Building in Cyprus

For New Readers: When this house in Cyprus was built in the early 1980s the roof was never finished properly as the intention was to add another floor sometime. This is a fairly typical approach amongst Cypriots - very few buildings are ever finished completely. About four years ago, El Presidente and myself began the process of doing something about it. Initial plans for a three bedroom flat were abandoned as ridiculously expensive. So we downsized our plans to a one bedroom flat - with a proper roof with tiles and everything. After much to and fro, back and forth, dealing with the bureaucracy and the architect, we have reached the stage where we have a building permit but must now get building regulations approval. Enter Phase 93:

We have spent the morning discussing the detailed drawings with the architect, who was a whole day late in coming. To be fair, he did phone to say he'd be late...

It is now the law that one has to engage an electrical engineer to provide drawings of where the wires and plugs go - so that has cost us another €380. But this chappie has taken it upon himself to include a security system with five fire alarms, integral wiring for loudspeakers, four TV points, four telephone points...etc etc. What's the Greek for 'over the top'?

El Presidente, with her usual eagle-eye for details, took the architect up to the roof and pointed out that his drawings don't match where the concrete pillars actually are. So it's back to the drawing board for you chum! Much further talk followed about where the lights should be, where to put the washing machine, etc; usual stuff I suppose. But do we really need underfloor heating in Cyprus? Any road up, this all went on so long that we've missed the opening hours for the so-called Planning Department at the Town Hal,l so that'll be for tomorrow.  And the next phase of the approval process takes three months. Ho Hum!