A Brief Update On Things

I have now collected my land purchase contract from the notary's office complete with a multitude of postage type stamps & rubber stamp imprints all over it so it looks very officially approved now. After completing a couple of jobs I had to do in town today, I made my way to the other end of town, found myself one of those rare things known as 'a parking spot' & set off to try to find the Land Registry. Having no idea what the building looked like or what the sign would say (should there even be a sign) I called into a stationery/bookshop & managed to ascertain that the building I wanted was just around the corner. I arrived at 13.01 & typically the office was just closing. Although they couldn't deal with my registration, the lady that I saw did find out for me the exact amount of the fee I will have to pay when I return to try again within the next couple of days. So I can at least make sure I have sufficient cash with me to pay this on my next visit.

You may recall that I was looking into the possibility of purchasing a surface standing swimming pool for the new house from the UK. Well I have received answers to my questions regarding weight/dimensions of the kit & obtained a shipping quote & I can report that it will probably be a viable option. I won't know for sure until nearer the completion of, & after full payment for the house. I will then know where my finances stand at that time. So if the house is completed on schedule (by Christmas 2008) I could be filling a pool ready to enjoy in the Summer of 2009.

The weather here has been very stormy with heavy rain showers on & off during both day & night. There was very little rain last Winter so maybe this year will make up for it - should keep the island looking very green. I love to watch thunder storms, I always have. They remind me of the sheer power of Mother Nature & just how much we are at her mercy. There has been some spectacular lightning out at sea & over the mountains - often 2 storms happening simultaneously in different parts of the sky. They do cause our electricity supply & internet service to crash from time to time so my candles are always on hand.

The island is very quiet now following the busy, busy, neon lit Summer months. There are people who don't like the quiet of the Winter here but I loved it last year & have no reason to think this year will be any different. It is starting to feel colder in the early morning & in the evening once the sun (yes we still see sun :-) has dropped behind the mountains. The duvet & a blanket is on the bed & I have even located a couple of hot water bottles that were packed in one of my many boxes. Hard to imagine just a few months ago in the heat of August.

Thanks once again to all those that let me know that they still read & enjoy my blog.
Yes, I do intend to keep it going Paul, thanks for your comment.
So folks I think that is all for now except to mention a Happy Birthday to my Mum which was on the 15th & Happy Birthday today (19th) to Tony.

I Own A Little Piece Of Greece :-)

From today I am the proud owner of a little piece of Greece.
Here I am standing on the part of the plot that I now own and where my house is to be built. Not sure where exactly I am on my plot - I could be standing in the open fireplace :-) My bit is one of 15 plots that make up the total area that will be built on.
Yesterday I went into town to hand over a cheque to the Revenue to pay the purchase tax due (the tax man always has to be paid first as part of the process) & then took the receipt along to the Notary's office to show the tax had been paid. Then today I have been back to the Notary's office in Zakynthos town, along with my lawyer & one of the owners of the construction company. After I handed over a further cheque we all signed the contract, witnessed by the notary, for my purchase of the plot of land on which my house is to be built. I also paid my lawyer's bill today so the bank balance took a bit of a bashing :-)
Tomorrow I have to return to the Notary office to pick up the deeds & take them along to register them at the Land Registry (which involves another fee to be paid out)
The construction company now has to put in the official application to build my house &, as things stand at the present time, this permission is currently taking over 4 months to come through & that time scale is growing all the time due to backlogs in the relevant department (nothing new for Greece)
Then I also have to meet sometime with the construction company to agree my exact requirements for the house, such as, on which side I would like the entrance etc & we also have to agree the schedule of stage payments that I will make to them at the different stages of construction in order to pay for the building of my house.
So although it's expected to take about 12 months to complete my house, I feel that I can now allow myself to get excited about it. I have something concrete (no pun intended LOL) to look forward to & will be able to watch my new home materialise from start to finish. To be realistic I think I will set my hopes on it being ready to move into in time for Christmas 2008.
Watch this space!!!!!!