my chaos diary hope no one else has to do it this way!!

[pearsews]

Originally Posted by Purplecat

Oh, that's very helpful, thanks.

Update 2 mins later! What is the name of the Facebook page or the link? I can't find anything under Cyprus 101 or Cleo Shahateet. Ta!

Hi,

The links they gave me are:

Cyprus101 | Facebook click on 'like'
Cleo (@Cyprus101) on Twitter and 'follow'

You need to have an account on Facebook or Twitter, and Cleo says if you haven't maybe now is a good time to start!!

[MacManiac]

Mmm! Gosh! Reading this thread I thought I had wandered onto one of the other, less friendly ex-pat forums.

Darren, I don't think that your posts in this thread are very well-considered. Lots of people have posted comments and tried to be helpful, but your attitude towards your home country and your new,a dopted country don't sit well. There seems to be a lot of anger here.

I assume that anybody moving to Cyprus will have made recent visits and checked out prices of basic foodstuffs, rents and the like. If not, then you have nobody but yourself to blame. I don't beleive you can look at the cost of living in any country by considering prices in isolation. There are many costs involved, and the total cost may well be more or less than living in the UK. But research should prepare us all for this.

I have holidayed for years in Cyprus, but we are coming over in June, October and next March to double-check everything before our move.

This is not an attack on you, but a reflection about how I feel about the helpful people on this forum.

[RHODES4712]

And yet again I'm being misunderstood, when will anyone on here understand that I was merely stating my findings. If I'm on my own then so be it . I'm not gonna stand for being criticised for my views. If no one on here wants to help me then don't, I've never judged anyone for their views and experiences but clearly by all the negative comments I'm receiving on here I am definately being judged. Not one of you know anything about me yet not one of you have looked at my post with any scrutiny whatsoever. I've not once said anything negative about anyone on here but by god have I been put down. I'm not criticising Cyprus for being in my view expensive. That's the economy. I've not said anything bad about a single Cypriot. I'm not gonna bother posting anymore as there is clearly no point. I'm clearly in the wrong for having an opinion. If any of you wish to say anything to my face I will gladly debate my views and points but I will no longer be posting anything on here if all I am going to get is hounded. I know for a fact you are all taking my words out of intent and context.

[MacManiac]

Darren,

You seem to have the most enormous chip on your shoulder. I've looked back over the posts you have made and the way people on here have responded to your requests for help. By and large, people have responded positively - despite your somewhat blunt posts. This is the friendliest and most helpful ex-pat forum I have come across, but you seem determined to rub people up the wrong way.

Most of us either live in Cyprus or intend to live in Cyprus for the relaxed and laid-back lifestyle. I am sure moving to Cyprus must be stressful (as moving to any new country must be) but, with the help and advice on this forum, I am sure that it can be done.

I fully intend to ask for as much help and advice as I can get before we move to the island, and perhaps ask for help once we arrive (perhaps even meeting people on the forum and getting the benefit of their experience). Obviously everyone on here is different. We shall be retired when we come out in 2013, and the price of a jar of coffee or the price of a Big Mac will be the last thing on our minds. But, whatever the circumstances of the people on this forum, it exists to help other people.

So perhaps it's time to step back and make a fresh start on this forum, if you intend to stay. I, for one, would hate the atmosphere on here to change for the worst.

[Cherie]

Hi
May I say I hope it all goes well for you but myself and family gave it 3 years in paphos and sadly it wasn't for us, yes I found it expensive for some things especially if you have children and grandchildren with you. My son was a professional footballer there and made allot of money in the end, but allot of it went on living there we had a successful business so all in all it was ok but found working all the hours just to have a good life. It's ideal if you are retired but not if you have a young family unless you have a good wedge of money behind you to start with. It is a better life for children until they reach an age where they start to drink and smoke then watch out because what I have seen is children as young as 11 years doing all this and thats what they call life. But I will still visit as i love the place but it was my time to come back with my family as this is home.

Good luck. I would never say a bad word about either country as good and bad are in both.

[DH59]

Oh my! What a thread!!

I know things have become more expensive there since the Euro was introduced, but we found it OK when we were over in January. We shopped in Lidl, which was round the corner from our apartments, and we had no issues with prices, especially not twice or three times the UK equivalent. A bottle of ouzo cost us less than €4 - in the Lidl back home, same ouzo was almost £12. I know you can't live on ouzo, but it would be nice to try it sometime!!

I also don't see how you were being attacked or criticised, Darren. Everyone should be able to voice their own opinion, and it may or may not be the same as yours.

[RHODES4712]

There's no point me trying to defend myself, I've been here a week now and when certain people have come here they've been taken round everywhere to get everything sorted out, I don't expect anyone to rally round me and agree with anything I say, but I'm still in my 30's and I suspect not many others here are. I'm also no do gooderand will speak my mind. From what I've seen by driving myself everywhere is this country is in as much of a recession as anywhere else. The government have stopped repairing the roads and things are deteriorating. I've been to the duckpond market which I found and it was full of English expats but I never saw any money changing hands, it was more like a tea party. I'm sure it's a good place for retirees but if you've a lot of years ahead of you I think you'd have to consider so much before moving. Luckily I have my new van and all my equipment to be able to have many fingers in pies so I don't need to earn too much to stay here. As I've previously said I'm fairly sure there aren't many people that have loved as cheaply as I have when in uk which will be why everyone thinks its reasonably priced here for everyday things. I'm sure if 2 people have been used to spending £140 a week on shopping then paphos is not far different but I've never spent that amount in a month so that's why I see it differently. I also agree there are many things here far cheaper than uk. I'm gonna take my time before I decide anything and take one day at a time

[Veronica]

As feelings are becoming rather inflamed on this thread I am closing it.
Lets all try to keep it friendly on this forum, we don't want to go down the route of other forums with people constantly having a go at each other.