“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” - the words of the Bulgarian PM ring out loud and clear. The one consistent fact in the great Brexit farce is that the EU have insisted that the four freedoms are as one, and that without (for example) freedom of movement there can be no negotiation on goods, capital and services. “All for one and one for all” springs to mind as the original analogy of Johnson, Davis and Fox as The Three Musketeers.
In expat land, there is considerable confusion and concern. Whether Project Fear (mark 2) is real or imaginary, many people are quite naturally concerned about their futures. Ann has always maintained that we should not panic and wait and see before taking any action. Sensible but when you watch otherwise “intelligent” Britons running round and chasing their tails, you do begin to wonder who is mad. Many, many years ago my mother came down to one of the rehearsals for the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst (as she was due to be abroad when the actual ceremony took place). As she watched her eldest son marching she was aware that I was not in step with my brother officer cadets. On that occasion I could not hear the bass drum. In a classical moment my mother turned to the lady sitting next to her and proclaimed that the other officer cadets were out of step with me. That is just how I feel sometimes when advice and questions appear from all sides.
One of the most difficult aspects of all of this is that the British High Commissioner has just been replaced. The new commissioner, who is - in reality - just a mouthpiece for the government, is telling people that the MEU3 form (guaranteeing permanent residence) is not necessary. His predecessor was insisting that all resident Britons (at least all of those who had been living in Cyprus for five or more years) should apply for permanent residence. Now I know that expats living in the EU are seen as a minor annoyance to the UK government but perhaps it should be remembered that they are UK citizens, with UK passports. Of course the manifesto promise of votes for all expats (currently you lose the right to vote after fifteen years) has been quietly forgotten. No doubt the relevant ministers were too busy filling in their expense forms.
If it wasn’t so serious, it would be hilarious.
Friday 27 July 2018
Thursday 12 July 2018
Cost of living ...
There are often enquiries from people living in the UK about the relative cost of living in Cyprus, especially from those who are planning to follow in our footsteps. There is no doubt we enjoy a much higher standard of living here than we would have done if we had remained on the Sussex coast.
Housing is one of the key issues. The Cyprus property market is, and has been for years, a dark place where you must be on your guard against the mafia of dodgy property dealers and their tame lawyers. Many, many people have bought property and found, when trying to get their title deeds, that the developer has remortgaged their land to fund his next building project. Property prices have fallen dramatically since 2008, and we have met a considerable number of people who are trying to sell (at a loss) and then move into rental property.
It is calculated there are 50,000 empty properties in Cyprus and more are being built every year. On the other hand rental properties are plentiful and incredibly good value. We rent a two-bedroomed bungalow, with a large garden and a pool, for under £500 a month. Astonishing. If you are planning to buy, rent first for at least a year. Many people we know are on their second or third rental. They find noisy dogs, nosey neighbours or dreadful landlords. And then, on the second or third attempt, they hit the jackpot.
Everyday items are either very expensive or ridiculously cheap. Fresh fruit and vegetables are literally given away, alcohol and tobacco are at least half the price of those in the UK, eating out is very cheap and your money stretches a lot further. The equivalent of Council Tax here is a fraction of what we paid in the UK. Water is about €7,00 a month. Electricity is expensive although bottled gas is a quarter of the UK price. If you buy British goods, rather than their Cypriot equivalent, you will pay a substantial premium.
Roads are almost empty, although driving standards are haphazard. Petrol is cheaper, as is diesel, although second-hand cars cost a lot more than you would expect. But cars do not rust. Public transport is cheap (buses charge €1,50 a journey) and I wouldn’t get inside a Cypriot taxi if I had a choice. There are no trains.
All in all we find that our money goes so much further, and the quality of life is superb. Despite the criticisms of the public hospitals, our care has been excellent. Do factor into your costs that, if you are not in receipt of a State Pension, you must have private health insurance and that is not cheap.
Come on in ... the water is lovely.
Housing is one of the key issues. The Cyprus property market is, and has been for years, a dark place where you must be on your guard against the mafia of dodgy property dealers and their tame lawyers. Many, many people have bought property and found, when trying to get their title deeds, that the developer has remortgaged their land to fund his next building project. Property prices have fallen dramatically since 2008, and we have met a considerable number of people who are trying to sell (at a loss) and then move into rental property.
It is calculated there are 50,000 empty properties in Cyprus and more are being built every year. On the other hand rental properties are plentiful and incredibly good value. We rent a two-bedroomed bungalow, with a large garden and a pool, for under £500 a month. Astonishing. If you are planning to buy, rent first for at least a year. Many people we know are on their second or third rental. They find noisy dogs, nosey neighbours or dreadful landlords. And then, on the second or third attempt, they hit the jackpot.
Everyday items are either very expensive or ridiculously cheap. Fresh fruit and vegetables are literally given away, alcohol and tobacco are at least half the price of those in the UK, eating out is very cheap and your money stretches a lot further. The equivalent of Council Tax here is a fraction of what we paid in the UK. Water is about €7,00 a month. Electricity is expensive although bottled gas is a quarter of the UK price. If you buy British goods, rather than their Cypriot equivalent, you will pay a substantial premium.
Roads are almost empty, although driving standards are haphazard. Petrol is cheaper, as is diesel, although second-hand cars cost a lot more than you would expect. But cars do not rust. Public transport is cheap (buses charge €1,50 a journey) and I wouldn’t get inside a Cypriot taxi if I had a choice. There are no trains.
All in all we find that our money goes so much further, and the quality of life is superb. Despite the criticisms of the public hospitals, our care has been excellent. Do factor into your costs that, if you are not in receipt of a State Pension, you must have private health insurance and that is not cheap.
Come on in ... the water is lovely.
Sunday 8 July 2018
The sun has got his hat on ...
Flaming June has given way to “Yellow Alert” July and it has been pretty hot for the last few days. The published temperature charts always give the temperature in the shade and you have to add on another 5°C to get an idea of what it is like when you are out and about. If you are thinking of following in our footsteps, the received wisdom is that July and August are the price you pay for living here. Even our Cypriot friends are wary of the heat.
Another factor to consider, when you are trying to see whether your budget will enable you to live here comfortably, is to understand that air conditioning is expensive to run and - unless you have a superhuman constitution - you will need it for three months of the year. It is absolutely essential at night to enable you to sleep comfortably, and on the hottest days you will find many people shut their blinds and heavy curtains, shut the doors and windows and switch on their air conditioning.
Living near the coast often means that there is a welcome breeze off the sea to cool things down. But if the breeze is off the land, it is anything but refreshing. Do not consider buying or renting any property that does not have full air conditioning. It is expensive to install as well. I suppose most people would not live in a house without central heating in the UK (if they had a choice) and the same should apply here in Cyprus. Keeping cool is something of an art form.
Ann needs a referral before making an appointment with the neurosurgeon in Nicosia, and so we are off to secure a tame doctor at Polis tomorrow. We are hoping against hope that the waiting list for her operation is not as long as was quoted, and - if there is any way to circumvent the queue - we shall take it. I suspect that the waiting time in the UK would be as long or even longer.
Our latest excuse to switch the air conditioning on during the day is that it will benefit our pets. Both cats and our dog are Cypriot but are finding the heat very demanding. Of course if we need to sit in the cool with them, then we shall just have to put up with that.
I suspect the government are rejoicing ... not about Brexit but the fact that England are diverting the attention of the public from the absolute shambles they are making of the negotiations with the EU. How Boris Johnson has not been put up against a wall and shot is, and will remain, a mystery. Talk about saboteurs and traitors. The Euroseptics in the Tory party will not be happy until the economy is in pieces. “Cut a deal with the EU to benefit the UK” ... absolutely no chance.
Another factor to consider, when you are trying to see whether your budget will enable you to live here comfortably, is to understand that air conditioning is expensive to run and - unless you have a superhuman constitution - you will need it for three months of the year. It is absolutely essential at night to enable you to sleep comfortably, and on the hottest days you will find many people shut their blinds and heavy curtains, shut the doors and windows and switch on their air conditioning.
Living near the coast often means that there is a welcome breeze off the sea to cool things down. But if the breeze is off the land, it is anything but refreshing. Do not consider buying or renting any property that does not have full air conditioning. It is expensive to install as well. I suppose most people would not live in a house without central heating in the UK (if they had a choice) and the same should apply here in Cyprus. Keeping cool is something of an art form.
Ann needs a referral before making an appointment with the neurosurgeon in Nicosia, and so we are off to secure a tame doctor at Polis tomorrow. We are hoping against hope that the waiting list for her operation is not as long as was quoted, and - if there is any way to circumvent the queue - we shall take it. I suspect that the waiting time in the UK would be as long or even longer.
Our latest excuse to switch the air conditioning on during the day is that it will benefit our pets. Both cats and our dog are Cypriot but are finding the heat very demanding. Of course if we need to sit in the cool with them, then we shall just have to put up with that.
I suspect the government are rejoicing ... not about Brexit but the fact that England are diverting the attention of the public from the absolute shambles they are making of the negotiations with the EU. How Boris Johnson has not been put up against a wall and shot is, and will remain, a mystery. Talk about saboteurs and traitors. The Euroseptics in the Tory party will not be happy until the economy is in pieces. “Cut a deal with the EU to benefit the UK” ... absolutely no chance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)