IT HAS been a jolly week in Cyprus. Much joy and backslapping, as it seems that the Cyprus property issue now been resolved, thanks to the UK Court of Appeal decision in the Orams’ case. It is great being in Europe. Tourists could now be sued for trespassing in hotels in the north and presumably, restaurants, beaches and any public toilets build on Greek Cypriot land. Why stop there? In Europe we don’t discriminate. Why not sue some European tourists on this side of the island too and scare them all away. A good place to start would be all those Brits that could be said to be trespassing on properties they don’t own in Paphos; they may think that they bought them but if they still don’t have the title deeds….
I’m not going anywhere without checking the title deeds first. There are just too many lawyers in this place. I did go into a strange building the other day though; I thought was a government office. It didn’t look like a government office but I was assured by a friend who had been there once before, a few years ago, that it was. It took us a good hour to find it, after driving round all the new roundabouts in Aglandjia. We stumbled on it by accident. It just looked like a house, no signs anywhere! Or maybe I just missed them. It was a bit like a grown up game of hide and seek.
What was this ministry? I can’t really say. It must be called something like the ministry for dog registration but as I couldn’t see any signs, I am not entirely sure. There was a very nice woman there, called Sophia, who put the information about the dog’s microchip into the computer and told me to go to my local municipal office and pay some money. Not sure what the €20 was for but I assume it was for some sort of dog licence. I couldn’t even read the form I was filling in as it was in Greek but I hope I didn’t write anything I could be sued for. And don’t ask me how to get to the ministry building in Aglandjia; it is difficult to describe. All I can say is, somewhere near Athalassa park, the University of Cyprus and a big roundabout, there is a house with shutters and a driveway. Naturally it is a bit difficult to park but you can’t see that until you get through the gates into the driveway…
Whilst it was a very pleasant way to spend the morning, I was a bit fed up that I missed a very exciting tennis match. And when I got back, there was yet another notification from the post office about a parcel I needed to collect. Also two birthday cards for my son, that were only three days late. I have now been to the post office three times this week. I think the nice man in the sorting office thinks I fancy him or I am some sort of bunny-burning stalker. Will have to lay low for a while…Just as well I am off to London to do some cheap shopping!
