Welcoming the New Year: Customs Around Europe

Traditionally, on the stroke of midnight, the English open the back door to let the old year out and ask the first dark haired man to be seen to come through the front door carrying salt, coal and bread. Different countries have different customs, mostly related to good luck!

Das Bleigießen (literally 'lead pouring') is an old German practice. A small amount of lead is melted in a tablespoon and then poured into a bowl or bucket of water. The resulting pattern is interpreted to predict the coming year. A heart or ring shape means a wedding, a ship a journey. If the lead forms a ball, that means luck will roll your way. The shape of an anchor means help in need.

Probably the most spicy custom takes place in Italy. Both men and women traditionally wear red underclothes which are said to bring good luck in the coming year. To ensure happy relationships in the new year, a romantic night on New Year's Eve is also 'necessary'. A traditional dish served on this night is lentils and cotechino or zampone, both types of pork: they symbolise abundance in life and fortune.

Special value is given to the food served on New Year's Eve in the Czech Republic. It must be ensured that no animal meat ends up in the pan. Why? Because they once had legs, and the the luck would hop or fly away! Fish dishes are just as unpopular, due to the fear that luck could swim away. This is why the Czechs will often eat lentils or soup with small peas. According to tradition, a person can thus ensure a good financial situation for the entire coming year.

New Year Eve is quite a big event in Russia. Not only Russians traditionally decorate a tree and exchange gifts on the 31st December, just like most of the world does during Christmas, but it is celebrated twice! The tradition of the Old New Year has been in fact kept and Russia, together with the other 11 countries of the former Soviet Union, raise a glass also on 14th January.

In Spain, one grape at each stroke leading up to midnight (12 grapes for the next calendar year), is eaten for good luck. If the grape for the corresponding month is sweet, so goes that month. If, however, the grape is sour, don't expect a good month. No matter what they taste like, unless you chew very fast, by the stroke of midnight you will end up with a mouthful of grapes!

In Denmark it is a good sign to find your door entrance heaped with a pile of broken dishes. Old dishes are saved year around and thrown at the doors of friends' homes for good luck. Finding a big pile of broken dishes on the morning of January 1 means you have lots of friends and that you'll have good relationships throughout the year.

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Christmas in Los Ayala, Nayarit – Mexico

By Christina Stobbs

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and has been associated with Christmas celebrations since the 17th century. There is a legend connected with the poinsettia which tells the story of a young boy who walked to the church in his village to visit the Nativity scene. Upon arrival, the young boy realized that he had nothing to offer the Christ Child and decided to gather some green branches which he found growing along the road. When he laid the branches by the manger, a beautiful red star-shaped flower blossomed on each branch.

Traditionally Christmas festivities in Mexico begin with “Las Posada’s” which consist of nine consecutive days of candlelight processions and parties, starting on December 16th. The festivities of Las Posadas reflect Joseph and Mary's nine day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Christmas Eve is the last night of the posada and the local people typically attend midnight mass at the town church and return home to enjoy dinner with their families.
In Los Ayala, the local children delight in a game in which “Piñatas", typically resembling a doll, teddy bear or Santa Claus, filled with candy and then suspended from the ceiling on a rope. Each child is blindfolded and attempts to break the Piñata with a stick. The child who succeeds is the hero of the party, and shares the candy with all the children in attendance.

We purchase Piñatas at the local store, stuff them with candy and distribute them to the less affluent families who live in our neighbourhood. The delight on the children’s faces and puts us into the Christmas Spirit.

We celebrate Christmas Eve in a traditional manner but we roast our turkey on the BBQ because frankly it is too hot here, to roast a turkey in the oven. I bake shortbread and spice cookies, which our neighbours think are absolutely scrumptious. We decorate the outside of our house with Christmas lights, and we even have an artificial Christmas tree adorned with the latest decorations from Wal-Mart.

On Christmas day we pack our swimsuits and a picnic lunch, and hire a boat and driver for the day, to explore the beaches along our coast. We delight in watching humpback whales cavort in ocean, snorkelling at a nearby island, and just strolling along our beautiful beach. To end the day we crack open a bottle of champagne and jump in our pool for a dip, just because we can!

Christina Stobbs http://www.tropicalmanorhouse.com/


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Christmas in Hangzhou – People’s Republic of China

By Tracy Zhang

Holiday festivities in the People’s Republic of China differ in various provinces, cities, counties and even villages. In the past ten years, due particularly to China becoming the manufacturer of commercial Christmas commodities such as lights, ornaments, wreaths, artificial trees, and toys, all of China has taken to decorating for this unusual Western holiday.

Anyone who does business in China knows that Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, is the international epicenter for Christmas product manufacturing and distribution. This makes nearby Hangzhou, the provincial capital, a major consumer of readily available Christmas decorations.

The city, one of China’s most beautiful spots, boasts tea, silk, and tourism as major industries. As December approaches rather than becoming “lit up” with the red and green and gold colors of Christmas, Hangzhou becomes even “more lit up,” adding only additional nuance to its already attractively decorated streets.

By the time December rolls around, Hangzhou is just starting to bristle with the energy that leads into Chunjie or Spring Festival, when the entire city explodes with the celebration of the Chinese New Year. With that perspective, Christmas in Hangzhou seems like a B-team warm up for the truly important month long holiday that is Spring Festival.

For the holidays, Hangzhou’s old city around the West Lake takes on the look of a town that has the penultimate commercial spirit of Christmas. All the shops, as well as kiosks around the Lake and the boats on the Lake, sparkle with the traditional reds and greens of Christmas.

Throughout December, shops light up with strands of Christmas lights and wreaths. Outdoors, lovely trees, both natural and artificial, are strung with lights and ornaments. The broad avenues lined with old poplar trees have long banners strung over the roads between the trees to welcome all into and throughout the city during the Christmas season.

All in all, Hangzhou celebrates the “look” of Christmas in a more abundant and luxurious way than do most Western cities. If you are an ex-pat in China and in need of a seasonal holiday boost, Hangzhou is the place to visit!

About the author: Tracy Zhang recently retired and now spends her time downsizing and helping others do the same. Visit her shop at www.charliebear.etsy.com to check out her patterns, e-books, and vintage items.


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Christmas in Belize - Nature's Nativity Scene

While most Americans and Europeans are rushing to the stores and supermarkets to do their Christmas shopping, it is quiet in Belize. Here we don’t get stressed out over what to buy for our children - who already have boxes full of Barbies, video games, and Lego building bricks. Brodies supermarket has stocked its freezer with a dozen turkeys and has put five new games on the shelves. At the Chinese supermarket you can actually buy a dusty Christmas tree that even comes with a string of colorful lights. The Chinese, I feel, are in it for the money, not for the Christmas cheer. My mailbox is empty, as usual. The restaurants don’t seem to care about decorations, except it you count those that are still there from last year. Love FM is playing some Christmas songs on the radio but not frequently.

Personally, I don't mind at all. I am not a big fan of Christmas, and I hate the overemphasis on food and toys. I have put up a small tree for our daughter and we are enjoying the efforts some Belmopan residents have made to light up their houses and yards. The whole idea of Christmas shopping in Belmopan is actually funny, unless you want to ask Santa for a bottle of gas, or a mattress...

So I had kind of given up on the idea of Christmas in Belize, until I went to the Actun Tunichil Muknal or ATM cave, a 40,000-year old Maya cave. Wow, what a special place, better than any archeological museum you can ever imagine. After two hours of swimming, climbing and crawling through narrow cracks in the pitch dark with Carlos our guide, we arrived at 'the cathedral', a sacred place where thousands of years ago Mayan priests did their rituals and human sacrifices. There, deep down in the Mayan underground, I saw the most beautiful Christmas scene ever.

Doesn't it look like a nativity group? Amazing hey!

If you forget for a minute that there are also the 1400-year old remains of a teenage sacrifice victim who is believed to be clubbed and left for dead, you can actually feel the peace in that cave.

And on that note I wish you all a peaceful Christmas and an Amazing 2010!

By Susanne van Lieshout

For more stories about Belize visit Susanne's blog - www.dutchinbelize.blogspot.com

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Dubai Driving Conundrums

1. Why does the average Dubai driver keep the plastic wrap on their car upholstery? Is it to preserve that fresh-from-the-car-showroom excitement factor for as long as possible? Or do they simply not know how to take it off? It can't be that they're worried about getting the leather seats all mucky as most residents could certainly spring for a valet if they get a bit fumbly with their morning latte (despite the tales of financial woe the Porsche garage is stuffed full of eager beaver shoppers, a sign that there's life in the old showgirl still). It's a mystery - surely they don't like the feeling of crinkly plastic sweating up their thighs?

2. Why is it that the following cars are invariably driven by selfish, careless and show-offy individuals who display scant regard for other road users - the Dodge Durango, the Chevy Suburban (as if the name of this car isn't humiliation enough), the Audi Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. Oh and the Hummer but then you're expecting bad behaviour from those babies so no biggie. So, are the drivers of these cars perfectly nice, normal folks until they get behind the wheels of their beastmachines upon which they are transformed into total bleeps, or is it the other way around? I think we should be told.

3. Drivers in Dubai are known for their love of motoring at high speed while texting on their mobiles, cutting directly across five lanes of traffic to make the exit they want (which they nearly missed due to aforementioned texting), weaving in and out of traffic for no other apparent reason other than a desire to make their drive home that little bit more exciting, and beeping any car they deem to not be driving fast enough (i.e. keeping to the speed limit... in the slow lane) and other Russian Roulette-style behaviour. So why is it that local drivers get all confused and girly-scared when faced with something as simple as a roundabout? Or a spot of rain?

4. Is there a special reward in an afterlife I haven't heard of for drivers who won't let any car in front of them for any reason whatsoever? Because otherwise I just don't get it. I saw one guy stick out his bottom lip and stubbornly refuse to move over for an ambulance the other day. Now that is machismo gone mad.

5. In England dogs are allowed to leap around the back of cars and stick their heads out of the window to enjoy the feeling of the wind rushing through their ear-fur. It's a more common sight here to see small children bouncing around - unencumbered by car seat tetherings or other yawn-inducing safety devices - with their heads out of the window, balancing in the space between the front seats and once, memorably, perched on the parental knee 'pretending' to drive (at 80kmph, natch). I can't find the appropriate words to comment on this particular kind of ... erm... peculiarity.

Driving in Dubai offers up a mini-adventure every single day. Grit your teeth and enjoy!

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Two Opportunities in the Bahamas - Plots from $35,000

There is no doubt that two of a good thing is a lot better than one!

So for anyone interested in investing in property in the Bahamas, we have two of a very, very good thing.

A towering spine of ancient reef defines 80-mile Long Island, Bahamas and gives it two distinct personalities: the dramatic cliffs and caves of the east coast that protect the island from the crashing Atlantic waves, and the soft sand leeside which slides smoothly into the aquamarine waters of the Bahamas Bank.

It’s the stunning contrast of landscape that makes many people say that Long Island is one of the most picturesque islands in The Bahamas. Home to one of the oldest dive operations in The Bahamas, Long Island has numerous shallow and deep dive sites, but is best known for Dean’s Blue Hole, the deepest recorded blue hole in The Bahamas (more than 600 feet).

On the leeward side within the Deadman's Cay settlement, Buttonwood Richville is a new development offering 1/2 acre plots and upwards. These are all flat and excellent for building single or double storey homes. There are 11 lots directly onto the water which have fantastic views over the sea and onto the surrounding cays. Starting at $35,000 with just a $5,000 deposit.

The lots all have electricity, water, TV and telephone... A few minutes drive away are local shops and gas station and the Deadman's Cay Airport with local flights from Nassau. Suitable little boats to visit the little offshore cays can be moored easily on the shores of Buttonwood Richville.

You can bring in your own architect and builder or use one of the local professionals to help build your wonderful tropical home on Long Island, Bahamas.

OR CONSIDER the second good thing; this time on Great Exuma, a turnkey luxury apartment built for you with a management team in place if you wish to rent it out and take care of it when you are not there.

The central point of the Exumas archipelago is Great Exuma. And here on Great Exuma The Pagoda Place apartment complex is situated next to a beautiful natural lake filled with wildlife and turtles. The whole area is very peaceful and secluded and ensures privacy for residentsor all of the owners complete privacy as the complex will be completely secure with entrances only through the garage and gardens through intercom. Just around the corner there is a beautiful white sandy beach.

Apartments start at just under $240,000 US and there will be 10 apartments in the first block.

The complex will offer a communal swimming pool, landscaped gardens, gym and full service facilities to include telephone, high speed internet, and cable TV. Garages for private parking are located under the building. The capital George town is a short 5 minute drive. Bars and restaurants are scattered throughout the island and presently the nearest is just a 10 min walk.

Many of the Exuma Cays are private, some operating as luxuriously exclusive private-island resorts and others the ultra-exclusive homes of such stars as Johnny Depp and country singers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Its a very special place to have property.

Please contact us for more information if you are interested in either Buttonwood Richville or The Luxury Apartments.

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Real Estate Foreclosures in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

You´ll never find a better time to invest in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; besides, where else can you live in a climate better than Hawaii, 2-4 hours from home, all the amenities of home, more activities than at home, and at a fraction of the price?

Foreclosure, by definition, is the legal procedure for satisfying claims against a mortgagor in default who has not redeemed the mortgage; satisfaction may be obtained from the proceeds of a forced sale of the property.

There are many reasons why mortgagors may fall into default but historically it happens when the mortgagor loses his job, loses his health, or for some other reason is unable to make his mortgage payments in a timely manner.

Today, the majority of reasons for default are totally different. Many recent mortgagors were able to obtain loans with little or no credit history and little or nothing as a down payment. They received adjustable rate mortgages and if they were ever able to afford their monthly payments, they were no longer able as soon as the interest rate increased and consequently the mortgagee was forced to foreclose on the buyer. As the foreclosure rate in a given region started to increase, so did the availability of distressed property sales. Of course, an increased volume of distressed properties in the neighborhood resulted in a rapid depreciation of the neighboring properties. With the value of a given property well below its mortgage payoff balance, many mortgagors merely elect to abandon their property and walk away from their mortgage; thus the mortgagee is forced to foreclose on these borrowers as well.

This vicious circle of foreclosure events is currently occurring at an unprecedented rate in the US. Headlines such as "US Foreclosures Up 24 Percent in 1st Quarter "," US Banks Step Up Home Foreclosures "," Las Vegas Tops Foreclosure List", "Sun Belt States Lead Q1 U.S. Mortgage Foreclosures" and "Foreclosures May Hit 1.5 Million in U.S. Housing Bust" are seen in the news on a daily basis.

Okay, know that we fully understand the cause for and frequency of the recent foreclosures and knowing it's a buyer's market, perhaps, if you still have a little money left over after the recent stock market sell off, you might be considering shopping for a foreclosed property at a distressed sale price in a resort such as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. If so, you might as well forget it; you'll not see a foreclosure sign in Mexico!

The following is taken verbatim from Condo.com, one of the major websites dealing in worldwide condo sales:

Mexico Foreclosures – Condo.com is the best way to find free foreclosures listings in Mexico. Find foreclosed condos, foreclosed condos, foreclosure properties and other foreclosure investment opportunities in Mexico. Search bank foreclosures, REO properties, preforeclosures, HUD homes and more foreclosures in Mexico.
Sorry! There are no search results found. No For-Sale listings available

Well, that pretty well sums up your opportunities to "steal" a nice condo in PV! There are numerous reasons why foreclosures are essentially nonexistent in Vallarta however the primary reason is that up until just recently, all purchases were done strictly on a cash basis. Mortgages are now available in Mexico but only with a substantial down payment. With a solid credit history and income stream, one might be able to purchase a property in Mexico with only 20% down, however most of the mortgages are with down payments approaching 50%. As you can imagine, it takes an awfully good reason to walk away from a property when you have that kind of investment in it! Consequently, with 98% of the properties owned outright and the remaining 2% with well funded mortgages, there are virtually no foreclosures in Paradise!

Because there are no foreclosures, there has been no significant depreciation of values in Puerto Vallarta. That's not to say that there's not been a leveling off in prices or that the developers are not more inclined to "negotiate" today than they were a year ago. To the contrary, prices on newly constructed condos have never been better than they are today and bargains can be found throughout the city. This is to some degree due to over building during the past ten year boom period and partly due to the reduction in prices of steel and other construction materials as well as the decrease in construction labor rates as the Peso recently devalued by 30% relative to the US Dollar.

For the reasons regarding foreclosures outlined above, you should never see your investment value plummet in Vallarta as it has in many desirable locations throughout the US. Because the North Americans have been recently hit so hard financially combined with the fact that the local developers have overbuilt, Puerto Vallarta is a true buyer's market. There are 1,000´s of new condos currently on the market in PV and with interest rates at an all time low, the time to buy will never be better.

Any North Americans still holding cash will never find a better time or place to invest it; besides, where else can you live in a climate better than Hawaii, 2-4 hours from home, all the amenities of home, as many or more activities than at home, and at a fraction of the price? So, why wait; come on down and explore the possibilities; just don't look for any foreclosure signs!

Jim Scherrer has owned property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 26 years and resided there for the past twelve years. The mission of his series of more than 70 articles pertaining to retirement in Puerto Vallarta is to reveal the recent changes that have occurred in Vallarta while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For the full series of articles regarding travel to and retirement in Vallarta as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links, please visit us at http://www.pvreba.com/.

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How to Predict the Price of Gold

Jeff Clark, Editor, Casey’s Gold & Resource Report

Long-term readers know that gold moves inversely to the dollar, meaning if the dollar drops, gold tends to rise (and vice versa). This happens with about 80% regularity. But what many gold writers haven’t acknowledged is the leveraged movement our favorite metal has demonstrated this year to the world’s reserve currency.

The U.S. dollar index, a six-currency gauge of the greenback’s value, has dropped 7.8% so far this year (as of December 3). Meanwhile, gold is up 38.7% year-to-date. In other words, for every 1% drop in the dollar index, gold has risen 4.9%. If that approximate percentage holds over time, one can begin to estimate what the gold price might be if you know what the dollar might do.

While the dollar is likely to bounce at some point, making gold correct, the long-term fate of the dollar has already dried in cement. If the dollar were simply to return to its March 2008 low of 71.30 next year – a 4.6% drop from current levels – this would imply a rise in gold of 22.5% and a price of about $1,478 an ounce.

The long-term scenario is more dramatic. If you believe the dollar will lose half its value from current levels, this would imply a gold price around $4,164. If you believe it will lose 75% of its value, gold would reach about $5,642. Doug Casey has called for a $5,000 gold price; if he’s right, guess what that implies for the dollar?

And think about this: these calculations ignore what else might “show up,” such as when price inflation shows up in the economy, the greater public shows up to buy gold, or the Chinese don’t show up at an auction. Could $5,000 gold be too low?

Unless you think the dollar’s problems are solved, its eventual demise is gold’s eventual glory. Prepare, and invest, accordingly.

And keep up on the gold and precious metals markets in Casey’s Gold and Resource Report. Each month I’ll bring you the best research and investment recommendations in the business. And until December 18, you can get a subscription for 50% off the regular price and receive a free gift worth $79. Click here to learn more.


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These Fortunate Isles

Maybe the real reason why time traveller, Doctor Who, has a continuing pre-occupation with sorting out problems with aliens in the City of London is not really to do with ever shrinking location budgets at the BBC, but more to do with the fact that Greenwich is the centre of time. A recent news item celebrating the 125th anniversary of the decision to make the Greenwich Meridian the centre of time, reminded me of a history lesson that I still remember from my school days. Co-incidentally, it also has an interesting link with the Canary Islands. Maybe this was the true beginning of my journey to this wonderful island.

The Greenwich Meridian is an imaginary and arbitrary line that cuts through Spain, UK, France, Algeria and Ghana. It divides the Earth into east and west in much the same way as the Equator divides it into north and south. It enables us to navigate the globe as well as synchronising the world’s clocks. However, this has not always been the case.

Before the all-important decision 125 years ago to make Greenwich the centre of world time, many countries and, indeed, large towns kept their own local time. This was based upon the hours of daylight and there were no international rules as to when the day would start or finish. With the growth of railways crossing international borders and marine activity, it became essential to set a global time. Before an important meeting in Washington took place in 1884 there were, in Europe alone, some 20 different meridians - you can imagine the confusion!

The Washington meeting, naturally, brought with it many different views, no doubt based upon national self-interest. The final conclusion was to make Greenwich the standard for setting time with a vote of 22 to one, with only San Domingo voting against and Brazil and, predictably, France, abstaining. France suggested that the new agreed meridian should run through the Canary Islands, and this suggestion was not just French awkwardness - it had some foundation.

Back in AD 127, the Greek astronomer, Ptolomy, made astronomical observations from Alexandria in Egypt. Ptolomy selected the Fortunate Islands (the Canaries) as the physical location of the prime meridian when he created an accurate grid system upon which the location of individual cities from the farthest known land west to the farthest known land east could be accurately placed. From that time onwards, early Mediterranean navigators used the meridian through the Canaries, as their first, or prime, meridian as they were then thought to be the most western part of the habitable globe. During the 15th and 16th centuries, when the peoples of Western Europe emerged as sea traders, almost every maritime nation used as a prime meridian a meridian passing through its own territory. The French, for example, used the meridian of Paris; the Dutch, that through Amsterdam; and the English the meridian through London. You can only imagine the chaos and confusion and inconvenience caused to mariners by the existence of a multitude of prime meridians!

So you see the Canary Islands have a strong place in history in setting the centre of world time. Imagine the prestige (and confusion) if the world’s clocks were set to Canaries Mañana Time and not Greenwich Mean Time!

About the Author: Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life on his island in the Atlantic Ocean as a writer and author.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s website: www.barriemahoney.com or read his latest novel, ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384).
© Barrie Mahoney


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Canadian Gold Juniors Soar – Should You Buy Now?

By Jeff Clark, Editor for Casey Research

For years, gold bugs like Doug Casey and his team have been saying that once gold takes off to stratospheric heights, it will take the gold mining stocks with it. It’s called the “Mania phase” of the commodity bull market.

Has this time arrived now?

If it hasn’t, it sure does a good look-a-like job. In the last weeks, the gold price has reached new records almost daily – the latest intraday high being $1,226.50/oz. The Chinese government has been urging its 1.3 billion citizens to buy physical gold and silver. And serially successful fund managers are beginning to load up on gold and gold shares.

BlackRock is a global commodities investment fund with a total of $1.4 trillion under management and serves as manager and adviser to the U.S. Federal Reserve. Not only did BlackRock state last month that “Central banks will be net buyers of gold this year as they diversify away from the U.S. dollar, marking a reversal of a decades-old trend” – the fund itself has a total of $4.655 billion invested in gold shares. Comparing the size of the gold stock market to the size of their portfolio, the 0.3% of their assets said to be invested in gold shares comes to something like 1 to 2% of the gold share market.

Financial website Minyanville agrees that “The smart money is already piled into gold,” listing high net worth investors like George Soros and Jim Rogers, and well-known fund managers like Bill Gross and Kyle Bass of Hayman Capital, Donald Coxe of Coxe Advisors, and David Tice of the Prudent Bear Fund.

The proof is in the pudding: On December 1, the Canadian TSX stock exchange posted its highest close in 14 months, and since the end of September, the S&P/TSX gold index was up 13%.
"There are really only four sectors in Canada — mining, energy, financials and everything else," Colin Cieszynski, market analyst, CMC Markets Canada, told the Vancouver Sun.

"For the most part, the seniors in the energy group have been flat for awhile and the banks have been flat for three months. One of the only areas that has been moving with a sizable weight on the index has been the mining sector. Since (gold) is one of the only areas moving, it's being noticed."

So, should you jump into gold stocks with both feet?

Louis James, senior editor of Casey’s International Speculator, one of the world’s most respected gold mining stock advisories, warns of throwing caution to the wind. In a recent interview with The Gold Report, James stated, “Gold stocks are . . . highly, highly speculative. Most gold companies don't have any gold; they are exploring for gold or developing projects that they hope will be economic. Only a few actually produce gold, and even the biggest producers are highly volatile, because the price of their product fluctuates constantly and strongly.”

“If [the juniors] do make a discovery, they go from having literally nothing but a geologist's dream to having something of measurable value. The difference in valuation can be huge; this is how it's possible to get 10-baggers or even 50 times your money on one of these stocks.”

Discerning the potential multi-baggers from the barren holes in the ground, though, is not an easy feat – but the market, says James, has done part of the work for investors.

”In 2007 and 2008, before the jitters, the market was overvaluing a lot of companies, practically anything with ‘gold’ in its name. Some of these companies didn't even have any assay holes drilled into their prospects; all they had were theories and hopes, and they were trading for tens of millions of dollars. Since last fall's crash, there's been quite a separation of wheat from chaff, and many of the companies that had nothing but theories or hopes have not recovered significantly.”

Still, James and his colleagues at Casey Research are expecting another market correction before gold – and by extension, gold shares – begin their trip to the moon: “If you're psychologically predisposed to being nervous about your investment, and you know you'd have a hard time dealing with a drop of 30%, 40% in a month or two, maybe this is not a good time to be buying speculative gold stocks.

“That having been said, if you stick to quality companies, buy an initial slice of your ideal position now, and fill out the rest of your position at a lower average price if it fluctuates downward, you preclude the possibility of missing out on a stock that takes off. But you have to believe in your picks strongly enough to see a sell-off as a buying opportunity.

“Our general recommendation right now is to focus on the best of the best. Everything in the International Speculator portfolio has resources drilled off that can be defined by one of the regulation-complaint categories or another. And it's all gold and silver right now.”

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My Favourite Location in France

Although I have been fortunate to visit most regions and departments of France, there is always one area that I love returning to: the Pyrenees-Orientales department in southern France next to the Spanish border.

This experience highlights the delights of this area: one April I was staying on the outskirts of Perpignan. We decided to motor up to the skiing areas nearby in the Pyrenees (about 60 to 90 minutes drive depending on the conditions) to Les Angles. Yes, it was snowing and there were skiers using the runs. So after a refreshment or two - non-alcohilic, of course, traffic officer - we slid back towards the beach at Canet en Roussillon (east of Perpignan). Bizarrely, the weather was sunny and warm enough for an English family to sunbathe! Needless to say, the French were wrapped up in jumpers and mufflers.

Whilst in Perpignan - a truly multi-cultural city - do visit the shops and fabulous selection of restaurants. Walking around at night is very pleasant and secure even into the late hours.

Further down the coast my favourite resort is Collioure - a quaint fishing port with small beach. The vista back across the village towards the Pyrenees is stunning. The village is a great favourite with the French and is buzzing all year. Within the "walls" there are many shops, restaurants and artists at work. It reminds me of St Ives in Cornwall.

During the Summer, walking in the Pyrenees is breathtaking. For the more leisurely inclined take the Yellow Train from Villefranche up into the ski areas. The panoramas are splendid. Les Angles has a lake below the ski area which is a hive of activity during the summer with many water sports.

There is always much to do and see in the Pyrenees-Orientales whatever the season. The climate is superb - with very mild winters. Nearby, you can visit the World Heitage site at Carcassonne, and travel into Spain to visit the bay at Les Rosas and down to nearby Barcelona.

Enjoy!

Property bargains galore as prices have dropped back to more realistic levels: Pyreness-Orientales Property

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A Drag Queen at the Correos

Like so many ex-pats living in a new country, I love receiving post from the UK. Be it a letter or postcard from friends or family, or maybe the occasional magazine from the National Trust or the Vegetarian Society; it is good to know that we have not been forgotten. Although there is no shortage of quality shopping opportunities in the Canary Islands, I am a strong supporter of the delights of Amazon and the QVC Shopping Channel and I am often tempted to order the occasional book, DVD or latest gadget on-line from the UK.

The world’s market place really opened up when I discovered the wonders of Ebay some years ago. Now, I can find almost anything on the pages of this wonderful creation. Items ranging from long obsolete batteries for my minidisc (yes, I adore iPods but somehow they never seem to meet the genius of minidisc), replacement parts for an ancient, but much loved Russell Hobbs coffee percolator to very cheap yet effective mosquito netting all find themselves winging their way to one of these tiny islands in the Atlantic.

I have to say that, in the main, the Correos postal service has been very good and I am pleased to report that everything that I have ordered has safely arrived either at our home in the Costa Blanca or the Canary Islands - eventually. However, there was very nearly one rather nasty exception.

Several weeks ago I ordered a rather splendid electronic item from Amazon in the UK - I won’t bore you with all the details now, but enough to say that it was sufficiently exciting to have me waiting expectantly for the postman each day for nearly five weeks! Amazon told me confidently that delivery would take somewhere between three and seven days. Yes, that did seem a little optimistic, but we did often receive post from Plymouth that had taken only three days to get from Plymouth to Gran Canaria. Anyway, this item was travelling by courtesy of Deutsche Post and if I know anything about our German friends, it is that an efficient postal service is one of the major assets of their country. I waited with hope and expectation...

Three weeks later the parcel had still not arrived and by the end of the fourth week I was becoming anxious and contacted Amazon. Their advice was to give it “another week” and so, once again, the anguish of waiting for the postman each morning was to be repeated.

Just as we were entering the fifth week and I had all but given up any hope of receiving it, there was a buzz on the door bell and a new, very cheery, postman was holding out a box for me! Yes, it was the long expected parcel from Amazon.

“Are you new to the job?” I asked the young postman, accusingly.

Yes, it turned out that our new postman had just been appointed. I asked what had happened to our previous postman - a very nice man who was also a part-time drag queen by night. Maybe he had deserted his postal deliveries permanently in favour of the bright lights and a wardrobe of new frocks, wigs and feather boas?

The young postman shook his head. No, it turned out that some three weeks earlier our normally reliable postman, and part time drag queen, had chopped off his middle finger during a rather nasty incident with a set of ancient curling tongues, a jar of cocktail cherries and a machete - no, please don’t ask me for the gory details! As a result he could no longer continue with his postal round and it had subsequently taken Correos three weeks to appoint his replacement. Ah, so that was the reason why my parcel from Amazon was delayed. How very inconsiderate!

About the Author: Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, headteacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life on his island in the Atlantic Ocean as a writer and author.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s website: http://www.barriemahoney.com/ or read his latest novel, ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384).

© Barrie Mahoney



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Kissing in Uruguay

How can you learn to read the symbols, the body language, the subtle quirks of a new culture? Although present day Uruguayans may seem to imitate their Italian and Spanish forefathers, the twists and turns of history have mutated the culture into its own hybrid that newcomers may take some time to understand.

When you greet someone here in Uruguay, unless the relationship has just a perfunctory meaning, you firmly kiss the right cheek or, at least, brush right cheeks together. You will do this with your doctor, with the lawyer when you buy a house, with your cleaning lady, and, in a gathering of friends, you will kiss each of them as they arrive and then, once again when you leave. The strength and length of the hug will tell you about the strength of your relationship with that person.

As a Northerner, sometimes I have felt that this was frivolous. Why would teachers kiss each of their students? And workers, why do they kiss when the shift changes and their counterparts arrive? One day, one of my English students, absolutely incredulous, asked me, ¨You mean that you could work with someone for years and never kiss them?¨ I imagined kissing my past bosses and my former workmates as they entered our office in the morning and I winced. Kissing them would have been a sign of something romantic- and forbidden, yet my student could not imagine a life without those kisses.

I have noticed that the Uruguayan society is not one full of words. For example, Hallmark and other greeting card companies have almost no presence here. When you give a gift, you mark simply your name and that of the recipient. When you go to a wedding here, there is the ceremony at the church or in the civil office where the bride and groom agree to the wedding vows by simply responding, “Yes,” and then, they do not speak publicly again. At the reception party, there is the classic dance where the newlyweds dance with each of their in-laws and close family members. Then there is the loud kumbia music, and course after course of food, but there are no speeches, no toasting the newlyweds, no master of ceremonies. A wedding reception could be described as: greet with kisses, dance, eat, dance, eat, dance, eat, and kiss goodbye. The personal touch is what matters.

They say that before the dictatorship, people were more selective about who they kissed. People who escaped during the 1970’s returned and were surprised to find this change in the culture. As a foreigner, I will never know what that time was like when the golpe de estado (the coup of 1973) changed lives here overnight. They say that it was like a war that was waged within—within buildings, within houses, within families, and within people themselves. One could never know which side someone was on. Were they an informer for the dictatorship, a left wing rebel, or part of the secret police? The police had the right to enter any home at anytime. Even children’s birthday parties were raided, and people were taken prisoner. Others mysteriously disappeared. But there were always people who resisted the dictatorship and worked against it. One family friend told me that because her parents had five children and could not risk themselves in more dangerous work, they kept a printing press buried in their back garden and they worked at night, unearthing the machine, running off subversive pamphlets and newspapers and then burying it again.

As the dictatorship began to lose strength, signs of resistance became more apparent. People in their houses, on certain prescribed nights, at an agreed upon time, would begin to beat pots and pans together. The ensuing din was tremendous yet the police could never find the source. It was the sound of the people together. Later, people left their homes with their kitchen instruments and made the racket out in the street. The police were thwarted.

Another family friend told me of a long march that threaded through the city to mark the end of the dictatorship’s power. She said that someone passed along the message to those in her part of the line, “When you get to a rise in the road, look back and see all those people that are coming along with us.” My friend told me that she will never forget that feeling but when she tries to explain, her eyes fill with tears and she uses words like ‘contención’ and ‘solidaridad.’

As a foreigner, it is difficult for me to understand what it felt like to live in those times of hardship and solidarity. But I believe this era to be the dawn of the Uruguayan kiss. It is opportunity to say to someone, “I am there with you, in any struggle that you might have.”

By Suki Davis writer for http://www.olauruguay.com/

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Developer Solves Turkish Mortgage Issue with 20-year Interest-Free Payment Plan

With mortgages for foreigners buying in Turkey still both rare and awkward, the British developers of Horizon Sky, Bodrum, have taken matters into their own hands. Buyers can now take advantage of a 20-year non-status interest-free payment plan which could see you with the keys to a contemporary apartment for just £208 GBP per month. Turkish delight.

Daniel Dias for developer Signature International comments, “Despite gradual progress, mortgages are still very difficult to obtain in Turkey. Interest rates are high, terms restrictive, arrangement fees around 1.5% to 2% and some lenders even charge hundreds of pounds in upfront fees before they’ve approved your loan. This has left many buyers of Turkish property with no option but to take equity out of their main residence in the UK or risk losing their deposit. Our non-status interest-free payment plan immediately eliminates any worries the client may have over buying at Horizon Sky.”

“As long as the buyer is able to pay a deposit then we’ll offer our special payment plan,” Daniel continues, “after that it’s not too dissimilar from a mortgage. If they fail to keep up the monthly installments then the purchaser risks losing their property. Our quality product is a viable long-term investment so we’re happy for the property to act as security – we have nothing to lose. As a developer we are solvent and stable and are not only willing to stand by Horizon Sky for the few years of construction but also for the long-term.”

Horizon Sky has several payment plans on offer. The most popular is the 20-year interest-free plan which can be accessed after a £1,000 GBP reservation fee and a 35% deposit in staggered payments over the build period – around 18 months. Keys in hand, for the most affordable apartment of £76,800, monthly payments could be as little as £208 GBP. Other plans are available including a zero deposit zero interest five-year term with monthly payments of £1,500 GBP for an entry level home. Contact Horizon Sky for a payment plan to suit your needs.

Contact Horizon Sky direct on 00 44 7912 117174, email daren@signatureinternational.co.uk or visit www.signatureinternational.co.uk

About Horizon Sky:
Some 35 minutes from Bodrum, on the sundrenched slopes of the Bay of Güllük dipping into the Aegean Sea, Horizon Sky is an upscale community of apartments, penthouses and villas. The first resort in the area to feature an American-style Country Club House, Horizon Sky’s amenities are endless. Skirting a private beach are a restaurant, sports bar and café, fitness suite, Spa facilities, mini golf, several tennis courts, grocery shop and no less than twelve swimming pools dotted throughout the community, including a heated indoor pool.

A jetty and private water-taxi are already in operation to deliver residents and guests across the Bay to Güllük town whilst plans are going through the approval process for an 80-berth marina. This asset will further enhance the investment and rental potential of Horizon Sky. An on-site reception and concierge alongside a rental management office are also on hand to maximize occupancy throughout the year.

The homes themselves are nestled amongst extensive planting complemented by waterways, waterfalls and fountains and display clean contemporary lines and European-standard superior specifications. Granite worktops, white goods, wi-fi and air-conditioning come as standard whilst complete furnishing packages are available from as little as £7,995 gbp. All units have private gardens or terraces, many with refreshing plunge pools or Jacuzzis.

Offering a choice of one and two bedroom penthouses, two bedroom duplex apartments and three and four bedroom villas, prices at Horizon Sky start from £76,800 gbp with a choice of payment terms. Prospective purchasers can attend stay-on-site inspection visits managed directly by the developer.

Contact Horizon Sky direct on 00 44 7912 117174, email daren@signatureinternational.co.uk or visit http://www.signatureinternational.co.uk/


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It’s time to live the Dream

City workers make the most of the recession and embark on a career change in the Caribbean.

Selling the house, packing your bags and sailing off into the sunset on your own private yacht, is the ultimate escapists dream. But surprisingly, it would seem that for many City workers the recession has allowed this dream to turn into a reality.

With redundancies on the increase, many are turning the recession into an opportunity and are looking to learn new skills or embark on a career change and start a business overseas. In the past three months, Miramar Sailing, Antigua’s premier sailing holidays operator, has received five times as many enquiries for its learn-to-sail holidays and three times as many about its business franchise options in the Caribbean as in the same period last year.

Comments Brian Turton, co-founder of Miramar Sailing: “Rather than look at the economic problems from a negative view point, many see this as an opportunity and have decided to follow a long held dream – learning to sail. Our last learn-to-sail holiday was booked by a couple in their 50s who had taken early retirement. They decided to escape the grey and cold British winter to enjoy three idyllic weeks in the Caribbean and learn to sail, something they’d always dreamed of. They’ve now bought a boat in the UK and sail every weekend."

With tailor-made departures and itineraries (from seven days to four weeks), Miramar Sailing, offer Learn to Sail skippered yachting holidays from just £1,060 per person. Price is based on four sharing and includes seven nights’ skippered yacht accommodation (most meals included). Flights extra.

But its exclusive Caribbean franchise opportunities are also proving increasingly attractive to those looking to escape the Rat Race according to Miramar Sailing. “We’ve also seen a noticeable increase in enquiries about starting one of our franchise businesses in the Caribbean from people who have taken voluntary redundancy,” continues Brian “It’s something I can understand only too well, having made the same decision myself four years ago. My working day is now spent aboard my very own private 40ft yacht, looking out over the crystal clear water to the soft white sands in the distance – it’s pure hedonism.”

Miramar Sailing this week announced it had sold the franchise for day sailing charters in Antigua. With a proven business model, impeccable reputation and a recognised industry leading brand, Miramar Sailing are looking to continue the company’s growth and are offering a number of exclusive franchise opportunities throughout the Caribbean.

For further franchise information, or to book a learn-to-sail holiday, contact Miramar Sailing on +44 (0) 20 3287 1068, or visit http://www.miramarsailing.com/

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