Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Light hearted but will help me immensely.

I am sure each and everyone of you have said this 'I wish we had brought that with us when we came to TRNC'.

No matter how big or small what do you wish you had either put in your container or taken with you when you moved to TRNC.

It will be interesting to see your replies.

Thanks in advance to one & all.

Dennis

Although you can buy these here, wish I had put electric blankets in.

Decent quality fruit and vegetables.

Hi all
watching this thread with interest as coming out in the New Year!!

Small condensing tumble dryer

Decent garden furniture, its very expensive here to buy good quality, same goes for household furniture, I find most is not to my taste. Also, all kinds of electrical appliances and a wood burner.

The way the exchange rate has gone, about 6 times as much money ha. ha. and my restaurant. Surprised about the fruit and veg comment , I think we have the finest veg and salad you could possibly get. may not look the best but its about the taste.

a crate of real ale

Catalytic mobile gas heater!!! No/little fumes and far safer than the rubbish mobile heaters you can buy here. Have searched both North and South but can not find any for sale - shame really my "Best Friend" at the time could not find room to put a couple into his 40' container even though the last 5 feet of it were empty!!! Search on eBay first is my tip but buy at least one.

The fruit and veg has no taste....they are unnatural sizes (and therefore tasteless) because they are sprayed with chemical fertilizers that were outlawed in Europe years ago! I don't mind fruit and vegetables being of different sizes and shapes; I do mind when they're dry and shrivelled, fibrous, rotting or covered in fruit flies. Try finding an avocado in the shops that isn't like a bullet or rotten inside.

Thanks so far everyone but didn't want anyone falling out over it.

So far love all the suggestions, couple already thought about but others completely new.

Keep em coming you lovely people.

Dennis

Agree totally About fruit and veg scares me silly the amount of chemical that gets used, and to original question bring as much as you can, I wish I'd brought decent curtain track. A log burner and central heating are essential in the winter as fans and air con are in summer - bring decent ceiling fans.

Waddo

Just looked up the Catalytic mobile gas heaters on EBay.

The regulator that would be on them here, would they be OK in TRNC or would they have to be exchanged/modified ??

Thank you

Dennis

Not sure because I did not buy one with a regulator fitted - for sure the ones you buy here will fit our bottles and will fit the hose for the fire, they work just fine. Don't buy a used one, get a brand new one or two and they will last you at least 8 years - ours have - by then they may even be on sale over here - lol. The heat output is good on them and apart from the "Mat Flash" when they first light you will not know they are on apart from the heat that comes from them. Very little needed in the way of servicing - checking for leaks (soap and water) and keeping the pilot flame a nice blue colour is about all, wrap them up in plastic at the end of each season to stop the mud wasp's building inside the pilot hole and all will be fine. Would not be without them.

Cheers waddo

http://unipartautostore.com/catalytic-p ... wwod83AP0w

Reduced form £119 to £69 - might just get 3 or 4 - 3.4kw as well.

Thank again

Dennis

Don't forget to unpack them first - turn the box's inside out and repack them with "used heater" printed on the box. Customs just love a brand new item complete with tags to charge you import tax on!!!!! Lots of heavy tape helps as well - lol.

Cheers waddo

Yeah, already been advised re that - like the inside out method with 'Used heater bedroom 1, 2, 3 and living room ' will certainly be enscribed on them lol !!

This is all valuable advice from your community, really great.

Cheers

Dennis

My , nearly new, car. I was told by a resident that second hand cars were so cheap here , it was not worth the cost and hassle of shipping one over. How wrong she was , I have never been able to afford anything as good as the one I sold in the UK for peanuts.



But lets be positive: what do are people glad they brought? Every winter I bless myself for bringing a lightweight duvet cover - it is warm enough for all but two months max. which are solved be adding an even lighter fleece blanket, and has lasted for nearly 20 years!

Ragged Robin

Think a nearly new or new car is out due to the 65% import tax they cream off you but understand re missing it.

fatouche wrote:The fruit and veg has no taste....they are unnatural sizes (and therefore tasteless) because they are sprayed with chemical fertilizers that were outlawed in Europe years ago! I don't mind fruit and vegetables being of different sizes and shapes; I do mind when they're dry and shrivelled, fibrous, rotting or covered in fruit flies. Try finding an avocado in the shops that isn't like a bullet or rotten inside.

What fertilisers were banned in Europe years ago? Pesticides maybe... What chemical fertilisers are used here? Nothing that is not used world-wide - farmers here on the whole can't afford expensive chemicals to 'enhance' crop yields.

Why do you think the shapes here vary? Whereas in the UK et al, all you can find are uniform shapes all scrubbed clean and over-packaged?

As it happens I know the answer - see the first BBC Episode of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's documentary series on waste to see why.

As Johnny-Lee says, one of the delights here is the fruit and veg - as long as you know how to get the best out of it... I will agree that a recent batch of avocado was very poor

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... -episode-1

You get cabbages and cauliflowers the size of small cofee tables here, and yes, some do use chemicals, laughing at the suggestion of organic methods. No one is asking for uniformityin size and shape or completely blemish-free specimens , just some that taste of what they're supposed to and haven't been tampered with.

Firstly,'forgetting'is a prime requirement for living here,you are nearly ready !!!
and when a Cypriot says 'yarın',officially means tomorrow,but they mean anytime in the next dew days or weeks .
Seriously,bring lots of M&S underwear !!!Mine lasted 8 years plus,genuine fakes here maybe a year's wear !!!
Also some decent ball pens(Pilot BPS eg)
And if you like gardening,Spencer's sweet peas(can't find here)aaaaaand Mangetout seeds..mmmm...my first crop for next year appearing out of ground today.

I love mangetout!

One thing to note is that power cuts are not unusual and following them power surges are fairly common. So you might want to price up voltage regulators, one for the whole house would be ideal. Alternatively, switch off all appliances when not in use or during power cuts(dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, etc) and have voltage regulators and UPS on computers, TVs, etc. We have lost quite a few items over the years so have learned the hard way.

The one thing that I would not be without, but actually bought over here from Greenium when it was open, is a Brosely Gas fire that looks exactly like a log burner. If I was coming over I would definitely bring one of those and would recommend to anyone. It is fabulous, very efficient, gives out loads of heat and none of the mess of a log burner. Made in Broseley near to Telford.

Can I just thank everyone for the replies to this thread, absolutely marvellous.

The info is invaluable and as I have always said, 'why re-invent the wheel' when there is so much knowledge and personal experience out there.

Dennis

I second undies and nightware from M & S or any good department stores. indeed any clothes that dont date, such as sweaters and something like track suit bottoms for chilly winter evenings. LIke Mike I am still wearing clothes I brought with me, while more recent purchases have gone in the bin: the sun is lovely for drying but does destroy fabric (and plastic) Also bathing costumes - I have never found one I like here, and am constantly begging "swallows" to bring for me.

Good quality clothes in pure cotton or linen are still a good idea for the hot months, but remember you will also need four or five months of winter wear. I have lightweight cotton sweaters that are over twenty years old - because I only wear them for a few days in the between weather or Spring and Autumn but they are invaluable then.

Got to agree about the fruit here especially the peaches and nectarines, been very poor this year (I thought they had been frozen and then took out later when needed) ?

Marmite, it cost a bloody fortune

tea bags

tea bags

Electric blanket, best advice i was ever given, the bed used to feel damp in the winter and boy its cold when the sun goes down!

kazzy you would do me a bit of shopping would you?food stuff if you go room.

Some very interesting and useful suggestions, all taken on board.

Thanks for your time everyone.

Dennis

This may sound silly but, if your wife uses kitchen foil when cooking beware the stuff here is like tissue paper. Useless for say wrapping a turkey or lining a lasagne dish. Bring a couple of the biggest rolls of extra strong foil (Lakeland have a super one) you can find. I had one that lasted me for 2 or 3 years, but they very heavy in a suitcase!!

The foil is very thin indeed! Alphamega do decent stuff though.

Many moons ago a similar post appeared on C44, and one poster mentioned lamp shades, I took note and brought all mine in our container, I am glad I did as I have never seen any here that I would want to buy.

I also packed a kettle that can be used on a hob, the other half mocked me for bringing it, he was made to eat his words when one morning we got up to find we had a power cut!

Never used an electric blanket, but last winter was so glad I brought one over, bed nice and toasty.

Agree with the tin foil I too get mine from Alpha Mega.

LL

In the past people have had security issues. Good idea to take security lights, led lights. Make sure you security mark all your electrical possessions, i.e. electric drills, tools etc. The Range store here in UK is great for gardening bits, bathroom and plumbing accessories at good prices.

I can't find anywhere that sells 'Y' Fronts, North or South - except quadruple priced in M&S in Nicosia - anyone know where to get 'em here?

Don't tell me: 'Secondhand @ Chateau Lambousa!'

Sponge diver..........not second hand at Lambousa......maybe 'second bottom' !!