JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 1 www.theagiot.net Tel: (0030) 26610 58177 AgiotThe 21st Edition

This Month Gypsy Controversy Makes National News Gypsy Controversy Makes National By ket and the Spider Bar dam- peared in the area brandish- News. Roving Reporter aged. ing a gun. The police did not Page 1 Police were called but act. The roadblock has grown

Village News. were unwilling to visit the in size during the day, the Page 2 Arapaho encampment at protests have become more night. Probably wise, except vociferous. There is a meet- Weather Statis- they should have gone in ing tonight of the Council. tics. force the next morning. They The deal being sought is the Page 2 didn’t. By now the locals removal of the roadblock in were well and truly up in exchange for a permanent And Why Shouldn’t The rolling Stones arms and baying for police police presence in Agios Io- Trouble flared outside the intervention, quite reasona- annis. Come to Corfu? Minimarket of Agios Ioannis Page 2 bly. It did not come. This volcano has been Monday evening, when the So the villagers set up promising for a long time, Albania. owner’s husband accused a their own blockade on the Page 3 gypsy of pilfering. An angry main road at the traffic light confrontation ensued, Mr junction. Amazingly, some News from the North. Spiros Analiti tried to make Page 4 time later the police were the peace, but another gypsy reinforcing this illegal action appeared and struck Mr Aunty Lula’s Love by diverting traffic away from Bites. Howmuch with what ap- the area from points at Pe- Page 4 peared to be a crowbar or the lekas Cross and towards like. This incident was re- Aqualand. Classical Music corded on video; The Roving Reporter with the gypsy community Night. www.zougla.gr/news.php? drove into the Arapaho en- testing just how far it can go Page 5 id=49662 before somebody stops it. campment Tuesday night, “Cratastrophe” Desperate times. by mo- but there was little to be seen There have been various inef- Page 5 bile the gypsies called for re- as the perpetrators stayed fective meetings concerning inforcements from their safely indoors. property rights and respect. Classical Music Night Arapaho encampment in the This morning a further The official response has Program. Ropa Valley. These soon de- downturn. A lone gypsy ap- been waffle. Page 5 scended as a Mongol horde, Greece gets considerable

fuelled by drugs and bran- EU subsidy for ‘placement’ of Scherzando Says - Fun Page. dishing metal bars and Romany families. Is it likely Page 8 chains.A horrific confronta- to cause too much offence to tion occurred, during which the minority for fear of dis- Property Pages. several villagers were injured; lodging the financial package? Page 9 some needed hospital visits, Perhaps it should BEFORE but luckily nobody was seri- somebody gets killed. ously hurt. The Gypsies de- parted, leaving the Minimar-

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 2 Corfu Weather Village News Statisitcs By Dr. Lionel Mann ated and a great time was had by Contributing Editor all. Attendance seemed to reach a The highest temperature for June new high. this year was 34.5C, and the mini- We have been hit by the Security Wonder of wonders, here is a mum temperature was 15.8C Summit. A horde of top brass in- month without a major national cluding Berlusconi made it, but holiday, although naturally all edu- Total rainfall for the June was 45.9 Clinton was indisposed. Neverthe- cational institutions are closed. mm, maximum rainfall per minute less all the triangle Gouvia-Airport- Our holiday season clicks into 2.1 mm, Certainly enough to save a Gastouri was crawling with police full operation with the Turner and few days watering. Total rainfall and many roads were off-limits, Gaskell families in turn staying in for the year so far is 629.1 mm., demonstrations banished to remote Villa Theodora, the Bettinellis and much more than usual. areas. Shopping in Town became a the Sperlings (owners) in Villa Aph- very complicated exercise. rodite, the Torlaini and the Sara- Maximum windspeed reached 42.6 You will be pleased to know that fopoulos-Maas families in Villa Per- kmh and maximum gust speed 86.1 nothing happened last month to sephone. Additionally many Agiots kmh. prevent the full observance of our will be returning to stay in Anna’s annual panegyrie from taking place. apartments. Even the unsettled weather cooper-

And Why Shouldn’t The Rolling Stones Come to Corfu?

By Paul McGovern staging, car parking, and of course beaches with cool breezes rather Editor the fans themselves. than the heat and traffic of Ath- ens. The Agiotfest 09 is only a cou- The Dylan Project will top the ple of months off now and inter- bill supported by East Of Mem- Adverts have been coming in est is mounting. The venue for the phis and The Good Old Boys. for our dedicated website, and fly- event has been fixed; it is to be in ers will be issued in July with ad- the valley below the church in the It will be an early evening start, vertisers therein.. The Dylan Pro- old part of the village of Agios Io- the exact times to be issued in our ject are very much up for this one. annis. next newsletter. I had the pleasure of a telephone conversation with Dave Pegg. His It is a long-held dream that the enthusiasm is infectious. Richie Fest will grow and grow. Corfu is and Sheila are booked into their crying out for such an event on a accommodation already and Russ large scale. Where better than in and Frank will be performing to our village, situated only five miles their many fans once again. from the airport and within strik- ing distance of splendid beaches? So, if all goes to plan, and the numbers roll in, one day the likes Hotels, villas and other accom- of Mick Jagger may well be seen modation are everywhere; only 3 quaffing red wine and eating hours by plane from London. In mezees at Kostas Taverna. the heat of summer I’m sure There is ample room for both bands would rather endure sandy

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 3

whether local families or the state of blood feuds legitimated by the had the right to profit from the sale Code of Lekë Dukagjini five and half Albania of the land to build a resort, with centuries ago, the basis of another Club Med agents unclear whether to Balkan 'big idea' via the Kosovo con- By deal with locals or the state Agency nection. Simon Baddeley for the Restitution and Compensa- I was intrigued on looking further tion of Property. As we approach im- into this to find young Albanians, in I've been fascinated by how a 500 portant Albanian elections, on 28 our wired world, had continued the year old law - of which the 'blood June, the Prime Minister, Sali Ber- spirit of the kanun as hip hop. feud' is only a part - has remained isha, speaks of flytipping and sewage As well as the EU, OSCE will pre- embedded in the culture, held onto problems damaging his country's for- sumably continue to give attention to the tighter for the fragmentation suf- mal application to join the EU. creating and maintaining govern- fered in Albania over the years. To join the EU my colleague Gill ment in Albania' no doubt discussing If you think Greece has been the Bentley tells me applicant countries her EU candidacy at the meeting in plaything of the powers, just try Alba- have to accede to the acquis, and Corfu next weekend a hundred and nia. meet the Copenhagen criteria, which fifty years after that extraordinary Different cultures, different be- includes such things as the stability of mission by William Gladstone to the haviours. Two months ago, Albania institutions guaranteeing democracy, . I’m studying his en- lodged its formal application for EU the rule of law, human rights, respect grossment with the ‘public law of membership and suddenly the two and protection of minorities, a func- Europe’ via his extraordinary mission ends of Europe fall into place...' tioning market economy and capacity to the Ionian islands in 1858-59, see- Richard Pine, Director of the Dur- to cope with competitive pressures ing, in a biographer's words, ‘the rell School in Corfu, has written in and market forces, and ability to take Ionian microcosm' as 'a task worthy the Irish Times* about something on the obligations of membership, of macrocosmic devotion’. Richard new to me. His intriguing 'letter from including adherence to the aims of Shannon wrote ‘it is possible to de- Corfu' reminds me of a 19th century political, economic and monetary duce much at large about Gladstone remark that Albania, though visible union . immersed in this small episode’, and from Italy, was less known than the Albania has various 'enlargement' I suspect it may be possible to find interior of America: projects in train, but Tirana is esti- ‘much at large’ about Corfu im- mated to be one of the most polluted mersed in what, for the Ionians, was Oh we're back in the Balkans again cities in the world, behind New a large episode in their 19th century Back to the joy and the pain Delhi and Beijing Deaths due to ill- history. 'In many ways, it seems to What if it burns or it blows or it nesses caused by pollution have in- me, Gladstone's interlude as High snows? creased by 20% in Tirana in the past Commissioner in the Ionian Islands We're back to the Balkans again. two years. Respiratory system dis- encapsulates as well as anything his Back, where to-morrow the quick eases came third on the list of causes urge to hold the world in Peelite tute- may be dead of death last year. As Albania gears lage.' Gladstone, in his famous dia- With a hole in his heart or a ball in up to join the EU, pollution troubles ries, wrote of being utterly absorbed his head get in the way. Albania is facing a 'in the affairs of these little islands. Back, where the passions are rapid humanitarian catastrophe due to A very recent and welcome ac- and red growing pollution, 10 times above quaintance, a scholar on Corfu, Oh, we're back to the Balkans again. the tolerance level set by the World wrote to say 'He was like Durrell - a Preface of the 1908 book 'High Alba- Health Organizations. philhellene paid to do a brit's job - nia' Less public attention and equally, keep the islands safe from the if not more problematic, is a differ- Greeks, even though you know in So Club Méditerranée have with- ent kind of pre-Islamic left-over that your heart that enosis is the right drawn from Kakome Bay, a few miles requires an understanding of Alba- path.' north of Saranda on the Albanian nian history, the lethal phenomenon coast. A part of me thought that local of kanun. Uninformed outsiders may villagers protesting against Club Med ask innocent questions about the might have had an environmental stone towers, kullas, dotted around agenda, but it was a long running the country, unaware they were built complicated and divisive dispute over as sanctuaries for the potential targets

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 4 News From the North

By Uncle Bulgaria in who will rewrite it did really top fish n chips, has Contributing Editor and allow us to claim the scan on now moved to , (Flanagans).

EKA, will he heck !!! A flat re- All one can get now in Rhoda are What is this difficulty with fusal. This doctor obviously hates pretty mediocre. EKA for Brits? Being an old fart Brits. However, on the bright side, here for 20 years I have trans- So off to the clinic for a scan, the anticipation of the joys of top ferred all my wife and mine Na- another 100 Euros. Why bother quality grub after the drive to Si- tional Health benefits to EKA. with this system. Just sit in the dari will no doubt compen- What a performance to use it!! My Corfu hospital for days waiting to sate. Mind you, nothing else wife fell off a damaged plastic see specialists and still end up at would get me to drive to that chair and has injured her spine. the General Clinic, it just takes dump. So went to the EKA doctor in longer and more suffering when Same as every where we are still Acharavi for some strong painkill- you’re in pain. It’s not so bad if short of tourists, and those we ers on prescription. Absolutely you live near Corfu but from up have are skint. I am thinking of not he sez, go and get an xray first North it’s a bit of a haul, espe- giving out food parcels from the then have the radioologist phone cially when there are EKA doctors back of a lorry to these poor broke him and he will prescribe. Okay up here, except they are not inter- tourists, except I can’t drag myself off we trots and pays 40 euros for ested in Brits. away from my Vodka. xrays, she phones the quack and Whilst I abhor the dicks that he still refuses to issue a prescrip- come over here and want to I am and always will be, Obnox- tion. So went to a private doctor change Corfu into a mini Eng- ious Al. and paid 20 Euros for a prescrip- land, although these are the first tion. We were also recommended people to complain about differ- to see specialist in Bones, So go to ent religious sects setting up tem- one in Acharavi (Another 50) who ples and living in set areas in Eng- also is involved with the General land, non the less it is nice to now Clinic, she requires a full scan at and again have some truly English the clinic. So she very helpfully Fish n Chips. What a shame that writes out what is required and sez the only place in RODHA that take this to the EKA doctor Aunty Lula’s Love-bites Savoury Rice. Go: and heat through without boiling. 250g Long grain rice !. Cook and drain the rice. 30g Butter 4. Sprinkle with parsley. 120g Bacon, finely chopped 2. Place the butter, bacon, 1 Onion, finely chopped onion and pepper in a fry- 1 Red pepper, seeded and finely ing pan and cook for about chopped five minutes. 1 tsp Curry powder 100ml Single cream, light 3. Mix all the ingredients 200g can Sweetcorn, drained 1 tbsp Parsley, chopped together in a frying pan

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 5 Classical Music Night heinz Stockhausen - Kathinka Pas- haus Linz, Konzerthaus Wien, Konzer- veer and Jαnos Bαlint (Doppler In- thaus Bregenz, Kongreßsaal Innsbruck, stitute of Music), and has attended Internationale Stockhausen Tage Master Classes with J.P.Rampal, Ph. Kürten, the Dimitria Festival, the Boucly, P.Y.Artaud, I. Matuz, R. Corfu Summer Festival. Fabbriciani, R. Dick, Τ. Wye, W. She has recorded for Austrian Bennett, Α. Lieberknecht. and Greek Radio and has made She has attended the postgradu- various first performances of works ate studies in “Breathing and Voice for the flute. Education for Windplayers” with Dr. She is a member of the Trio Bernhard Riebl at the Universität für “Les Dames Déshéritées”, the con- Ria Georgiadis was born in Thes- Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien. temporary music ensemble eWave, saloniki, where she graduated from She has received several scholar- founded by Wil Offermans, the the New Conservatory of Thessalo- ships and has won prizes in interna- Harmonices Mundi Ensemble, the niki, obtaining the Diploma for tional competitions (Gradus ad Par- Ensemble Sonare and participated Flute with the nassum, Hellexpo, Yamaha, Lilian in various orchestral ensembles as highest degree and Distinction Voudouri, Jugend Musiziert, Scholar- the Brucknerorchester Linz, Klang- at the age of 18. She continued her ship of the New Conservatory Thessalo- forum Wien, the Passau Opera Or- studies at the Anton Bruckner Univer- niki, das Podium ..) chestra etc. sity of Music in Linz (Austria) and at As a soloist she has performed Since 2005 she has been teach- the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik with several orchestras in Greece ing flute at the Department of Mu- Freiburg i.Breisgau (Germany), where and abroad (Thessaloniki State Or- sic Studies of the Ionian University she studied with N.Girlinger and chestra, Thessaloniki Municipal in Corfu. Prof. Robert Aitken getting both Orchestra, Tschech Philharmonic Bachelor and Master Degrees with Brno, Vienna Youth Orchestra..) “Distinction”. and has played at international fes- She has also studied with Karl- tivals and halls as the the Bruckner- “CRATASTROPHE”

By Dr. Lionel Mann ter. At least in the earlier fiasco managing anything financial suc- Contributing Editor those responsible had the sense to cessfully is notoriously bad. An en- hurl themselves from their high of- tirely new system, subject to tight Here we go again! My infancy fice windows and thus to rid the independent international supervi- was blighted by the Great Depres- world of their wicked scheming; sion, is needed. sion and now we have another to today the villains expect to quit Today’s theory of economics is fun- plague my old age. with a “golden hand- damentally flawed. For over two Somebody once said. “Those shake”. Progress? thousand years wise men have who ignore history are doomed to Moreover their politician pup- counselled against living beyond relive it.” It is incredible that the pets, whilst “bailing out” failed in- ones means. To exist on credit is lessons of 1929 should have so stitutions, leave the morons respon- folly, yet even major governments quickly been forgotten. To permit sible for the failure still in con- do it – and then print worthless the voracious greed coupled with trol. Those “bail-outs” are no more money to hoodwink the brainless abysmal stupidity and ignorance of than palliatives, perpetuating the electorate. Manhattan hoodlums, with their problem. Government control is miserable lackeys, to control the not a viable solution either; the re- Continued on Page 6 world’s finances is to invite disas- cord of government bureaucracy in

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 6 “Cratastrophe” phenomena that his countryman’s Only a couple of months ago my Continued from Page 5 eye spotted. He was constantly bank wrote to me offering me sub-

drumming in, “Neither borrower stantial credit. That was a gross Psalm 15 teaches, “He that hath nor lender be, Lionel; debt is a mill- insult. They have had my account not given his money upon usury, stone around the neck.” He had for sixty-five years and I have never nor taken reward against the inno- always followed that axiom. De- been overdrawn, nor have I ever cent; whoso doeth these things shall spite encouraging my musical aspi- sought credit. Their charges for never fall.” rations I think he hoped that I, his ordinary business are extortionate In “Hamlet” Shakespeare ad- oldest grandson in England, would and yet they try to lure the deluded monishes, “Neither borrower nor succeed him. populace into debt so that they may lender be.” The Great Depression hit his squeeze even more hard-earned There are examples in Dickens’s businesses hard yet, despite running money from them. The whole af- books of the folly of incurring at a loss, he retained the six shoe fair is utterly immoral as well as be- debt. Mr. Micawber is very explicit operatives and the four builders ing the nadir of stupidity, resulting on that point. Authorities had a who had been with him since he set in today’s monetary “cratastrophe”, salutary way of dealing with finan- up on his own account. “I shall another Great Depression. They cial irregularity in those days. As a never turn them out on to the call it an “economic downturn” or a youngster that author had visited streets.” Neither did he evict any “recession”. Whom do they think his father in a debtor’s prison. tenants who could not pay their they are fooling when hordes are Sir Daniel Gooch of G.W.R. rents. The war saved him by pro- thrown out of work? and Atlantic Cable fame, who rose viding large orders for army All of current “pop” culture is from very humble and indigent ori- boots. The shoe factory was back basically economically wicked, gins, from the first managed his af- into full operation, and all his “giving money upon usury and tak- fairs very circumspectly, always builders were taken on by the Min- ing reward against the innocent”, shunning insolvency, and in his istry of Works or conscripted into encouraging profligacy. It is the writings advised others to follow his the armed forces. In 1946, witness- practice of extortion against the example. ing the Labour Government sabo- brainwashed masses, ruthless ex- Between the ages of eleven and taging British industry, he closed ploitation and corruption of the eighteen I lived in my grandfather’s the factory after ensuring that all young. “Whoso doeth those household. Almost every week I his staff were safely employed else- things” has certainly fallen, but they would accompany him on his where. Within a year he was dead, have taken millions of innocents “Sunday constitutional” around the no longer having any purpose in with them. More power to those “four-mile square” of roads sur- life. who would impose much stricter rounding our village. Aged four- Throughout my life I have fol- control; the “free market”, still cyni- teen he had been apprenticed to lowed his advice, never going to bed cally advocated by the unscrupulous the cobbler in his Lincolnshire vil- at night owing anybody any- guilty, has been tried and found lage; aged forty he was proprietor of thing. As a Headmaster I always utterly ruinous. It is time that the a shoe factory employing sixty op- insisted that my Chairman of Gov- world’s honest citizens were given eratives and a building business ernors or School Treasurer (both sound protection from the perni- with a staff of twenty. Most of the rather amused – “it’s not modern cious machinations of the “tycoons” houses in the newer part of the vil- business practice”) should provide and others who seek to plunder lage were built by his men and he me with counter-signed cheques so them. Especially should the named many of the roads. He that I could settle promptly any in- U.S.A., the chief offender and owned tracts of woodland, sched- voice received. My last duty at again cause of the disaster, be com- uled for further development, that night, if need be, would be to walk pelled to mend its evil ways. afforded venues for our youthful to the post office to post replies in games. Although sixty-plus he yet payment of accounts delivered that marched at a good pace and our day. Then I could sleep soundly. I afternoon “strolls” lasted about an also found that the firms with hour, during which he would ex- whom we dealt gave very good, pound his business philosophy as equally prompt, service. well as commenting upon natural

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 7 VILLA THEODORA AGIOS IOANNIS

SERENADE

RIA GEORGIADIS (FLUTE) DR. LIONEL MANN (ORGAN)

Flute Sonata in F Minor . . Georg Philipp Telemann Grand Jeu ...... Pierre du Mage Gavotte ...... Jean-Baptiste Lully Tambourin ...... Franz Joseph Gossec Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV565) . J.S. Bach Rondo in D (K Anh. 184) . Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

INTERVAL - Indian food will be served

Fantasie Mélancolique . . Matthieu André Reichert Canon in B Minor (Op. 56-5) . . Robert Schumann Sicilienne (Op. 78) ...... Gabriel Fauré Prelude and Fugue on B.A.C.H. . . . . Franz Liszt Fantasiestücke (Op. 2) ...... Carl Nielsen

MONDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 8 P.M.

ADMISSION 15.00 EUROS (Children free) INCLUDING FOOD AND A GLASS OF WINE,

BEER OR SOFT DRINK. Ocay Services Print

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 8 Scherzando saYS

The perks of reaching 50, being over 60 and heading towards 70!!

Kidnappers are not very interested in you. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

No one expects you to run …….. anywhere.

There is nothing left to learn the hard way

You can live without sex but not your glasses!

You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

Your joints are more accurate meteorologists then the national weather service.

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either!?

Thought for next Month

Middle age is the awkward period when Father Time starts catching up with Mother Nature.

JULY 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 9 PROPERTY PAGES

Varipatades Ano Korakiana Faery Cottage

This is a great little cottage in Vari- In an idyllic old world location, amongst This is definitely the time that land patades with a lovely orchard garden the cottages of Ano Korakiana, not far forgot and this one small picture is to and a very large outbuilding, crying from the National Paleokastritsa high- entice the romantic amongst you to out ot be a grand kitchen. way leading swiftly to town, is this splen- seek out this idyllic spot amongst the did detached house, nestling on the northern, olive- clad mountains. See it! mountain slopes with lovely views be- Come and live in this stunning ter- low. The spacious three storey house rain, and yet only ten minutes by car requires renovation but is very sound to the northern beaches and shops. structurally.

Price € 70,000 Price € 70,000 Price € 120,000

Spartilas Bargain Panorama Development Giannades

This cottage tucked away in the Stunning, innovative, moulded to the This detached house of 144 square sleepy lanes of the mountain village terraces villas, enjoying unspoilable metres lies in gardens which include of Spartilas is a good buy for the per- views across the valley. Both three- a 25 square metre garage. son who wishes to revive it to its for- bedroom villas are one hundred There is plenty of room for a swim- mer condition. It is basically sound square metres basic with extra covered ming pool. and therefore well-priced. Spartilas is area in the linkeage. The villas are cen- perched on the mountainside above trally heated and feature spiral oak Barbati with beautiful views to the stairwells. sea. Well worth viewing. (See website below for details)

Price € 35,000 Price: € 326,000 Price: € 280,000

For more information on these properties and others go to - www.propertycorfu.org