Hi All, just thought we could reserve this space for light relief/any topic Except property in Goa (karma points may be deducted for breaking this rule)!!

Anyway heres a cool link to kick off (create your own Simpson character + games & info on new movie out soon to) :

http://www.simpsonsmovie.com/main.html

Regards to all - TDK

Hi TDK and Everyone,
This thread is like a breath of fresh air.
Love the Link.
Anyway i came across this 'download free avatar' site the other night and you could spend an hour or two browsing. Some cool pics.

http://avatars.jurko.net/

Regards,
Remy

Hi Remy/All ,

I'm glad you liked the link and thanks also for your cool link with the free avatars (could spend ages on there)!

Heres another link which should appeal to some of you (For Martin Lewis's advice on how not to get sc****d by banks, mortgage lenders etc + loads of good deals and freebies etc. You can also sign up for regular spam free emails from him @:

www.MoneySavingExpert.com/tips

Regards - TDK

All the talk of Tony's visit to the Palace prompted me to post the following:

The Prince of Wales looked resplendent in his naval uniform while delivering a stirring speech at the opening of the Oodnadatta Flower Show. But one astute reporter had noted he was wearing a fur hat with a tail hanging down his back. Waiting for the right moment, the journo sidled up to him and said: "Er, excuse me yer Highness. The uniform looks great, but what's with the fur hat?"
"Oh that!" said the Prince. "I was tawking to Mummy last night. When I told her I was going to Oodnadatta she said "wear the fok's 'at?"

Mrs D

Excellent.

Hi Mrs. D. - what have you got planned to celebrate Douglas' special day?

I am reading a book at the moment called "Holy Cow" it is about india with its traditions, but in a more story setting. Do you know any more books I can look for in the libruary like this - not just facts and statistics.

It looks as if we are in for a long wet summer here in the UK.

Noni

p.s. SIR TONY - PLEASE LET US KNOW ALL THE DETAILS OF THE PALACE? WE WON'T BE GOING OUT TO-DAY WITH THE BAD WEATHER.

Hi Mrs.D, Noni and All &
Thanks for sharing the joke Mrs.D (i'm afraid i'm rubbish at telling jokes, but i guess its easier over the net so if i think of any...)

Noni one of my fave India travelogue books is called 'Travels on my Elephant' by Mark Shand (can order from Amazon) and i'd definately recommend it for a humerous but also quite touching read. I also have been meaning to read Holy Cow as a friend told me it's hilarious so will try to get hold of it at some point. If i think of any more i'll let you know, and would be good to hear more recommendations from the rest of you.
Cheers - TDK

Hi Douglas,
Not being a techni gal! on your computer out there can you pick up our local wireless stations - would you recommend buying here, in UK and taking a laptop or buying one out there - not much difference in price, but know a local lad who does a good job of coming to the apartments and sorting out the UK computers, and thought if bought from him would have good service.
(seems like a nice boy!!)

Could you also answer the question if it catagorically states anywhere what visa you could have registered your deeds on, or is it all up in the air and say so etc.

Hi Noni,

Regarding the first part of your question, if it was made after 1960 douglas doesnt understand it,( when i was in uk if i wanted to programme the video and my wife was out, i had to wait until the grand children came around)However, i have a wonderful wife who does understand all of these things and i will pass the baton to her on this one.

Second para now, i am not aware of anywhere where it is written that you must have a certain type of visa in order to sign or register a sales deed. (Remember, the act of transfer takes place upon mutual signing of the sales deed and paying the consideration. Registering the same is merely outward compliance and recording of the act).

However, as far as FNs are concerned, FEMA clearly requires the FN to be resident in order to transfer immovable property in india. In addition to being physically in the country for the required number of days, the FN must contemporaneously have an intention to stay for an undetermined period of time. Furthermore, in order to obtain a visa that allows the FN to stay for the minimum of 183 days in the previous tax year, the FN should demonstrate suitable purpose. I see this suitable purpose as more of an immigration requirement than a FEMA condition.

So we have a two track requirement here , FEMA residency requirement and satisfying immigration as to suitable purpose eg business, study, vocation
(not vacation) etc in order to obtain the appropriate visa to allow a 182 day + stay in the first place.

I cannot see how either the intention to stay and/or suitable purpose requirement could be fulfilled on a tourist visa.

Having said all of that, we all know that the place is essentially dysfunctional and many FNs have signed and registered a sales deed without fulfilling all of those requirements.The ongoing directorate of enforcement investigation( of all FN registrations since the advent of FEMA) is the final filter and it will be interesting to see how stringently they (retrospectively) apply the rules.

Irrespective of the compliance or otherwise of the FN, the onus is on the FN to prove residency if required. If challenged, how can you prove residency with certainty, when the intention to stay and suitable purpose are subjective and qualitative matters?

The uncertainty continues.

regards
douglas

Hi TDK
Having a bad day, walked to the libruary, got soaking wet only to be told the only copies of the book you recommended were at the local Prison and I would not be able to have one!!!!!!! Paying for those :curse::curse:
to read a book which I will have to buy. Never mind I am happy have got my Visa.
Noni

[QUOTE=noni;5086517]Hi Douglas,
Not being a techni gal! on your computer out there can you pick up our local wireless stations - would you recommend buying here, in UK and taking a laptop or buying one out there - not much difference in price, but know a local lad who does a good job of coming to the apartments and sorting out the UK computers, and thought if bought from him would have good service.
(seems like a nice boy!!)

Hi Noni

Referring to your question regarding local wireless stations, I am not sure whether you are referring to Wifi or radio. In any case the answer is yes to both. The hotel we are staying in provides free Wifi access for guests, we can sit by the pool, or on the balcony with our laptops and connect to the Internet. We have also installed a Broadband line in our apartment for enhanced Internet connectivity.

Using the Broadband connection I can listen to radio via the Internet, for example I can get all the UK BBC radio channels.

You will need to have a Broadband line in Goa if you wish to listen to radio via the Internet, as the dial-up connection via telephone line is not adequate.

With regard to buying a laptop, I recommend you do some homework on laptops in UK. If you can get the one that you want in Goa, then it would certainly save carrying it out.

When we were in Goa we installed satellite radio. There are a number of music, and news channels you can subscribe to www.worldspace.com I could write a comical account of the installation process! Hope the above answers your query.

I have read Holy Cow and enjoyed it very much and also Travels On My Elephant as recommended by TDK. Another book you may like to read is A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. I recommend you do not read this book in a horizontal position as it is 1349 pages long, and should you fall asleep it is very heavy when it falls on your face!

Mrs D

PS Douglas is a temperate man – (tee-total, vegetarian). His special day was celebrated with ice-cream.

Hi Birthday Boy,

Until the D of E letter arrived, no one had mentioned " intention to stay part" - to us it was a retirement home to come and go as we pleased. Thanks to you we are much wiser. Although it was a major part of the Advocates reply to the D of E.
I know some people had proper Tourist visa's whereby they could do the 182 days + the arrival and departure day, or pop back into the country in the fiscal year, to cover the required number of days. Would they have been issued with the Pink Residents book - which the Embassy were interested in when we were reissued our visa's?

Have you replied to the D of E yet? I wonder how far back they have gone now. People do not realise that everything has got to be done in triplicate.

How is your Monsoon - have your seen the stories of the flooding over in the UK. Yesterday and today are amongst the worst, now we have UK monsoon conditions.

Noni

[QUOTE=Mrs.D;5086991] Quote -"his special treat will be icecream."
Hope not in the horizontal position.
Thanks again for the title of the book - hope the prisoners are not hogging this one.
noni


p.s. When we left Goa broadband was only in the Internet Cafe's. We have Satallite TV, but I don't like watching TV out there, i would rather read.

Hi TDK
Sincere apologies just noticed I have broken your rule and been talking
"shop" to Birthday Boy on your thread.

Regards Noni

Hi Noni,

If you want an introduction to the eastern concept of the importance of the now timescale (but written by a westerner) read The Power of Now by
Eckhart Tolle.

For an insight into hinduism and an introduction to the hindu classics by a western educated indian, try anything by Vivekenanda

regards
douglas

Thats alright just this once Noni.....as its an auspicious day you're off the hook! (Actually between me and you i haven't managed how to award karma point let alone deduct em!)