How I wished I had listened to my husband. He kept telling me I was going to suffer, but being the martyr I am, I just had to carry on and prove I wasn’t the weakest link. Well, it served me right. Listening to lovely hubby would have avoided a visit to The General Hospital in Paphos.
And it was all over moving 27 tons of gravel for the garden. Let me tell you more about this.
But first - did you know that plants in Cyprus grow ten times faster – yes, ten times faster than those in the UK? So you would think that gardening on the island is easy - but actually, with a growth rate like that, it’s hard work. You will notice there is a huge amount of gravel used - and with good reason.
When we bought our villa, we had a 1,000 square metre plot. That is a pretty big garden to handle and we knew it would be a massive challenge. We wanted a low maintenance garden, so gravel was high on the agenda. It comes in several different colours, so that was great from a design perspective.
Saying it was a challenge was an understatement. In the beginning, clearing our garden took forever; it was a total and utter mess. To give you an idea, we could hardly see the villa amongst the overgrowth of trees and shrubs.
During the clearance, we found an old chest buried near the back border and wondered if we’d finally struck a pot of gold. No such luck, it was full of old rubbish. Then, surprisingly we found a huge anchor. Apparently the previous owner had a sea-faring connection, but we never did find out why it was buried in the undergrowth.
Anyway, section by section we cleared the garden. I lost count of the number of skips we hired, especially when we were pollarding the trees – on average, 25 feet out of each one - a task that seemed to never end.
Eventually though, there was light at the end of the tunnel. We finally reached the stage where the garden was ready, so it was time to start planting.
We used a top quality membrane (the thick black one you can buy in Cyprus is the most expensive, but it is the best and worth every penny). We laid this over the earth after planting up and then covered it with gravel. In all, we used 27 tons. This was delivered a few tons at a time and yes, we moved it all by wheelbarrow, which was seriously hard work.
This was when I ended up injuring my back – as I said before, lovely hubby saw that coming. After my hospital visit, transporting gravel was off the agenda for a while. (I hasten to add, I did fully recover).
Fortunately, one of our neighbours came to the rescue and in my absence, helped wheelbarrow the rest into the garden, so all was not lost.
An important point to note is not to scrimp on gravel – so many people do this and then regret it. You need your gravel to be at least 4 inches thick or the weeds will come through straight away. Oh, and remember to rake it regularly. This breaks up any weeds and also brightens it up. Gravel does eventually start to break down and becomes very dusty. It will need a top-up every four or five years to continue to look good.
How about colours? Well, white gravel is lovely - but in the very hot summer months, it is actually too bright to look at. We ended up changing some of ours because of this. But eventually, using different colours worked really well and we managed to create a beautiful Mediterranean garden.
Next week I am going to talk about irrigation systems – an essential for all gardens in Cyprus.
Until then, have a great weekend.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Showing posts with label living in cyprus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living in cyprus. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Eat, drink … and never mind the hangover!
Why? Because Easter is coming soon. Cyprus is traditionally really getting into a party mood. At the moment, we are right in the middle of a period of great fun and eating – but don’t get too carried away, because there is a penalty to pay. There are fifty days of fasting before Easter arrives – that’s right, fifty days - but that doesn’t deter everyone from having a really good time!
Easter is always my favourite time of the year in Cyprus. Not only does the island look beautiful, but everyone seems to be happier now the warmer weather is coming.
The carnival period, when all the merry making takes place, is ten days before everyone starts the long fast.
The first week is known as “Meat Week”, when traditionally, only meat is eaten. The second week is known as “Cheese Week”, when traditionally only cheese and other dairy products are eaten.
I must confess, I don’t know many expats who stick to this, but many Cypriots do. There are so many strange looking products in the supermarkets during this time – I must say, they don’t look very appetising, but I guess that’s all part of the tradition - fasting is fasting and the food is there for a purpose after all.
There is an exception though. The traditional Easter breads are absolutely delicious; especially the cheese bread. When these have just been baked and are put on the supermarket shelves they are really hard to resist.
My neighbour bakes her own cheese bread. The taste is amazing - unlike my efforts, but I won’t go into that culinary disaster too much, suffice to say my cheese bread was a bit like my Victoria sandwich cakes – two dozen eggs later and they still came out of the oven like bricks.
Moving swiftly on, Green Monday was last Monday, but was spoilt by rain. This is a day when people fly kites in Cyprus, it’s very colourful. Whole families take part with picnics on the beaches, in the mountains, by the dams, in fact, wherever they can fly a kite. Shame the weather was not so good.
Green Monday is also the first day of Lent and apart from the kite flying, it is celebrated with vegetarian picnics – and copious amounts of alcohol. Immediately following this, the fifty day fast starts, where the locals shun meat and dairy products and live on a vegetarian diet.
Talking about celebrations, the next one in Cyprus is Friday, 25th March which is Greek National Day. This is a public event with local student parades in all towns across the island.
Well, all this talk about food and drink has made me hungry, so it’s time for coffee and a cake. Never mind the waistline.
Why not come over to Cyprus for Easter and join in the celebrations? There are some bargains flights around if you hunt hard.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Easter is always my favourite time of the year in Cyprus. Not only does the island look beautiful, but everyone seems to be happier now the warmer weather is coming.
The carnival period, when all the merry making takes place, is ten days before everyone starts the long fast.
The first week is known as “Meat Week”, when traditionally, only meat is eaten. The second week is known as “Cheese Week”, when traditionally only cheese and other dairy products are eaten.
I must confess, I don’t know many expats who stick to this, but many Cypriots do. There are so many strange looking products in the supermarkets during this time – I must say, they don’t look very appetising, but I guess that’s all part of the tradition - fasting is fasting and the food is there for a purpose after all.
There is an exception though. The traditional Easter breads are absolutely delicious; especially the cheese bread. When these have just been baked and are put on the supermarket shelves they are really hard to resist.
My neighbour bakes her own cheese bread. The taste is amazing - unlike my efforts, but I won’t go into that culinary disaster too much, suffice to say my cheese bread was a bit like my Victoria sandwich cakes – two dozen eggs later and they still came out of the oven like bricks.
Moving swiftly on, Green Monday was last Monday, but was spoilt by rain. This is a day when people fly kites in Cyprus, it’s very colourful. Whole families take part with picnics on the beaches, in the mountains, by the dams, in fact, wherever they can fly a kite. Shame the weather was not so good.
Green Monday is also the first day of Lent and apart from the kite flying, it is celebrated with vegetarian picnics – and copious amounts of alcohol. Immediately following this, the fifty day fast starts, where the locals shun meat and dairy products and live on a vegetarian diet.
Talking about celebrations, the next one in Cyprus is Friday, 25th March which is Greek National Day. This is a public event with local student parades in all towns across the island.
Well, all this talk about food and drink has made me hungry, so it’s time for coffee and a cake. Never mind the waistline.
Why not come over to Cyprus for Easter and join in the celebrations? There are some bargains flights around if you hunt hard.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Do you know the secret of SAL?
Sending mail from Cyprus back to the UK – or in fact, anywhere in the world, can be costly. That is, unless you know the secret of SAL. One day when I was in my local Post Office talking to my dear Cypriot friend Angelika, she asked me if my mail was urgent. She explained that if it wasn’t, there was no point paying the high charges for sending it air mail.
But what is SAL? She explained it is Surface Air Lifted mail. Despite the usual long queue, I was intrigued, so asked her if she could tell me more.
She explained that if you send post by air mail, it usually gets to the UK in about 3-5 days from Cyprus. If you send by SAL, it could take up to 3 weeks – but it rarely does - more about that later.
Let’s compare some costs first (in euros), from Cyprus, based on letters, printed materials and small packets:
For a letter weighing 50 grammes air mail costs 1.71 whereas sending by SAL costs 0.68. For a parcel weighing 400 grammes air mail costs 6.86 were as sending by SAL costs 2.73.
Quite a difference! All you need to do when you get to the Post Office is ask to send it by SAL. Along with your stamps, the counter clerk will give you a sticker to put on the envelope/parcel. That’s it!
And here’s a tip you may not know about (this is where it definitely pays to have friends in the Post Office). The plane that takes the SAL mail usually leaves Cyprus on a Thursday, so try to get your mail to the post office by Wednesday. Most of the time, it gets to the UK the following Friday, sometimes faster.
(I really didn’t want to mention the “Christmas” word in March, but here goes. If you are sending mail back to the UK for Christmas and you are using SAL, then get everything in the post by the 3rd week in November at the latest. At this time of the year it will more than likely take 3 weeks – but it will save you a fortune.)
Oh, and don’t forget, you can buy all your jiffy bags at the post office along with any boxes you need for posting. Don’t ask for jiffy bags though, they won’t know what you mean; they call them bubble bags in Cyprus. It’s much cheaper to buy them at the Post Office rather than the supermarket.
Registered services are also available and these are very efficient.
I must just quickly mention this too. I was in the Post Office recently and witnessed a scene that was unbelievable. A lovely Cypriot lady wanted to send a dolls pram by post but she needed it wrapped. It was chaos. I couldn’t stop laughing.
The staff helped her to wrap it up – yes, they do that in Cyprus. There was sticky brown tape everywhere, cardboard all over the place and very loud voices - each person trying to prove they knew how to do it better. You had to see this to believe it; I was in fits of laughter. At one point I thought someone would get stabbed with the scissors that were flying around.
During all this, I just sat at the table sticking stamps on my post (the counter clerks don’t do that for you in Cyprus) and I really took my time. It was so funny. They got there in the end, to cheers of “bravo!” If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never have believed it. But hey, in Cyprus, anything goes!
So remember – save money and use SAL from now on if your post isn’t urgent.
Best wishes and have a great weekend.
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
PS: You can also use SAL to Cyprus from the UK.
But what is SAL? She explained it is Surface Air Lifted mail. Despite the usual long queue, I was intrigued, so asked her if she could tell me more.
She explained that if you send post by air mail, it usually gets to the UK in about 3-5 days from Cyprus. If you send by SAL, it could take up to 3 weeks – but it rarely does - more about that later.
Let’s compare some costs first (in euros), from Cyprus, based on letters, printed materials and small packets:
For a letter weighing 50 grammes air mail costs 1.71 whereas sending by SAL costs 0.68. For a parcel weighing 400 grammes air mail costs 6.86 were as sending by SAL costs 2.73.
Quite a difference! All you need to do when you get to the Post Office is ask to send it by SAL. Along with your stamps, the counter clerk will give you a sticker to put on the envelope/parcel. That’s it!
And here’s a tip you may not know about (this is where it definitely pays to have friends in the Post Office). The plane that takes the SAL mail usually leaves Cyprus on a Thursday, so try to get your mail to the post office by Wednesday. Most of the time, it gets to the UK the following Friday, sometimes faster.
(I really didn’t want to mention the “Christmas” word in March, but here goes. If you are sending mail back to the UK for Christmas and you are using SAL, then get everything in the post by the 3rd week in November at the latest. At this time of the year it will more than likely take 3 weeks – but it will save you a fortune.)
Oh, and don’t forget, you can buy all your jiffy bags at the post office along with any boxes you need for posting. Don’t ask for jiffy bags though, they won’t know what you mean; they call them bubble bags in Cyprus. It’s much cheaper to buy them at the Post Office rather than the supermarket.
Registered services are also available and these are very efficient.
I must just quickly mention this too. I was in the Post Office recently and witnessed a scene that was unbelievable. A lovely Cypriot lady wanted to send a dolls pram by post but she needed it wrapped. It was chaos. I couldn’t stop laughing.
The staff helped her to wrap it up – yes, they do that in Cyprus. There was sticky brown tape everywhere, cardboard all over the place and very loud voices - each person trying to prove they knew how to do it better. You had to see this to believe it; I was in fits of laughter. At one point I thought someone would get stabbed with the scissors that were flying around.
During all this, I just sat at the table sticking stamps on my post (the counter clerks don’t do that for you in Cyprus) and I really took my time. It was so funny. They got there in the end, to cheers of “bravo!” If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never have believed it. But hey, in Cyprus, anything goes!
So remember – save money and use SAL from now on if your post isn’t urgent.
Best wishes and have a great weekend.
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
PS: You can also use SAL to Cyprus from the UK.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Important information about schools in Cyprus
Due to the way the education system works over here, if you are moving to Cyprus with children, it is very important to arrange their schooling before you arrive. If you are a parent, you need to find the school first because there are often waiting lists. You should also be aware that at private schools, both parents and children are carefully interviewed for suitability. At these particular schools, potential pupils will also need to undergo entrance examinations, which they must pass in order to gain admittance.
Right, now let me tell you more.
Education is mainly free at Greek state schools - but is compulsory. If you have children who don’t speak Greek yet, special lessons will be given to them to make integrating easier. By the way, foreign children are actively encouraged to join state schools.
Attendance at all schools in Cyprus, whether private or state, is required on five days of the week – Monday to Friday. A school year in Cyprus is divided into just three terms of three months. Classes tend to be small in numbers.
Education is provided free of charge at state schools as follows:
1. For primary education, for children who are aged between five years and eight months and 11 years and eight months. There is, however, a condition for enrolment into primary state schools. As a parent, you must provide proof of pre-school attendance for your child for the 12 months from four years and eight months to five years and eight months.
2. For lower secondary education, for children aged between 11 years and eight months and 15 years of age. Children are admitted to lower secondary education on age, but they must be in possession of a primary school leaving certificate.
3. For upper secondary education for children aged between 15 and 18 years of age. Any children who want training for a technical occupation are able to attend a technical school, where the diplomas are equivalent to upper secondary education.
In Cyprus, there are currently 188 private nurseries, 26 private primary and 31 private secondary schools operating with Ministry of Education and Culture approval. You can call them on (00 357) 22 800 600 for further information.
Let’s move on to fees so you can get an idea of costs. For pre-school children, at private nursery school, you will need to budget approximately €1500-€3000 per child, per year. For older children, private school fees range between €4500 and €6500 per pupil, per year.
Fees do vary from school to school and the more popular the school, generally the more expensive the fees. Remember you also need to budget for after school activities, school uniforms, books, additional private lessons (which are very common in Cyprus) and the one to watch out for – examination fees. These can be quite hefty and if a re-take is necessary, a further fee is payable.
My best advice is to always visit several schools before you make your final decision. Good schools will allow your child to attend for a day to see if they like it. Oh, and make sure you get a written contract showing what your fees cover and then there are no nasty surprises!
Finally, if you do decide to go the private route for education, and you are paying your fees from the UK, don’t move the money over using a bank as you could unknowingly lose hundreds of pounds in the process. Why not try Smart Currency Exchange? That’s who I use – www.SmartCurrencyExchange.com – they move money all over the world in numerous different currencies - and I guarantee you will get a far better exchange than the bank!
Have fun finding your schools, if you need any further information, remember to email me.
Until next week
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Right, now let me tell you more.
Education is mainly free at Greek state schools - but is compulsory. If you have children who don’t speak Greek yet, special lessons will be given to them to make integrating easier. By the way, foreign children are actively encouraged to join state schools.
Attendance at all schools in Cyprus, whether private or state, is required on five days of the week – Monday to Friday. A school year in Cyprus is divided into just three terms of three months. Classes tend to be small in numbers.
Education is provided free of charge at state schools as follows:
1. For primary education, for children who are aged between five years and eight months and 11 years and eight months. There is, however, a condition for enrolment into primary state schools. As a parent, you must provide proof of pre-school attendance for your child for the 12 months from four years and eight months to five years and eight months.
2. For lower secondary education, for children aged between 11 years and eight months and 15 years of age. Children are admitted to lower secondary education on age, but they must be in possession of a primary school leaving certificate.
3. For upper secondary education for children aged between 15 and 18 years of age. Any children who want training for a technical occupation are able to attend a technical school, where the diplomas are equivalent to upper secondary education.
In Cyprus, there are currently 188 private nurseries, 26 private primary and 31 private secondary schools operating with Ministry of Education and Culture approval. You can call them on (00 357) 22 800 600 for further information.
Let’s move on to fees so you can get an idea of costs. For pre-school children, at private nursery school, you will need to budget approximately €1500-€3000 per child, per year. For older children, private school fees range between €4500 and €6500 per pupil, per year.
Fees do vary from school to school and the more popular the school, generally the more expensive the fees. Remember you also need to budget for after school activities, school uniforms, books, additional private lessons (which are very common in Cyprus) and the one to watch out for – examination fees. These can be quite hefty and if a re-take is necessary, a further fee is payable.
My best advice is to always visit several schools before you make your final decision. Good schools will allow your child to attend for a day to see if they like it. Oh, and make sure you get a written contract showing what your fees cover and then there are no nasty surprises!
Finally, if you do decide to go the private route for education, and you are paying your fees from the UK, don’t move the money over using a bank as you could unknowingly lose hundreds of pounds in the process. Why not try Smart Currency Exchange? That’s who I use – www.SmartCurrencyExchange.com – they move money all over the world in numerous different currencies - and I guarantee you will get a far better exchange than the bank!
Have fun finding your schools, if you need any further information, remember to email me.
Until next week
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Are you switched on?
Watch out for a major change in July this year. Yes folks, this is the month that Cyprus will cease to broadcast analogue television channels. So what do you do? First of all, don’t believe all the rumours that are circulating – and there are many. Do you really need to buy a new television? Do you really need to buy a new aerial? Help!
Well don’t panic. It is true that if you have an old analogue television, you will not be able to receive television programmes without making any changes at all.
But the biggest scam at the moment – and one you should watch out for - is over aerials. There is a lot of confusion. The truth of the matter is, that if you have already have a perfectly good television aerial that is working, then the chances are you do not need to buy a new one.
Don’t be taken in by fearful sales tactics, because you could end up spending a small fortune for something you already have.
And watch out for this one too.
If you are persuaded to buy a top box which will, in all fairness, enable you to receive a digital signal and convert it so you can view television programmes, you will not be able to see any programmes in high definition. And as high definition is the way forward, it doesn’t seem to make any sense to do this …
The perfect solution is to buy a new high definition television set which already has a built in digital receiver and a built in digibox. Research these on the internet first and double-check forums, they are full of useful information that may help you.
Although buying a new TV does mean you incurring more expense - amongst other advantages - the picture quality will be much better than you would have received before.
By the time July comes, I’m told all the necessary transponders should be place. In fact, in most of the larger towns, digital signals are already being transmitted, so if your television is quite new, and has an auto scan facility, you may already be able to tune in.
Why not give it a try?
Until next week
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Well don’t panic. It is true that if you have an old analogue television, you will not be able to receive television programmes without making any changes at all.
But the biggest scam at the moment – and one you should watch out for - is over aerials. There is a lot of confusion. The truth of the matter is, that if you have already have a perfectly good television aerial that is working, then the chances are you do not need to buy a new one.
Don’t be taken in by fearful sales tactics, because you could end up spending a small fortune for something you already have.
And watch out for this one too.
If you are persuaded to buy a top box which will, in all fairness, enable you to receive a digital signal and convert it so you can view television programmes, you will not be able to see any programmes in high definition. And as high definition is the way forward, it doesn’t seem to make any sense to do this …
The perfect solution is to buy a new high definition television set which already has a built in digital receiver and a built in digibox. Research these on the internet first and double-check forums, they are full of useful information that may help you.
Although buying a new TV does mean you incurring more expense - amongst other advantages - the picture quality will be much better than you would have received before.
By the time July comes, I’m told all the necessary transponders should be place. In fact, in most of the larger towns, digital signals are already being transmitted, so if your television is quite new, and has an auto scan facility, you may already be able to tune in.
Why not give it a try?
Until next week
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Holidays and Coptic Storms in Cyprus 2011
For those of you planning to come to Cyprus this year, here are some important dates to be aware of in the Cypriot calendar. Easter doesn’t always fall at the same time as the UK, but for 2011 it does – so get your flights booked early as it’s the most popular time of the year in Cyprus for taking holidays.
Compared to the UK, Cyprus receives 17 official Public Holidays. Pop these in your diary:
01 January New Years Day
06 January Epiphany Day
07 March Green Monday
25 March Greek Independence Day
01 April Cyprus National Day
22 April Good Friday
23 April Good Saturday
24 April Easter Day
25 April Easter Monday
26 April Easter Tuesday
01 May Labour Day
13 June Whitsun Monday
15 August Assumption Day
01 October Cyprus Independence Day
28 October Greek National Holiday
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Boxing Day
You might also want to consider the Coptic storms we have here. Coptic storms are gales that come in from Egypt. They range from being mild to very strong and usually last for an average of 3 days:
The Coptic Chart
11 January Gale
19 January Large feeder gale
28 January Gale
18 February Small sun gale
10 March Equinox gale (lasts double the usual time)
20 March Big sun gale
25 March Wind gale
29 April Sand laden west winds (hot and sandy)
27 September Cross winds
21 October Crusade
28 November Broom gale – very strong
6 December Gale
20 December Small feeder gale
I hope this information has been useful. Remember to email me if you have questions, I’m always happy to help you with anything you need to know about Cyprus.
Until next week.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Compared to the UK, Cyprus receives 17 official Public Holidays. Pop these in your diary:
01 January New Years Day
06 January Epiphany Day
07 March Green Monday
25 March Greek Independence Day
01 April Cyprus National Day
22 April Good Friday
23 April Good Saturday
24 April Easter Day
25 April Easter Monday
26 April Easter Tuesday
01 May Labour Day
13 June Whitsun Monday
15 August Assumption Day
01 October Cyprus Independence Day
28 October Greek National Holiday
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Boxing Day
You might also want to consider the Coptic storms we have here. Coptic storms are gales that come in from Egypt. They range from being mild to very strong and usually last for an average of 3 days:
The Coptic Chart
11 January Gale
19 January Large feeder gale
28 January Gale
18 February Small sun gale
10 March Equinox gale (lasts double the usual time)
20 March Big sun gale
25 March Wind gale
29 April Sand laden west winds (hot and sandy)
27 September Cross winds
21 October Crusade
28 November Broom gale – very strong
6 December Gale
20 December Small feeder gale
I hope this information has been useful. Remember to email me if you have questions, I’m always happy to help you with anything you need to know about Cyprus.
Until next week.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Start your New Year with a bang!
Happy New Year and welcome to 2011! That should be a good start, shouldn’t it? But if you aren’t full of the joys of spring – and are tired, miserable, bored and not sure which path you should be following in life, then there is no better month than January to give yourself a new start.
First of all, get your enthusiasms flowing. Without this, nothing will happen – how often do you see a positive person who is miserable? So if you are considering moving to Cyprus, now is the time to stop thinking about it and get a firm plan in place.
If you didn’t receive your Cyprus Buying Guide as a Christmas present, now is the time to treat yourself, especially as the 2011 version has just been published – just go to www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com and get the wheels in motion.
OK. Let’s move on. Our Christmas and New Year were great. We stayed in Cyprus and went to a bistro in the next village where we had a traditional Christmas Day including games, which after a few glasses of wine become funnier and funnier. Have you ever played “What’s in the sock?” It’s hilarious!
New Year was spent with all our friends at a cabaret night, we had a smashing time. I have to say, I didn’t expect to see one of the guests, a lady well into her 60’s, grabbing hold of one of the pillars in the venue and starting to pole dance. The whole place collapsed into fits of laughter, she was absolutely hilarious. Well, the climate in Cyprus does keep you very fit and healthy, and she certainly demonstrated that she had no problems with her joints!
The weather in Cyprus was unbelievable over the festive period. On Christmas Day, we had breakfast outside and opened all our presents by the swimming pool. It reached 25 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. When we switched on the television later and saw the conditions in the UK, we felt very privileged to be here. We normally spend Christmas back in England, but are quite glad we didn’t this year!
In Cyprus, it tends to stay around 20-25 degrees until about the middle of January – then our winter really begins. It then feels really cold (at least by our standards) and it is frequently wet, windy and damp. Where we live though, the temperature doesn’t usually drop below 5 degrees at night.
We still have sunshine during the day and even in the winter, on a good day at lunchtime you can still pop your swimsuit on and top up your tan. Mind you – by 4pm, you have your thermals and thick socks on! The tiles on the floors of these villas are very cold in the winter – that’s when I really miss fitted carpets and good insulation.
OK. My final thought for this week. Get a plan for 2011. I find nothing happens without a plan. I’m a huge plan fan. Know where you are going. Know what you want to achieve. Follow your goals for a new beginning and celebrate the New Year with renewed enthusiasm for an exciting time ahead.
Remember - positive thinking really does make things happen – I speak from experience!
Best wishes and good luck for 2011
Until next week.
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
First of all, get your enthusiasms flowing. Without this, nothing will happen – how often do you see a positive person who is miserable? So if you are considering moving to Cyprus, now is the time to stop thinking about it and get a firm plan in place.
If you didn’t receive your Cyprus Buying Guide as a Christmas present, now is the time to treat yourself, especially as the 2011 version has just been published – just go to www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com and get the wheels in motion.
OK. Let’s move on. Our Christmas and New Year were great. We stayed in Cyprus and went to a bistro in the next village where we had a traditional Christmas Day including games, which after a few glasses of wine become funnier and funnier. Have you ever played “What’s in the sock?” It’s hilarious!
New Year was spent with all our friends at a cabaret night, we had a smashing time. I have to say, I didn’t expect to see one of the guests, a lady well into her 60’s, grabbing hold of one of the pillars in the venue and starting to pole dance. The whole place collapsed into fits of laughter, she was absolutely hilarious. Well, the climate in Cyprus does keep you very fit and healthy, and she certainly demonstrated that she had no problems with her joints!
The weather in Cyprus was unbelievable over the festive period. On Christmas Day, we had breakfast outside and opened all our presents by the swimming pool. It reached 25 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. When we switched on the television later and saw the conditions in the UK, we felt very privileged to be here. We normally spend Christmas back in England, but are quite glad we didn’t this year!
In Cyprus, it tends to stay around 20-25 degrees until about the middle of January – then our winter really begins. It then feels really cold (at least by our standards) and it is frequently wet, windy and damp. Where we live though, the temperature doesn’t usually drop below 5 degrees at night.
We still have sunshine during the day and even in the winter, on a good day at lunchtime you can still pop your swimsuit on and top up your tan. Mind you – by 4pm, you have your thermals and thick socks on! The tiles on the floors of these villas are very cold in the winter – that’s when I really miss fitted carpets and good insulation.
OK. My final thought for this week. Get a plan for 2011. I find nothing happens without a plan. I’m a huge plan fan. Know where you are going. Know what you want to achieve. Follow your goals for a new beginning and celebrate the New Year with renewed enthusiasm for an exciting time ahead.
Remember - positive thinking really does make things happen – I speak from experience!
Best wishes and good luck for 2011
Until next week.
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Remember to trim your trunk!
I hope “Yule” find these top ten tips really “Yulesful” (ha ha) As far as I am concerned, Christmas isn’t Christmas without a real tree. From going to the forest and choosing it, to bringing it home and lovingly decorating it. But how do keep your tree in tip-top condition and get it to last the festive period? Here are my top ten tips:
1. First and foremost, pick a really bushy tree that doesn’t drop its needles, ideally a fir. Although they cost a bit more, they are worth it. If you can find one with a rootball, so much the better, as this will last longer.
2. Trim your trunk! Freshly cut Christmas trees need to drink straight away, so chop off an inch or two and put the tree in a bucket of water overnight before decorating. Contrary to popular belief, drilling a hole in the bottom of the tree trunk does not mean it will take water up any quicker, so don’t bother.
3. Put your tree in a suitable container, making sure it stands firm. Christmas trees easily topple over when laden with decorations – I speak from first hand experience!
4. Make sure you can water your tree easily and remember to top it up every day because it will dry out quickly. Start off with at least a gallon of water – Christmas trees are very thirsty.
5. Did you know it is beneficial to add some sugar to the water? But don’t do what flower arrangers do and add some aspirin – save that for a hangover.
6. Although it may be tempting, don’t put your fresh tree in soil or sand. This might seem a sensible thing to do, but it actually blocks the pores in the tree bark and will prevent it from drinking.
7. Don’t put your tree too close to any heating, for example a radiator or an open fire. This will make it dry out even quicker – and can be a fire hazard too.
8. Although it might be tempting as this is an easy option, don’t buy a Christmas tree that has already been set in a block of wood as the tree can’t drink. It will drop its needles and die very quickly.
9. Turn the tree lights off at night.
10. And finally, when the New Year comes, be environmentally friendly and recycle your tree for mulch.
In Cyprus, the Forestry Commission has trees on sale at all the stations around the island. They are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm up until 22 December. Pine trees, two to three metres are either eight or ten euros. Fir trees - which are the best – are around 50 euros for one to two metres.
The Paphos station is in Yeroskipou. You can call them on (00 357) 26 30 62 66 for further information.
Oh, and if you are looking for logs for your fire, the Forestry Commission will be able to help you with those too. Sometimes you can even cut your own.
And finally, if you really love trees, why not contact your local municipality in the New Year? There is a service now whereby the municipality staff will give come along to your property, supply and plant a tree for you free of charge. All you have to do is agree to maintain it.
Merry Christmas
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
1. First and foremost, pick a really bushy tree that doesn’t drop its needles, ideally a fir. Although they cost a bit more, they are worth it. If you can find one with a rootball, so much the better, as this will last longer.
2. Trim your trunk! Freshly cut Christmas trees need to drink straight away, so chop off an inch or two and put the tree in a bucket of water overnight before decorating. Contrary to popular belief, drilling a hole in the bottom of the tree trunk does not mean it will take water up any quicker, so don’t bother.
3. Put your tree in a suitable container, making sure it stands firm. Christmas trees easily topple over when laden with decorations – I speak from first hand experience!
4. Make sure you can water your tree easily and remember to top it up every day because it will dry out quickly. Start off with at least a gallon of water – Christmas trees are very thirsty.
5. Did you know it is beneficial to add some sugar to the water? But don’t do what flower arrangers do and add some aspirin – save that for a hangover.
6. Although it may be tempting, don’t put your fresh tree in soil or sand. This might seem a sensible thing to do, but it actually blocks the pores in the tree bark and will prevent it from drinking.
7. Don’t put your tree too close to any heating, for example a radiator or an open fire. This will make it dry out even quicker – and can be a fire hazard too.
8. Although it might be tempting as this is an easy option, don’t buy a Christmas tree that has already been set in a block of wood as the tree can’t drink. It will drop its needles and die very quickly.
9. Turn the tree lights off at night.
10. And finally, when the New Year comes, be environmentally friendly and recycle your tree for mulch.
In Cyprus, the Forestry Commission has trees on sale at all the stations around the island. They are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm up until 22 December. Pine trees, two to three metres are either eight or ten euros. Fir trees - which are the best – are around 50 euros for one to two metres.
The Paphos station is in Yeroskipou. You can call them on (00 357) 26 30 62 66 for further information.
Oh, and if you are looking for logs for your fire, the Forestry Commission will be able to help you with those too. Sometimes you can even cut your own.
And finally, if you really love trees, why not contact your local municipality in the New Year? There is a service now whereby the municipality staff will give come along to your property, supply and plant a tree for you free of charge. All you have to do is agree to maintain it.
Merry Christmas
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
It’s behind you!
Two village idiots were assembling something. One said, “When I nod my head, you hit it." It gets worse. “What did Cinderella say when the Chemist lost her photographs? Someday my prints will come!” You’ve guessed. It’s time to forget your inhibitions, let your hair down and realise that it’s perfectly acceptable to become a five-year old again.
“Oh no it isn’t … oh yes it is!” Okay, okay, enough is enough. I’m sure you realise by now that the traditional pantomime is alive and kicking in Cyprus – and how fabulous that there’s more than one production to see.
You can “boo” and “hiss” to your heart’s delight, no matter what age you are, nobody cares. And in fact, the more you “boo” and “hiss” the more the actors love it - and the better the pantomime becomes. The atmosphere is always electric and it’s fair to say you’ll probably leave utterly exhausted - just as I did last weekend! Ah well, the big kid in all of us has to come out sometimes.
But that’s not the only entertainment available for you in Cyprus at Christmas. It’s endless. There are beautiful shows, gala dinners, special exhibitions, wonderful concerts, fabulous dinner dances – the list goes on. One thing is for sure, you certainly won’t be bored.
At Christmas time, Cyprus is beautifully decorated with striking displays of twinkling lights, Santa, reindeers, elves, sleighs and more. The town and surrounding villages come alive and are very picturesque when darkness falls, offering great opportunities for budding photographers.
Beautiful poinsettias are now in abundance, with most households displaying these outside their front doors. Of course, the weather here makes that possible. Oh, and the roses, I mustn’t forget the roses. They are now all out in full bloom in everyone’s gardens and the scents are quite incredible.
At Christmas, roses here smell like the old-fashioned English versions, and these, combined with jasmines, fill the air with the most amazing fragrances. Because mountain air is so fresh and clean, the scents are stronger than you would ever find in the UK. Fortunately, I live in the mountains, so get to experience this first hand.
While we are talking about scents, there are also those of the oranges, mandarins, clementines, lemons and grapefruits. I go walking in the mountains every day at this time of the year and as I pass by these groves, I often pick a few on the way to take home. Nothing could be fresher, their taste is superb.
The pomegranate trees are currently laden with fruits the size of small footballs. The almond groves are almost harvested now and by the way – freshly picked almonds are delicious. Once you have tasted these straight from the trees, you will never like the packet versions again. Although the almond trees look very dark and sparse now, when they flower again in the spring the sight is spectacular, with seas of pink and white blossom everywhere.
Finally, at this time of the year, temperatures are still between 20 and 25 degrees with beautiful blue skies.
It’s no wonder Christmas shopping hasn’t really started!
See you next week
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
“Oh no it isn’t … oh yes it is!” Okay, okay, enough is enough. I’m sure you realise by now that the traditional pantomime is alive and kicking in Cyprus – and how fabulous that there’s more than one production to see.
You can “boo” and “hiss” to your heart’s delight, no matter what age you are, nobody cares. And in fact, the more you “boo” and “hiss” the more the actors love it - and the better the pantomime becomes. The atmosphere is always electric and it’s fair to say you’ll probably leave utterly exhausted - just as I did last weekend! Ah well, the big kid in all of us has to come out sometimes.
But that’s not the only entertainment available for you in Cyprus at Christmas. It’s endless. There are beautiful shows, gala dinners, special exhibitions, wonderful concerts, fabulous dinner dances – the list goes on. One thing is for sure, you certainly won’t be bored.
At Christmas time, Cyprus is beautifully decorated with striking displays of twinkling lights, Santa, reindeers, elves, sleighs and more. The town and surrounding villages come alive and are very picturesque when darkness falls, offering great opportunities for budding photographers.
Beautiful poinsettias are now in abundance, with most households displaying these outside their front doors. Of course, the weather here makes that possible. Oh, and the roses, I mustn’t forget the roses. They are now all out in full bloom in everyone’s gardens and the scents are quite incredible.
At Christmas, roses here smell like the old-fashioned English versions, and these, combined with jasmines, fill the air with the most amazing fragrances. Because mountain air is so fresh and clean, the scents are stronger than you would ever find in the UK. Fortunately, I live in the mountains, so get to experience this first hand.
While we are talking about scents, there are also those of the oranges, mandarins, clementines, lemons and grapefruits. I go walking in the mountains every day at this time of the year and as I pass by these groves, I often pick a few on the way to take home. Nothing could be fresher, their taste is superb.
The pomegranate trees are currently laden with fruits the size of small footballs. The almond groves are almost harvested now and by the way – freshly picked almonds are delicious. Once you have tasted these straight from the trees, you will never like the packet versions again. Although the almond trees look very dark and sparse now, when they flower again in the spring the sight is spectacular, with seas of pink and white blossom everywhere.
Finally, at this time of the year, temperatures are still between 20 and 25 degrees with beautiful blue skies.
It’s no wonder Christmas shopping hasn’t really started!
See you next week
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Thinking of renting in Cyprus?
With Christmas and the New Year looming, it may be the time to reflect about what you really want from life. With the weather at its worst in the UK, why not consider renting a property in Cyprus? To help you, here are my top five tips:
1. Location
Where do you want to live? Think about this one carefully. If you don’t know Cyprus, then do plenty of research.
Do you want to be in a traditional Cypriot village; or in the mountains with spectacular views; or by the sea and beautiful beaches? Perhaps you would prefer to be within walking distance of local amenities, such as supermarkets, banks and other facilities? You may need to be near a hospital for medical reasons.
A key point is to decide whether you want to live within an ex-pat area, or with the locals.
Top Tip: If you have never lived overseas before, then pick an area where other ex-pats are because when you first arrive, you will need a support group around you. This is what I did. But once I was familiar with everything, I moved into a traditional Cypriot village with very few ex-pats.
2. Property type
What do you really want? Are you looking for a detached villa with a pool; a townhouse; a bungalow; a penthouse apartment; a traditional stone house or a luxury mansion? The list is endless; there is something for everyone and every budget in Cyprus. Think carefully about whether the property is just for you, or whether you are going to have a lot of visitors to entertain. This will help you decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need.
Top Tip: Remember, swimming pools are a luxury and quite expensive to run - but I wouldn’t be without mine in the summer.
3. Rent
Negotiate hard! There are an abundance of properties up for rent in Cyprus both privately and via letting agencies. Unfortunately, some landlords are very greedy and are asking extortionate prices. If a property is up for rent for 700 euros a month, then start at 450 euros. You can always increase your offer.
Top Tip: Never pay more than one month’s rent plus your holding deposit in advance.
4. Landlords
The good landlords will issue a contract you can understand. The bad landlords will shake hands with you, say you can have the property for as long as you like and then suddenly give you two weeks notice to vacate as they want the property back for their family.
Top Tip: Make sure you get a contract and have this checked by a reputable lawyer who doesn’t know the landlord.
5. Contracts
These can be anything from one month to several years. If you are renting long-term, and signing a contract, make sure you look out for the yearly rent increase clause -otherwise you could be in for a shock and find your rent goes up dramatically. Also watch out for notice periods, ideally they will be two months either side.
Top Tip: Don’t sign for more than six months initially, then you can move if you don’t like the property or the area.
Hope this helps – if you have any questions, just ask!
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
Have you been to the main website yet? http://Cyprusbuyingguide.com
1. Location
Where do you want to live? Think about this one carefully. If you don’t know Cyprus, then do plenty of research.
Do you want to be in a traditional Cypriot village; or in the mountains with spectacular views; or by the sea and beautiful beaches? Perhaps you would prefer to be within walking distance of local amenities, such as supermarkets, banks and other facilities? You may need to be near a hospital for medical reasons.
A key point is to decide whether you want to live within an ex-pat area, or with the locals.
Top Tip: If you have never lived overseas before, then pick an area where other ex-pats are because when you first arrive, you will need a support group around you. This is what I did. But once I was familiar with everything, I moved into a traditional Cypriot village with very few ex-pats.
2. Property type
What do you really want? Are you looking for a detached villa with a pool; a townhouse; a bungalow; a penthouse apartment; a traditional stone house or a luxury mansion? The list is endless; there is something for everyone and every budget in Cyprus. Think carefully about whether the property is just for you, or whether you are going to have a lot of visitors to entertain. This will help you decide how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need.
Top Tip: Remember, swimming pools are a luxury and quite expensive to run - but I wouldn’t be without mine in the summer.
3. Rent
Negotiate hard! There are an abundance of properties up for rent in Cyprus both privately and via letting agencies. Unfortunately, some landlords are very greedy and are asking extortionate prices. If a property is up for rent for 700 euros a month, then start at 450 euros. You can always increase your offer.
Top Tip: Never pay more than one month’s rent plus your holding deposit in advance.
4. Landlords
The good landlords will issue a contract you can understand. The bad landlords will shake hands with you, say you can have the property for as long as you like and then suddenly give you two weeks notice to vacate as they want the property back for their family.
Top Tip: Make sure you get a contract and have this checked by a reputable lawyer who doesn’t know the landlord.
5. Contracts
These can be anything from one month to several years. If you are renting long-term, and signing a contract, make sure you look out for the yearly rent increase clause -otherwise you could be in for a shock and find your rent goes up dramatically. Also watch out for notice periods, ideally they will be two months either side.
Top Tip: Don’t sign for more than six months initially, then you can move if you don’t like the property or the area.
Hope this helps – if you have any questions, just ask!
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
Have you been to the main website yet? http://Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
An event I will never forget …
Have you ever seen a drag queen in full flight? I must admit I hadn’t - that is, until Saturday night – I still can’t believe what I saw. Nothing could have prepared me for the performance by “Veevette” (Keith Newman from Gay Pride). It was mindboggling – and utterly fascinating!
LH (lovely hubby) was best man on Saturday at Pauline and Robin’s wedding and to say they picked a cabaret with a difference was an understatement. Glitz, glamour, incredible make-up, unforgettable hair styles, heels as high as the Eiffel Tower, legs to die for and stunning outfits certainly lit up the expats club in Paphos. They’d never seen anything like it - and neither had I! …
The weather was perfect, 27 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Weddings in Cyprus tend to be at their most popular in April/May/June and September/October/November. The summer months should be avoided as long dresses and temperatures in the high 40’s don’t really mix.
It’s very easy to get married in Cyprus. There are an abundance of wedding co-ordinators all ready and willing to help, you can do-it-yourself over the internet, or you can choose a travel agent who specialises in this area.
You can get married in so many places now, from churches to hotels, by the sea, in the mountains; Cyprus has some wonderfully romantic settings.
Top Tip: Remember though, if you want to get married on Valentine’s Day or at Easter, then you need to book really early.
Traditional Cypriot weddings are attended by thousands. LH and I are attending a Cypriot wedding ourselves next year in Nicosia in May. So far, 3,000 have been invited – yes, three thousand – and that’s only the start.
It is not unheard of for upwards of 5,000 to be in attendance, so you can imagine the size of the venue. And, in true Cypriot tradition, the bride and groom are given small white envelopes instead of gifts.
Why white envelopes? Well, they contain money from the wedding guests. Each guest usually puts around 50 euros in an envelope. I think this is a great idea, because you don’t have to mess around choosing from wedding lists and buying a present. The idea behind the envelopes and giving cash is to make sure the happy couple have a good start in life.
With 5,000 guests it’s not unusual to find the couple have 250,000 euros (wow!) – I think you will agree, that isn’t a bad start, is it? Buys a home, perhaps sets up a business and pays for a wonderful honeymoon.
OK. That’s it from me for now.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit the main website at: http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
LH (lovely hubby) was best man on Saturday at Pauline and Robin’s wedding and to say they picked a cabaret with a difference was an understatement. Glitz, glamour, incredible make-up, unforgettable hair styles, heels as high as the Eiffel Tower, legs to die for and stunning outfits certainly lit up the expats club in Paphos. They’d never seen anything like it - and neither had I! …
The weather was perfect, 27 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Weddings in Cyprus tend to be at their most popular in April/May/June and September/October/November. The summer months should be avoided as long dresses and temperatures in the high 40’s don’t really mix.
It’s very easy to get married in Cyprus. There are an abundance of wedding co-ordinators all ready and willing to help, you can do-it-yourself over the internet, or you can choose a travel agent who specialises in this area.
You can get married in so many places now, from churches to hotels, by the sea, in the mountains; Cyprus has some wonderfully romantic settings.
Top Tip: Remember though, if you want to get married on Valentine’s Day or at Easter, then you need to book really early.
Traditional Cypriot weddings are attended by thousands. LH and I are attending a Cypriot wedding ourselves next year in Nicosia in May. So far, 3,000 have been invited – yes, three thousand – and that’s only the start.
It is not unheard of for upwards of 5,000 to be in attendance, so you can imagine the size of the venue. And, in true Cypriot tradition, the bride and groom are given small white envelopes instead of gifts.
Why white envelopes? Well, they contain money from the wedding guests. Each guest usually puts around 50 euros in an envelope. I think this is a great idea, because you don’t have to mess around choosing from wedding lists and buying a present. The idea behind the envelopes and giving cash is to make sure the happy couple have a good start in life.
With 5,000 guests it’s not unusual to find the couple have 250,000 euros (wow!) – I think you will agree, that isn’t a bad start, is it? Buys a home, perhaps sets up a business and pays for a wonderful honeymoon.
OK. That’s it from me for now.
Best wishes
Jackie
The Overseas Guides Company
Visit the main website at: http://www.Cyprusbuyingguide.com
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
It was 6am on Sunday morning and I heard loud gun fire outside
On the morning the clocks went back, our usual peace and quiet in the mountains was totally shattered. I shot up in bed wondering what on earth was going on and immediately thought the worst. Half asleep and half awake, I had visions of a blood bath somewhere. But this can’t be happening in Cyprus! Then I realised – groan - it was the start of the shooting season.
After just double checking by looking out of the window to make sure no-one had actually been murdered, I tried to get back to sleep. No chance. When the men over here start shooting in the mountains, they are very excited and shout at the tops of their voices – so this, together with the gun fire means there is no rest for anyone else. The only choice was an early morning rise.
Amongst expats, the shooting season in Cyprus is a bit of a joke. Around 50,000 hunters go “game hunting” (can you believe this) for partridges and hares – and quite honestly, anything else that moves!
And not surprisingly, the result is they often shoot themselves too. The A&E departments of the hospitals are heaving on the first day that the season starts with all manner of accidents caused by guns. One of the most frequent injuries is shooting themselves in the foot. It’s probably best to say no more on that!
When you drive through the stunningly beautiful Akamas peninsula in Paphos, you will see “Game Reserve” signs. You can’t miss them. Each of these signs has been shot at – there are dents all over them or bullet holes right through them. It’s probably due to the lack of “game” around. The hunters get bored, so probably go for the signs instead.
The slight problem is that these signs are on the edge of the tracks, so if you are driving along on a Sunday or a Wednesday, just be aware.
If you are not used to shooting seasons being around you, this may all sound pretty awful - but it’s traditional in Cyprus, perfectly normal and happens year in, year out.
Of course, there are professional gun clubs in Cyprus which are run properly by people who take the sport very seriously and have extremely good safety records.
But unfortunately, not everyone belongs to them. There are still those who are very relaxed about it all, just grab a gun and go for it. Personally, I tend to keep out of the way – just in case!
Well, it’s autumn now. Can you believe it is still 25 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky. We are still eating outside. Without a doubt, it is my favourite time of the year. The pool is now 22 degrees, so a bit chilly to swim in - but the sea is perfect.
How I love this time of the year. Why not come over and experience it for yourself?
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
After just double checking by looking out of the window to make sure no-one had actually been murdered, I tried to get back to sleep. No chance. When the men over here start shooting in the mountains, they are very excited and shout at the tops of their voices – so this, together with the gun fire means there is no rest for anyone else. The only choice was an early morning rise.
Amongst expats, the shooting season in Cyprus is a bit of a joke. Around 50,000 hunters go “game hunting” (can you believe this) for partridges and hares – and quite honestly, anything else that moves!
And not surprisingly, the result is they often shoot themselves too. The A&E departments of the hospitals are heaving on the first day that the season starts with all manner of accidents caused by guns. One of the most frequent injuries is shooting themselves in the foot. It’s probably best to say no more on that!
When you drive through the stunningly beautiful Akamas peninsula in Paphos, you will see “Game Reserve” signs. You can’t miss them. Each of these signs has been shot at – there are dents all over them or bullet holes right through them. It’s probably due to the lack of “game” around. The hunters get bored, so probably go for the signs instead.
The slight problem is that these signs are on the edge of the tracks, so if you are driving along on a Sunday or a Wednesday, just be aware.
If you are not used to shooting seasons being around you, this may all sound pretty awful - but it’s traditional in Cyprus, perfectly normal and happens year in, year out.
Of course, there are professional gun clubs in Cyprus which are run properly by people who take the sport very seriously and have extremely good safety records.
But unfortunately, not everyone belongs to them. There are still those who are very relaxed about it all, just grab a gun and go for it. Personally, I tend to keep out of the way – just in case!
Well, it’s autumn now. Can you believe it is still 25 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky. We are still eating outside. Without a doubt, it is my favourite time of the year. The pool is now 22 degrees, so a bit chilly to swim in - but the sea is perfect.
How I love this time of the year. Why not come over and experience it for yourself?
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
What if I ever need to move back to the UK?
Even with best laid plains, sometimes a move back to the UK rears its head for all manner of reasons; often these are forced and can be quite sad. But if this happens, how do you begin to manage this huge upheaval? In Cyprus there are excellent shipping and removal companies but there are also the usual rogues. So first of all, approach with extreme caution – there are some who will promise the earth and deliver nothing – literally! Whatever you do, never, ever part with any cash up front. If you are asked for this, then that is your first warning sign.
So where do you begin? Well, much the same way as you did with your removal over to Cyprus. The process is very similar, but here are some useful hints and tips.
Make sure you ask around for recommendations. In particular, look at Expat websites where they have forums. Good shippers keep coming up again and again – and so do the bad ones. Look for companies who are regulated, for example members of BAR and FIDI – use these regulatory bodies to check them.
In Cyprus, most reputable shipping companies do not want any cash up front. Their surveyor will come and give you a costing and book your moving date. A cheque is sufficient on the day the container arrives at your property for packing.
Important Tip: Remember – there is nothing stopping you from employing a UK company to handle your move back. They will have a reputable agent in Cyprus who deals with the move at this end. What are the advantages? No language problems whatsoever and you can pay in sterling which may be preferable. Plus, once you have arrived in the UK, if there is a problem, it is easier to deal with on home ground.
At the time of writing, the approximate cost of a full pack and wrap service for a 20-foot container is in the region of 3,700 to 4,000 euros. If you want to do-it-yourself and just want your goods loaded into a container for shipping you can usually halve this! Remember to add on the all important Total Loss Marine Insurance – don’t ship without it.
If you are shipping back a container, which has a car on board, the UK will now x-ray the car and at the time of writing this will cost you in the region of £50-£60.
Be very careful to check all the paperwork, particularly on part loads. The most important thing to look for is that the cubic meterage is stated accurately; otherwise you could be overcharged.
One of the most common problems shipping back to the UK is that the port can’t contact the owner of the goods being shipped. If the port can’t get in touch with you within seven days, then a charge is made of approximately £40.00 a day for holding your goods. The best thing to do is make sure you leave at least three contact numbers so this doesn’t happen.
Remember also that if a port is in dispute for any reason, they can legally hold your goods for 6 months. Fingers crossed that never happens.
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
So where do you begin? Well, much the same way as you did with your removal over to Cyprus. The process is very similar, but here are some useful hints and tips.
Make sure you ask around for recommendations. In particular, look at Expat websites where they have forums. Good shippers keep coming up again and again – and so do the bad ones. Look for companies who are regulated, for example members of BAR and FIDI – use these regulatory bodies to check them.
In Cyprus, most reputable shipping companies do not want any cash up front. Their surveyor will come and give you a costing and book your moving date. A cheque is sufficient on the day the container arrives at your property for packing.
Important Tip: Remember – there is nothing stopping you from employing a UK company to handle your move back. They will have a reputable agent in Cyprus who deals with the move at this end. What are the advantages? No language problems whatsoever and you can pay in sterling which may be preferable. Plus, once you have arrived in the UK, if there is a problem, it is easier to deal with on home ground.
At the time of writing, the approximate cost of a full pack and wrap service for a 20-foot container is in the region of 3,700 to 4,000 euros. If you want to do-it-yourself and just want your goods loaded into a container for shipping you can usually halve this! Remember to add on the all important Total Loss Marine Insurance – don’t ship without it.
If you are shipping back a container, which has a car on board, the UK will now x-ray the car and at the time of writing this will cost you in the region of £50-£60.
Be very careful to check all the paperwork, particularly on part loads. The most important thing to look for is that the cubic meterage is stated accurately; otherwise you could be overcharged.
One of the most common problems shipping back to the UK is that the port can’t contact the owner of the goods being shipped. If the port can’t get in touch with you within seven days, then a charge is made of approximately £40.00 a day for holding your goods. The best thing to do is make sure you leave at least three contact numbers so this doesn’t happen.
Remember also that if a port is in dispute for any reason, they can legally hold your goods for 6 months. Fingers crossed that never happens.
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
What happens when my container is delivered to my new home in Cyprus?
We had 256 large removal boxes, plus all our furniture and white goods to handle in the searing heat of August. I’m going to share my top tips and secrets on how to make taking delivery of your container as easy as possible, otherwise absolute chaos can rule the day.
Your handling agent in Cyprus will call you and arrange a delivery time. My top tip here is to make sure you are really organised for the arrival. Otherwise, you will end up in such a mess with boxes everywhere, all in the wrong rooms and you won’t be able to find a thing. It doesn’t need to be that stressful.
Once the container arrives outside your door, it’s all systems go. Don’t be surprised when the removal men handle everything inside at lightning speed – how they did it in the searing heat of August, I will never know. Temperatures inside the metal container reach over 60 degrees at this time of the year and higher. Rather them than me.
Why do they need to go so fast? The reason is because containers have to be delivered and returned to the dockside within a set time frame. Make sure you have plenty of water to give them, they really appreciate it – and a nice tip goes a long way too!
But why do you need to be so organised? Well, it’s you personally that has to check the boxes as they come off the container against the inventory.
The best thing to do is look carefully at your copy of the inventory given to you from the UK before they arrive. Put large numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 and so on) on each door in your new home. Then mark the same numbers against the relevant box on your inventory.
When the unloading commences, you just tell the removal men which room to put the box in. So, if inventory box number 54 goes to room 3, just tell them “Room 3”.
With the huge number of boxes we had, we systematically went through the list marking it up as stated. We put very large numbers on the doors of the rooms and as the men unloaded, a simple instruction was given for each box.
Everything went smoothly but it was very tiring. I dread to think what a mess we would have been in otherwise!
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
Your handling agent in Cyprus will call you and arrange a delivery time. My top tip here is to make sure you are really organised for the arrival. Otherwise, you will end up in such a mess with boxes everywhere, all in the wrong rooms and you won’t be able to find a thing. It doesn’t need to be that stressful.
Once the container arrives outside your door, it’s all systems go. Don’t be surprised when the removal men handle everything inside at lightning speed – how they did it in the searing heat of August, I will never know. Temperatures inside the metal container reach over 60 degrees at this time of the year and higher. Rather them than me.
Why do they need to go so fast? The reason is because containers have to be delivered and returned to the dockside within a set time frame. Make sure you have plenty of water to give them, they really appreciate it – and a nice tip goes a long way too!
But why do you need to be so organised? Well, it’s you personally that has to check the boxes as they come off the container against the inventory.
The best thing to do is look carefully at your copy of the inventory given to you from the UK before they arrive. Put large numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 and so on) on each door in your new home. Then mark the same numbers against the relevant box on your inventory.
When the unloading commences, you just tell the removal men which room to put the box in. So, if inventory box number 54 goes to room 3, just tell them “Room 3”.
With the huge number of boxes we had, we systematically went through the list marking it up as stated. We put very large numbers on the doors of the rooms and as the men unloaded, a simple instruction was given for each box.
Everything went smoothly but it was very tiring. I dread to think what a mess we would have been in otherwise!
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
What happens when your goods arrive in Cyprus
A huge thank you to everyone who visited me at Channel 4 Place in the Sun exhibition at the Birmingham NEC, it was really great to meet you at last! I’m so glad I could help with plenty of advice about moving to, living and working in Cyprus and renovating properties over here. As soon as I’ve finished talking about shipping, I’ll be covering the renovation project John (my lovely hubbie) and I completed in Cyprus.
Remember, I’m always looking for extra snippets to share, so please don’t hesitate to email me with your own experiences, hints and tips - I’d love to hear from you.
Before I carry on with shipping, I want to share some news about flights to and from Cyprus – it’s time to “bag a bargain” so there’s no excuse now for not visiting this beautiful island! Here we go:
Low-fares airline easyJet has just announced it will launch another brand new route from Edinburgh to Paphos later this year. Flights to Edinburgh, available from November 3rd (running twice weekly, Wednesdays and Saturdays), have fares starting at £31.99 (one-way). easyJet now flies from Paphos to London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol and Manchester and from Larnaca to London Gatwick. All flights are available to book online at easyJet.com
Jet2.com has announced the launch of a brand new service direct from Manchester to Larnaca and Paphos airports. Jet2.com now operates six routes including East Midlands, Newcastle and Leeds to Paphos and from Leeds to Larnaca. Seats are on sale now for summer 2011 for all routes. Flights from Manchester to Paphos will begin operating on 6th April 2011, flying every Wednesday and Sunday during the season. Flights from Manchester to Larnaca commence 14th May 2011 and operate once a week on Saturdays.
British Airways spokesman confirmed they are suspending the Gatwick to Paphos route for the coming winter season as part of the airline’s strategy to reduce costs and remain competitive. Their summer schedule 2011, from 27 March-31 October will not be affected. Flights to/from Larnaca are not affected at all.
Right. Let’s carry on with shipping. Last week I said I’d talk about what happens when your goods arrive in Cyprus.
When and where do my goods arrive?
In Cyprus, containers arrive at Limassol (also known as Lemesos) docks. Your removal company will be working in conjunction with an agent in Cyprus. The agent will call you when your container arrives and arrange a mutually convenient delivery time.
What about customs?
The Agent will handle all the documentation needed to ensure your container clears Customs.
Prior to entering the EU, Cyprus Customs Officers often used to accompany the containers to their final destination - in other words, your new home. The seal would then be broken in front of them, and they would inspect whichever boxes they chose and usually you would end up with a bill.
Thankfully, this doesn’t happen now. Customs clearance in 99% of cases occurs at the dockside with the agent. The process is very straightforward - but you will sometimes still get a bill, so be prepared for this. Try to obtain details from your UK remover about how much this is likely to be before you leave, then at least you will have an idea.
Delays do happen, so be prepared. Your container may dock on say, a Tuesday, and you may not get clearance for over a week. It depends how busy they are.
The secret here is to stay relaxed about everything; people here work in their own way, at their own pace - and they will not be rushed. You will quickly learn that patience is always a virtue!
Next week, I will talk about what happens when your container is delivered.
Until then, keep smiling and be happy - it’s infectious!
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
Remember, I’m always looking for extra snippets to share, so please don’t hesitate to email me with your own experiences, hints and tips - I’d love to hear from you.
Before I carry on with shipping, I want to share some news about flights to and from Cyprus – it’s time to “bag a bargain” so there’s no excuse now for not visiting this beautiful island! Here we go:
Low-fares airline easyJet has just announced it will launch another brand new route from Edinburgh to Paphos later this year. Flights to Edinburgh, available from November 3rd (running twice weekly, Wednesdays and Saturdays), have fares starting at £31.99 (one-way). easyJet now flies from Paphos to London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol and Manchester and from Larnaca to London Gatwick. All flights are available to book online at easyJet.com
Jet2.com has announced the launch of a brand new service direct from Manchester to Larnaca and Paphos airports. Jet2.com now operates six routes including East Midlands, Newcastle and Leeds to Paphos and from Leeds to Larnaca. Seats are on sale now for summer 2011 for all routes. Flights from Manchester to Paphos will begin operating on 6th April 2011, flying every Wednesday and Sunday during the season. Flights from Manchester to Larnaca commence 14th May 2011 and operate once a week on Saturdays.
British Airways spokesman confirmed they are suspending the Gatwick to Paphos route for the coming winter season as part of the airline’s strategy to reduce costs and remain competitive. Their summer schedule 2011, from 27 March-31 October will not be affected. Flights to/from Larnaca are not affected at all.
Right. Let’s carry on with shipping. Last week I said I’d talk about what happens when your goods arrive in Cyprus.
When and where do my goods arrive?
In Cyprus, containers arrive at Limassol (also known as Lemesos) docks. Your removal company will be working in conjunction with an agent in Cyprus. The agent will call you when your container arrives and arrange a mutually convenient delivery time.
What about customs?
The Agent will handle all the documentation needed to ensure your container clears Customs.
Prior to entering the EU, Cyprus Customs Officers often used to accompany the containers to their final destination - in other words, your new home. The seal would then be broken in front of them, and they would inspect whichever boxes they chose and usually you would end up with a bill.
Thankfully, this doesn’t happen now. Customs clearance in 99% of cases occurs at the dockside with the agent. The process is very straightforward - but you will sometimes still get a bill, so be prepared for this. Try to obtain details from your UK remover about how much this is likely to be before you leave, then at least you will have an idea.
Delays do happen, so be prepared. Your container may dock on say, a Tuesday, and you may not get clearance for over a week. It depends how busy they are.
The secret here is to stay relaxed about everything; people here work in their own way, at their own pace - and they will not be rushed. You will quickly learn that patience is always a virtue!
Next week, I will talk about what happens when your container is delivered.
Until then, keep smiling and be happy - it’s infectious!
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.CyprusBuyingGuide.com
Monday, 4 October 2010
Getting Your Goods Collected For Shipping
Hello!
Well, I’m having a ball in the UK. It’s the night before I’m due to be on the panel in the seminar theatre at “Channel 4 Place in the Sun LIVE” at the NEC Birmingham. I’m very excited and looking forward to 11am when I have my first slot. I am a bit nervous!
Let’s move on. Last week I promised I would talk about what happens when the big day arrives and all your worldly goods are collected ready for shipping. For me personally, this was very emotional.
It’s strange really. I had been looking forward to emigrating for many, many years - but now it was happening, all sorts of things were going through my head. Was this the right thing to do? What if it didn’t work out, what would I do? What about all my friends and family?
These were all emotions I’d previously dealt with prior to moving, but suddenly it hit me. This was for REAL. There was no going back.
The hardest thing was to say “goodbye” to friends and family. Well, it’s not “goodbye” really – but they are not around the corner anymore when you need them, they are thousands of miles away.
I can remember I was in absolute floods of tears, so if you are, don’t worry, it’s quite normal. Friends and family will tell you how brave you are, but it’s not a case of being brave. This was a lifetime ambition. And hey, worst case scenario would simply mean a return back home.
I didn’t want to get to my later years in life wishing I’d taken the plunge (like so many people do) and wondering what it would have been like. It was now or never.
Anyway, the tears of sadness quickly turned to tears of joy – and the container arrived! Here’s my advice as to what do to when it does.
What do I do on the day?
Quite honesty - and it’s difficult - keep out of the way is the best advice!
Let the removal company do what they need to do. They are professionally trained and will take a lot of the stress and strain away from you. I made the tea and coffee and provided bacon butties – that went down well with everyone!
Pack everything you are taking yourself - including your suitcases - into your car into a safe place marked “DO NOT MOVE”. Make sure they don’t get packed away into the container!
Before the removers leave, check that nothing has been forgotten. It is your responsibility to see that nothing is moved by mistake.
If no-one is moving into your property immediately, don’t forget to turn off the power at the mains and drain/turn off the water supply. Make sure the house is secure and don’t forget to hand the keys over to your estate agent.
That’s it! The next step is when your goods arrive, so next week I’m going to talk about what happens when your container gets to Cyprus.
In the meantime, have fun, keep smiling – and see you next week.
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Well, I’m having a ball in the UK. It’s the night before I’m due to be on the panel in the seminar theatre at “Channel 4 Place in the Sun LIVE” at the NEC Birmingham. I’m very excited and looking forward to 11am when I have my first slot. I am a bit nervous!
Let’s move on. Last week I promised I would talk about what happens when the big day arrives and all your worldly goods are collected ready for shipping. For me personally, this was very emotional.
It’s strange really. I had been looking forward to emigrating for many, many years - but now it was happening, all sorts of things were going through my head. Was this the right thing to do? What if it didn’t work out, what would I do? What about all my friends and family?
These were all emotions I’d previously dealt with prior to moving, but suddenly it hit me. This was for REAL. There was no going back.
The hardest thing was to say “goodbye” to friends and family. Well, it’s not “goodbye” really – but they are not around the corner anymore when you need them, they are thousands of miles away.
I can remember I was in absolute floods of tears, so if you are, don’t worry, it’s quite normal. Friends and family will tell you how brave you are, but it’s not a case of being brave. This was a lifetime ambition. And hey, worst case scenario would simply mean a return back home.
I didn’t want to get to my later years in life wishing I’d taken the plunge (like so many people do) and wondering what it would have been like. It was now or never.
Anyway, the tears of sadness quickly turned to tears of joy – and the container arrived! Here’s my advice as to what do to when it does.
What do I do on the day?
Quite honesty - and it’s difficult - keep out of the way is the best advice!
Let the removal company do what they need to do. They are professionally trained and will take a lot of the stress and strain away from you. I made the tea and coffee and provided bacon butties – that went down well with everyone!
Pack everything you are taking yourself - including your suitcases - into your car into a safe place marked “DO NOT MOVE”. Make sure they don’t get packed away into the container!
Before the removers leave, check that nothing has been forgotten. It is your responsibility to see that nothing is moved by mistake.
If no-one is moving into your property immediately, don’t forget to turn off the power at the mains and drain/turn off the water supply. Make sure the house is secure and don’t forget to hand the keys over to your estate agent.
That’s it! The next step is when your goods arrive, so next week I’m going to talk about what happens when your container gets to Cyprus.
In the meantime, have fun, keep smiling – and see you next week.
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Friday, 24 September 2010
Preparing for the Big Move
Hello, how are you?
Well, I’m really excited! I’m back in London with my colleagues for a couple of weeks. It’s been ages since I’ve seen them.
What’s even more exciting is that I’m going to be at “Channel 4 Place in the Sun LIVE” in Birmingham at the NEC, 1st-3rd October. I’m on a panel in the seminar theatre at 11am each day answering questions about Cyprus. You can get free tickets, just call The Overseas Guides Company on 0207 898 0549 or go to http://www.blogger.com/www.aplaceinthesun.com. If you are around, come and say hello - I’d love to meet you!
Let’s get back to shipping and preparing for the big move. Remember to check forums for reliable shippers – forums are great sources of information and should help you to make the right decision.
I cannot stress enough that there are plenty of rogues out there – just take a look at my previous blogs to see where it can all go horribly wrong!
Right. Here are some more hints and tips to help you along the way:
What should I be doing 2 weeks before the move?
I hope you find these useful. Next week, I’m going to talk about what happens on the big day – and I’ll be sharing my own experiences with you.
That’s it from me for now; hope to see you in Birmingham!
Have fun
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Well, I’m really excited! I’m back in London with my colleagues for a couple of weeks. It’s been ages since I’ve seen them.
What’s even more exciting is that I’m going to be at “Channel 4 Place in the Sun LIVE” in Birmingham at the NEC, 1st-3rd October. I’m on a panel in the seminar theatre at 11am each day answering questions about Cyprus. You can get free tickets, just call The Overseas Guides Company on 0207 898 0549 or go to http://www.blogger.com/www.aplaceinthesun.com. If you are around, come and say hello - I’d love to meet you!
Let’s get back to shipping and preparing for the big move. Remember to check forums for reliable shippers – forums are great sources of information and should help you to make the right decision.
I cannot stress enough that there are plenty of rogues out there – just take a look at my previous blogs to see where it can all go horribly wrong!
Right. Here are some more hints and tips to help you along the way:
What should I be doing 2 weeks before the move?
- Dismantle furniture that is not designed to be moved when assembled
- Organise gas, electricity and water meter readings on the morning of the move
- Arrange to have your telephone disconnected
- Ensure bills are forwarded to your new address
- Return any items that are rented, for example your TV and video
- Run down the fridge and freezer
What should I be doing during the last week? - Gather all your important documents, for example, birth and marriage certificates. Keep them safe in a wallet. Photocopy them all several times and carry them with you
- Check with the removal company that everything is going according to plan
- Organise some foreign currency for immediate use on arrival
- Empty any safety deposit boxes
- Pack suitcases with everything you need for your journey including things you will need to use prior to your goods arriving
- Keep all your valuables with you
- Don’t forget emergency supplies, such as medicines – make sure you have enough with you until you register with your new doctor
- Defrost fridges and freezers
- Disconnect kitchen appliances
I hope you find these useful. Next week, I’m going to talk about what happens on the big day – and I’ll be sharing my own experiences with you.
That’s it from me for now; hope to see you in Birmingham!
Have fun
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Friday, 3 September 2010
Storing Your Shipped Goods
Hello again!
OK. So you’ve shipped all your goods to your destination. But what if you don’t have anywhere to store them?
What if you are renting a fully furnished property before you buy? There might not be any (or enough) space. This is where a good storage facility comes in. Of course, your original removal company will more than likely be able to help, but you may as well shop around. My readers tell me they’ve often found it’s cheaper to go to a storage specialist.
How about costs? Well, this varies around the world so you will need to spend some time researching. And again, I cannot stress enough - make sure you deal with a reputable company. You might want to look at self-storage too (this is the cheapest).
Before you sign up for anything, make sure you check where your possessions are going to be stored – remember the rogues are still out there! I heard of someone who put their trust in a “company” who turned out to be rogue traders. You won’t want your precious possessions stuck in a leaking container in the middle of a muddy field which you struggle to get to with your wellies on! Yes, you’ve got the message … this happened to one of my readers.
Ideally visit the site and check it has 24-hour security. A good storage company will always welcome this and be happy to show you around. You might also be able to check it out on Google Earth too - I find this absolutely brilliant!
Once again, you will need insurance, so don’t forget to check what this covers very carefully and remember to add it on to the cost of storage.
Right. That’s your possessions dealt with.
But what if you are shipping a car? Well, cars can easily be shipped. It’s quite normal for a 40-foot container to be split into two – one side for possessions and one side for a car. Your removal company will organise this for you, along with all the paperwork needed to clear customs.
Next week, I’m going to give you some helpful hints and tips as to what you should be doing prior to your move. It’s all too easy to forget something – but not if you plan ahead!
Ok. That’s it from me for this week.
Have a great weekend - be nice to someone.
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
OK. So you’ve shipped all your goods to your destination. But what if you don’t have anywhere to store them?
What if you are renting a fully furnished property before you buy? There might not be any (or enough) space. This is where a good storage facility comes in. Of course, your original removal company will more than likely be able to help, but you may as well shop around. My readers tell me they’ve often found it’s cheaper to go to a storage specialist.
How about costs? Well, this varies around the world so you will need to spend some time researching. And again, I cannot stress enough - make sure you deal with a reputable company. You might want to look at self-storage too (this is the cheapest).
Before you sign up for anything, make sure you check where your possessions are going to be stored – remember the rogues are still out there! I heard of someone who put their trust in a “company” who turned out to be rogue traders. You won’t want your precious possessions stuck in a leaking container in the middle of a muddy field which you struggle to get to with your wellies on! Yes, you’ve got the message … this happened to one of my readers.
Ideally visit the site and check it has 24-hour security. A good storage company will always welcome this and be happy to show you around. You might also be able to check it out on Google Earth too - I find this absolutely brilliant!
Once again, you will need insurance, so don’t forget to check what this covers very carefully and remember to add it on to the cost of storage.
Right. That’s your possessions dealt with.
But what if you are shipping a car? Well, cars can easily be shipped. It’s quite normal for a 40-foot container to be split into two – one side for possessions and one side for a car. Your removal company will organise this for you, along with all the paperwork needed to clear customs.
Next week, I’m going to give you some helpful hints and tips as to what you should be doing prior to your move. It’s all too easy to forget something – but not if you plan ahead!
Ok. That’s it from me for this week.
Have a great weekend - be nice to someone.
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Friday, 27 August 2010
Marine Insurance Continued...
Hello again!
This week I’m continuing to talk about marine insurance.
As I mentioned in my last blog, the vast majority of removal companies who are not FSA regulated have to rely on their own standard or extended liability insurance. They can make a claim against this should the worst happen.
Important: This type of insurance covers the removers and not the customer.
If something does go wrong, you as the customer may have to pursue legal action against the remover in order to gain compensation. This can be very costly, take a lot of time and even if successful, may not result in appropriate compensation. Beware!
So what are the benefits of using an FSA authorised removal company?
Your possessions are comprehensively insured
Anyone shipping without their own quality marine insurance policy is asking for trouble.
Let me tell you why.
If the ship is in danger of sinking, the Captain often has to make a decision to offload containers. His priority is his ship, and he is thinking about the cost of replacing the ship versus the cost of replacing containers. There really is no contest; a Captain will always save his ship. So it’s not unusual to hear of this happening. What I am trying to say is there is a possibility your container could end up in the sea. If this happens and you have no personal marine insurance, you may have lost everything.
Also, be careful about which policy you choose. You should always have “Total Loss” which will cover you for the circumstances mentioned. Don’t underinsure either; it’s a big mistake.
Marine insurance isn’t cheap but I strongly advise you to purchase it. If you are using a professional removal company who are FSA regulated, they will already have good policies in place or access to them. Just be careful about what you are buying – read the small print closely and ask questions.
Ask your removal company what happens if you suffer a “Total Loss” and see how they answer you. How are claims handled? What happens in the meantime – you’ve lost all your possessions. Are claims settled direct? How long does the insurance company take to pay out? The list goes on.
I strongly advise you not to ship without a good insurance policy unless, of course, you are prepared to take a high risk.
Next week I’m going to cover putting your possessions into storage and moving cars.
Until then, keep smiling!
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
This week I’m continuing to talk about marine insurance.
As I mentioned in my last blog, the vast majority of removal companies who are not FSA regulated have to rely on their own standard or extended liability insurance. They can make a claim against this should the worst happen.
Important: This type of insurance covers the removers and not the customer.
If something does go wrong, you as the customer may have to pursue legal action against the remover in order to gain compensation. This can be very costly, take a lot of time and even if successful, may not result in appropriate compensation. Beware!
So what are the benefits of using an FSA authorised removal company?
Your possessions are comprehensively insured
- Policies are underwritten by major insurers providing complete peace of mind
- Professional policy documents are written with easily understood terminology
- Claims are professionally handled and promptly settled
- It is you, the customer who is insured – not the remover
- Claims are settled direct with the insurer
- Your goods are covered no matter where you are going
- The insurance is authorised and regulated by the FSA
Anyone shipping without their own quality marine insurance policy is asking for trouble.
Let me tell you why.
If the ship is in danger of sinking, the Captain often has to make a decision to offload containers. His priority is his ship, and he is thinking about the cost of replacing the ship versus the cost of replacing containers. There really is no contest; a Captain will always save his ship. So it’s not unusual to hear of this happening. What I am trying to say is there is a possibility your container could end up in the sea. If this happens and you have no personal marine insurance, you may have lost everything.
Also, be careful about which policy you choose. You should always have “Total Loss” which will cover you for the circumstances mentioned. Don’t underinsure either; it’s a big mistake.
Marine insurance isn’t cheap but I strongly advise you to purchase it. If you are using a professional removal company who are FSA regulated, they will already have good policies in place or access to them. Just be careful about what you are buying – read the small print closely and ask questions.
Ask your removal company what happens if you suffer a “Total Loss” and see how they answer you. How are claims handled? What happens in the meantime – you’ve lost all your possessions. Are claims settled direct? How long does the insurance company take to pay out? The list goes on.
I strongly advise you not to ship without a good insurance policy unless, of course, you are prepared to take a high risk.
Next week I’m going to cover putting your possessions into storage and moving cars.
Until then, keep smiling!
Best wishes
Jackie
http://www.cyprusbuyingguide.com/
Friday, 20 August 2010
Marine Insurance
Hello!
It’s hot, hot hot! The heatwave has returned to Cyprus, so I am on total meltdown yet again.
Let’s change the subject and continue with more about marine insurance. I stressed last week that you should never ship without this.
Not many people are aware that new rules were introduced in January 2005 by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which mean that the UK’s removal companies have to be authorised by the FSA if they wish to provide bespoke removals and storage insurance; or they have to become an Appointed Representative of a firm who is authorised.
Make sure you check this carefully; otherwise you could end up picking up the bill if something goes wrong during your move resulting in your most valuable and cherished belongings being lost, damaged or destroyed.
The vast majority of removal companies who are not FSA regulated have to rely on their own standard or extended liability insurance. They can make a claim against this should the worst happen.
Important: This type of insurance covers the removers and not the customer.
So, if something does go wrong, you as the customer may have to pursue legal action against the remover in order to gain compensation.
This can be very costly, take a lot of time and even if successful, may not result in appropriate compensation. So beware!
Next week I’m covering the benefits of using an FSA authorised removal company.
See you then!
Best wishes
Jackie
It’s hot, hot hot! The heatwave has returned to Cyprus, so I am on total meltdown yet again.
Let’s change the subject and continue with more about marine insurance. I stressed last week that you should never ship without this.
Not many people are aware that new rules were introduced in January 2005 by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which mean that the UK’s removal companies have to be authorised by the FSA if they wish to provide bespoke removals and storage insurance; or they have to become an Appointed Representative of a firm who is authorised.
Make sure you check this carefully; otherwise you could end up picking up the bill if something goes wrong during your move resulting in your most valuable and cherished belongings being lost, damaged or destroyed.
The vast majority of removal companies who are not FSA regulated have to rely on their own standard or extended liability insurance. They can make a claim against this should the worst happen.
Important: This type of insurance covers the removers and not the customer.
So, if something does go wrong, you as the customer may have to pursue legal action against the remover in order to gain compensation.
This can be very costly, take a lot of time and even if successful, may not result in appropriate compensation. So beware!
Next week I’m covering the benefits of using an FSA authorised removal company.
See you then!
Best wishes
Jackie
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