magazine. Okay, so the alleged poisoner is not named in the article, but there were enough people who witnessed the original scene to know who it is alluding to, as I do. One cannot slander people in public and then write libellous allegations about them without having any supporting evidence. Who's carrying out a 'targeted attack' now? If there is evidence of wrongdoing, then the proper channels should be followed and the police involved. Or is that sticking her head too far above the metaphorical parapet? I am saddened that Katherine has been allowed to perpetuate her vendetta against the alleged poisoner through PALS. Reputations and lives can be ruined by this kind of behaviour. I, like others Katherine has mentioned, do not want my name published because I, too, am afraid of reprisals and of being the next victim of a 'targeted attack'. Anonymous
Electric Christmas tree lights were first used in 1895. The idea for using electric Christmas lights came from an American, Ralph E. Morris. The new lights proved safer than the traditional candles.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
7 EN.A.D.FC Polis Your local Professional football Club Keith Dutfield
The club has now played 10 games at time of going to press, 9 in the league and one in the cup. They are through to the quarterfinal of the Cyprus FA Cup Competition having beaten Frenaros away 3-2 on penalties after drawing 1-1 after extra time. Their league form has been good and they are in a promotion spot lying third in the league. Their league record to date is set out below together with reports on the two most recent games:Played 9; Won 4, Drawn 3 Lost 2; Goals for 8, against 7; with 15 Points Leading Goal scorer with 4 goals Tiago Rosado The club is unbeaten at home this term and recently completed a league record by going 9 hours and 47 minutes without conceding a goal. Goalkeeper Andreas Theodorou received much acclaim for this in the Cyprus press and whilst he is playing to a very high standard the rest of the team also has to be congratulated for this record. Saturday 6th November 2010 Assias (Nicosia) 3 EN.A.D.FC Polis 0 The Makarios Stadium in Nicosia saw the end of Andreas Theodorous' clean sheet record breaking run. Having gone 9 hours and 12 minutes without conceding a goal it lasted a further 25 minutes. Andreas did not give up his clean sheet run easily, making a superb penalty save in the 23rd minute diving to his right and parrying the ball to safety. In this instance, justice prevailed over what was a dubious penalty to say the least. Valentinos Filippou our young talented left back was penalised for what appeared to be a perfectly timed tackle making good contact with the ball. In the 26th minute EN.A.D. went one down from a fine right side cross to the far post and looping header to the top right corner. The EN.A.D. team made little impression on their opponents in the first half and the score remained 1-0 at half time. The second half saw the team start more brightly but a mix up in defence between Centre Back Cristo Cristou and goalkeeper Andreas Theodorous in the 64th minute allowed Assias to gain possession and the ball ran free to be easily slotted home. In the 73rd minute when the red mist descended Antonis Antoniou made a dangerous late tackle on his opponent and received a red card for the challenge. The game was wrapped up by table topping side Assias in the 83rd minute with the best goal of the match, a fine strike from outside the box into the bottom left hand corner. This was a poor effort in nearly every department of the team and some hard work in training will need to be completed to put this right before the next home game to bottom placed Meap on the 13th November 2010. Saturday 13th November 2010 EN.A.D.FC Polis 2 MEAP (Larnaca) 1 In a scrappy first half, it quickly became obvious that the visitors
came to obtain a one point draw. Such was the numbers that they kept behind the ball I had to check to make sure that the Team Bus was in fact in the car park and not in front of MEAPs' goal. Things got a whole lot worse for EN.A.D in the 29th minute when with the second of MEAPs' two attempts on goal in the first half they scored. In a cleverly worked move the ball was simply slotted into the net. The second half started more brightly clearly with Coach Costas Socratous half time team chat still ringing in their ears. Anthinmos Cristou came on at half time to replace Mihalis Pogiannos and this seemed to kick start the midfield into action. In the 54th minute coming through a melee of players Tiago Rosado drove the ball into the far corner to put EN.A.D. on level terms. By this time yellow cards were being showered on MEAP like confetti at a wedding such was some of the strong tackles being put in by their players. EN.A.D. stuck to their task and Rosado the little Portuguese maestro in the 65th minute made a wonderful right foot shot into the top right hand corner of the net leaving the keeper completely stranded. EN.A.D. should have wrapped the game up in the 74th minute when Alexandros Giakakoglou went through beating two players only to see his shot bounce back off the post.EN.A.D. held on with captain Evagoras Evripidou and Alexey Stepanov doing some sterling work in defence . In the end a good three points for EN.A.D. and a man of the match performance from Tiago Rosado. Supporters Club The supporters Club continue to help directly the football club and continue to meet on the first Monday in the month at the Village Inn, Latchi. The Football club is now using the Public Address System for music and announcements on match days. This equipment was kindly donated by the Supporters Club. The next meeting is on Monday 6th December 2010. Anyone requiring further information regarding the Supporters Club please contact Keith Berry on Telephone No99269314. Club Web Site www.enadfc.com Please visit our club Web Site for all of the latest news. We will be displaying details of the Clubs' Annual Christmas Party shortly, an event not to be missed. Forthcoming Home Fixtures in the Municipality Stadium Polis 11th December 2010 EN.A.D.FC.Polis v Oroklini (Larnaca) kick off 14-30 hours 18th December 2010 EN.A.D.FC Polis v Spartakas (Larnaca) kick off 14-30 hours The under 21 Team plays their matches against the same clubs 3 hours before the First Team match, so why not come along early and make an afternoon of it and help the club to develop local players from this area. We already have five young players in the first team squad. The refreshments bar will of course be open. Anyone requiring any further information about the club please do not hesitate to contact Keith Dutfield on telephone no 97770918 or e-mail keith.dutfield@hotmail.com
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
8
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
9
A Portrait of Drimou Village By Shirley Spratley
Welcome to our village, which is 16km from Polis and is built on a steep hillside 1,500 feet above sea level . The name Drimou comes from the ancient Greek word for tree and we have many magnificent oaks and other species in and around the village.
before you reach the new administration offices, you will find an ancient tomb. This is believed to be approximately of the Hellenic/Roman era.
The village population has steadily declined over the years from 217 in 1881, to 176 in 1982, to 103 today, of whom 18 are not Greek Cypriot. The 85 Cypriots are mostly elderly, due to families emigrating, as is the case with many rural communities today. Often the younger generations do not wish to earn a living the hard agricultural way of their forefathers and leave to settle elsewhere. Sadly, this means that many of the traditional village crafts may eventually die out. One of them is making 'soutzoukos', the sweet that resembles a long sausage. To make this, almonds are threaded on a string and then continually dipped in grape juice so that a thick layer builds up and sets. Andrulla is often seen threading the almonds at this time of year. Andrulla runs one of the two coffee shops in Drimou, behind which is a Zivania still. Andrulla wraps cloth around the separate pipes and seals them with clay so that they are airtight. The skins of the grapes are fermented in large drums and when ready, go into the metal pot. The fire underneath this heats up, the juice forms steam which moves towards the clay pot where the water vapour cools and the clear strong alcohol drips from the exit pipe. The first draft could be 100% proof so it is distilled once more. Years ago, the village children would toast bread on the fire and dip it in olive oil – what a treat!
The trail ends at an ancient Terebinth Tree next to one of the villages five churches, the tiny Church of St. Michael. The Mucthar, Mr Socrates, was born in Drimou, as was his wife Theodosia. They are pictured below with their two daughters, Rania and Maria, putting cans into the cage for recycling. Our Mucthar supports the charity cansforkids, which has been collecting aluminium cans to help sick children in Nicosia's Makarios Hospital for over twenty years.
Zivania has many uses – cleaning windows; as a foot soak to ward off colds; as a rub to cure aches and pains; as a stimulant for baldness and finally, to drink! The other coffee shop in Drimou is run by Myrianth. She crochets beautiful traditional chair backs and bedspreads and sews patchwork cushions and embroidered tablecloths. For exq u i s i t e p a tc h w o r k q u i l t i n g , yo u c a n l o o k o n rikorjak@kinspire.com.
For more information about how you and your village can help this worthy cause, please contact Shirley Spratley on 99086721 or www.cansforkids.org.
There are a few artists living in our small village and they open their studios during October – make a note in your diary to visit next year! The village also has a small tavern which is owned by Efstathios and is open in the evenings, sometimes with live music. There are a couple of pretty nature walks in Drimou, with numerous trees and shrubs named en-route. Between the two is the festival area known as the Brisi, pronounced Vrisi. It was constructed in 1943, before the village had mains water and this is where the residents had to collect the water for themselves and their livestock. As you climb above the Brisi, the views are magnificent and just PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
10
A Day at the Races that, but 'Place' is first or second and there are other more complex combinations. You then whizz up into the stands to watch the horses come out of the paddock, canter up to the starting boxes and bomb round to the finish! You then run back to the tote to collect your winnings and off to the paddock to pick your next winners!!
The gate is open …. And they're off! We were in the starting boxes in Polis at noon and even stopping to enjoy a bit of sightseeing en route.We were placing our first bets on the 2.30 at the Nicosia Race Course.
Stay the night in Bellapais beyond Kyrenia (Girne) (The 'Bellapais Gardens Hotel' is lovely, on the left on the way into Bellapais) … or in town …. or get back on the motorway via Limassol …. Or retrace your steps and see the mountains in the moonlight! I bet on the mountains every time. Have a fun day
What a great day out – supper at Kyrenia harbour and home by midnight. I know you can make Nicosia in the same time on the motorway, but the new crossing at Kato Pyrgos makes for a lovely day trip. If you have fewer horses to feed and shovel for than I do, you could perhaps see Kyrenia for lunch … do the races after?! There are 10 races on a Sunday, starting at 2.30pm. Follow the road through Pomos and up the hill around the enclave to Kato Pyrgos and you will come eventually to a border crossing in a beautiful place in the hills where you can buy insurance for your car for the day or a month or a year and fill in a paper slip to go with your passport; a few kilometres of polished tarmac and you are soon back on the coast with some tavernas on the lovely sea front – (all of which accept euros).
Caroline@rideincyprus.com Ride in Cyprus, Lysos. Tel: 99 777 624
“The spirited horse, which will try to win the race of its own accord, will run even faster if encouraged”
You feel as if you are in a different country (well I'm afraid you are, in a way). Follow the road adorned with mosques and enormous red and white flags and your nose will lead you to Nicosia (there is a sign leading you to the right, off the coast road). When you approach Nicosia past all the Vegas-esque strip clubs you come to a roundabout/lights with a garage on the left. Turn right there (signed to Metahan) and over the speed bumps and past the shops to a roundabout with statue of a mounted Ataturk and huge Turkish flags. Turn right and follow the road straight across roundabouts and traffic lights to the crossing point. Show your slips and passports and carry on through to the Greek side. Turn right onto the little side street and immediately right at the T junction. In front of you is the wall of the race course, you can see the stables! Follow the wall, going left where you can, following the perimeter and you will come to the entrance. There is no entrance fee - collect a race card in English on the way in, choose your horse as it parades around the paddock and nip inside to the tote to place your bets. There is a choice of betting and you can gen yourself up before you go by looking at the Nicosia Race Club webpage. Basically 'To win' is obviously PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
11
God Speaks... Through His Word On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. (Matthew 2:11) We love the story of the wise men, who travelled a great distance to find the “king of the Jews”. We know it so well, that when the questions are asked…..we get them all wrong!! How many wise men were there? What were their names? How did they travel? Where did they go in Bethlehem?
Three Melchior, Caspar, Balthasar On camels The stable
Go to the bottom of the class! These answers are pure tradition only, and mainly got from pictures on the Christmas cards! The only true record we have of this historical event (it really did happen) is in the Bible – God's account, and you can read it for yourself in Matthew chapter 2. However, what really happened was something amazing, especially as we read the verse 11 quoted above. They saw Jesus and His mother Mary (not sure where Joseph was at the time – sleeping? – maybe so according to verse 13) bowed down (rich, important, grown men, who mixed with kings – bowing down to a child!) and worshipped Him (Worshipped!) For Mary, a good Jewess, and anyone else watching, this was blasphemy. It was one thing to bow down and show respect to someone you thought was a king – but worship?? Everyone who knew the one true God, knew that worship was for Him, and Him alone. Jesus Himself, when He had grown up, quoted God's words when Satan tempted Him. It is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” So why was it acceptable for this child to be worshipped? Why did Mary not object? Why is it recorded in God's Word as acceptable? Indeed why did Jesus, not only as a child, but many times when grown up, accept the worship from people? John gives the answer in his Gospel (John 1:14) The Word (God the Son) became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Yes, this child was none other than God Himself, “being made in human likeness”. These wise men knew who He was. This Jesus – the one who had come to save people from their sins – was none other than the Almighty, creator God Himself! THAT is the wonder of Christmas. Wise men still worship Jesus!
Christmas Presents All of us at some time or other have received Christmas presents. Some will be valued; some discarded and some will be used or wear out but none will endure forever. However, there is Good News. We can all receive a Christmas present that is Priceless, Eternal, and Everlasting. John 3.16 says that "God so loved the world that He Gave His only Son" This demonstrates the essential nature of God. "Love In Action" It's a free, unconditional present, and not just available at Christmas only. You know, so many when presented with this Good News, affirm they have accepted Jesus as their Saviour. They will say they pray to the Lord, believe on Him, and rely on His strength. Yet, they never attend church, never speak about Christ, never read God's Word and indeed get offended when the subject is brought up. Many today have a Head Knowledge of God but their understanding doesn't come from their hearts or true belief. The soul that believes; the soul that has accepted "The Greatest Gift of All", the Lord Jesus Christ, will be faithful to Him forever. Saving belief brings action to a believer's life, whereas a Head Knowledge only brings lip service with no substance. An evangelist once said, " If you don't live it, You don't believe it." So what is your belief this Christmas ? Do you believe that the purpose of God's Greatest Gift was to save the world, you & me? That Jesus Christ was born to die on a Cross to save us, and that "God gave His only Son that all who believe in Him will not perish but have Eternal Life." Well, if you believe then accept "The Greatest & most expensive Christmas present" you can ever receive. Politely say Thank You, then use it and live it. Acceptance of the Lordship of Christ will be truly "Life Changing" Emmanuel God with us and in us forever. Happy Christmas
What are you doing this Christmas? The Upper Room invites you to their “Carols by Candlelight” service. Some of the traditional carols to sing, and some newer ones too, to hear and join in. Readings from the Bible will tell the story of the event, and the Joy of Christmas will ring out. Everyone is welcome to join us at the Upper Room in St. Andrew's Plaza (opposite Papantoniou's), on Sunday 19th December at 6:00pm. There will be refreshments after the service. For any further details, phone Chris at 26332217
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
12
The Journey - Part 10 Sue de Groot
A Day at Sea, Sailing down the Suez Canal, Life on Board Ship We left the dock at Port Said last night at 11 p.m. and we are awake this morning at 06.00, it is already light, and we appear to be sailing down the Suez Canal, which indeed we are, so cameras at the ready and we start taking photos from the verandah. June is up on deck for a long time, in the morning cool air, taking photos and for this she is going to suffer, as later on during the week, guess who has caught a nasty cold? We are due to sail down the Canal for 92 nautical miles. We get dressed in our sports clothes and we walk around the jogging deck for half an hour. June goes to have breakfast, and I go into the fitness centre for another hour before I do the same. We have made a rule between us. June is in charge of ordering early morning coffee from room service and doing the laundry. I am in charge of the safe, and figuring out how the t.v. works. Laundry has to be done today as we are at sea. There will be two loads: one dark colours, one light. Everybody else is going to do their laundry today, so there will be a queue. The trick is to get up early and grab two machines at once, although there are only five washing machines and two driers. (We get to be old hands at this).
Have to wash my hair again. But in due course, we are both ready and off we go to Happy Hour, only now we are too late for that, so off to dinner, only we are too early, so back to Martinis Bar for a drink (which we need by this time) and we have the cocktail of the day, called Tequila Sunrise. Okay, had that with some yummy snacks, and now we can go to dinner. After dinner, it is 10 p.m. and we are tired again, so off to bed, and we are watching a programme put out by the Destination Services desk on Jordan, when suddenly Nina, the housemaid, pops in with bottles of water. She is surprised we are already in bed and thought we would have been in the Entertainment Lounge. Some hope. We are old ladies, entertainment does not start until 11 p.m. and we need our beauty sleep. This trip is making us quite exhausted. Next month: The Charm of Sharm El Sheik, Tender Tenders, Search for an Internet Cafe © Sue de Groot
Our tarot cards for today are quite interesting. June: “I am the creator of my own identity. If I am so powerful that I have been able to create that, I am able to create other things.” Sue's card: “To be able to be more relaxed in my feelings, I am prepared to let go of my control and defensiveness”. All this very philosophical. But the weather is nice, the laundry is in the machines, and has to be put into the drier after 25 minutes, so we go up to the pool deck to sunbathe. We have signed up for a digital camera class at 4 p.m. today. I rush off to the computer room to type out the daily logbook and keep up to date. June has to remember to return some Joseph Ripoff clothes she has “on trial” from the Ship's boutique, which she can only do when the boat is not docked. We are awaiting our turn to go into the Canal (which is now scheduled for 12 noon). And, we duly sail down the Canal on our way to Sharm El Sheik. We go for a one hour lesson of how to transfer your photos to the hard disk and our next lesson will be how to transfer them from the hard disk, after editing, onto a C.D. (at a cost of $20). I return to the cabin and June has done the ironing. (What a sweetie!). I have a shower and wahs my hair at 5 pm. Hair dryer in hand, I proceed to smear something into my wet hair. June asks what I am doing. I reply that it is conditioner, only I discover that it is foaming, as I have put shampoo on, but not conditioner. PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
13
Probably the best kept dining secret in Polis By Mike Hylton
Until now, that is! The Lyceum & Technical School of Polis runs a range of courses including Hotel & Catering. Within the framework of the courses are meal preparation and table service. To assist the students in practicing their skills, one of their classrooms is converted into a restaurant, complete with bar, and the public invited on specific evenings.
grounds and continue to the last building on the left where directly opposite is a well signed car park. You will be greeted at the door. Should you wish to book, you are requested to arrive promptly at 7pm and leave by 9 pm at the latest. To avoid disappointment and maintain standards the number of guests per booking should not exceed 6. I hope you enjoy your evening out.
I haven't yet tried the facility at Polis but have regularly enjoyed a number of evenings at its sister School in Paphos. Excellent food (4 Course), international menu and good attentive service, the instructors hovering in the background to ensure everything runs smoothly. The Polis facilities are under utilised on the evenings they are open and would welcome additional guests to enable the students to further develop their skills. The price is â‚Ź6.83 (yes that really is the price) per person. There is a choice of red / white wine, soft drinks, but no beer. The idea is to get the students accustomed to serving wine. Having got your attention, you will now want the obvious questioned answered. It is open as follows: 2nd, 9th and 16th December, 20th and 27th January, 10th and 17th February It is advisable to book at least 7 days in advance by calling weekday mornings 26 321344.
The Hotel School is located on the outskirts of Polis within the grounds of the Lyceum. Take the Pomos road out of town and turn left at Festival shoes. Immediately turn right in the school PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
14
Feast and Famine The Story of Urinary Stone – 2 Nagaraja Rao
Last month, I gave the story of bladder stone in children which rapidly disappeared from the rich countries in the early part of last century and is now disappearing as quickly in economically emerging countries. The reason is eradication of malnutrition. Unfortunately and very interestingly, the problem of bladder stone is simply replaced by that of stones in the kidney (see figure). In the rich countries 8% of the population will at some stage in their life make a stone in the kidney. Most of these stones are made predominantly of calcium and oxalate with some phosphate (there are other rare stones but this article is related to the common calcium stones).
What can you do yourself to prevent stones? Healthy life style is the key. The one most important thing to do is drink plenty of fluid (preferably water). People who have a propensity to make stones should drink at least 2.5 litres of fluid in 24 hours. Take as much exercise as possible and eat sensibly (i.e. common sense diet). Moderate the intake of meat, fatty substances and sweets and increase the amount of fibre (which is obtained from fruit and vegetables). Chocolate and large consumption of peanuts are to be avoided as they contain oxalate which is an important component of stones. There is no need to curtail intake of calcium (which is present in large quantities in milk and cheese) but you should moderate the intake.
Why are kidney stones so common? Although there are still many unknown factors (and there is a lot of research going on to understand these), there is a wealth of evidence to suggest that environmental and life style factors play an important role. These include amongst others: • Diet • Life style (example: stones are common in those who are in sedentary occupation) • Climate (there is evidence to show a correlation between global warming and increase in the occurrence of kidney stones) • Socio-economic factors (this may be related to diet and life style as there is evidence that there is a positive relationship between per capita income and kidney stones) The role of diet: It is worth noting that the type of diet we consume has a significant influence. There is good evidence to show that diet rich in animal protein (like meat), sugars (like sweets) and low in fibre substantially increase the risk of stone formation. There is also evidence that obesity increases the risk of stones. People who make stones have high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and are at an increased risk of heart disease. How are stones formed? There are many facets of the condition we do not quite understand but it is generally believed that stones are formed by precipitation of stone salts which are normally dissolved in urine. If the concentration of these salts (example: calcium, oxalate) exceed a certain level and/or the concentration of certain substances (example: citrate) which inhibit precipitation of these stone salts is reduced, the conditions are right for the salts to precipitate into crystals leading to stones. It is believed that some of the factors such as diet mentioned earlier act by this mechanism.
Figure: An X-ray showing stones in both kidneys – pointed by arrows. Mr.P.N.Rao, Ch.M., F.R.C.S (Ed): Formerly Director Stone Management Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, UK. Now, Visiting Professor of Urology, NTR University of Health Sciences, India
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” Helen Keller
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
15
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 FREELANCE SECRETARIAL SERVICES: Assistance offered temporary/part-time for any period of time – a few days, a month or only a few hours. MS Word & Excel experience. Ave typing speed 60wpm. Internet e-mails, basic bookkeeping, errands. Available 9am-5pm daily. Please call Maria on 99996913. 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. Contact Amanda on 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. Volvo Engines for Sale: two Volvo engies KAD41P, ready to use for stern drives, bell housing included. Hardly used. Price €9,000. Tel 26323538 or 99171120. For Sale: Metal framed futon €85. Flymo Hover Mower, grass box, metal blade €35. Alko shredder timber diam 25mm max €40. Blow-up dip pool, pump system 3m diam x 60cm deep €35. Telephone 99980683. 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.
You do not need to be a plumber or sales person. The ideal Agent will be a married couple or partners. Even friends looking for a secure future. We have a show home in Chlorakas where you can see the system working. You will receive a demonstration sales display board to plug in and show people to gain interest and more sales. Supermarkets are often a good place to do this. In addition you will have all the sales promotions products and full backing from our Spanish head-office. If you are interested in either Area A, B or C contact us now. Each area is available exclusive for 3 years for only €19,950.This fee includes all the demonstration displays samples and initial sales kit (worth €30k) www.califri.eu califrieu@yahoo.es In Cyprus 96721669
All fabrics worked with
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 November to be included in the next issue.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
16 The Tony Strudwick Orchestra is coming to Argaka It really is good news that the Orchestra will be appearing for one or possibly two nights, depending on demand, in September 2011 at the Fly Again Pub in Argaka. Tickets are expected to cost 12 euro each or 20 euro including a meal at the pub. They will go on sale in July 2011 by either purchasing from the Fly Again pub or the PALS office or by calling the ticket hotline open from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week. As many have already experienced, Tony and the band have a wide range of music that they perform, along with the accompanying singers Jaynee Jay, Jackie Lewis, Samantha Dawn, and Gary Wright. The band concentrates on the big band sound of Glenn Miller, James Last and Count Basie, along with traditional and more modern songs and music. Tony, as some of you know, has been in the music business for over 50 years and has performed in many well known venues throughout Europe and the UK. I can assure you that if you have never seen the band before, you will be thoroughly entertained and will enjoy the show. We are hoping that by the time the band comes, we will have a CD recorded and available for purchase on the night. If this is not available, however, then previous cds will be on sale at all the venues. The 2011 tour will be performed at Coral Bay, Pissouri, Tala, and at a charity Ball for the Lions and the Army Benevolent Fund.
Texas Hold'em Poker
The band is also looking for sponsorship to help cover the costs of coming to and staying in Cyprus and for the printing of the programmes and tickets.
Every Tuesday 7.30pm at The Fly Again Irish Bar in Argaka. Join us for a fun evening. Only â‚Ź3.00 to play. Contact Jackie 99 067608
If anyone can help with sponsorship please contact Tony, Tour Manager, on 26422074 or 99123089
Car Boot Sale
Please keep watching the PALS magazine for further updates.
Sunday 12 December THE LAST THIS YEAR At The Fly Again Irish Bar Sellers set up at 8am, â‚Ź10 per car. Buyers in at 9am Refreshments available. Ring Shirley on 97648401 to book a space or for more information.
Bric a Brac and saleable items urgently required for the car boot. Please contact Wendy on 99 016890. Thank you to everyone for their continuing support.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
17
Treats for Christmas? Great Gift Idea
If you or anyone on your Christmas gift list have never had a massage ….. then you should! You don't have to justify it – if it's good for you then it is good for everyone around you (she said, justifying it!!)
When the big hotels turn off their lights for the season, the professional staff from their spas go off around the world learning new therapies, teaching others and bringing new ideas back to us. One such therapist is Mariusz – he has trained in Poland, Thai Chiang Mai, India and here in Cyprus. He can perform miracles, drawing on the myriad of therapies at his disposal. From Herbal Hot Compress Therapy to Swedish Massage, Hot stones, Reiki, Reflexology and Tibetan Singing Bowls. It's amazing – either you can tell him how you are feeling that day and he can recommend a treatment for you or you can ask for something in particular from his armoury! He comes to your house with all the gear, wonderful music and a glowing aura. You or the lucky person on your gift list will feel so wonderfully relaxed, so healed and so free …. Oh and so 20 years younger – I certainly did! His number is 99 253 745
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
18
Friends Hospice, Musical Evening On Oct 15th a sell out crowd of 110 people were given a rare treat: good food and superb music. Food & hospitality were provided by Andreas & his staff at Moustakallis who joined in with their usual good humour and attention to detail. The superb music ranged from Gerswin, sung wonderfully as always by Pat Haywood, to Midnight in Moscow played by Harry Hawkins. Ken Tulley brought together Mark Thomson, Jeff Burgess, Chris Lee and Brian (from Wales) which resulted in Diversity - a fabulous group who`s playing led to dancing in the street until after midnight. The whole evening was a great success and raised over â‚Ź900 for the hospice. Many thanks go to Andreas (with his 1st venture into charity events) Ken, Karen`s Cafe and all the Polis shop "girls" who worked so hard. Due to public demand, it is hoped to make this an annual event so those who couldn`t get tickets this time "watch this space"!
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
19
The Twelve Days Of Christmas By Eleni Protopapa
Our three children, with their spouses and nine grandchildren, decided to spend Christmas with us in Cyprus. As excited as I was at the prospect, I could not stop thinking of the amount of planning necessary. We had had a similar reunion in the summer, but I find that much easier to handle because we can all be outside. There were three main points to consider: sleeping arrangements, food and presents, plus a special anniversary. The sleeping arrangements were not difficult, but organising the food needed planning. I wanted to prepare as much as possible in advance, as that would give me more time with the children.
hospital, the car is a write off. I have 7 children with me. Can you come to help?” I was shocked and said “Try to manage a little while, I must think, your father is not at home”. I called my husband Nicos who then telephoned the hospital where he heard that it was not extremely serious. We collected the other members of the group and came back home, enjoyed a meal, but all of us were still in shock.
I prepared moussaka, dishes of cannelloni, macaronia pasticcio, ravioli and loads of stuffed vine leaves.
The remaining members of the family arrived from America on the Friday and we all went out to a hotel for dinner and had a wonderful meal and danced. We came home at 1 a.m. and at 4.30 a.m. we heard noises in one of the bedrooms. We got up hurriedly to shouts of “Fire, Fire” and realized that there was a fire in one of the childrens' bedrooms. One of my sons had saved the situation by throwing the burning mattress out of the window.
I made and froze all kinds of cakes and all the traditional Cypriot cookies. After some hesitation, I found the courage to make my own lountza. I bought two loins of pork and soaked them in wine and spices for a week. A friend had mentioned somebody who rears pigs for his family and usually has a few to sell and we went to Agia Marinouda to get it. The house was at the highest spot of the village, we thought we would never get there, but eventually we did and we came home with 30 kilos of lovely meat.
The fire brigade had been called and arrived, but the main danger had passed. How had the fire started? Well, an electric heater overheated and ignited a piece of furniture. If it had happened two hours earlier, we would have returned home to find out house burnt to the ground. Before when we went out, I used only to worry about burglars, but now I am prepared for everything. We went back to bed, and when the children were awake again and calm, we all had breakfast and they opened their presents.
That day, December 16th, was to prove a very eventful one. After collecting the meat, we went into town to buy presents. We were about to drive home, feeling euphoric at having achieved so much in one day, when suddenly, our car was jolted from behind and we were pushed forward. After sorting this out, we went home and later in the evening we collected our first arrivals of family members. Later in the week, some more family members landed and we were all able to celebrate our first grandchild's 18th birthday together.
My son and I did the cooking. We put the turkey in the oven and he and I each made our own stuffings. He cooked the lamb, soup, sauces and gravy and I finished the puddings and the custard. We can work well together and we all enjoyed a very good lunch rather late in the day.
After the coffee, the family decided to set off for a walk in the Akamas, leaving my husband and I at home, which I was glad about, since it gave me some time to clear up. A couple of hours later, the telephone rang. It was my daughter Stella. “Mama, are you alone?” “Yes”. “Tom has had an accident, the ambulance has taken him to PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
20
Carpet Cleaning in your Home Coffee spilt on the armchair? Mud tracked in from the garden? Pet had an accident? Carpets and upholstery looking decidedly grubby? Mattress not been cleaned since it was new? Guests coming for Christmas? YOU NEED THE SERVICES OF HARMONY CLEANING.
Prices are given in advance and depend on the size of the work. To contact the team of Carol, Harry or Mel call 97667115 or email harmonycleaningcyp@yahoo.co.uk Satisfaction guaranteed or your stains put back.
Using the Kirby Home Cleaning System from America the operatives can bring your carpets up like new as well as brightening your upholstery both leather and fabric plus ridding your mattresses of their accumulation of dust, body cells and the unseen bacteria and bugs which live in every mattress. All this without taking away a single item from your home. First the items receive a thorough vacuuming. Then stains are spotted before a dry foam is applied. Most stains will come out with this method but not red wine, you should have poured a glass of white over it when it occurred. Almost no water is used so with this high speed method items dry extremely quickly especially in the warm Cyprus weather. Expect about an hour for a carpet, longer for both sides of the mattress. The operatives of Harmony Cleaning have twenty years experience both in UK and Cyprus and have many satisfied customers. It is reassuring not to see precious carpets taken away but to have a brighter fresher home immediately.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
21
Christmas Traditions in Cyprus Christmas is celebrated in Cyprus as a religious holiday and on Christmas Eve everyone goes to church and many children go from house to house singing carols (kalanda). Cypriot families celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, which end with the feast of Epiphany on 6th January. Goblin-like spirits known as Kallikantzerie are believed to make a lot of mischief during the 12 days of Christmas and many homes protect themselves by wrapping a sprig of basil around a cross and sprinkling it with holy water and/or leaving out marzipan and sweets. Children receive their presents in Cyprus on New Year's Day as this is the day of the Greek Santa Claus, St Basil (Ayios Vasilis). When the children have gone to sleep on New Year's Eve, a cake (Vasilopitta) with a coin inside and a glass of wine are placed by the Christmas Tree. Ayios Vasilis drinks the wine and blesses the cake and places presents around the tree. The next morning the
cake is cut and it is believed that whoever finds the coin will be lucky all year. Traditional Cypriot Christmas Food An enormous amount of cooking and hard work goes into a Cypriot Christmas as it's one of the most joyous times of the year. Loaves of Christ Bread (Christopsomo) are eaten on Christmas Eve and mezes, stuffed turkey, chicken and roast lamb are traditionally eaten on Christmas Day. Cakes such as kourabiedes (small almond cakes coated in icing sugar), melomakarona (honey cakes) and finikia (walnut cakes) are very popular at this time of year. Over the Christmas period, pomegranates are eaten and used as decorations. They are associated with Greek gods Demeter, Aphodite and Hera and are a symbol of joyous times, good fortune, fertility and prosperity. Candy canes began as straight white sticks of sugar candy used to decorated the Christmas trees. A choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral decided have the ends bent to depict a shepherd's crook and he would pass them out to the children to keep them quiet during the services. It wasn't until about the 20th century that candy canes acquired their red stripes.
Walnut Cakes (Finikia) INGREDIENTS 1 C. butter 3 C. flour 1/3 C. frozen orange juice concentrate 1 C. sugar 1/2 C. water 1 tsp cinnamon 4 oz. honey 2 tsp baking powder 2tsp ground walnuts 1/2 tsp baking soda METHOD Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the first six ingredients in order given, adding enough sifted flour to make a medium dough that does not stick to hands. Knead slightly. Pinch off pieces of dough the size of a large walnut and form into flat oval shapes with tapered ends.
While the cookies are baking, make a syrup by boiling together the sugar, water, and honey. Boil to make a medium syrup, about 5 minutes. When the cookies are cool, dip them quickly into the warm syrup and sprinkle with ground walnuts mixed with cinnamon.
Bake for 25 minutes.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
22
Crossword
Sudoku
Answers in next month’s issue of PALS
"Hot cockles" was a popular game at Christmas in medieval times. It was a game in which the other players took turns striking the blindfolded player, who had to guess the name of the person delivering each blow. “Hot cockles" was still a Christmas pastime until the Victorian era.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
23
GLORIOUS GARDENS SANDRA DOBSON The Christmas Plant -The Poinsettia When we think of houseplants at this time of year, most of us will think of the Poinsettia. They are supposedly the most popular houseplant in the world with millions of pounds/dollars/euros spent on them. Gives us a lift I think, they are so bright and cheerful looking as the weather deteriorates. Poinsettias made their way to the United States by Joel R. Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico. He liked the spiky red desert plant so much he shipped in the first load in 1820. Today, the plant bears his name and is so popular that in America they even have a National Poinsettia Day (December 12). Most people have no intention of keeping their Poinsettia past January. If this is you, simply follow the directions below to get the most from your seasonal poinsettias, of which there are about 200 varieties on the market today, including the most popular red. Like bromeliads, the actual flower of a poinsettia is small and insignificant. It's the large bract that gives all the colour. When you're picking and caring for poinsettias, keep the following points in mind: • Poinsettias are naturally brittle plants that break easily in transit. Make sure the branches are intact, with no cracked branches held together by the plant sleeve. • The poinsettia's flowers are tiny, yellow flowers in the center of the showy bract. Make sure they're not opened yet so the plant will last longer. • If the red or colored portions of the flower bract have begun to turn green, the plant is older and it won't retain its colors as long. • You want a compact plant with as many bracts as possible. Some professional growers insist on 8 to 12 bracts for a 6-inch potted plant. • Do not keep your new poinsettia in its planter's sleeve. These are arid, subtropical plants and need good air circulation and excellent drainage to thrive. Sleeves often hold water and promote plant decline. • The compost surface should be slightly dry before you water again. However, when you do, water the plant thoroughly and ensure free drainage. Do not let the compost dry completely. • No fertilizer during the Christmas season. They prefer to be a little hungry for a better show. • Avoid draughty, cold locations. Do not place near windows or doors or under vents. Poinsettias prefer warmer air. • Poinsettias prefer bright light during the winter flowering season. If you feel that you only plan to keep your poinsettia for a few weeks during the Christmas season, but that it is still a shame to lose a plant, consider: the most common problems experienced by poinsettias are • Yellowing or brown leaves are most likely caused by dry air. Although poinsettias do not like to sit in water, they do like humidity. If your plant begins to look crinkly around the leaf edges, try misting it regularly or setting the pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water to raise the ambient humidity. • Wilting and suddenly leaf drop is caused by over- or underwatering. Soggy soil will result in sudden leaf drop, and allowing
the plant to become bone dry will result in decline of the plant. However, if your plant begins to drop healthy, non-wilted leaves, the culprit is probably a cold draft or too little light. After the holiday season, the plant will begin to gradually lose its leaves in anticipation of a resting period. Move the plant to a cooler, shadier location. Don't worry about the leaves falling—they're supposed to. Only water when the soil is dry to the touch and do not fertilize. If you don't want to let the leaves drop naturally, feel free to cut the plant back hard when you move it to its resting place. Trim the branches to within a few inches of the soil, leaving only a naked stump. Some brave souls aim to keep the plants and encourage them to bloom again. Beware: this is a dicey proposition that requires a special touch, so if you plan to try it, be prepared to take extraordinary measures. In some warmer, subtropical areas, poinsettias can be transplanted outside in January, where they will grow into their native shrubby form. Although your plant will look dismal, this is natural. The only word of caution is to watch the stems - those shrivel or turn brown are dead. In May, when the temperature outside is consistently 60 degrees or higher, move the plant from its resting place outside. At the same time, repot it into a slightly larger pot. Outside, the poinsettia wants dappled, but not direct, sunlight. Use an organic potting mixture and do not put the plant directly into the ground unless you plan to keep it there permanently. Finally, resume watering and feeding normally. You should see the plant begin to grow again. New leaves and shoots will appear. As the summer wears on, selectively prune the plant to preserve three to four main branches. You can use the cuttings to start new poinsettias. By the end of the summer, you should have a healthy, somewhat larger poinsettia than the original plant. Now comes the tricky part. Like many plants, poinsettias set their flowers based on light cycles. To force a poinsettia into a Christmas bloom, you need to provide 12 hours of TOTAL darkness every day, beginning in late September or early October. Some people move their plants into closets at night, or cover their poinsettias with black bags or boxes to shut out the light. During the day, move your plant back to its regular location. However you do it, plan on strictly following this schedule until about midNovember. If you've managed to get the job right, you should see flower bracts forming in the Autumn and growing rapidly. Once the bracts have set and are growing, you can discontinue the dark/light cycle and treat as you would any other poinsettia. This pattern—rest, active growth, dark/light—can be followed for many years with the same plant, and if it's done correctly, it will continuously yield. So…….. I wonder if you will have the same plant during Christmas 2011 as you have in 2010? Give it a try, you have nothing to loose. I hope you found this information interesting, and should you have any thoughts or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Neil on 99117553 or email Sandra at neilandsandra@hotmail.com
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
24
The Cancer that is Condensation By Ken Bwye
Now is the time to prepare for the ravages of a Cyprus winter. Not that it gets that cold of course, snow is rare and at the time of writing, we haven't had any rain to speak of. But beware; this is the time of year for the dreaded condensation to make our lives a misery. It will ruin clothes, books, pictures and mattresses. It will soak into walls and other absorbent surfaces, and before we know it, we have mould and mildew to contend with. Not only that (1), but the mould spore will spread, like dandelion seeds in a damp garden, and we have a major job on our hands for next spring time. Not only that (2), but the microscopic mould spore can find it's way into our respiratory system and cause quite serious chest infections. No fun if we suffer from asthma or emphysema, or if you're a child or an elderly person sleeping in a damp bed. It's all down to condensation, and the point is, we don't have to put up with it every year… It can all be avoided... If you do something about it NOW. Condensation arises when excess moisture in the air, finds a cold surface and turns back into water. If the condensation is on a window, then it is inconvenient but can easily be wiped up. If it is on a plaster wall however, or behind a picture or in a drawer or cupboard, you probably won't even notice it and it will soak in. Contrary to popular belief, raising the temperature to heat the room and “dry things out” without a corresponding level of ventilation, will only make things worse. The heat will drive the moisture back into the wall or deeper into any recesses with stagnant air, and will provide the ideal conditions for mould growth. Mould is like any plant in your garden – give it warmth and moisture and it will thrive. Even wiping the mould off and repainting or treating the affected area may not cure the problem if the spoor, deep in the plaster, is not dried out so that it dies.
Only when the air in a room is dry, will any dampness which is in walls, furniture, cupboards, books, paperwork etc come out. This dampness will be drawn through the dehumidifier and dealt with as before. Once a surface, fabric, furniture or construction is dry, any mould spoor will be starved of essential nutriments and will die. Since the introduction of dehumidifiers, there have been more than a million machines sold by the original company alone. (Quite a lot of them in Cyprus!). Research and development has produced technical advances, and “SMART CONTROL” means that the machine will only run when it needs to. Automatic monitoring of temperature and relative humidity in its mini computer controls the dehumidification process far better than the original humidistat. A typical home dehumidifier will remove up to 25 liters of water per 24 hours from a home of about 170 sq meters. Some have discovered that they can dry their laundry with a dehum. Others have found that asthma ,allergies and arthritis pain are eased by the healthier drier environment. It can also result in fewer chest infections for the very young and the elderly. The Home feels warmer and costs less to heat. Dehumidifiers are easier to get hold of now, and you can find out the location of your nearest stockist, or call for a personal delivery and demonstration in your home. Further information can be obtained from the author on 97 63 05 39. See our website at dehumidifiersincyprus.com Email you enquiry to drihome@cytanet.com.cy
As most Cyprus homes do not have adequate extraction in kitchens and bathrooms, the moisture is absorbed into the atmosphere. Basic physics dictate, that the warmer the air, the more moisture it will hold. However, when the heating is turned off, and we go to bed, the air will cool and reach a dew point. The moisture can no longer remain suspended and will condense on the coldest surface it can find. Even the air we breathe and the moisture we produce when we sleep, will find the coldest surface it can. This is why we often find black mould on the wall immediately above a bed. To prevent the problem, we have to DRY the air – remove the excess moisture, or “dehumidify”, as we say in the trade. A portable, domestic dehumidifier has a fan, which draws the moist air from the room, and removes it from the atmosphere. The dry and ever so slightly warmer air is then passed back into the room. The water is collected into the reservoir for later disposal.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
25
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 9th December 2010
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.
October Solution
Name
Winner: Richard Webb, Argaka
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 Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
27
Leptos Brings 40 Journalists To Cyprus A group of 40 journalists from 18 different countries visited Cyprus for a four day trip, following a special invitation by the Leptos Group to participate in the inauguration of the Neapolis Smart EcoCity. During their stay they visited the property developments, the new University of Neapolis, the Iasis medical centre as well as the Hotels and Resorts that are operated by the Leptos Group in the town and province of Paphos and Limassol. Furthermore the journalists had the opportunity to visit archeological sites, museums, the old shopping centre and the nightlife of Kato Paphos. This attempt of the Leptos Group is to strengthen the efforts of the government and the Cyprus Tourism Organization to attract more tourists as well as Real Estate purchasers and investors.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
28
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
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 9th December CAPTION:
NAME ADRESS
LAST MONTH’S WINNER:
“Since changing to unleaded I am only getting 100 mules to the gallon now” Gillian Carbine, Polis
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
Latchi 99377443
30
A Guide Dog Owner Jan Gibson
Having been allocated a dog, the time came for me to go away to train with her. This was at a GDBA training centre near Exeter. It was quite scary being in a strange place with strange people, but at least some of them were like me, hoping for a new start. We had to work, (train), for six and a half days a week, with Sunday afternoons off, my husband said, 'for good behaviour,' for visiting by friends and families.
they give me the three C's, the Confidence, to go out, Communication, because everyone speaks to us, and Companionship. Though Roger says it should be Cheque book, Credit Card and Co-spenders. By the way, retired dogs stay with us for the rest of their lives, as we have the space and there is Roger to handle the retired dog, though in truth they become Roger's pampered pets. Next time I'll tell you a little about GDBA.
We were taught how to care for the dog, i.e. feed, groom, put the harness together after cleaning it, what to do if the dog was not well. All this was on top of working with the dog, firstly in quiet roads then graduating to busy streets and the dreaded town centre. I found it hard and a little frightening trusting a dog to lead me around. It was when I was on a very busy road in Exeter, during the aftermath of the hurricane that Mr Fish said we wouldn't have, with bin bags blowing around and roads being closed due to scaffolding falling, that I came to a busy crossroads where I needed sighted assistance. I realised I did trust Yana fully, she was completely relaxed and not worried by all the commotion, just concentrating on her job, and making sure we both safely navigated what ever nature threw at us. At the end of training we received our qualification pack and were classed as a unit, bonded together.
An artificial spider and web are often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees. A spider web found on Christmas morning is believed to bring good luck.
When the time came for her to retire, I didn't hesitate to apply for another dog, yes, we have to reapply for every dog and go through training, each dog has a different character and working methods evolve as does the training. Dipper is my fourth Guide Dog, besides Yana I have had Olive, a black Curly Coated Retriever known as Ollie, and Kandy a little ginger Labrador. They have all been wonderful workers I say
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
31 MERRY CHRISTMAS from The Cyprus Reptile Society Time is running out, still no rain, hunting season upon us and no signs at all of grass snakes at George's 'secret' venues. It might already be too late to create a captive breeding program after all 'It takes two' and nobody has yet put money into reptile IVF treatments. With help from around Europe, including MEP's of the Green Party, a petition has been created in accordance with EU guidelines but more signatures are required to show the Cypriot Government that we care. That's apart from the fact that we could be saving them a massive EU fine by the way. Access to the petition and up to date news can be found at www.rochfordessex.net/cyprusreptiles/ Snake George has done so much for the Island over the past 20 years or so and hopefully together we can give him the best Christmas present ever.
updates following the monthly briefings given to the Society by Snake George, perhaps even before the website is updated. Photograph of snakes mating by PALS reader Christine Clarke
You can also show your support by registering your name, email address, telephone number and location at snakegeorge@hotmail.com so that you can receive regular
Christmas Greek Lesson Καλά Χριστούγεννα. Kala Christouyena. Merry Christmas.
Έχετε τελειώσει τα ψώνια σας ? Ehete teliosi ta psonia sas? Have you finished your shopping?
Καλό Νέο Έτος. Kalo neo etos. Happy New Year.
Ποτέ είναι η τελευταία ήµερα ταχυδρόµησης για τη Κύπρο, και την Αγγλία? Pote ine I telephtea imera tahidromisis yia tiν Kipro, keh yia tin Anglia? When is the last posting day for Cyprus? And for England?
Χαρούµενα Χριστούγεννα και Καλή Χρόνια. Haroumena hristouyena keh kali chronia. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Είστε στο σπίτι για τις διακοπές Iste sto spiti yia tis thiakopes? Are you at home for the holidays? Θα σας επισκεφτεί η οικογένεια σας? Tha sas episkefti I ikoyenia sas? Will your family be coming to visit? Τα παιδία σας ενθουσιάζονται όταν τους φέρνει δώρα ο Άγιος Βασίλης? Ta pethia sas enthouseazonde otan tous fernei thora o ais vasilis? Are your children excited about Santa bringing them presents?
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
32 POLIS ANIMAL RESCUE DECEMBER 2010 Helping Local Animals in Need Games night AT THE 'B2TWEEN BAR' (Past Porto Latchi Restaurant), at 7.30pm on alternate Wednesdays, 1st , 15th & 29th December. Play Cribbage, Rummikub, Dominoes & Draughts Win Prizes on the Jigsaw Jackpot. Food available from 6.30pm. Call 26322495 or 96537205
DECEMBER 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 – 99 077352 – shop hours. Closed 25th and 27th Dec, also 1st and 6th Jan (2011) Quiz Nights (the original and still the best!) Every fortnight at the Latchi Village Tavern – next dates for your diary are 9th and 23rd December, also 6th and 20th January (2011) €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 99 067608
'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 CLEARING OUT BEFORE THE WINTER? We 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 or 99855980. Thankyou. Urgent appeal for cat carriers; We need them for transporting animals to the vet's. Please call 97839240 HELP POLIS ANIMAL RESCUE GROUP TO HELP THE ANIMALS PLEASE put donations into our jars around the area & leave DRY CAT FOOD at; KAREN'S CAFÉ ( new location opposite Paragon, Latchi); '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 kittens that need good homes. If you can help in any way please call 97839240 Happy Christmas & A big 'Thank-you' to All Our Supporters.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
33
Security of Funds Charles Purdy How safe is your currency company? A question I am often asked, particularly in the light of the demise of Crown Currency. Each day, millions of pounds flow through our client accounts and the security of these funds is paramount. From the first day that Smart Currency started business in 2005, the funds of the business have been kept separate from the funds that belong to the client. This means that, in a worst case scenario, the funds still belong to you, our client - and not to the company. In November 2009 new regulations were introduced. Effectively, this meant that companies like ours that wanted to carry out international transfers and were of sufficient size, had to register with the FSA as Payment Institutions [PI's].
Finally, thank you for reading my articles in PALS every month; I hope you have enjoyed these during 2010. M a y I a l s o t a ke t h i s opportunity to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Charles Purdy is a Director at Smart Currency Exchange Limited – the only international payment specialists in the UK where the traders are NOT paid on commission ensuring you get the best exchange rates on the market. Go to www.SmartCurrencyCyprus.com or telephone our local number (00 357) 26 030 213.
We were delighted to do so; this meant that the way we had always operated was now recognised as the best and the safest way to function, namely with client's funds held separately and therefore properly safeguarded. I think it is worth highlighting that not all companies who carry out international transfers are PI's. Companies with a turnover below a certain level can operate as Small PI's [SPI's], which come with a different set of requirements. These do not include operating separate client accounts. Crown Currency was such a SPI; they specialised in holiday money and they were not required to keep their company's money and the client's money separate. This meant that when problems arose, the clients lost out - a very unsatisfactory position if you happen to have been one of their clients. Another key requirement that the FSA introduced for PI's is that they should have a minimum level of permanent equity in the company. At Smart Currency, we exceed the minimum level of permanent equity required by the FSA by a very significant margin. And, as our business grows, we ensure that the level of permanent equity we hold in the business increases too. I hope this is of assistance in providing a better understanding of how secure your funds are with us. Our aim is to help you reduce the costs of your transfers, make them more efficient and to eliminate the risk and stress of that transfer. I am always happy to hear from you, so if you would like to discuss any of the above please feel free to give me a call.
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
34
How to live the dream of moving to Cyprus Kim Brown Many people tell me that they would love to buy a property in Cyprus and move here permanently, yet they don't know where to start. I often explain that the first thing people need to do is make a commitment to focus on achieving their objective. Many people dream and say that they want a better life, want a new job or want to live in a better neighbourhood…and most of those people still have those same dreams 10, 20 or 50 years on. The first key step to doing anything is to determine that you're 100% dedicated to making the life-changing move to Cyprus. And it's important to get clear why you want to do it. Is it for a more relaxed pace of life, better weather, to pay less tax, to live the island life or for a better up-bringing for your children? The next step is to sort out your finances. Many people skip this absolutely necessary step and that can cause HUGE issues in the future. Prospective buyers are eager to chat about the type of property they want, the location, and even the design of pool…HOWEVER, these are all details and need to be considered only AFTER they have figured out how much money they have to spend on the property - and subsequently how much they'll have to live on.
buyers overextend themselves. The last thing anyone wants is a fantastic property in a dream setting that they can't realistically afford! There's no fun in that… My key point is that provided you've made the decision to go for your dream there are many ways to pay for a p r o p e r t y, t o a v o i d p a y i n g unnecessary taxes, and/or to put extra money in investments that can help you to fund your purchase and your future…BUT YOU NEED TO SORT THESE ISSUES OUT BEFORE YOU BUY rather than after. 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 get your free mini version of the guide.
When speaking with a good friend interested in moving to Cyprus, he mentioned that he has a property he could sell. He went on to say that his wife has a savings account and some other small investments. He added that they both have pensions and personal items they could consider doing something with. My friend also mentioned that he has considered re-mortgaging his house in the UK as there's quite a bit of equity in it, using the money for a deposit and renting his UK property rather than selling it.
Answers For Last Month’s Puzzles
After my friend stopped talking I asked “So…how much money do you have available and how much do you want to spend? Considering it will cost you around 10% in buying costs (solicitor, taxes, fees, etc) and you'll need money to live on until you start making money…?”
November Crossword
A trifle crestfallen, my friend replied “It depends…It depends on what gives us the most freedom and flexibility and what allows us to make the move without worrying whether we have enough money or not...” In the end, my friend realised that he had several ways to structure his finance, but was not sure which would result in the soundest financial solution long term. At this point, I explained that the best thing he could do would be to contact a Financial Adviser – someone who could look at every possible scenario and show him the actual potential outcome of each choice. There are great financial planners that specialise in people moving to Cyprus – both over in Cyprus and in the UK.
November Sudoku
Without a firm idea of finances, situations can arise where PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com
PALS Magazine December 2010 www.palsmagazine.com