JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 1 www.theagiot.net Tel: (0030) 26610 58177 AgiotThe 44th Edition

This Month Agiotfest 11. Page 1-2

Village News. Page 3

Ticket Distribu- tors. Page 3

Pottering in Pelo- ponnisos. Page 4

Aunty Lula’s Love- Bites. Page 5

News From The North. Page 5

Corfu Light Rail- way. Page 6

I’m on the Train. Page 7

Corfu Weather Statisitic.. Page 8

Flight Fright. Page 8

Property Features. Page 9

Photo Gallery. Page 9

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 2 Outboys Go South

By The Minstrel

The Outboys are quite unique to the Agiotfest; one of their number, Micky Clark, is a true Agiot. He comes to our village every year from his home in Cheltenham, sometimes several times, and has taken to here- abouts like a bird to the sky. He owns a parcel of the New Cactus Hilton, on which the event will take place. He has threatened to take his land away if anyone up- sets him. Last year he went to the sound-check and broke several drum-kits-not belonging to him of course- just to show us he can hit drums as hard as anyone else. And he has persuaded the other members of his long- suffering band- he must have got them drunk- to come and join the party. The Outboys have been spon- sored for their appearance this year by DAYLONG, an interna- tional company headed by fel- low-Agiot Paul Grove. Thank you very much for your contin- ued support of our event. Also Appearing at Agiotfest 11

“Sandy who took over Cassa- novas Bar, from Steve and Lisa, is from Maidstone, she knows of Vince Vortex, she says they have a big following at Earls in Maidstone she said they are very popular.”

“The Rebellions” “Vince Vortex and The Cukes

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 3 Village News By Dr. Lionel Mann Visitors last month included religious procession around the Contributing Editor Mike and Kate staying with village from the church finishes Derek and Carole, Walter Stu- at the plateia where feasting, art, Pat and Gina Brett, Paul and dancing and leaping-through-fire Sally, Ella and her friend Olivia follow. On one evening pupils with the Grove’s relations, an- from the primary school in the other Paul and Jo with their chil- beautiful national dress stage a dren, Eleanor and the twins display of local traditional Molly and Hannah. dances, a colourful spectacle. Pentecost will be celebrated Twice in recent years the fes- on 12th June so 13th June will be tivities have been greatly cur-

another public holiday. tailed owing to village tragedies; Our village panegyrie, the we are keeping fingers crossed. “Sandros of Agios Ioannis” Feast of Saint John the Baptist, is observed on 23 and 24 June. A

Agiotfest 2011 - Ticket Distributors

For those living in the north of Corfu tickets for OCAY Office (Agios Ioannis) - phone (+30) 26610 58177 / mobile (+30) Agiotfest 11 can be pur- 6974932408 chased from Jan and Ken Harrop, who can also ad- Paul McGovern (Agios Ioannis) - phone (+30) 26610 58172 / mobile (+30) 6974932408 vise on coach transport to the event. Please contact Richard Wilson (British Corner Shop, Perama) - mobile (+30) 6947320420 them on: Petros Papageorgiou (Boatman's World, Kontokali) – phone (+30) 26610 80104 Phone: 26630 94655 Diane Kontou (Central/South Corfu) – mobile (+30) 6947621504 Mobile: 6946949545 Emma Wood (Corfu Club, Barbati) – phone (+30) 26630 91338 / mobile (+30) 6943534654

Paul Scotter (Agios Ioannis) – mobile (+30) 6948701369

Natasha Katehi – mobile (+30) 6974663847

Chas Clifton - phone (+30) 26610 94627

Janet Balaoura - mobile (+30) 6932249052

Vicki Moss - mobile (+30) 6942472222

Bill Vrioni (Town) - phone (+30) 26610 35244 “Jan and Ken Harrop”

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 4 Pottering in Peloponnisos By Paul McGovern country. We get to about thirty be- Editor fore our brains numb. Chapter 4: Nafplio to Monemvasia We eat in a very Corfu-like lane, where we have lovely spaghetti pollo at a good price. Cats wait at out table, skirmishing with each other for scraps. I get too friendly with a black one. Clawlessly, he gives me a sharp smack with his the other side of a causeway lays our paw. objective; a huge rock-mountain The following morning we de- rising dramatically from the sea: bate where to go next. Monemvasia Monemvasia. wins the vote so off we go, after a We break out today to explore We cross over and park on the late breakfast, notable for Lula the streets of Nafplio. And a very narrow coast road. On foot we en- cramming provisions for the day nice town it is too. We are aware of ter the walled city at the lower gate. into her Tardis (Handbag} before our crumbling bodies today, a sure We are now in narrow, cobbled leaving. We are amazed by the seri- sign of the onset of Father Time. streets, winding passageways, and ously warm weather and bright Lula’s back is starting to hurt again, crooked tunnels. No motor cars a recurring condition, my left ankle enter here. We leave the main lane is still aggravating me. I take allopu- to explore, and fairly soon find a rinal tablets; perhaps the arthritis is cosy oasis called Arthamis. We bar- let back in, though there is a dis- ter here for an off-season rate and tinct improvement in the neck, are rewarded with a beautiful apart- where audible cracking noises have ment suite comprising private been evident of late. C’est la vie. courtyard,beautiful bathroom with My middle years I set down in my Jacuzzi, spacious diner/lounge be- journal, years back, as my dog- low and upstairs a large bed-sit with walking years. Should I be reporting bright sunshine as we head south grand office desk, subdued lighting, these late afternoon years as Medi- for 116 miles. A very good road. an outside dinky little terrace for cal Symptom Years? At least I’m in Easy driving. After reaching a very our dawn tea. Great find. the right country to become a hypo- long village called Leonidio we be- Leaving our stuff, which we have chondriac. Lula is beset with new gin to climb steadily into moun- hauled through the lanes, we walk a strange-feelings symptoms as we tains, and away from the coast. We short distance to find Mantoula’s tread the lanes of the beautiful city have lost the sun in this high coun- Garden, where we sit over-looking this evening. These include blurred try. Lula is nervous on these wind- the sea and dine on dolmades, spin- vision, which prompts us to sit at a ing roads above unprotected gorges. ach pancakes, and Fava [the re- patio café, where we get to re- Kosmas greets us; a splendid moun- gional dish of delicious pulses with counting the various towns and cit- tain village with a grand plateia. onions. A gibbous moon escorts us ies we have thus far visited in this Down the other side into sunshine back to our haven. again, flat, fertile land, with fast straight roads. Here on this plain are stumpy olive trees being stripped of their crop by branch- shaking mechanical vehicles. So we cross this most easterly peninsula of the Peloponnisos and by four o’clock in the afternoon we are in very drab Gefira…Yet, immediately

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 5

Versions of syrup cake are one of the Aunty Lula’s Love-bites best-loved examples of glika tou tap- Yoghurt Cake with Bay saucepan. Bring to the boil and sim- siou or ‘sweets from the baking pan’. mer for ten minutes or until the syrup Traditionally served with strong cof- Syrup coats the back of a spoon. Add fee to balance the sweetness of the Lemon Juice and stir to combine. syrup, these moist cakes store well as Ingredients Cool. the syrup prolongs their life.

80g Soft Unsalted Butter chopped, 2. Beat Butter and Sugar with a mixer with extra for greasing the baking tin. until light and fluffy, and then add Egg til a cake-tester withdraws clean. 250g Sugar yolks and Yoghurt and beat until well 4 Eggs separated combined. 6. Spoon half the cooled Bay Syrup ¾ cup Greek Yoghurt over the hot cake in its tin, Cover with 300g Plain Flour 3. Stir in sifted Flour with Baking Pow- a tea-towel and leave to cool. 3tsp Baking Powder der and a pinch of Salt, Then add 1 Lemon finely grated rind and juice Lemon rind and juice and fold in until 7. Serve slices of cake drizzled with re-

well combined. maining Bay Syrup. Bay Syrup: 270g or ¾ cup Honey 4. Whisk Egg whites until stiff peaks Bon Appetit!! 1 Lemon finely grated rind and juice form, and then add a third of Egg 50g Sugar whites to the Yoghurt mixture and fold 4 Bay Leaves in to combine. Fold remaining Egg 1 cup Water whites into Yoghurt mixture and then

spoon into a greased and baking-paper- GO: lined 20cm round cake tin.

1. For Bay Syrup place Honey, grated 5. Bake at 180C f0r 45 minutes or un- rind, Sugar, Bay Leaves and Water in a

the measure looks okay but we know!!!!! Especially when the ice is News From the North put in first. (Maybe that's why tour- By Uncle Bulgaria cie is easily recognised by the rubber ist numbers are down.) Contributing Editor wrist band with a number on it. They Sorry to sound depressive, but drink a small beer with 4 straws in when thinking back to the old days, Well I suppose it had to happen, I the bars for the party, to share and go have just heard of a labour borough not so long ago, it is depressing. But, crazy spending lavishly at night on a as long as we have our health, roof council are talking of the possibility loaf of bread and a packet of spam to of fixing monitors to all loos in the over our heads and cheap Vodka make sandwiches. Why has Corfu from Bulgaria we should be grateful. borough connected to an outside come to this sad state? What has meter. The idea being all solid wastes On a brighter note, my mate Little gone wrong? Frankly I don’t give a Al and myself have bunged a few passing through loos in any house- toss as long as I sell the little house I hold is weighed and measured then a more silly videos up on utube for the bought for investment.!!! Boy am I laugh. We don’t mind looking council tax to be called the "Passing mean. Sewage Tax" will then be levied on stoooopid, www.youtube/user/ The beach here in has corfual, and there are the last few each household!!!!! Only in England. been destroyed by the company put- 15 years ago May was the best cook books being knocked out at a ting the new drainage system in. tenner on www.lillylongman.com for month of the summer season, up the Huge lumps of steel conduit stacked North here was heaving, and money those discerning wannabe cooks on the beach sand, roads have been among you. being spent. Tragically, this month is dug up then the trenches filled in but dead. The only tourists here are on not re-tarmaced. Some bars are still That’s it, I need a wee dram. I am all inclusive holidays, you know the getting ready for the season, spirits in thing, powdered eggs for breakfast, and always will be, many places are up from 3.5 Euro to Obnoxious Al. powdered spuds for dinner and 4.5 Euro. The bar glasses are now bomba in the booze bottles. This spe- different, taller but much slimmer,

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 6 Corfu Light Railway to Revitalize Local Economy

By Earnest Porter landscaped into the surrounding has been able to convince many shore, will serve material delivery that his Roda terminal will Hidden far down the agenda of needs for the massive wind farm enormously decrease the disruption a recent meeting of Corfu City planned around the Diapontian involved in constructing the new Council is an item of importance Islands and along the surrounding windfarms - both those around the for the future of the Corfu Light coast. The railway's route will rise Diapontian Islands and the smaller Railway, which had seemed ill- gently up from the shore, entering farm on the Trumpeta Ridge. As fated over the last few months a tunnel between Sphakera and for suggesting that a corniche route but... Pantelemon (I have seen the draft will be less damaging, Paskaman plan but could not procure a copy) has been heard to say "Don't you http://tinyurl.com/3hyedsa ascending on a route that passes English have a saying about calling beneath , where an a pot black...or were you just It's item no. 45 ???????????? escalator will serve a local referring to your funny game of underground station to the benefit snooker?" I translate this 45 as a Decision of that community (watch for land An impressive working approving allocations for the values there), bending quite maquette of the planned railway procurement album "Corfu Ionian sharply west and emerging briefly has been constructed in the walled Light" and "Easter in Corfu". into the open in the narrow plateau garden of the Villa A. in Agios I. As I'm sure you are aware most between Klimatia and Zygos, and, supervised by local people would have gone home at descending into a tunnel that will environmentalists, Dave and Alex this point in the meeting, and it pass deep below Sokraki to emerge Beechkirk, is already bringing was intended to slip through, at the new Skripero General delight to local children as well as probably unnoticed, a major Station from where the line will information and education to local change in plan for the current route pass more or less straight down the people who may want to review of the planned railway that was to Ropa Valley with just one stop to the great benefits which the follow the coast on a corniche serve Aqualand and the enlarged Paskaman Route for the Corfu route that would allow a number of Festival settlement of Ag Ioannis. Light Railway will bring to all in private option halts serving some Villages between Skripero and the area. of the larger estates - including the Corfu City will be able to make So, in a time of banking crisis, Rothschild's - between Barbati, bids for further halts, but the with between a rock and a , Kalami, and on to intention is to make these hard place, how refreshing that a to join the new ferry terminal discretionary-linked with the train non-European citizen should buck serving Saranda and further ports operator via Twitter and other the trend and bring this fabulous along the Eastern Adriatic. social web sites. Thus, a loved one initiative into the Eurozone. As it is - and the reference to wishing to make a gesture may gift Almost single-handedly, it seems, Easter in Corfu should make it a station stop on the Corfu Light he means to refloat the Corfu clear - the Russian timber Railway website and special stops economy, creating thousands of billionaire Zefiros Gasparov with excursion trains can be hired new jobs along the way and (nicknamed Paskaman) who has to serve weddings, funerals, retraining hundreds and hundreds acquired large tracts of land festivals and panygiris. I was told of dozing civil servants for work between Acharavi and the by several people who had studied on the railways.Let us hope Trompetta Ridge has privately sold the alternative plan that Paskaman Paskaman is not biting off more the idea of an alternative route that has pulled off a shrewd stroke by than he can choo. will run from a massive new funding a route for the new railway container terminal to be that will be more popular with the constructed along Roda Beach at public, as compared to a primarily the point where the winding road 'private' corniche route serving from Ag Pantelemon meets the wealthy 'Kensington' addresses. main shore road. This new port, Powerful interests will resist this which will also include a marina change citing the damage it will do and shopping complex carefully to the environment, but Paskaman

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 7 I’m on The Train

By of specific relevance to electrical Simon Baddeley maintenance under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Man- agement of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Elec- tricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equip- ment Regulations 1998, 'which 'ever borrowing my car again'. Any- places a duty of care upon both the way I've got little green stickers with Heading south to London and employer and the employee to en- a test date on all my kit, so - touch from Euston on via Kingsway, Ald- sure the safety of all persons using wood - I, and my students and all wych, Strand, down Fleet Street the work premises.' This includes with whom I come into contact at over Farringdon up Cannon Street the self employed - which I guess Thurrock are - actuarially speaking a to St Paul's Cathedral. approximates to me though I'm ac- few percentage points freer of risk - tually at Thurrock this morning as a in this uncertain world. Fingers From Monument I asked direc- part-time visiting lecturer from Bir- crossed. tions to Fenchurch Street Station, mingham University. I'd guess that From Grays near the Thames I down a narrow street before getting my laptop, its power cable, take trains back to London and Crutched Friars tucked below external hard-drive and external onto Birmingham International rhombic offices, to take a train to speakers tested - for free on campus where I plan to meet up with Rich- Grays where I'm leading a session by Roy at the Estates office - en- ard to fly to Inverness, both of us on navigating Political Space for tailed about eight e-mails and as uncertain as to whether the airspace senior managers at Thurrock Coun- many phone calls over as many between us and Scotland will allow cil, invitation - some months ago - weeks with the most vexing prob- us to fly this afternoon. of their CEO, Graham Farrant. I'll lem arising when I borrowed Lin's be teaching on Thurrock's Learning car to make a swift journey to cam- Campus, which sounds fine - in- pus - I usually cycle - to squeeze in deed I'm really looking forward to it an appointment with Roy between - but for the time spent, with knock- another errand and someone on effects - literally - obeying a tech- bruised the skirt of Lin's bumper nical manager's request that I have while I was parked, requiring reme- my presentation kit passed as safe, dial T-cutting and a some skilled via a Portable Appliance Test splicing of bodywork by Guy and a (PAT) as required by the legislation few choice threats from Lin about

Corfu Weather Statistics

May 2011

Month’s Rainfall: 16.9 mm Maximum Temperature: 31C. Minimum Temperature: 5C Average Temperature 19C “Villa Sofia” Maximum Windspeed: 37 km/h.

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 8 necting spots of hamlets to smears of suddenly become quite exciting. I cities, caravan routes winding over found myself unable to share their Flight Fright deserts between green blobs of oases. enthusiasm. By Dr. Lionel Mann When the earth is not visible there is Crossing the coast is often at a Contributing Editor always a glistening expanse of cloud height affording a panoramic view of with its ever-changing shapes to ad- the Netherlands and even as far as In 1976 I visited Hong Kong for mire and to scan for the specks of Denmark on a good day. This time Easter, on my way back from New other aircraft. At night there are we were so low as to offer a sight of Zealand to the U.K. After many years lights in various patterns to arouse details of traffic on the roads, ship- in sparsely-populated N.Z. , where conjecture. Flying is boring only ping in the Channel and Thames Es- even a sheep wishing to visit relatives when over featureless ocean, and a tuary. sets out on a two-day hike, I found the couple of weeks earlier that had been The undercarriage lowered and teeming thousands, the vibrant vital- relieved for me by having been invited locked with its usual clunk. We ity, sleepless striving, endless energy of up to the flight deck between Auck- made a very low pass over Heathrow Hong Kong thoroughly thrilling, com- land and Melbourne to watch fasci- so that observers on the ground could pletely captivating. I relished every nated amongst other things our coor- see if the landing-gear had been dam- minute of my stay. dinates rapidly clicking over while the aged. Then we roared up and around Checking in at the airport on the coast of Australia materialised on the for final approach while the cabin- day of my departure I was told that radar. crew quickly went round to check that the 9p.m. flight would be delayed for Accordingly I was looking out of all had satisfactorily adopted the re- twelve hours while an engine of the the window while chewing with deter- quired crash position. My young aircraft, a Boeing “Jumbo”, received mination upon a chunk of the re- neighbour’s excitement redoubled at attention. They booked us into a cently-served camel when we were fly- this new development. I was nothing nearby hotel for the night. ing high over Frankfurt. Obviously like so keen. We left on time the next morning nobody had bothered to tell the air- Following a featherweight touch- and made out first scheduled stop at craft that we should not be stopping down the aircraft rolled smoothly New Delhi. However our take-off there and that it would not have a along the tarmac. I straightened in from there in the heat-rarified 110F well-earned rest. It rebelled. I saw my seat to peer out at the row of fire- atmosphere of midday with a full with amazement and alarm our outer engines, crash-tenders and ambu- complement of passengers, many of starboard engine explode in a flash of lances lining the runway and breaking them children returning to school in flame, a puff of smoke and a shower away to follow us. We were being the U.K, at the end of the Easter holi- of metallic shards. well cared-for. day, was of necessity made without a The aircraft shuddered and went The plane came gently to a halt full load of fuel. It was announced into a steep dive as our pilot presuma- and then taxied sedately to out dis- that we would make an unscheduled bly sought the safety of a lower alti- embarkation point. The youngsters stop at Bahrein for refueling – where tude lest our compression had been were bubbling over their “fabulous” better? Some time passed after take- compromised. After a seemingly in- flight. off before we reached normal operat- terminable hiatus the aircraft levelled It was evening so the airline of- ing height; we saw quite a lot of India off, we continued on our way and I fered free overnight hotel accommo- from a low altitude. breathed again. Although we were dation to any whose arrangements At Bahrein as well as refuelling the advised to remain belted in our seats had been disrupted by our delayed aircraft our next meal was taken on, from time to time a youngster or two flight. I had no arrangements to be braised camel, I think, masquerading would sneak across for a closer look at disrupted but I took up the offer’ they as chicken. Also we were told that the hunk of junk dangling from the owed me that for the scare. However, there would be no scheduled stop at wing. when flying thereafter I was able to Frankfurt; passengers for that destina- Seated beside me was a six-year-old, relax, secure in my personal experi- tion would ferried back from Heath- already with hundreds of flying-hours, ence of the inbuilt safety-margin of row. many thousands of air-miles to his aircraft and the exemplary expertise of When flying I like to have a win- name; his father, sitting on his other flight-crew that had brought our dam- dow seat. There is so much of inter- side, commuted frequently between aged flight safely to its appointed des- est to be seen from the air: shining London and the Far East usually tak- tination. Flying is by far the safest lakes, tortuous rivers, passes through ing his son with him. Now, in com- means of travel. mountain ranges, the tracery of road mon with most of our young passen- and rail through jungle and forest and gers, the little boy was absolutely across the patchwork of fields con- thrilled; a rather tedious flight had

JUNE 2011 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 9

Property Features

Rodoula’s View - €95,000 This 73 square metre fully-furnished apartment is located in the centre of Pelekas village. The apartment is on the first floor and features 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and bathroom. There are balconies on either side of the apartment, the front one overlooking the village square and boasting unbelievable sea views of the west coast. Pelekas is a lively village located close by to some of the best beaches on the island (Glyfada, Pelekas, Myrtiotisa and others) and not more than 12kms away from Corfu town. Overall an excellent opportunity as being well priced and ideally located.

Carole’s Cottage - Pelekas €70.000 A quaint old cottage situated in the heart of the village of Pelekas, in a lovely peaceful area away from traffic but easily accessed by a pedestrian road.

The cottage itself is 82 square metres in size and comprises 2 rooms, a kitchen and small shower room. It is habitable, clean and with full electricity and water, but is in need of further reparation work. Great views of the island can be seen from all directions and although there is no land attached it has it's own courtyard, with the possibility of creat- ing a first floor balcony.

Please go to the OCAY Services website: www.propertycorfu.org for more details on these and other properties.

Photo Agiots Gallery

“Rare Family Outing - this Winter” Teilis and Alekos Spiros and Lula

Spiros and Melina

Villa Spanopoulos Concert featuring “Duo Armande”