Bill, Can You Give Me a Little Bit More on the Floor? Page 1-2

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 1 www.theagiot.net Tel: (0030) 26610 58177 AgiotThe 24th Edition

This Month

Bill, Can You Give Me a Little Bit More On The Floor? Page 1-2

Agiotfest 09 Review. Page 3

Andy, Man of the Year. Page 3

Agiotfest 09 Raffle Winners. Page 4

Aunty Lula’s Love Bites. Page 4

Corfu Weather. Page 4

Village News. Bill, Can You Give Me a Little Bit More On Page 5 The Floor? An Appeal. Page 5 By Paul McGovern ning streak across the sky the darkening sky. ‘Oh, it is Editor and rain plummet down. here’, says the caller. ‘Where News from the North. The 12th was a busy day. are you ringing from?’ Page 6-7 The months of pulling The phone never stopped ‘Town’. As town is only five things together, the anguish Obituary. ringing in the hours leading miles away this was a bit Page 7 over the rain, the uncer- up to ‘open doors’. Janet worrying. Somebody rang tainty for a long time of the was in to work for her first from Gouvia. It was raining Scherzando Says - venue, were all put to bed as Fun Page. Saturday shift, after nearly there too. A few prayers Page the Agiotfest happened on two years of working at later and the clouds drifted th the night of the 12 Sep- Ocay Services. She was go- on, unmolesting us. I just A Home from Home. tember, in the plateia of ing to be on the gate tonight began to relax when the Page 9-11 Agios Ioannis, Corfu. and was sorting tickets and sound of a crash came from Featured Property I’d dreamt, literally, of answering the phone and the square below. The ro- Page 11 possible scenarios in the giving me sedatives simulta- bust eight by five metre

many nights leading up to neously. stage had been erected over the event. One scenario had Several callers were ask- the last couple of days. us all huddled together un- ing ‘is it raining? ‘No', I an- der shelter, watching light- swered, looking anxiously at Continued on Page 2

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 2

Bill, Can You Give Me a Little Bit of the island. Their music is raw, conducted the raffle, the numbers More On The Floor. atmospheric. Steve has a gravel being picked by local children. Continued from Page 1 voice perfectly suited for their The Dylans come back for their

brand of rock. Paul Stenton wows final set. They are obviously enjoy- The builder was crossing the square the audience with his lead guitar, ing themselves, as they go way past in his truck. Crash! He drives ably backed up by solid rhythm and ‘closing time and then beyond one straight into a stack of monitors. vocal from Barry Packman. Steve is o’ clock, before wrapping up with They lay in several pieces on the also compere for the night, and is a ‘Like A Rolling Stone’, during ground. And I had just finished total natural with charm and infec- which they invite all artists up onto thanking God for the weather. tious enthusiasm. Elegant Natasha stage for a grand finale.’More, more’ The technicians got to work, re- ably assists him with a Greek trans- is being shrieked at the end. assembled their equipment, and lation of events. There is a tribute It is over, like a dream. The during the afternoon it was fired up to old Agiot Dave Smith, who sadly crowd disperses, all smiles. for testing. The groups came along passed away in England earlier in Such a kaleidoscope of happen- for their sound checks. Miracu- the year. ings, it is hard to single out an out- lously, there seemed no noticeable Darkness descends and the standing memory of the night. It impairment of the sound quality. crowd swells to near-full, the night was all so good. Andy and Karen were busy dur- is on. All those worrying dreams are But I must mention a few high- ing this carnage, decorating the changing into a pleasant but unreal lights; Steve Gibbons calling for ‘a stage with various buntings. And a reality. Russ is back on stage, this little more on the floor’ to Bill, who fine job they did too. Dave and time with his pretty daughter was highly-commended by the Dy- Trevor were shopping and Barry Jemma. Shy at first, singing along- lans for his proficiency on the mix- and Stella and Cecilia and Rich side her Dad, it is swiftly evident ing desk. Brendan Day, late replace- were preparing the ‘hut’ (Municipal that she has a great voice; audience ment for Gerry Conway on drums. Building) for the catering which bowled over again. He was playing to a group of young would feed and water the crowd on East Of Memphis are on. They village boys in the wings. They were the night. have a mellowness and strength agog. In ten years from now Agios Chairs were delivered Friday and will produce a rock drummer or about them, Richie’s strong guitar laid out on the Saturday .Food and two. P.J. Wright gave me his slide and vocals complementing the drink in, barbecue firing, last- guitar; nothing can be added from sweet powerful voice of Sheila minute appointment of toilets as me to that kindness. McWhirter. the taverna was not opening to- I want to thank everybody who Richie is a stalwart of Agiotfest; night. Three waiters prove to be played, helped, witnessed or spon- again he delivers. great workers as the evening un- sored this great, great night. If they The Dylan Project are delayed by folds. Giorgos the Mayor and Gior- are not mentioned in name above previous sets, but finally they are gos (Rika’s son) volunteer as bbq they know who they are and will away. I’d never seen them live be- chefs. surely forgive the omission. fore, so was hopeful but slightly ap- Jackie was schmoozing the art- Three people deserve a special prehensive for them, following such ists, Martin and Doug appear to mention here.. Firstly, Jackie Dickin- a strong supporting cast. I needn’t run the gates with Janet, Lakis son for her great efforts in commu- have worried. Consummate profes- brings ‘security’, four young Greek nicating with the Dylan Project in sionals, they had the audience in lads lean on years, but diligent in the months leading up to the Agiot- their palms and people up and their duty. fest. Secondly to Dave Pegg, who dancing on the improvised dance- Suddenly it is six o’clock and ‘kept the faith’ and came over to the floor below the stage. What per- people are turning up. The Good time that land forgot. And last but formers, what a tight sound. Yes Old Boys start proceedings to warm not least to Lula, without whom they played Dylan, but not exclu- up the audience. Numbers are low none of this would have been possi- sively. Numbers tumbled out effort- to start, but soon more and more ble. Her sometimes chaotic methods lessly, some of which were probably music enthusiasts are drifting in. may befuddle the casual British ob- unfamiliar to the appreciative listen- The Good Old Boys [Russ and server, but like a magician she al- ers. Frank] alternate on stage with ways pulls things successfully from In the midst of this Lucy Steele Omega Five, down from the north her hat.

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 3 Agiotfest 09 Review

Contributed by Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw teenage years a happy period to re- Spyros Hytiris Your Face will linger for quite a member, and his other band Fair- while in my ears. More covers by port Convention made me start It just happened. Almost no-one the band included the classic Super- investigating the roots of British being aware of the event except for stition and one Duffy’s number. folk when I first heard the tremen- the local English-speaking popula- Omega 5 came up with more 70’s dous Liege & Lief LP of folk cov- tion. A wonderful evening at the and 80’s stuff, namely Dire Strait’s ers), P.J. Wright, Steve Gibbons’ family-friendly plateia of Agios Ioan- Money For Nothing, Deep Purple’s guitarist (you should definitely nis, where you had the once-in-a- Smoke on the Water, Lynyrd check out his excellent collabora- lifetime chance to see quite a few Skynyrd’s Free Bird, Hendrix’s Pur- tion with Dave Pegg titled Galileo’s legendary figures from mainly sev- ple Haze, Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Apology) and an astounding Phil enties folk-rock and blues bands. Wild and Guns’n’Roses’ Sweet Bond on keyboards. This bunch of The Good Old Boys, aka Frank Child Of Mine before concluding old mates is responsible for what is Bloomfield and Russ Bartlett with a frenetic Johnny B. Good. known as the Dylan Project, who opened the festival with a short set Well played, with a lot of electric cover Dylan better than Dylan him- of soft, American-friendly acoustic and acoustic guitar work but how self now that the latter’s voice has balladry, the pedal steel guitar play- about some original stuff guys? become hoarser than the old blues- ing a prominent role in the duo’s East of Memphis, the Scottish men and folk singers of his roots. I sound. Sweet renditions of Bread duo of Richie Henderson and wouldn’t really have to recite all the and Eagles tunes warmed up the Sheila Mc Whirter brought quality great numbers we heard on their atmosphere, “Make It With You” trad folk to the stage, covering stan- well-focused, brilliantly worked out being the nicest moment of the set dard folk numbers as well as mod- set, but one thing is for certain; to these ears. ern pop ones, like Seal’s Crazy. It Unless it’s Dylan’s poetry and word Omega 5 followed with a mix- seemed like the whole place was puns and tricks as well as a great ture of sixties and seventies rock. A vibrating colourfully while everyone band to perform, you wouldn’t get mean lead guitarist stole hearts with sang along to “We’re never gonna middle-aged or even older people stunning crystal-clear solos, notably survive unless we get a little crazy”, sing along and dance to lyrics like Hotel California’s all-time-classic but it was Simon Dupree’s psyche- “everybody must get stoned” so hap- second part. A harsh-voiced long delic pop gem “Kites” from 1967 pily at the square of Agios Ioannis blond-haired vocalist added a heav- that brought the duo’s performance in Corfu. ier, old metal aesthetics element. A to its highest point, perfectly sung I hope –and I believe this is eve- wide range of selections made it by Sheila’s powerful but tender rybody’s wish- this year’s Agiotfest interesting trying to guess what sort voice, accompanied by Richie’s gui- was only the beginning. We need of a song the next number would tar. Other covers included composi- more please. Or in Jethro Tull’s be (The Floyd’s Another Brick in tions by The Everly Brothers, Ann own words we have “reasons for the Wall, Thin Lizzy’s Whiskey in Peebles, Simon & Garfunkel, waiting and dreaming of dreams”. the Jar, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Sandy Wright, Sonny & Cher, the

Home Alabama, Free’s All Right Beatles and a modern rock surprise, Now, Gary Moore’s Parisian Walk- the Killers’ Human. ways, Cutting Crew’s Died In Your OK, what about the headliners Arms Tonight and Rod Stewart’s I then? Well, here comes history it-

Don’t Wanna Talk About It). self. Steve Gibbons (yes, the same Both the Good Old Boys and Steve Gibbons of the S.G. Band), Omega 5 took to the stage taking Dave Pegg (when I met him at the turns twice, the former reappearing band’s reception I couldn’t believe I as a full band –though much was talking to the bassist whose younger now, a surprisingly mature- band Jethro Tull along with the “Andy, Man of the Year - wows Rock voiced 19-year-old Jemma Bartlett whole British prog thing made my Artists” added, whose rendition of Roberta

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 4

Agiotfest 09 – Raffle Winners Winning Winners Ticket No: Name: Prize:

2038 Maria Velissaropoulou 1 weeks stay for up to 7 persons at Villa Theodora during May 2010. 0165 Janneke & Rosunda Acoustic Guitar. 0111 Andy Asian Spa Massage. 2005 Julia from Greek Islands Champagne 0047 Tim of Island Radio Water Ski Lesson (Auctioned for charity to Alex Ioannides) 0083 Dimitris from Gouvia Marina Ladies Hairstyling 0033 Paul Scotter Meal for 2 at the Navigators - Kontokoli

For more pictures of the Agiotfest 09 week and Saturday’s Rock Concert night then go to The

Gallery section of The Agiot on: www.theagiot.net (from week commencing 5th October)

“Classical Music Night featuring Lionel and Ria”

Corfu Weather Aunty Lula’s Love-bites Statistics:

MEXICAN VEGETABLE Salt and Pepper to taste The highest temperature for Sep- tember this year was 30.9C on the SOUP 4th, an all-time record for the GO: month. 2 tbls Olive Oil

1 Large Onion finely chopped 1. Heat Oil and sauté Onions, The minimum temperature was 1 or 2 Garlic Cloves mashed Garlic and all Spices for 17.9C on 23rd. 1 tbls Cumin about 5 minutes.

2 tsp Paprika 2. Add all other ingredients. Total rainfall for the September was A pinch of Chili Powder 3. Bring to boil and simmer for 23.1mm with 9.3 mm falling on the 1 tsp Coriander between 30 and 40 minutes 17th.and 8.7mm on the 25th. 1 tin Chick Peas until required consistency.

1 tin Haricot Beans Total rainfall for the year so far is 3 Fresh Tomatoes peeled and finely 672.9 mm. chopped Bon appétit!

1 tbls Tomato Purée Maximum windspeed reached 66 2 Carrots peeled and finely kmh on the 25th and maximum chopped gust speed 181.9 kmh at 16.11 on 1 tbls Sugar the 25th 3 cups Chicken Stock 125 gm Spinach finely chopped

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 5 Village News By Dr. Lionel Mann the national celebration of “Ochi Marcus, Paul and Sally Grove, Slap Contributing Editor Day” on 28th October, commemo- and Tickle who spent their honey- rating Greek defiance of Italian moon here in 2002, and Derek and Although there will be a full re- threats in 1940. It is also alleged Carole Pullen who have bought a port elsewhere it must also be re- that some local British yachtsmen new villa that we have built in the corded here that Agiotfest09 made will find an excuse to splice the village. Robert Bennett visited to a great impact. Performers and mainbrace in celebrating Trafalgar celebrate his 50th birthday here, al- audience alike were rapturous in Day on the 21st. though he did not look a day older proclaiming their enjoyment of the In September, as well as the per- than when we last saw him; a num- event. A great time was had by all! formers for Agiotfest, we welcomed ber of his friends and relations also The end of this month is tradi- back Barry and Stella Knight, came along. tionally “The Little Summer of David, Cecilia and Jackie Dickin- Saint Dimitri”, and is often a last son, Andy Dcruz, Martin Stuart to taste of summer. Included too is help with administration, Norman AN APPEAL

Marj PANDI, as most of us know, is an ardent animal lover. She works many, many long hours housing, caring for and finding homes for so many of the stray and abandoned animals on Corfu.

She is being sued in court on 7 December 2009 on the charge of:

BREEDING & SELLING DOGS WITHOUT A LICENCE

As most of us know, Marge has always advocated the sterilization of animals and would be the very last per-

son to breed and sell them!

As responsible animal lovers we, the residents of Corfu, do not agree with this outrageous charge and wish for Marj to have the best legal defence possible. Unfortunately, a good, experienced defence lawyer will com- mand very high legal fees and Marj cannot meet these fees without some financial help from the local ani-

mal-loving community.

Is it possible you can dip into your pockets and help in this instance? Any financial assistance, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated. It has always been my experience that we, the caring animal lovers of Corfu never fail to support a worthy cause and this, my friends, is a very worthy cause.

Donations can be made to the ARK shop in town, to myself and any other representative of The ARK Animal

Welfare Charity.

We can also show our support by being in the courthouse on 7 December; let's all stand strong behind her!!

Lucy Steele, M.B.E.

Former British Vice Consul, Corfu

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 6 News From the North

By Uncle Bulgaria sez I” I need to start work, He sez of my account and to make a with- Contributing Editor he is coming to help!!! I only need drawal, then I complained at the

one guy I explain as I was going to disgusting attitude of the guard and Well, here we are back again in do the laboring, I don't want money the Banks lack of care for the cus- Corfu following a 6 week holiday I sez he I will do it as a friend. tomer, he sez “it’s the system”. on the Black Sea. Bloody hell I think as he gives me Balls , so a few days later , I went to I find the August heat here so coffee and Milky rice in a jam jar to another branch to again draw unbearable whereas Bulgaria is a eat. So off we all go in my car to get dough, this time no problem going balmy 80 degrees with a breeze. the cement and do the job. Excel- in, get to the desk pass my account Interesting place, purely as an lent job again, they worked hard so details say I wanna draw some investment I bought a small house I pays the other guy 20 Euros as dough in Bulgarian currency, 40 there couple of years ago, 4 kilome- well, just call me generous. Even minutes later I am still there. ters from the beach. Needs a fair bit outstandingly generous. I drive him “What’s the problem?" I ask. No of work on it, but slowly, slowly back to his house in the village, ex- Problem we cannot find your ac- does it. It now has water and elec- cept we go next door, “come in for count on the computer though. tric and after I go back in April to coffee” impossible to refuse. This Eventually these incompetent pratts do some more work it will be sort not a house but a large shed where find it and I draw my dough. The of livable. Last trip I wanted to his father lives, I sit with trepida- clerk writes on a card the numbers clean the well which has been un- tion on a stool from the 1940s and of my account and gives it to me. covered for years, so a local hotel my host buggers of for half hour “Use this in future" she sez. When I owner and friend very kindly came leaving me with this decrepit old look everything is identical to the with me to translate and we found a man. 4 kittens and a German shep- numbers I gave here on my lami- neighbour who agreed to do the herd with a purple bum and stom- nated bank details card in the first job. ach. Non speakada English. Bug- place!!!! Much to my surprise 3 guys ger!! Few days later I need more turned up to do it. Having already Eventually he turns up with dough so go to this branch again, agreed the price (an exorbitant 20 beer, juice drink and coke. Having (That makes sense they know me Euros for a days work) I was none- spent some of the dough I just gave now) 40 minutes later I am still theless agreeable to the extra cost. 3 him. Took ages to extract myself there, the computer has frozen and men for 60 Euros can’t grumble. As gracefully especially as I am not a the printer does not work, so they it happens it was a grotty job for the gracious person. I suppose the decide to write out the papers by poor sod who had to go down the moral of this story is these are very hand which I sign, (now an hour well and fill the bucket with sludge poor (like me) kind and generous has passed I am still the only cus- for the other 2 to pull up. One guy people. (Not like me) tomer) but the printer then spews even spoke some English. Banking with Alpha Bank in out loads of paper and I sign again. Anyway they did a great job, I Greece I automatically use them in She counts out the money and I say was very happy. So much so that I Bulgaria, what a load of crap they that’s too much and again I tell her. said I needed my roof servicing and are. They do not issue an account But she insists it is correct, so I would one man like to do it. Again book or statements. They all have check the computer sheet and yup it was agreed 20 Euros if I bought security guard on the door. One its to much, so I count it in front of the cement needed. (Tight sods) branch was he was so appallingly her and give back the difference. Next morning one man does not aggressive and arrogant he would She thinks I am mad and it’s a tip. turn up so go to his house, have not let me in to transact business, Alpha Bank in Bulgaria, don't coffee he sez, no sez I , let’s get to needless to say this branch was bother they are a load of rubbish. work, so of we goes to the local vil- empty. Eventually after creating a lage of Rosen to buy cement. Ex- stink at the door of the bank I was cept we end up at the guys house allowed to speak to a manager who Continued on Page 6 who speaks English from the day asked what I wanted, I sez a balance before,” sit have coffee” he sez, “no

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 7 News form the North go. I Did go one time , it is full of very pleasant nice drive. Continued from Page 5 young wives with pushchairs full of So I had a great time, very cheap snotty nosed kids yelling their heads and in particular I want mention the On a nice note, every time I went off and parents yelling at them to Hotel Atiyana in Kraymorie, Near to work at the house my neighbours shut the **** up. Charming. Sex Bourgas, The Owner , Pravdomir, would load me down with bags of shops every 200 metres and ladies of was so helpful to me with his com- vegetables from the gardens, very gen- the night available. I will stick to the mand of English. Nothing was to erous. They used to do that here for rural life thank you where they are much trouble even coming to help me, years ago, now of course they kind people. (Maybe the ladies of the sort out my electric and other kind- throw them at my front door as they night are cheaper, who knows) nesses. It is a beautiful Hotel reasona- pass!!!! Of course the actual city of Bour- bly priced, check it out on Another thing about Bulgaria is gas is a pleasure to walk around, www.Hotelatiyana.com the cost of living. Having installed 4 shops that are more with it than Ox- It is probably the best in the vil- large double glazed windows with ford Street, Hypermarkets where you lage and on top of the beautiful openers 1 small and 4 fully glazed can buy a brand new scooter for 500 beach. So a big thank you to you doors, cost 3500 Euros? No, it was Euros or a bottle of booze for pea- from me. exactly 1000 Euros, quoted for, made nuts, to joint of meat for pennies. Finally, if anyone out there is in- and fitted in 10 days, plastic and alu- Funny thing in the village terested in a property in Bulgaria, minum. Excellent quality but heavy (Kraymorie) you cannot buy a steak contact me through the Agiot bearing handed on ripping out the old stuff. of any sort as it is to expensive for the in mind I have a 75 sq metre house Also you can buy a Litre of Absolute type of tourist they get. In Sunny with 600 sq. metre of garden for sale Vodka 11 Euros local Vodka 4 Euros Beach it will cost you 10-15 Euros for at about 40000 Euros. Best quality Lamb, 4.5 Euros a a tourist type steak. kilo (about 9 over here) I bought Now the new motorway is open it Well that is the saga of Bulgaria; I back 50 Kilos for the freezer. Most of takes only 9 hours to drive from Ig- am and always will be, Obnoxious Al. the cars seem to be Mercedes and oumenitsa to the Black Sea and it is a SUVs. But they mainly eat bowls of soup for 50 cents when eating out. Not unusual to see a bloke having breakfast a bowl of soup and 2 litre bottle of beer with his Merc SUV parked outside the hotel. Of course I am in a very small rural community and English speakers are a rarity as most tourist there are Polish, Rumanians, City Bulgarians. No English. (Thank God) If you want English speaking you need to go to Sunny Beach where the Brit tourists

OBITUARY Nicola Taramanidou After a long and courageous vals for many months. She taught fight against cancer our Nicola died at a local frontisterio and was dearly in Ioannina Hospital on 18th Sep- loved by all her pupils; they are tember. Nicola, a Manchester lass shattered at their loss. We all shall and keen supporter of United, was miss her deeply. The village is not cheerful to the last and most of us the same without Nicola’s happy did not know how serious was her presence. case although she had been going for treatment at fortnightly inter-

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 8

Scherzando saYS

Healthy Advice?! Wouldn’t we like to meet this doctor? Q. Should I cut down on Meat and eat more Fruit and Vegetables?

You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q. Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that Q. Aren’t fried foods bad for means they take the water out of you? the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. You are not listening!!! Bottoms up! Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they are permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q. What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise programme?

Q. Is chocolate bad for me? Can’t think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No pain …. GOOD! Are you crazy? HELLO! Cocoa beans! Another vegetable! Q. Is swimming good for me? REMEMBER: It’s the best feel-good food If swimming is good for your Life should NOT be a around! figure, explain journey to the grave whales to me. with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body Thought for Next Month thoroughly used up, totally worn out Why did the headless huntsman go into business? and screaming “WOO HOO, what a ride!” He wanted to get ahead in life.

What do you get when you divide the diameter of a Jack-o-lantern by it’s circumfer- ence?

Pumpkin Pi

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 9 A Home from Home

By Dr. Lionel Mann tour to Ipsos in September might three different local teachers. None Contributing Editor sound somewhat unattractive, but prepared their lessons and all doubtless because of my age I was taught different “Greek”, moreover Having spent most of my work- allocated to a room in a pleasant when I went to the supermarket, ing life in employment that pro- villa at the back of the village, al- having first consulted a dictionary, vided accommodation, and upon most into Agios Markos, well away it was somewhat disconcerting, not retirement therefore needing to from the glaring lights, the scream- to say discouraging, to be told, find a home, I moved into a coming music and the incessant din. “:We don’t call it that, it’s …. here.” fortable apartment in a quiet little My first sun-drenched week was I have reached a conclusion that country town. Within six weeks it spent exploring the island; I liked there is no completely standard had been burgled and amongst what I saw. The second equally glo- form of Greek; it is just left to each other things I lost all recordings of rious week was occupied in finding individual to make up his/her own fifty years’ music-making with vari- somewhere to live. In those days language and to hope that others ous choirs and orchestras, though I my bank had a branch here and will understand, especially if it is cannot imagine what value they they put me in touch with an estate shouted loudly enough. Both my held for the thieves. agent who found me a little place in supposedly reputable dictionaries In due course the local council his home village, Agios Ioannis. show numerous discrepancies when suggested that I should move into One month back in the U.K. one compares the Greek-English “Sheltered Accommodation for the was plenty long enough to make and English-Greek sections. I now Elderly” and found a suitable loca- arrangements for permanent depar- know enough for everyday needs. tion in a nearby city. The new first ture. I have never returned. At first I went walking daily, floor apartment, one of thirty, was Any British national who comes even occasionally the ten kilometres very well appointed, having all the to settle here must of course first to Pelekas and back. I seldom met “essential” fittings: electronic lock- comply with immigration formali- anyone else on these jaunts and ing of both main door and apart- ties, but those are not unreason- mentioned it to the fourteen-year- ment door; alarm cords in every able, aided by membership of the old daughter of my Greek room; instant telephone communi- European Union. It is understand- neighbours. cation to and from security with able that the authorities should in- “Oh, no. We don’t walk; we just regular checks. Additionally I was sist that any immigrant will become eat and grow fat,” was her reply. warned, “You ought not to go out neither a financial nor a health bur- Later I took to cycling, my route at night; you’ll be mugged.” Land den. He/she also needs to wear generally restricted to the compara- of Hope and Glory? Great (or away the suspicion with which the tively flat Ropa Valley and to Er- Lesser) Britain at the end of the locals view Brits because the Cor- mones Beach, walking the very twentieth century. For the past fiots have long suffered a plague of steep last hundred metres. Eventu- sixty years I have witnessed the drunken louts, loafers, spongers ally age supervened and even the country declining into barbarism. and tricksters. My pension and gentle gradients of those routes be- My fellow pensioners were a state of health amply satisfied re- came too steep. Now I simply stroll mixed bunch, but I found plenty of quirements and it was not long be- short distances, use the bus services congenial company and the staff fore my neighbours had accepted when necessary. Quite often were attentive yet not intrusive. me, become friends. friends of all nationalities passing in However after a few months the I learnt enough Greek for very a car and seeing me trudging to the relative seclusion became oppres- basic communication and to go bus stop will give me a lift to Town. sive; I went to a nearby travel agent, shopping at the local supermarket, I share my weekly shopping expedi- “Anywhere around the Med.?” although that was hardly necessary tion with my business friends, “There’s a tour leaving for Corfu as I discovered that almost everyone whose Landrover offers sufficient next week.” that I met spoke also English or space for all our purchases. I had never before visited the German. However in my first three island. To those who know the years I had Greek lessons from Continued on Page 10 place perhaps a fortnight package-

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 10 A Home from Home Archbishop, with whom I enjoyed a ber of the local community, to join Continued from Page 9 very good working relationship, rein their celebrations, to share in tired. With my eightieth birthday their mourning, to be welcomed to In Agios Ioannis there is a con- approaching I called a halt to early family events. I have seen others siderable sprinkling of English, rising to catch a bus into Town and come for a few months, even a year Dutch and Germans and I was soon needing to wait until five hours or two, but then leave because there approached to teach English to later for the return to the village is not a supermarket in the next their children, which extended to although Mass lasted little more street, a bingo hall round the cor- other subjects when I observed the than an hour. However it is fatal to ner, a burger bar next door or a lo- inadequacies of the local system. spend ones retirement in idleness, a cal disco. Corfu is not Little Brit- This led to becoming involved with sure way to an early grave, and I am ain and nobody, least of all the Cor- a Greek-English family who were very lucky to have my tourism inter- fiots, wants it ever to sink that low. launching a villa-rental concern. est as well as need of daily music This island has its own ancient cul- When I was visiting their home to practice for occasional perform- ture, its own unique way of life, and teach their sons it became obvious ances. its inhabitants firmly resist attempts that they were never going to meet One evening about eight years to vandalise their heritage in the the tourist season deadline in reno- ago I was having my dinner out on way that the U.K. has suffered. vating an ancient ruin into a mod- my verandah when a stray cat ap- Corfu is an ideal place for retire- ern villa with patio and pool. One proached and politely asked for a ment, provided that one’s health of my earliest visits had been for a share. It was the beginning of a and finances are both sound. With Guy Fawkes celebration (the Greeks “family” that at present numbers the collapse of the pound my U.K. think us mad!) when the bonfire ten, although none of the earliest state pension has lost one-third of was on the site of the proposed members has survived. It would be its original value and I am fortunate pool. I enjoy carpentry and offered a very foolhardy rat, mouse or snake in having means of augmenting it. to help, but I never anticipated giv- that came anywhere near my place, The generally warm climate suits ing 256 little fillets for glazing win- but unfortunately a cat’s life-span old bones, and though we have dows and doors six coats of paint, a here is usually no more that three plenty of rain in the winter it usu- primer, two undercoats, three gloss, or four years; there are very many ally comes in short very sharp and then fitting the glass. We fin- hazards. Local dogs are very re- bursts, not in days of monotonous ished all the work with five minutes spectful though; there have been a drizzle. Thunderstorms are really to spare before the first visitors ar- number of scratched noses. spectacular! Twice in my fifteen rived, but it was a hectic scramble! Over the years, through member- years here we have had snow; it One thing led to another. The ship of a U.K. book club, I have started at nine in the evening and business has grown and I have built up a considerable library and by eleven every child in the village, graduated pleasantly through gar- therefore spend much leisure time and most of the adults too, were den-watering, odd-job man, patio- reading. Euronews is my chief T.V. out snowballing. By ten the next sweeping, pool-cleaning, to becom- viewing, perhaps has much as thirty morning all had gone, except on ing office manager, peering for minutes daily, but there are one or the highest hills. Even in the depth hours at a computer screen, but two Greek programmes that show of winter the sun has real power, also meeting every year an exciting international documentaries that although an icy wind often blows mix of visitors staying at our stead- sometimes catch my attention. from the snow-covered mainland ily increasing number of villas. The local taverna is conveniently mountains. Too I spent a couple of years as only twenty metres from my apart- Additionally there is virtually no organist at the Anglican Church in ment; I visit to sample their deli- crime. I cannot remember when I Town, where I installed a large elec- cious ethnic cooking when I want a last removed the key from my door. tronic organ, until I was made re- break from preparing a meal. Even the oldest and youngest wan- dundant by a new chaplain who Many U.K. expatriates who have der around in complete safety at fancied himself as the Elvis of settled here still spend a great deal any hour of day or night - as long as Corfu. I removed the organ to my of their time at cosy clubs of their they watch out for the Corfiots who apartment, but the Catholic Cathe- own nationality. They do not know are training for Formula One! dral caught me on the rebound; for what they are missing; I have found four years I played there until the it very rewarding to become a mem- Continued on Page 11

OCTOBER 2009 SINCE AUGUST 2007 PAGE 11 A Home from Home ora of private schools that exist for erence to the early Viking settle- Continued from Page 10 that purpose, but these do not ade- ments in America was told by his quately fill the gap. One of my for- teacher. Much ignorance exists There are those who complain mer pupils has recently left to pur- here. or leave because they reckon that sue a course of science at a British Anybody still of working age health care in Corfu does not university. The unfortunate is now would need to be very industrious, equate to the U.K.’s National encountering considerable diffi- to possess a required skill and to Health Service. I have seen persons culty, has been called back during have good economic backing in or- here caught with medical emergen- holidays to fill gaps in his experi- der to settle here. Most ambitious cies who have recovered as the re- ence. Here he had never set foot in Corfiot youngsters seek their future sult of first-rate treatment, while the a laboratory, never handled chemi- elsewhere. There are persons too current record of the N.H.S. is cals or scientific instruments such indolent or incompetent to hold a nothing to boast about. as I did from the age of eleven and job in the U.K. who come here Persons with young children my pupils from the age of eight. All claiming an expertise and thinking would be advised not to settle. is learnt from a textbook; there is a to spend their lives boozing and U.K. education is certainly in a par- single series of books for each sub- doing a minimum of work. Very lous state, but in Corfu it is even ject used countrywide, very narrow few survive for long. Corfiots are worse. It is essential to augment and inadequate. “If it isn’t in the not fools! the mornings-only state system by book it didn’t happen,” a ten-year- costly afternoon and/or evening old questioning the absence of ref- study at one or more of the pleth- Featured Property:

gym, and a sauna. There is also an special designs featured and all col- underground parking area of rein- ours and lighting, furniture also forced concrete and 10 square me- comes with this house including tres in size. electric appliances and tv’s. Plus Solar Panels. The ground floor is 81 square metres in size and consists of the living room area with a beautiful featured fireplace, a fully fitted, very modern kitchen and dining room. Also featured on this floor is a Shower/WC room with a Jacuzzi This new luxury detached house Shower cabin. is new to our property list and is built within a plot area of 323 The first floor, 90 square metres square metres. Located in Kambos, in size, consists of three bedrooms, Alepou not far from Corfu town, a large bathroom housing a Jacuzzi- the building is situated in a luxury colour therapy bath, and a WC also residential complex with a commu- with a shower cabin. To see lots more properties, go nal street, yard, and private drain- to: www.propertycorfu.org. age. A loft area covers 45,5 square metres, beneath ceramic tiles. The basement area of this villa is 86.5 square metres and includes a A main feature of this house in- boiler room, a Playroom/Games cludes a heated swimming pool room featuring table tennis, bil- within a nice garden inclusive of liards and others, a fully equipped garden furniture. As well as the