DECEMBER 2012 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 1 www.theagiot.net Tel: (0030) 26610 58177 The

62nd Edition Agiot

This Month

Ocay Villas Corfu Ocay Villas Corfu bargains in 2013 bargains in 2013. By Page 1 several years now our tariffs Kostas McGovern have been pegged to fair and Agiotest 13: New reasonable prices across the Horizons. board. We have now made Page 2 significant reductions for Village News. most of our villas for certain Page 2 months of the year, notably MouseHouse April through to July and Sep- low just off the Dassia road, Letter to the Editor. tember onwards. Page 3 Villa Persephone in unspoilt yet close-to-the Villa Theodora tavernas surroundings. Corfu Weather. Agios Ioannis, our home, Page 3 With the western world is the centre of our villa apparently lurching from one Aunty Lula’s Love- world. As well as the villas Bites. fiscal crisis to the next, at least mentioned above we have Page 3 for us masses, it is always good lovely spotless villas in gor-

to look on the bright side of geous settings, at very good A Tale of Two Is- life. lands. prices. Simply mail us for full Page 4 Despite its current troubles details. we here believe more than Many of you return regu- Joke of the Month. ever that Corfu is one of the Page 4 larly to Theodora or Aphro- best places on the planet for dite or Persephone, and that A Heart-Warming rest, relaxation and fun in a stands testament to their en- Encounter. beautiful climate. dearing attraction. Now we Page 5 Going against the current have other exciting treasures Northern Noggin. of economic affairs, here at such as MouseHouse in the Page 5 Ocay we have increased the south, close to one of the

number of summer villa let- most beautiful stretches of Summer Song. tings we have available for Villa Noy Page 6 coastline on the island, Ioan-

2013. na‟s Apartments , a beautiful Check us out at http:// Song for Cousin little retreat nestling in a quiet Cheryl. www.ocayvillascorfu.com/ lane and within reach of Roda Page 6 and send in your enquiry. It and the sea. Villa Noy in the will be dealt with immediate- Corfu Donkey Res- north with the small resort of ly. cue. Acharavi a spit away. Long Page 7 Don‟t forget we offer fur- gentle uncluttered beaches are ther discounts for all of our Advertising. the reward here. returning friends and for Page 7 Villa Aphrodite We have secluded Villa longer stays or off-peak peri- Oasis, nestling in the Agios ods. We look forward to see- This is the time of year we Markos hills above the lively ing you in 2013! review our price structure. For Ipsos resort, or Anna‟s bunga

DECEMBER 2012 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 2 Agiotfest 13: New Horizons

By Either of these two great acts The Minstrel might or might not appear, discus- sions and negotiations are ongoing, AUGUST 31ST 2013 PLEASE PUT and just maybe a dark horse might IN YOUR DIARY AS A MUST creep up on the rails as the year AUGUST 31ST which will include turns.This has oft happened in pre- better dining and toilet facilities, vious years. ample car parking and yet will re- The next couple of months will tain the freedom of choice for the see a big Sponsorship drive from all pic-nic fans and beer appreciators. of us here at The Agiotfest Nervous Over the next two months we Centre and an introduction of an will be in touch with our friends associated 100+ club, brainchild of and supporters with more specific Ken and Jan Harrop. Anybody in- details of upcoming events and spe- terested in Sponsorship on any lev- cifics on Sponsorship and associat- At www.facebook.com/agiotfest el or on joining the 100 Club ed matters. we have had a fun poll lately, asking should enquire through this office Thank you all for your help and people to vote for Sakis Rouvas or or by going to: ongoing support. Chas and Dave to headline next https://www.facebook.com/ year‟s festival. There was a good re- groups/421068094624153/ sponse from various links and the Next year the venue is likely to voting was very close, maybe Sakis be somewhere else in the village. just shaded it. BUT, that might be Listening to our patrons and Agi- owing to the fact that many voters oteers, one criticism has been ease were female and, arguably, Sakis is of access to the site. We hope to better looking and slightly younger. put that right now and have an up- Sorry C and D. graded infrastructure in place for

Village News and all that

by of taverna chairs and tables, but at ters? Lots of air time [no pun in- Paul McMann night the lights still sparkle cheer- tended] is given to tales of [UAVS]

fully in their trees. dowsing us all with some insidious Try this great link sent in by Sandra Our only visitors these days are chemicals. Could this explain the White: travelling salesmen with their vans recent outbreak of diarrhoea in Agi- http://www.pusher.com.au/ and lorries offering for sale any- os Ioannis? clients/pusher-christmas-2011 thing from onions to „Persian‟ rugs. The Great Fence War of Agios

They try their best, but business is has rumbled through October, and We have enjoyed generally very anything but brisk. can best be followed by interested pleasant weather with blue skies On the Greek media there is parties by „tuning in to the News and warm sunshine throughout No- speculation that the Greek popula- section of the Agiot. vember. Only right at the end tion at large is being sprayed by the And leaving that unseasonal were we hit by the remnants of the Authorities. How else, the pundits storms that ravaged southern Italy, note may we all here in slumbering argue, can be explained the relative a howling gale that ripped the last Agios wish all our friends a cheery passivity of a passionate population leaves from the plane trees in the Christmas and A happy new year. under the ever-increasing financial plateia. It looks rather bleak these hardships being imposed by its mas- days with the bare trees and absence

DECEMBER 2012 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 3

Letter to the Editor Corfu Weather Statistics

Dear Plagiarist In the spirit of friendship and Christmas we offer you the next ten Why as esteemed editor are you Agiots delivered to your Personal November 2012 allowing some bloke to quote my Computer free of charge. dad i.e " good food, good wine ( he Avg. Temp: 15°C (58°F) actually said beer ), good company " Max. Temp: 19°C (66°F) in the latest AGIOT ?. Ehhh? Min. Temp: 10°C (50°F) Indignant of Colchester Sunshine Hours: 3 hrs ED: We humbly Crave forgiveness Rainfall: 210mm for this messy and unpardonable Rainfall Days: 15 days oversight. The article you refer to Sea Temp: 0°C (58°F) was probably written by a member of staff whilst under the incohol of effluence [Hic!]

Aunty Lula’s Love-bites

Christmas Stollen milk until tepid and blend in the Roll the dough into an oval yeast until smooth. shape and place them on a bak- Ingredients: Add the yeast liquid and the eggs ing sheet. 500g plain flour (keep it warm) to the dry ingredients all at once 1 tsp salt and mix thoroughly and make a Bake the loaves at 50oC until 25g fresh yeast soft dough. they start to rise. Once they start 125ml lukewarm milk rising turn the oven to 180oC 100g sugar Knead the dough well on to a and bake them for 30-40 150g butter floured surface until smooth, minutes or until well risen and 2 eggs, beaten elastic and no longer sticky golden brown. 1 tbsp grated lemon rind (about 10 minutes). 150g blanched slivered almonds, Melt 50g of the butter and brush slightly toasted Cover with cling film. Leave in a it over the stollen, then sprinkle 125g sultans warm place until the dough has with sifted icing sugar. Keep for 75g glace cherries, chopped doubled (about 2 hours). a day before cutting. Flour for dusting 50g butter Meanwhile mix the dried fruit Icing sugar for dusting with the nuts. Turn the dough on to a floured surface and Go: knead in the dried fruit and nuts Bon appetit! mixture until evenly distributed

in the dough. Sift the flower, sugar and salt in- to a large bowl. Cut the dough into two equal pieces. Heat the butter, lemon rind and

DECEMBER 2012 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 4 Cape Drastis (pictured) have not appeared on the show to date and it A Tale of Two Islands is scenery like this that may just en- By main street in Kavos full of people courage an increase in holiday mak- Martyn Clark and a club full of people. We then ers for next year. Mind with the ad- go to the other extreme where the vent of all inclusive holidays the The TV show that is currently “Kensington Set” are sitting on British tourist in the main has little being screened on ITV in the UK, their terraces beside their infinity or no interest in what is happening “A Tale of Two Islands” portrays pools and out on their boats. The outside of their hotel complex. And two lifestyles on Corfu, the haves programme has certainly succeeded a good proportion of those people and the have-nots and to be fair it i n who do not go for the all-inclusive does it quite well. The “Kensington holiday only have three concerns Set” who live in their multi million about their holiday and they are: pound villas are certainly people will it be plenty of sunshine, where who the average Corfiot or holiday can I get good English Food and maker cannot really relate too and will the imported British beer be probably never will unless they win cold enough. So it probably doesn‟t the lottery. At the other end of the matter. Whatever is shown on the scale are the youngsters who holi- TV it is unlikely to attract any sig- day in Kavos and again only a mi- nificant increase in tourism in the nority can understand their behav- present economic climate. What iour. The fourteen weeks we spent really surprised us this past summer in Corfu this past summer I think was the lack of holiday makers in gives us a pretty good idea of the some resorts during the high sea- struggles that both people and busi- showing the two extremes which I son. It was the first time we had nesses are currently experiencing suppose is their remit in the first ever been in Corfu in July and Au- and that does not really come place. They say any publicity is good gust and even with the lack of confi- across in the programme which is publicity and the programme has dence people have in spending quite strange as the introduction to not “slagged off” Corfu but has it money we really had expected to see the show sees British people who done enough to attract more tour- more people. Hopefully 2013 will have businesses saying how worried ists next year, possibly not. Where I see a marked improvement in tour- they are about the present econom- think the first episodes of the pro- ism on the island. In closing I ic climate. The programme was stat- gramme have failed is that it has would just like to wish all readers of ing that numbers of holiday makers failed to show the real beauty of “The Agiot” a Very Merry Xmas in Kavos was way down this year Corfu and the friendliness of the and A Happy and Prosperous New and then the next clips shows the Greek people. Scenic places like Year.

'I'd like to be eight again', she replied, still Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda Joke of the Month looking in the mirror .. pop, and her favourite candy, M&M's. On the morning of her Birthday, he arose What a fabulous adventure! early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Finally she wobbled home with her husband To Be 8 again! Pops, and then took her to Adventure and collapsed into bed exhausted. World theme park. What a day! He put He leaned over his wife with a big smile Supplied by Mad Mike Col- her on every ride in the park; the Death and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it lett Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Scream- like being eight again? ing Roller Coaster, everything there was. Her eyes slowly opened and her expression Five hours later they staggered out of the suddenly changed. A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, theme park. Her head was reeling and her watching his wife, who was stomach felt upside 'I meant my dress size, you f@*#*! re- looking at herself in the mirror. Since her down. He then took her to a McDonald's tard!!!!' birthday was not where he ordered her a Happy Meal with far off he asked what she'd like to have for extra fries and a her birthday. chocolate shake.

DECEMBER 2012 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 5 „I cannot see well‟ I called out to A Heart-Warming Encounter them in my best Greek. At once they halted the traffic and By enemy of democracy. „Freedom of Dr. Lionel Mann one came to me, placed his arm gen- expression‟ does not license breaking tly around my shoulders and walked the law of the land and assaulting The Greek police have been re- me unhurriedly across to the oppo- police officers. site pavement in a half-Nelson. Then ceiving a bad Press recently, alleging A couple of weeks ago I was in „brutality‟, though how anyone can they restarted the traffic. Town on the day of a „General My impaired vision makes it al- expect them to remain passive, nor Strike‟. All businesses were function- retaliate, if they are continually at- most impossible for me to access the ing normally and the pavements were internet; my friends help me, but tacked by howling hordes of savages crowded with tourists, from visiting hurling rocks and petrol bombs? Any- they are very busy trying to bring cruise ships. There was a much-needed business to this island. way it is their duty to break up a riot- „demonstration‟, no more than two ing mob in order to protect the per- Accordingly I hope that all persons hundred marchers. Their numbers reading this will make known that sons and property of law-abiding citi- have been steadily dwindling. I think zens and their democratically-elected officer‟s kindly action and my grati- that „activists‟ are coming to realise tude for it, especially to his colleagues government. Any who are injured the futility of their actions and that while participating in a riot have only and superiors as well as to the media they have been further damaging a who seem generally to support and themselves to blame. badly ailing economy. In a democracy persons who do encourage lawlessness. Two police officers were sorting In my eighteen years on Corfu on not agree with a government‟s deci- out traffic that had been held up by sion must wait until the next election the few occasions that I have needed the march. I needed to cross the to contact the police I have found and use the ballot to express their main street, but with failing eyesight dissent; anything else is anarchy, the them pleasantly helpful. If one could not see the officers‟ signals. shows respect one gains respect.

servative Party thus enabling him to Northern Noggin be immortalized in the press as „Sir Shortly Floorcross‟. tered around Sidney or Sydney Stan- During the course of a lengthy In the UK the 1945 General Elec- ley (ne Solomon Wulkan or Solomon examination of Sidney Stanley by Sir tion swept from office Winston Koszyski/Kohsyzcky, alias Stanley Hartley before the tribunal when Churchill and his wartime „National Rechtand, later Schlomo ben Chaim) pressed about a claim by that the wit- Government‟ and enabled Clement about whom little more is known, ness that he had met , Atlee to form the first majority La- and allegations of bribery and corrup- then Chancellor of the Exchequer, at bour government. It was of Atlee of tion that caused the down fall of an a dinner party before Christmas 1947 whom Churchill allegedly said „He is MP and President of the Board of Stanley looked at Sir Hartley with a modest man with much to be mod- Trade together with a former director momentary anger and replied, „Do est about‟. of the and Chair- not try to trap me with the truth‟. The Labour party came to power man of the NW Electricity Board. Pleased be assured that as your with a sense of moral superiority and At the tribunal the Attorney- correspondent in the „Frozen North‟ the „decency‟ of socialism. There was General, Sir , led that I will neither try to trap anyone earnestness, even a priggishness at- for the Crown having been recalled with the truth, nor will I allow the tached to the ethic of the incoming from his role as principal delegate to truth to stand in the way of a good government. However the party was the United Nations for the purpose. story. Unlike the „News of the soon to learn an unforgiving rule of Sir Hartley was an aesthetic not to World‟ reporters of old I certainly politics: the higher the moral preten- say a desiccated lawyer who found, in won‟t „make my excuses and leave‟ sions, the more precipitous the fall. government, the red-blooded social- rather I‟ll drain the cup of experience One scandal that caused some of ism espoused by some of colleagues to the bitter dregs in search of an the gilt to come off the gingerbread not especially to his taste. He subse- entertaining tail, so watch this space. was that involving Sidney Stanley quently resigned from Parliament Mark Thompson in the fleshpots leading to „The Lynskey Tribunal‟. saying he was tired of politics, though of the north. Details of the issues need not con- it had been anticipated that he would cern us here save to say that it cen- resign the whip and join the Con-

DECEMBER 2012 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 6

sand blasting is still the best option then, so be it. I can watch the pro- Summer Song Song for Cousin cess. As you say there‟s no massive hur-

ry, even for the strake and hatch- Cheryl By es...leave them until I‟m back. We have Simon Baddeley a good while before the season By

starts...Best Simon Dai the Nant In Ipsos Summer Song has been Hi Simon. Have been down to see If you live near Carrying Place, craned from her mooring and sits on the boat and you are quite right to Along the road to Wellers Bay the shore ready for her new engine hold off on the removal of the antifoul Just drop by the 10th of August, transplant. Dave emailed me a photo by shot blasting...one of the things I That‟s my cousin‟s Wedding day. this morning: want to discuss with you later...we had Shake the Bridegroom‟s hand a few several power cuts through yesterday times. evening with huge storms through the He‟s a lucky man you see, night, speak to you later. Mark And then, because I just can‟t be ...and this was the weather on the there, opposite side of the Straits of Taranto, Give the Bride a kiss from me. 80 miles across the Adriatic from Alba-

nia and Corfu... August is the month to Marry, Taranto, Italy Wed Nov 28, 2012 August sets the day apart, 1:58pm EST(Reuters) A violent storm Cousin Cheryl is marrying Harry, hit the troubled ILVA steel plant in Head to Head and Heart to Heart. Hi Simon all went well summer southern Italy, injuring dozens and And when they give their true love song out of the water...The bottom adding to disruption at the huge site, vows, of your boat was very bad with weed, Underneath their Maple tree, and there seems to be about ten coats which is already caught in a widening Don‟t forget that I cant be there, of old anti-foul still on the boat from pollution scandal that could cost bil- Give the Bride a kiss from me. years past, and is very rough. This lions. The tornado rolled off the sea means it will take lots of power from and hit the port city of Taranto on Oh Carrying Place, you‟re in my Heart the engine to drag along....two ways to Wednesday, bringing down a chimney Oh Carrying Place, You‟re in my Ears sort...scrape off which will take a stack and damaging a warehouse and You‟re in my Eyes: why are we so far long time by hand. It is about 4mm lighthouse at the factory's apart? thick, or you can shot blast it which takes it back to as new and docks...Around 20 workers were in- Once upon another August, smooth, the cost is about the same jured out of a total of 38 people hurt My true love and I got Wed, both ways but shot blast gives a better in Taranto and divers searched for a Now 37 summers join us, finish the cost is about €xxx. regards worker who was unaccounted for after Heart to Heart & Head to Head. Dave a dockside crane collapsed. Three oth- At Evening in our English Garden, Dear Dave. I‟ve had another coffee ers on the crane were rescued. The Waiting for the day to end, and more thought about work on Sum- sudden storm, which television pic- I pray my cousin‟s found her True mer Song. Let‟s be sure to get the new/ Love, recon engine into her first before tures showed filling the sky with a dark And like me weds her best friend. spending any more money, just in case grey swirl of cloud that ripped across anything goes wrong and the dear boat the harbor, was the latest blow to IL- So if you‟re travelling through The ends up as scrap. That‟s critical. Can VA, which has become one of the most County, you ask M to have a look at the bot- pressing issues confronting the govern- On that special August Day tom? The reason is that I recall Sum- ment of Prime Minister Mario Monti. Just stop by, and watch my Uncle Fred mer Song‟s bottom being sanded at Giving Cousin Cheryl away. Vangeli in 2007 and it looked pretty Europe's largest steel plant had already Its OK if they don‟t know you, good after a power wash. I expect a stopped production and faces the You‟ll be welcome just you see, heap of weed and barnacles but not so threat of permanent closure after mag- But don‟t forget that I can‟t be there: clear about those 'layers of paint'. I'm istrates this week seized semi-finished Give the Bride a kiss from me. thinking about applying my own ener- material and steel in a corruption in- gies (labour of love) with help from you vestigation linked to the environmen- Oh Carrying Place, you‟re in my to scraping the hull when we arrive, tal scandal.... Heart…. assisted no doubt by copious rain. If

DECEMBER 2012 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 7

Corfu Donkey Rescue

Dear Friends

I am writing on behalf of the local Donkey Sanctuary (Corfu Donkey Rescue) run by Judy Quin

As we all know, these gentle creatures have mostly lead a life of heavy burden and are now ending their days in Judy's care.

During these very cold, and sometimes frosty days and nights it is essential that the donkeys have sufficient covering to keep them warm. On their behalf I am asking you all to search through your cupboards and if you have any old, but use- able, blankets to spare, please consider donating them to the donkeys.

For further information on the Donkey Sanctuary you can visit: Web-site: www.corfu-donkeys.com E-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 4947 375992 Sanctuary: 26610 91943

The Corfu ex-pat community have proved their generosity to me many times over the past 29years (The annual British Legion Poppy Appeal; The tragic Tsunami in 2005 followed almost immediately by the earthquake in Pakistan during the same year; The ARK Animal Welfare Charity ...) and I am sure you will not disappoint me this time!

I look forward to hearing from you all in due course.

Yours sincerely

Lucy Steele, M.B.E. Former British Vice Consul Corfu

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