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APRIL
WEATHER
..... Variably
variable. Or was that 'invariably' variable. But on the whole the
tendency was towards summer, though rather the British variety,
sometimes wet & windy, sometimes warm & sunny. But nights were often
cold - fires in the grate almost to the middle.
Chania
Webcam Current Cretan Weather
Link
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Next Month in Astratigos Village life... Ah-tishoo, ahtishoo! All
fall.... Down? Don't miss this!
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Astratigos Village Life.... Getting some..III
(Continued from February - Previous here)
Well, here, or there we were. Committed by several thousand GBPounds to a (totally ruined)
village house purchase, 2500 nautical miles away from home, in a country
whose language we did not yet understand, much less speak, on a Greek
Island whose military commander (the only person from whom permission
could be gained for the purchase) and in need of a Greek partner (who
would not be tied up in the toilet) to whom we would grant 51% of the
equity... Via an agent about whom we knew very little, to whom we would
give the funds! Read on..
Did I mention previously my professional links with psychiatry? Or just
my personal ability to develop a serious need of an immediate
consultation? Maybe drilling holes in my head would release the
demons.... BIG holes..
I know that I have mentioned that this was 'our very own (con) course....!!
Stop me and buy one (or two), you'll never ever (have time to) regret
it.... Ok!' It was, and I was already starting to regret it.
Or at
least get a little nervous. Try it, write a cheque for say, 20,000
pounds or so. Have it hand-delivered to an agent you have never worked
with, arrange power of attorney for him, and hope to god he won't do a bunk with the
brass. Go on, try it... No? Very sensible. But bear with me.
I didn't realize that this was ride number two... Frederick Forsythe couldn't
have plotted it better - and I was still happy! All we had to do now was buy it
for real.
Our starter for 20 grand. Perhaps another 20 for the work needed, and our 2500mile dream in the
sunshine would become reality! Honest!
No need to see anyone, not air-sea rescue - or a
psychiatrist to get another opinion - just pay for the dream before we awaken...
But it wasn't to be that easy. First
came the news that Kate Secker's daughter also wanted the property. No way were
we going to get in the way of our friend's daughter. It was all off.... Then came the
news that Kate's daughter was no longer interested - It was on again...
Then came the news that the selling price was a little higher - maybe off, maybe
on... Then 'Off' became 'on!' Now we needed to have the deposit ready. Money. Cash.
Not Credit cards. But how to achieve this from the UK? And time was seemingly of the
essence..
But then god (or was it the other one) intervened -
Kate's agent would act for us, 10% of all except tax, effectively becoming our agent in the
deal. Ok. We had a cheque for a number of thousands of GB Pounds - payable to him
(we did not have a Greek bank account) -
hand delivered to him in Crete. When it cleared he would be able to act for us and pay
vendors the asking price in cash at their solicitors office. Our dream would be
on the way to reality... Or lunacy? Was it the Shirley Valentine Factor?.. No,
doubts aside, do it! We did...
Then came another snag - the military commander, whose permission was
necessary for us to own property in Crete, was proving elusive - as was his
permission! If we wanted to get around that difficulty
we could buy together with a Greek partner (first find one) who would then
legally own 51% of the property purchased - with our money - and thus the legal
ability to sell it and give us back our 49% - or not - depending upon his or her
ultimate intent....
Could we find or did we know such a person? After only a few two week holidays
in Crete and speaking no Greek? Would you? The anxiety was intense - we had
already committed a fair sum of money on pure trust. Could it have been an extremely foolish
commitment which could well backfire and prove very expensive....
The more so since we had sold the few shares that we had ever owned to
raise the funds - and would be committed to paying for the work directly
from our joint salaries. It felt like we could lose the immediate funds
in short order and still have to fund what would then have become a
nightmare out of our incomes! Could anyone really want something
so badly? With hindsight we did appear to...
The cheque was delivered. Our power of attorney assigned to the agent -
all we could do now was to cross our fingers and hope that we had not
made a vast mistake. Feeling helpless in a situation we should have been
controlling was extremely unpleasant...
(Continued next month)
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In the News
Reviews...
Easter once again...
Perhaps the most revered religious
period in Greece, but Easter claims a high price in serious incidents...
Link to
Story.
Iraklion man stabbed...
The body of a 47 year old man, found in his Iraklion home, is reported
to have more than 10 stab wounds to the neck and chest....
(item 5)
Link to Story.
Hit and Run...
But, as far as is known, the only casualties were a tree; a trash can
and a wall - in the middle of Chania. Police seek car & driver!
(item 6)
Link to Story.
Laser cup fans may spoil Greece's chance..
As the FIFA football governing body opened disciplinary proceedings
against Greece because of the use of laser pens during a recent match...
Link to Story.
Minoan Group deny report...
Minoan Group PLC deny a report that the much publicised plan to
build a 6.000-acre resort on Crete had been
banned by the Greek Council of State, saying that no judgment had yet
been issued...
(item 2)
Link to Story.
Cretan man dies of overdose...
At the home of his father in Iraklion whilst he was on leave from
prison on mainland Greece..
(item 6)
Link to Story.
Fifty-Three face trial in Piraeus court...
53 Cretans - charged with various offences, including drug, firearms,
and money laundering offences - following a police raid in November
2007. Seven face charges of attempted murder of police officers...
Link to
Story
Whilst in Athens...
The new 'Delta Squad' of motorcycle rapid response police officers
got off to something of a bad start when two officers sustained injuries
in a shooting incident...
Link to
Story.
And there are some who believe...
That the Delta Squad, like some previous specially created police
squads, will last for only a short time - even if successful...
Link to Story.
Meanwhile, one shot officer...
Was reported (7th April)to be in a critical condition. Police believe
that an organized Russian crime network is behind the original
incident...
(item 1) Link to Story.
But the rising crime situation...
Led the government to authorize the use of cameras (originally
installed to assist traffic control during the 1004 Olympics). Civil
rights groups and some respected politicians are reported to have
reservations...
Link to Story.
And the Prime Minister...
Kostas Karamanlis, called for 'a crackdown on rising crime and
extremism'. He appeared to suggest that a change in the law on
University campus asylum might help curb the activities of 'self-styled
anarchists...
Link to Story.
The Greek government also rapped...
The Knuckles of Fyrom (Skopje) leaders who had advised it's citizens to
avoid visiting major Greek cities because of the 'outbreaks of violence
of the past months'.
Link to Story.
Although by April 21st there had been...
A spate of gun and knife attacks in parts of Athens, with one fatal...
Link to Story.
Plus the Athens News 'In Brief'...
Of 27th April did read like a rundown of a very violent Greek society...
Link to Story.
Which might just explain...
At least in part - why the year has started badly for tourism in Athens.
It also may be a sign of the global economic conditions which prevail.
Link to Story.
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