Michael Shields update

JAILED LIVERPOOL FAN DECISION DUE "WITHIN WEEKS"

UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw will make a decision "within weeks" on whether to pardon jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields, BBC reported, citing his parents.

The 22-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman after his team's win in the 2005 Champions League final.

His parents, Michael Snr and Maria, put their case to Straw during a meeting at Blackburn Town Hall earlier.

Shields called on Straw "to do the right thing and free my son".

In July, Straw made a provisional ruling not to release Shields and issue him with a pardon.

Shields' legal team then had 28 days to challenge the decision and make new representations to the minister.

It included looking at a report by Merseyside Police, which said had Shields' been tried in the UK, on the evidence used, he would have deserved a re-trial.

Speaking to BBC News, Shields Snr called the meeting "very productive".

He added: "Mr Straw listened to us in detail and to the information from Merseyside Police.

"He told us we would have a decision on the pardon within weeks not months. We just hope and pray it is to free Michael.

"I spoke to Michael before and told him how it went, but he doesn't want to get his hopes up yet."

Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, a long-time supporter of Shields' campaign, and Councillor Joe Anderson, from Liverpool City Council, joined the family.

Shields, from Edge Hill, said he was in bed when the barman was attacked and has always maintained his innocence.

The victim, Martin Georgiev, had a rock dropped on his head in Varna, Bulgaria, where Shields, like a number of Liverpool fans, had broken the journey home from Istanbul.

Shields, then 18, was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison, which was reduced to 10 years on appeal.

He is currently serving the remainder of his sentence in Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute in Appleton Thorn, Warrington.

Shields is due for release in May 2010.

Uncle's Comment:This is indeed a strange case.I recall the furore at the time.There were many witnesses to the event as it took place in a bar, but the boy has always maintained his innocence.

Madonna Concert Sofia

Madonna is live in concert at Vasil Levski stadium tomorrow night.This will create traffic chaos in the capitol with major boulevards closed.The tickets are 170 leva each or about 67 pounds (though I hazard a guess that they are all sold out now).

Let us hope that Madonna does not manage to upset the audience as she did in Bucharest by making some haughty half-assed comments that 'it had been brought to her attention' that there was discrimination against Roma in Eastern Europe and that it was a jolly bad thing !.

Uncle thinks that sermonising should be left to priests not ageing rock stars.Best stick to singing Madge !. 

Obviously one to avoid !

Local British newspaper the Birmingham Post is reporting that a British family was struck down with severe food poisoning within days of arriving at the four-star all-inclusive Riu Helios Bay Hotel in the Bulgarian resort of Obzor Beach.

Anita Riley, 42, was reportedly diagnosed as suffering from - potentially deadly - salmonella food poisoning on her return. Anita and her husband John, 44, and their two children Megan, 16, and Jack, 13, apparently visited the resort in July for a one-week all-inclusive holiday with UK tour operator, Portland Holidays Direct.

The newspaper quotes Anita Riley: "The first 24 hours were fine and at first glance both the hotel and the food looked lovely, but then things rapidly went downhill. During our stay we noticed that the food, which was often left uncovered, appeared to have been reheated and was under-cooked. On one occasion we found the chicken that was served was still pink in the middle. One by one John, Jack and I fell ill. Only Megan managed to escape illness and she couldn’t go anywhere or enjoy her holiday because the rest of us were all confined to our room with stomach cramps and diarrhoea."

The Birmingham Post reports that it is not the first time that illness has affected the hotel's clients. "Problems were first reported at the hotel back in 2006 and law firm Irwin Mitchell is still pursuing a group legal action on behalf of its clients. But once again this summer dozens of British holidaymakers are being struck down by serious gastric illness – including four confirmed cases of salmonella – three years after problems were first reported. The law firm is now calling for hygiene improvements to be made at the Bulgarian hotel."

A spokeswoman for Portland Holidays Direct, which is part of the Thomson group, is quoted in the article: "At Thomson, the health and safety of our customers is our primary focus. We closely monitor all the hotels to which we operate to ensure that the strictest health, safety, hygiene and comfort levels our customers expect are maintained. The RIU Helios Bay is a very popular hotel with Thomson customers and continues to score highly in our customer satisfaction questionnaires."

Uncles comment: That is why I never go all inclusive, they serve you second rate food and drink !.

Aviation News

It's just been announced that Aerlingus will fly to Bucharest from the 25th October, prices are from 59 Pounds return. The news is good because Bucharest is accessible for most of Northern Bulgaria and is a feasible alternative to the once a week Wizzair service, that Varna will get as the only direct flight to London in the winter.Maybe Aerlingus will consider Gatwick-Varna for next year.

Blue Air are also flying from Bucharest to Stansted which makes Bucharest an attractive option for travelling to Bulgaria.

Good news day continues

EC Spokesman Upbeat about European Funding for Bulgaria
Bulgaria in EU | August 25, 2009, Tuesday


"Bulgaria is not by far the worst student in the European class," claims European Commission spokesperson Dennis Abbott. Photo by www.ec.europa.eu 

European Commission spokesperson Dennis Abbott has assuaged fears that Bulgaria risks to lose European funding, stressing his belief that the country will improve its performance.

Abbott's statement came shortly after the European Commission (EC) rejected once again the conformity assessments submitted by Bulgaria under the Technical Assistance, Transport, Competitiveness and Administrative Capacity operational programmes.

"Bulgaria is not by far the worst student in the European class and besides now it knows what it is supposed to do in order to be an even better student," Dennis Abbott said, as cited by the Bulgarian News Agency.

According to Dennis Abbott the most important task Bulgaria faces now is the launch of the unified management and information system, which monitors the payment requests and funding distribution under the programs.

He pointed out that the systems aim to make sure that the money allocated under operative programs are being spent transparently and efficiently so that they serve the interests of the citizens, create jobs and boost economic growth.

"I am sure that this will be done in Bulgaria. After you find the solution to the problems concerning one of the programs, there are big chances that all the rest will be approved," he said.

Abbott explained that the absorption of EU funding covers three years after the approval of conformity assessments, which is Bulgaria's case is the end of 2010.

Uncle's View: The news on EU funding in the past couple of days has been frankly dire.This latest comment appears to be a lot more positive.

 

More positive UK economic news

UK mortgage approvals have rocketted by 76.7%. It appears that financial confidence is returning both in the banks lending, and borrowers feeling secure enough to borrow.As most people are aware the health of the UK housing market is a major factor in the Bulgarian housing market and I am getting more and more confident that 2010 will be the end of this recession.

Trouble at Upton Park

Sad to read that there was a major outbreak of violence mainly outside West Ham's ground last night, before their 3-1 Carling Cup win against Millwall.

Having said that it was quite predictable as the two sets of fans hate each other.It appears that there were ten arrests and quite a few injuries including a stabbing.

It's a great shame that football hooliganism has raised it's ugly head yet again.Thankfully West Ham are in a different league to Millwall and these matches are very rare.

True story

This is absolutely unbelievable....An acquaintance of mine was in a real estate agency (and I use that description advisedly) he was talking about advertising his property and said to the agent why don't you put up a sign saying 'For Sale' outside the property, the agent replied 'What a good idea , we hadn't thought of that'...You just wouldn't credit it would you the sheer amateurishness.

The story goes that years ago the lawyers were making alot of money, so every Bulgarian was a lawyer, then the estate agents were doing well so that every Bulgarian was an estate agent, I firmly believe that if Astronauts were doing well every Bulgarian would be one of those too !.

Absolutely pathetic !

Cockney rhyming at cash machines 
  

A cash machine operator has introduced Cockney rhyming slang to a number of its ATMs in east London.

People using Bank Machine's ATMs can opt to have their prompts and options given to them in rhyming slang. 

As a result they will be asked to enter their Huckleberry Finn, rather than their Pin, and will have to select how much sausage and mash (cash) they want. 

The rhyming slang prompts will be available from five cash machines in east London for three months. 

Other rhyming slang prompts people can expect include a speckled hen (£10), while the machine may inform users that it is contacting their rattle and tank, rather than bank. 

Ron Delnevo, managing director of Bank Machine, said: "We wanted to introduce something fun and of local interest to our London machines. 

"Whilst we expect some residents will visit the machine to just have a butcher's (look), most will be genuinely pleased as this is the first time a financial services provider will have recognised the Cockney language in such a manner." 

The ATMs displaying prompts in Cockney are all free to use, although the majority of the group's cash machines charge a £1.50 fee.

Uncles View: These people must be a right bunch of 'merchant bankers'

Football Focus

Well funny old start to the footie season.Burnley have taken the role of last seasons promotion flyer Hull with surprise wins over Man U and Everton.Liverpool have had a disastrous start with two unexpected defeats, and of course West Ham went down to arch-rivals Spurs.West Ham have a dreadful record against Spurs but I did think they were a little unlucky although the last goal for Spurs was a complete defensive cock-up.

I have high hopes for the Hammers this season, Zola is having to cope with injuries and a deficit in the striker department.Let us hope that he can pull it together and give people in the East End something to smile about (lets face it there isn't much these days).

Let's at least target European football I would love to be able to watch them in Bucharest or Sofia.

Here are the latest hot vehicles in the Balkans !

The Soft Top
The Low Loader
The Truck

Very strange West Ham news !

A Premier League footballer has been stabbed in both legs and is described in a "serious" condition after an attack on him and his mother at their home.

The West Ham central defender Calum Davenport required emergency surgery today on his injuries after the knife attack in the home in Bedford. Doctors described the Bedford-born player's injuries as severe, but it is too early to speculate whether they have curtailed or could damage the 26-year-old's career. His mother was also described by police as being in a serious condition.

Two men have been taken in to custody in connection with the incident. A 25-year-old man was arrested in Derby on suspicion of attempted murder, while a 19-year-old man arrested earlier remains in custody, said Bedfordshire police. Detectives from Scotland Yard have also been notified of the incident. In addition, West Ham's medical team are liaising with hospital staff over the extent of the wounds.

A statement by West Ham read: "The club's thoughts are with Calum Davenport and his family. His mum is recovering while Calum underwent surgery this morning and his injuries were described as serious by doctors.

"The thoughts of everyone at West Ham are with Calum and his family and, due to the ongoing police investigation, no further information will be released at this time."

Davenport is a former England Under-21 international, who cost the Hammers £3m when he joined them from Tottenham during the summer of 2007. However, he did not figure in West Ham's first game of the season at Wolves last week and recent transfer speculation has linked the defender with a £1.5m move to Nottingham Forest.

Davenport spent a spell on loan at Premier League rivals Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to Watford. The centre-back started his career at Coventry and has also played on loan at Southampton and Norwich. Gianfranco Zola's side are due to play Tottenham tomorrow.

Anybody want a cheap hotel ?

There are 772 Hotels for sale in Bulgaria, many are mortgaged and due to lack of tourists the owners are desperate to sell.It is the smaller family run hotels that are worse hit, but even the larger ones were offering ridiculously cheap deals to Bulgarians even in August.

Basically the shift is towards all inclusive big hotels, which has the effect of vacuuming up the trade from bars and restaurants.

What we are seeing is nothing less than a fundamental realignment of the hotel industry, to fewer bigger Hotels offering better higher quality facilities.This cannot be a bad thing as long as there is competition to keep prices down.

I have said before that Bulgaria is pricing itself out of the budget holiday market and there is not a new client group to replace this market because Bulgaria does not have the service level or infrastructure to attract the middle classes.

It is great news though for the enterprising who want to convert hotels to apartments as most hotels are in excellent locations. 

Swimming pool

I thought I would share with you pictures of my new pool which has become my private pet project for the last few months.It's quite large at 8 metres long and 5 metres wide and I am inordinately proud of it !.

Now this could be VERY interesting !

Bulgaria to yank cash out of property deals 


A new public institution will be set up in Bulgaria to manage and control amounts from all real estate transactions in an effort to bring them into the light and crack down on money laundering in the industry. 

The new Deposit and Consignation Fund will be inaugurated by special legislation hammered out by the Justice Ministry and the Notary Chamber. 

The institution will be a state-owned enterprise and not a bank and will be modeled on a system already operational in France, said Notary Chamber head Dimitar Tanev. Under the scheme, the sellers will receive their money with a short delay but it will ensure transparency and security to all loyal parties as well as central and local authorities. 

The system will see buyers transfer the money into the fund where it will spent two or three weeks before it is passed on the seller. The period will be used to check up the resources’ origin and charge all dues of the government and municipalities. It is expected to put an end to sham transactions and block cash payment as money will have to be put into the fund by a bank transfer, Tanev explained. 

Market values in the different regions will be determined by experts and updated every three or four months. The price will serve as a reference point for actual property transactions to make sure money laundering and tax evasion is prevented. A difference within 10-15% could be assumed thanks to property improvements but current differences topping out at between 300% and 1000% will be impossible, Tanev said. 

The Notary Chamber discussed the proposal with representatives of the European anti-fraud office Olaf, who said the project will indicate the country’s commitment to combat abuse and money laundering.

Uncle's comment : I will be absolutely amazed if this comes to fruition, but stranger things happen here !

Ivana to perform in Albena resort

Ivana, Bulgaria's leading pop folk diva, is performing at the Variete theatre here in the Albena resort.Its sure to be a sellout so get your tickets early !.

Facts and Figures

I was reading an article this morning about the Bulgarian property market.In the article it bemoaned the lack of reliable statistical information over a number of years about property prices.

Quite rightly it suggested that investors could not make informed decisions without correct information.The vast majority of figures in the Bulgarian Real Estate market are actually completely made up, mostly by agencies keen to boost the market by promoting high sales figures and prices. Only now when even the biggest idiot in Idiotsville can see that there is a serious decline, are realistic figures coming out.

These are the facts as I see it:

The Bulgarian property boom started in 2002 and peaked in 2007.In 2008/2009 prices have declined by as much as 25% (more in some places). Prices are now what they were in 2005/2006.

Wise investors, who got in early and sold at the peak, could realise up to 200% profit.Only those who invested late and/or unwisely, have lost money, if they can afford to sit tight most will still make a profit.

It is an unfortunate fact of a speculative property boom, that hard facts are the first casualty in a desire to get rich quick.

Bits and pieces

Just a few small pieces for you today readers.France,Germany and Japan are all officially out of recesssion, Japan from the longest one in its history.Britain and the USA must surely follow soon.

On a local note Borisov, the Bulgarian PM has announced that 20M BGN Leva is to be spent on Varna's roads, a timely decision considering the state of them !.

Thank god for the British NHS

In recent days the acrimonious health debate in the United States has spilled over into the UK due to the vicious lies being peddled about the British NHS, by the American health insurance companies and their republican allies.

These people are so determined to sabotage universal health insurance that they will stop at absolutely nothing.The facts of the matter is that the NHS is a revered public institution in the UK and any attempt to attack it would be political suicide.The UK has one of the best health services in the world, and America the worst of the so-called 'first world'.Infant mortality rates in the US are akin to those in Asia or Africa.

Compare this to Bulgaria where you have to pay to have the bedsheets changed (plus much more) and the food is literally bread and cheese, and you will see how lucky we are.

Come fly with me !

Budget airlines grow Bulgarian ops 

No-frill carriers Wizz Air, EasyJet, Germanwings, Aer Lingus and Sky Europe catered for around 26.5% of passengers carried through the Sofia airport in the first half of the year, the facility said on its website. The airfield serviced 1.523 million passengers in January to June. The five low-cost airlines controlled about 20% of the market last year and 12% in the first half with the growth largely driven by new flights by Wizz Air and EasyJet. Hungarian Wizz Air, tipped as the market leader flying to one domestic and seven international routes, plans to launch a flight to Eindhoven from October. Wizz Air will fly from Bucharest to Catania, Naples and Bologna from September to handle passengers previously serviced by Italian May Air, which sliced 2% of the market in 2008 but lost its licence in July 2009. Irish Aer Lingus will fly again from Sofia to Dublin in the autumn-winter season using until then the Black Sea Burgas airport as Germanwings will service flights to Hamburg from the fall. The five short-haul carriers posted mixed results for January to June. While British EasyJet was scooping profits in the period, Slovakian SkyEurope slipped into insolvency and sought bankruptcy protection after losing 27.5% of passenger numbers by the end of June. Wizz Air has not published fist-half financial figures but expects a surge in passenger traffic to 8 million this year from 5.8 million last year. Aer Lingus saw a 6.5% drop in passengers in the first six months of the year as Germanwings reported a 7.7% decline, having scaled down its capacity by almost 10%. On a global scale, air traffic dwindled by 7.2% in January to June under data by International Air Transport Association (IATA). International players captured 74% of the Bulgarian aviation market and carried 2.574 million passengers, according to numbers of the Bulgarian Airline Association (ABA).