After 10 year in Orlando not being able to find a decent Window cleaner in the Orlando area, we decided to start our own company. “The Orlando Window cleaning company” was created to enable people to get affordable, prompt service with just a quick phone call. A US/UK owned company whose owners are very used to the clean windows concept as in the UK and Europe, homeowners have their windows cleaned on a regular basis. We are based in the Windermere/Dr Phillips area of Orlando and you can usually find our vehicles on upscale communities like Bay Hill or Keene’s Point along with Isleworth and Lake Butler Sound. The have the correct equipment to enable us to get to those high windows on the 2nd and 3rd levels of your home. “The Orlando Window Cleaning Company” covers all of Orlando and surrounding areas and can also assist with your pressure washing needs.
Call us today for a free quote.

www.otownwindows.com
clean@otownwindows.com

Totally Florida Plus is pleased to support a great new local Business. The Orlando Window Cleaning Company launches in July and will offer Window Cleaning services to not only the UK owners of Vacation homes in the Disney area, but will be working in the whole of the Orlando area. The UK owners know only to well how many times them selves and friends an colleagues have said "Where do you find a real window cleaner in this town" Up until now they have been overpriced and unproffesional. They have put a team together of some of the most experienced people from the Industry. Please contact the clean@otownwindows.com the web site www.otownwindows.com will be up and running shortly.




Orlando window cleaning Window cleaners in Orlando Clean windows Florida Window cleaning in Florida Windermere window cleaning Dr Phillips window cleaners

The Totally Florida Team is on the look out for pre forclosure property and property needing re habs etc. We have investors and wholesale buyers standing by with cash to purchase. If you have access to such properties, or you are an Investor who would like to join the team, please drop us a line.









Orlando Investment homes, Orlando fixer uppers, Re hab property in Orlando,

FLORIDA DREAM IS NOW OVER

This is going to be a very long and drawn out story but I don’t think anyone could form a real opinion of it unless I include everything from start to finish.I originally applied for an L visa in 2002 to transfer from my UK Company “SH CPI LTD” to my new US Company “CANNOT GIVE NAME AT PRESENT”. I did the premium processing for the 15 day turn around but they came back requiring more information.

It then took 12 months to receive an approval notice. During all the waiting period, I did not visit the US to make any efforts to start this business. I did not want to risk doing something that would jeopardize the visa. Within the application I had stated that the company would use sub contractors for virtually all the necessary works for the first 12 months and that when the visa was renewed for the following 2 years, I would bring all the work in house directly for the company.

This would mean employing people directly for the Company and purchasing trucks and phones to go with it.The visa was approved on 28 October 2003 for 12 months. However, I never received the notice of approval. After much aggravation with my Immigration Attorney over the next 3 months due to him telling me I had to apply for a duplicate and wait another 10 months, I decided to e mail the premium processing center as a last and hopeful resort. They came straight back to me and issued another approval notice.

Wow, success at last you think. Not quite, I received it 2 weeks later dated 28 February 2004 to run until 27 October 2004. By the time I had booked flights, organized all our belongings to be sent over and gone over to organize the office, I had lost another month. This left me ONLY 7 months to build the business and prove it was worthy of a visa renewal for 2 years. At this point I had sold everything in the UK (house, furniture & cars) to finance the Florida venture. Here is one of the good parts to the story. I acquired no less than 45 contracts in the first 6 months which is phenomenal when you consider that most Mgt Co’s run about 15 to 35 properties. I was employing at least 7 people albeit as sub contractors. Plus, there were the other non specific sub contractors that were being employed. I had the business booming. This should have proved that I was doing the job I had transferred to do.

Grow the business and create employment. The L visa renewal was sent in on time with all the relevant documents. I thought it would be a formality. Wrong again. The L visa renewal was denied. I could not believe it. Part of the reason given was that I was not employing anyone directly for the Company. This begs the question of why I was issued one in the first place as I had clearly stated the intentions of the building and growth of the Company in the original application. I appealed the decision and it was denied again. At this point it was sent to Washington from Texas for review. I was advised by our Immigration Attorney that it would probably take 12 to 18 months to get back and that it is very rare that they overturn a decision. I asked what my next step should be.The US Immigration Authorities do not have anything within their system that allows them (not that they want to) to treat each case on its individual merits. If they are not quite happy about a couple of things that you are doing within your business, why don’t they just point these things out and explain that you will not receive another renewal if you do not put these things in place? But they don’t, they just deny and there is no door you can knock on to discuss the situation.

This was clearly a business that was growing quickly and was bound to employ more people within the Community. Also, at the end of the day, I did not receive my first 12 months visa in full.My immigration Attorney said I could apply for another L visa while the first was under appeal. She said it was totally legal. The authorities sent it back telling us this was not allowed (minus my $1000 premium processing fee). I asked what the next step was and was informed that I could apply for an E2 visa whilst waiting for the original L renewal to run its appeal course. At this point I assumed (and nobody told me otherwise) that I could continue to work and grow my business until the L visa appeal was over. I could not have been more wrong. I was informed by my Immigration Attorney 5 months after the denial and at 2 week’s notice that I was approaching 180 days over and after the L visa renewal denial date. I was told that I had to depart the US before this date or I would be in violation of US Immigration regulations.

Wow!! I decided that I did not want to become an illegal in the US and was still convinced that everything would be sorted out as I had a great business that was still growing at a great rate and providing work for plenty of people. There was nothing marginal about it. I decided to bring in a manager on a 1099 to look after things. I could still use my lap top and talk to new clients and organize things that way. However, my children had now settled well in school and I really did not want to disturb them whilst waiting for my visa to be sorted (thinking it would only be a matter of a couple of months). This is probably the only thing I did wrong (the school thing). We decided to fly back and forth so as not to overstay our legal status and keep the children in school. This also gave me a chance to keep my eye on the business and protect my interests. At the end of the day, there is only one person that really cares about a business and that is the owner. I spent most of my time speaking to new UK clients on my lap top and doing website work. This was obviously something that I could do from anywhere and I would have been doing if I had been in the UK. I also did a year’s work for another UK Company during the whole of 2005 (UK tax return to prove this).It took 6 months before the E2 visa package was opened and then it came back asking for more information.

I could not believe the time lapses between correspondence and why I was being given so many obstacles to cross as my business was still growing and employing more people all the time. I kept meeting other people who had much smaller businesses (small pool, lawn, pest, management, flower, embroidery businesses) and employing nobody that were all being given E visas on very marginal businesses. I had also met people with L visas that were given renewals on businesses that were not doing anything but allowing someone to live in Florida. I was convinced that it would only be a matter of time before I was approved and issued mine. How wrong could I be? At this point the business had been running for approximately 18 months and it now had 80 contracts (anyone involved in vacation property management will know that this is an unbelievable growth rate).It was obvious to me as a business man that by the time my visa would come through that I would need to step up to another level and take charge of the growth of the company completely on its own. It was also obvious that I would need a manager that cared more about the business than just employing a manager who had no vested interest in the business.

I needed someone that would be a partner in the business and care about the management service level. There was only one person I could think of that I could trust and new would do the job properly and with the conscientious care required and that was my brother. Therefore, when my information went back to the authorities, my brother was added to the application as an investor. We decided to send absolutely everything from the business so there would be no more delays through asking for more information. This turned out to be an even bigger mistake. The US authorities in London sent the package back 3 times unopened stating that we had sent too much info. On each occasion it took around 3 months. On each occasion the info was stripped down to make a smaller package. This was another reason for having to be there as I had to keep going into the business records to photocopy all the info that the Immigration required. This alone was turning into a full time effort.

By the time they opened the package it had been stripped down to the bare bones. I think they finally acknowledged opening the package in August 2006. By this time the company had its own pool cleaner + company truck & phone, its own full time maintenance man + company truck & phone and still had the manager in place. The company had approximately 15 people working for it either on W2’s or 1099’s, paying wages of over $250,000 per year. To sum this company up in terms of what it is doing for the area and the economy:1) It brings in to the US from the UK around $500,000 per year contributing to the US and local economy2) It pays out in wages of around $250,000 per year contributing to local economy by providing work for people in the community3) It pays out around $72500 per year on vehicles, insurance, tags, gas, office supplies, phones etc, contributing to the local economy, US vehicle sales and other national and local businesses4) It sponsors local children’s sports5) It contributes to cancer research6) It brings in US visitors to the Disney area in rentals that the company creates to the properties of around $400,000 per year plus all the money these vacationers spend whilst they are here within the local community (at such places like Disney, Universal, Local Restaurants and other food outlets, supermarkets, gas stations, clothing outlets and many more local businesses).Once again, the US Immigration Authorities do not have anything in place to help or deal with this kind of situation.

Apart from not having anything in the system, they probably just don’t have the resources or/and qualified resources to cope. This does not help the likes of myself and probably many others. Investment and job creation in any area is very important and should not be dismissed very lightly.THE INTERVIEW AT THE US CONSULATE 19 APRIL 2007Prior to travelling to the interview, we had asked if there was any specific information or anything else that was required for the interview. The answer was that no other information would be required apart from what was in their previous e mail asking for a number of items including some up to date documents. We brought everything they asked for with us. I even took extra info like the full 80 contracts and power of attorneys to prove these things were in place.The appointment was set for 10.30am. We arrived at 9.45am and were admitted into the Embassy. By 10.45am we were asked to a window where we were asked to remove all our paperwork from a binder which was all tagged so that it was easy to read so that you could go to each item you would want to view. The papers were now just all in a disorderly pile. Our ID and scanned prints were dealt with and we were given a number (280) to wait to be called.

We were free from the window at 11.00am. At 3.00pm (4 hours later) it was looking like we had been forgotten as all the 200’s numbers were being dealt with at window 19 and they had gone well into the 300’s by now. I went back to the original window and asked the question. The young lady went away to find out what had happened. She came back 5 minutes later and told me we would be dealt with next. At 4.00pm, an hour later, I went to another window for re assurance as most of the windows were now closed and there were only a few people left in the building and the last few numbers (598, 599 and 600) were being called. The lady at the window told me that E2 visa interviews sometimes last 3 hours and that we would definitely be seen. We were the very last people called and were sent to window 25, not 19. The Consulate Officer spent about 20 minutes with us, the first ten being dealt with standard ID etc. His main concern was that I had received money from my business even when I was out of working status. I was not expecting to be asked any type of question about this as I knew I was entitled to ‘Officer Compensation’ as the owner of the business. He disagreed and said that I had been working illegally. He would not look at any of the W2’s and 1099’s that showed employees and kept saying that I was in serious trouble. I tried to dispute what he was saying but he was adamant. I even tried to show him my 2006 UK tax return showing 32,216 pounds earnings as a business consultant to a UK Company which proved that I was not working my US business.

He would not even look at it. All my work was done on my lap top as many business men do in this day and age, where ever they are in the world. He failed to recognize that the Company was always fully up to date with payment of its taxes and that tax had been paid on every dollar that I had ever been paid. These documents were presented in the application as part of the financial side of the business as it was all perfectly legal.The other points he questioned was my brother’s money trail to his investment. This was all documented in front of him, yet he still questioned it. He also said that the business was marginal but if he had read the file properly that would be proved incorrect. He also questioned our UK residency which obviously looked weak due to not owning UK property any more. I had sold mine 3 years previous to finance the US venture. My brother had sold his to finance his investment in the Company.

We both still have strong ties to the UK in business partnerships. We both stay with family whilst in the UK and are registered voters and still have bills to pay etc. We both still own vehicles in the UK and have just started another UK business to work in conjunction with the US Company to increase clientele on the Mgt side and have started another advertising campaign on the rental side. This is all in the UK. He had obviously not read the full file and documentation otherwise he would have seen that this Company was a huge viable concern and that it was complying with all requirements and doing all the right things. The Consular Officer was really only concerned with the fact that I had received money from my own business. He was adamant that this was illegal and that I had committed a very serious offence. The interview ended with the Consular Officer handing me a photo copy of a section of the FAM regulations. He had ticked these items for his decision to deny our visa:1) UK residency2) Colin’s (my brother) money trail for investment 3) Marginal business4) Illegally working in the US and claiming wages. He gave us our passports back and said that Colin could re apply with more info attached and that I was in serious trouble and that I would be ineligible to travel to the US indefinitely.

He said I would not be allowed to apply for any type of visa for at least 5 years. He did not give us any kind of official paperwork and did not write or stamp anything in any of our passports. The paper did not have written on it what he had said. The paper read that I could not travel to the US to work until I had a visa that allowed this. We were the last people to leave the building at 5.20pm. The US Consulate had had all the E2 application files for months and yet nobody once came back to us to question any of these items or ask for more information. They could have said that the money I was taking was being done technically wrong and asked for it to be changed if this was such an issue. We have never hidden anything and always tried to do everything in the way that it was required. We could have chosen the totally illegal way but did not. We wanted everything to be correct.It seems that most of the problems here have been caused by the huge delay in processing the application at London. It also appears that both my L visa renewal & my E2 visa application have been dealt with in a most negative way and most severely on small technical matters that could have been rectified by better communication and quicker processing times. I’m sure most businesses don’t change or grow as much as this one has over such a short period of time and perhaps the adjudicators thought there was something suspicious because of that.

The fact remains that this business is very real and could become even more special for the community of Davenport, Florida with the 2 owners of the business legally in place (in an executive & managerial position) to care for and nurture with their expertise.Here is the one thing I most definitely did wrong. I flew back to the US 3 days after the interview and did not declare that I had been refused a visa. I was stopped at security and deported. I am still waiting to find out what the outcome of that will be.I have tried not to be too negative about the American system as I still believe that it is ‘THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY & FREEDOM’ & ‘THE AMERICAN DREAM’ is still there for people to grasp and show the world what you can do when given the chance. However, I am going to finish with my most scathing comments and hope that anyone who reads this does not decide to punish me even further for speaking my own mind.When I first visited Florida, it was in the October, just after the horrific & tragic 9/11 terrorist attack. The Disney area was virtually deserted. Every theme park we visited, the Americans were cheering us for continuing to visit the area. They said that without our support, the Disney parks would surely have shut down. I believe that the British are still the main contributor to this area of Florida in the form of visiting as Tourists & Property purchasers. This is only helped by the British people that have moved there to work and live. My business proves that. I believe that if every British person sold their Florida properties and businesses & never went back as a tourist to visit, the World of Disney as we all know it, would most definitely cease to exist. It would be a ghost town.

While I was being held in a room by security at Orlando Airport waiting to be deported, the security staff gave me some incite as to their thinking. They said that they wished we (meaning British people) would all go home and that we were not needed there. I was flabbergasted. I told them that they would probably not have a job if it was not for the amount of British people that visited Florida per year. Has this 4 year experience changed my opinion about the United States of America? Yes, I feel that the Immigration system needs seriously revising. I know that is an ongoing thing with regard to terrorism and quite rightly. However, I feel that I have been cheated out of everything the United States stands for because people and businesses are not given individual attention and dealt with separately on each own merits.Am I bitter? If I am honest, yes at the moment. I tried to build a new business and life for my wife and children in a faraway place and just when they started to enjoy it and realize what a great thing I did, it was snatched away. It takes a lot of courage, strength, endeavor and resilience to make a change as huge as I did without fully knowing whether it would work. If I had failed in the business then I could have accepted leaving http://www.expatsvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2077

The Totally Florida Plus Staff

The Dollar has hit $2 to the Pound for the first time in years according to several web sites specializing in currency exchange. This is a great time for Totally Florida clients to purchase that Florida home you have been talking about for some time. It doesnt get much better than this.
Check out www.totallyflorida.com

Apollo Village is an exclusive development of 119 apartments in Altinkum, due to be completed in June 2007. There are 1 to 5 bedroom apartment alternatives in the complex.

It is ideally located within walking distance of shops, supermarket, bars, restaurants, Saturday market and main beach.

The complex features nine apartment blocks set in landscaped gardens with a stunning swimming pool, children's pool, bar, sports court, and 24 hour/365 day security.

The wide selection of properties provides the choice you are looking for, ranging from one bedroom apartments to four and five bedroom penthouses. The complex is only ten minutes walk from Altinkum's golden sandy beach. Contact us today!

Due to be completed in June 2007

DETROIT . With bidding stalled on some of the least desirable residences in Detroit's collapsing housing market, even the fast-talking auctioneer was feeling the stress.
"Folks, the ground underneath the house goes with it. You do know that, right?" he offered.
After selling house after house in the Motor City for less than the $29,000 it costs to buy the average new car, the auctioneer tried a new line: "The lumber in the house is worth more than that!" As Detroit reels from job losses in the U.S. auto industry, the depressed city has emerged as a boomtown in one area: foreclosed property.

It also stands as a case study in the economic pain from a housing bust as analysts consider whether a developing crisis in mortgages to high-risk borrowers will trigger a slowdown in the broader U.S. economy. The rising cost of mortgage financing for Detroit borrowers with weak credit has added to the downdraft from a slumping local economy to send home values plunging faster than many investors anticipated a few months ago. At a weekend sale of about 300 Detroit-area houses by Texas-based auction firm Hudson & Marshall, the mood was marked more by fear than greed. "These people are investors and they know the difficulty of finding financing. They know the difficulty of finding good tenants. They're cautious," said realtor Stanley Wegrzynowicz, who attended the auction.

HOW LOW IS LOW?
The city, which has lost more than half its population in the past 30 years and struggled with rising crime, failing schools and other social problems, largely missed out on the housing boom that swept much of the country in recent years. Prices have gained less than 2 percent per year in the five years since 2001, when the auto industry entered a renewed slump.
Steve Izairi, 32, who re-financed his own house in suburban Dearborn and sold his restaurant to begin buying rental properties in Detroit two years, was concerned that houses he thought were bargains at $70,000 two years ago were now selling for just $35,000. At least 16 Detroit houses up for sale on Sunday sold for $30,000 or less. A boarded-up bungalow on the city's west side brought $1,300. A four-bedroom house near the original Motown recording studio sold for $7,000. "You can't buy a used car for that," said Izairi. "It's a gamble, and you have to wonder how low it's going to get."

Detroit, where unemployment runs near 14 percent and a third of the population lives in poverty, leads the nation in new foreclosure filings, according to tracking service RealtyTrac.
With large swaths of the city now abandoned, banks are reclaiming and reselling Detroit homes from buyers who can no longer afford payments at seven times the national rate.
Michigan was the only state to see home prices fall in 2006. The national average price rose almost 6 percent but prices slipped 0.4 percent here, according to a federal study.
The state's jobless rate of 7.1 percent in January was also the second highest in the nation, behind only Mississippi.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU BUY FOR $1 MILLION?
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was greeted with applause when he announced last week that two condominiums in the city's revitalizing downtown sold for over $1 million each.
But investors, including some from out of state, proved far more cautious at Sunday's auction.
In the most spirited bidding of the day, a sprawling, four-bedroom mansion from Detroit's boom days with an ornate stone entrance fetched just $135,000.
Dave Webb, principal at Hudson & Marshall, said Michigan had become a "heavy volume" market for his auction firm in recent years, although bigger-money deals were waiting in California, a market he said was ready for the first such auctions of repossessed property in years. "These people that are buying have got to look at holding on for five to seven years," he said. "The key is holding power."

Even with the steep discounts on Detroit-area properties, some buyers handed over their deposits with a wince. "I'm not sure it's congratulations," said Kirk Neal, a 55-year-old auto body shop worker who bought a ranch in the suburb of Oak Park for $34,000. "My wife is going to kill me." Realtor Ron Walraven had a three-bedroom house in the suburb of Bloomfield Hills that had listed for $525,000 sell for just $130,000 at the auction. "Once we've seen the last person leave Michigan, then I think we'll be able to say we've seen the bottom," he said.

wwww.totallyflorida.com

Request more information on ICON Apartments.

Icon is a new concept for holidaying in Ibiza

Create a home away from home. Exclusive apartments, beautifully designed, stylishly decorated, every element needed to holiday in style.

It's not just the apartment; it's about living the VIP
lifestyle

Offering a holiday environment different to anything else on the island.

Different, because Icon know exactly what is needed to enjoy every aspect of the island, the very best way.

Premium Amenities:

- Exclusive apartment, beautifully designed, elegantly decorated
with fine art and accessories.
- Air conditioned, with fully equipped kitchens & bathrooms.
- Entertainment area: Plasma screen with surround sound
- All icon apartments will be equipped with an apple
iBox loaded with the most currently releases films and
music with internet access and skype phone
- Airport pick up available.
- 4 tickets/Guest list for 2 night of VIP club entry to major Ibiza clubs.
- Discount boat hire and skipper: choice of 45 foot Sunseeker
Seahawk or a 75 foot motor yacht.
- Welcome pack on arrival: guest will be greeted with a fridge full
of essentials, (at icon no one will be checking into apartments in
the middle of the night, to find no supplies). The welcome pack
includes: water, milk, fresh fruit juice, bread, butter,
bacon, eggs and snacks
- Icon will be looking after their guests with 2 cases of cold beer
and 2 bottles of wine in the apartments ready for their arrival.







If you are interested in owning your own Ibiza apartment, we will be adding this to our line up shortly. Please contact us for more info.

It's finally official: Back To The Future: The Ride is closing, soon. The simulator ride, once one of the big, signature attractions for Universal Studios, has been rumored to be closing, to make room for a new, fresher attraction, for almost a year -- Universal officials nearly closed it in October before unexpectedly dropping a deadline and giving it new life. Now, however, the Universal Studios website includes a notice indicating the ride will close after March 30. There is no word regarding what will go into the building next. To date, Universal has never responded to rumors that a replacement ride would be themed on anything from The Simpsons to The Fast and the Furious to Harry Potter.

The ride uses simulator motion technology and a large-screen movie projection system to give visitors the illusion they are traveling in the DeLorean car/time machine featured in the movie franchise. The three movies, released in 1985, '89 and '90, star Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.

The ride was nearly original to Universal; the park opened in 1990, and Back to the Future: The Ride, in 1991. Since then it has drawn a huge, loyal following. But it also has been the subject of critics who've said Universal had neglected the stalwart in recent years.

www.totallyflorida.com

Coral Sea Pearl Apartments Hurghada Egypt

With the unparalleled success of Red Sea in Egypt. The latest offering Coral Sea Pearl in Hurghada Egypt is already selling just as quickly as Desert Pearl. 177 more apartments using the same designs and floor plans as Desert Pearl. The whole Red Sea Riviera in Egypt continues to outsell any other Emerging market selling Investment and second homes.

Coral Sea Pearl in Hurghada will be built and developed by the same people and completion is expected in late 2008. Incredible ground floor opportunity's still exist with studio apartments starting at just 19,800 pounds ($36,000) http://www.coralseapearlsales.com or check out our web sites for more info. http://www.coralseapearlsales.com/ http://www.desertpearlsales.com/ http://www.sunsetpearl.com/

Some St Patricks day humour.


John Cleese's Letter to America

To the citizens of the United States of America. In light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. Her Sovereign Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will resume monarchicalduties over all states, commonwealths and other territories (exceptKansas , which she does not fancy), as from Monday next. Your new prime minister, Tony Blair, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determinewhether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, thef ollowing rules are introduced with immediate effect:1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium," and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have beenpronouncing it.2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour','favour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix "ize" will be replaced bythe suffix "ise."

3. You will learn that the suffix 'burgh' is pronounced 'burra'; you may elect to respell Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you find you simply can't cope with correct pronunciation.

4. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up "vocabulary"). Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like"and "you know" is unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.

5. There is no such thing as " US English." We will let Microsoftknow on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of "-ize."

6. You will relearn your original national anthem, "God Save TheQueen", but only after fully carrying out Task #1 (see above).7. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but to be celebrated only in England . It will be called "Come-Uppance Day."

8. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

9. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

10. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.

11. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric immediately and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

12. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you havebeen calling "gasoline") - roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.13. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called "crisps." Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with mayonnaise but with vinegar.

14. Waiters and waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.

15. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will bereferred to as "beer," and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as "Lager." American brands will be referred to as "Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine," so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

16. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

17. You will cease playing American "football." There is only one kind of proper football; you call it "soccer". Those of you brave enough will, in time, will be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

18. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the "World Series" for a game which is not played outside of America . Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.

19. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.20. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due backdated to 1776. Thank you for your co-operation.

Onward with Egypt tourism

Ranked as the world's 28th largest, Egypt's tourism continues to gain popularity. As major growth engine of the national economy, the trade currently employs over 10 percent of the total labor force providing 2.2 million direct and indirect jobs. Through 2006, it is expected to grow further with an increasing capacity to generate more employment. Closing figures for 2005 continue to exhibit clear signs of resilience and growth as Egypt expects to end the year with more than 5 percent growth over 2004. Within the coming years, tourism's role will continue to grow in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) contribution, job creation for young nationals, and return on investment as the country fulfils its expectations of doubling international tourist arrivals and room nights, as well as realizing increases in investments by 2014.

The Arab republic's unrivalled base of tourism products ranges from cultural heritage to pristine coastlines, natural, religious, sports tourism and special interest offers. Diversifying the list even further are golfing, yachting, therapeutic and incentive travel packages. This week, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators awarded Egypt the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award. The yachting scene is being led by the country's top Red Sea destination El Gouna - the pioneer in the ultra-luxury/super-yacht tourism serving a tourism triangulation together with Aqaba and Taba.Government and private investments have flourished over the last couple of years, upgrading tourism infrastructure including, construction and refurbishment of modern airports all over Egypt. Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, el Alamein, Borg al Arab, Marsa Allam, Luxor and Aswan now have airports built to international standards with most facilities operated by specialized international airport management. New Cairo Airport's capacity will soar to 20 million passengers, from 10 million, before the end of 2007. Parallel investments have been made in the nation's transport system, utilities, telecommunications and IT networks. In line with developing leisure tourism, vast expansions and developments have begun from the South Sinai to the Red Sea areas along the Mediterranean such as Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Sahl Hashish and Marsa Allam, and in Luxor.As an emerging destination for residential tourism (a well-guarded secret its Arab neighbors have long perfected since years ago), Egypt is now selling itself to nearby European countries as a snowbirds' get-away. Europeans are flocking to the Red Sea, buying and owning a second home in a country with a warmer climate year-round.To date, Egypt's hotel inventory is extensive spanning thousands of hotels in all categories, from international to national hotel chains. There are 85,000 hotel rooms under construction to date, located as far southeast to the new and upcoming seaside resort destination of Marsa Allam/ Port Ghalib. This is one vision - the BOT or build-operate-own-transfer project by Kuwaiti billionaire Nasr Kharafi - seeing growing momentum since inception.Another large-scale integrated development project underway lies on the northwest coast of Marsa Matrouh. It still is the Med's most pristine, virgin shores to this very day.

Mega-projects in both aforementioned coastline destinations have attracted unprecedented foreign direct investments.In an effort to oil the wheels of positive change, Egypt works hard to develop its new tourism brand capturing the diversity of the offerings. It will be communicated to all media through relevant messages to various niches and targets. For a global marketing strategy, it will utilize new technologies and online media channels to ensure interactive communication with the audience.Foremost, Egypt will also launch a massive national communications and tourism public awareness campaign designed to generate a broader level of awareness on the importance of the industry. Tourism officials vow to highlight the direct impact on the economic welfare and prosperity of Egyptians, the role to plays in promoting the economic growth and development, support for culture and improving the quality of life. The goal will be to sensitize Egyptian nationals towards tourism, for each citizen to actively take part in creating and embracing the art of welcoming the visitor.Currently, Egypt is also opening up to China, India and South America, while forging with expanding market share in potential markets in Central Europe, Canada and the USA.Statistics show from January to November 2005 some 117,113 Americans traveled to Egypt booking 2,481,229 room nights. In November alone, 18,791 Americans arrived spending 230,183 nights.Hence, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Nabil Fahmy is set to broaden this approach with the US market. At the mid-December opening of the King Tutankhamun Exhibition dubbed Golden Age of the Pharaohs in Florida, Fahmy said, "What we've been trying to do is put the full face of Egypt before you. Bringing the exhibit to America for over a year more effectively shows what Egypt has to offer in terms of culture, history and antiquities. To build understanding between peoples is the ultimate goal of this great effort in bringing the Boy King to the United States."

www.desertpearlsales.com www.sunsetpearl.com www.coralseapearlsales.com

With good quality residential property costing from around £30,000, buyers are looking to this new market where large property price increases are expected.
Many investors are now buying in Brazil as much for the predicted rise in property prices as for the rental income.

The strong performance of the Brazilian economy is showing good growth and a trade surplus.
Tourism in the north east of Brazil increased by just over 26% between 1995 and 2000, with 2.5million Brazilian and international holidaymakers visiting the area last year.
With 7,500km of coastline, thousands of kilometres of beaches and over 300 days of sunshine per year, the Government is now promoting Brazil as a place to come both for tourists and investors.

The friendly and hospitable Brazilian people who always know how to enjoy themselves!
The beautiful country, lovely beaches, great nightlife, wide range of cuisine and relaxed pace of life.
The perfect weather and climate - no hurricanes or earthquakes, and in the north east you have warm sunny weather all year round.
The exceptional value for money you’ll enjoy when shopping and eating out.
Exceptional customer service - where else would a pharmacy deliver your medicines at 4am?

Brazil, where life is one long party

One of the most vibrant and exotic countries in the world, Brazil is famous for its sun-kissed beaches full of beautiful people, bustling cities, sexy music and dancing, teeming festivals and football-mad population. Nowhere in the world do people know how to enjoy themselves more, most famously in the annual celebrations of Carnival.

In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil has two of the world’s great cities. Rio de Janeiro boasts Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach and numerous parks and gardens, not to mention Corcovado Mountain, with the statue of Christ the Redeemer at its summit. São Paulo is a cosmopolitan mega-metropolis with a diverse, ethnic population while Brasília, the country’s space-age capital was built from nothing in the late 1950s. It’s the gateway to Brazil’s vast interior, including the mighty Amazon, perhaps the richest wildlife reserve on the planet.

Now thanks to Totally Florida Plus, you can have your own dream home or investment property in this wonderfully exciting country. Our development of apartments and villas is situated in Bahia, not far from Salvador, one of Brazil’s leading tourist attractions. It’s a project of the very highest quality including hotels, luxury properties and a full range of leisure and entertainment facilities. Contact us today for moe info.

www.totallyflorida.com homes@totallyflorida.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Desert Pearl Apartment Resort?

The Desert Pearl resort can be found near the shores of the Red Sea, in the town of Hurghada, Egypt. About 15 km south of El Gouna.

How many properties will there be at Desert Pearl?

This resort will comprise 225 units. There will be 44 studios, 48 one-bedroom, 117 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom apartments.

Are the properties freehold or leasehold?

All the properties are freehold.

Who is developing Desert Pearl?
Worldwide Destinations are the developers.

Has the Developer got land title?
Yes, the developer has full legal title to the land.
What Licenses have been granted?All the necessary licenses and planning permissions have been obtained. (Copies are at present being translated and will be included in the Due Diligence document).

When will construction begin?
Construction has already started.

When will the property be completed?
The properties will be completed in March 2008.

What are the payment terms on the property?
Pre-launch prices start at £17,600. (sold out, now £19,800) We facilitate an effortless payment plan in five simple steps. First payment of 10% deposit. Three further payments of 10% in the remaining 12 month period. A final 60% upon completion paid with either an arranged mortgage* or cash.One off full 40% down payment will grant every buyer a free Lifetime Lawyer membership worth £3,995, which will cover the completion cost of your purchase.*Mortgage subject to status.

Is there a Pre-Launch Special Offer? Yes!
The first 50 units can benefit from above scheduled payment terms. If full 40% is paid Client can receive Lifetime Lawyer Pack (normally priced GBP 3,995) free of charge. For further information, call Lifetime Lawyer on Freephone: +44 (0)8000 320 966, Fax: +44 (0)1480 450876.

Can the properties be bought in a company name?
No, not at this time.

Can you inform me of a legal firm that could help me?
Lifetime Lawyer - please see point above, or alternatively, our lawyers in Egypt: United Lawyers: +2 010 1138400, Tel/Fax: +2 065 346 20 71/72.

Are mortgages available?
Yes, a capital + repayment type mortgage, subject-to-status, on 60% of the purchase price is available at 7.9% flat rate for a maximum period of 10 years.

What is the name of the bank handling the mortgage?T.B.A.

What are the details of the mortgage package?
Refer to document: ‘Desert Pearl Mortgage Package’.

What is the yearly maintenance fee?
The yearly maintenance fee will be GBP 500 per annum.

Is there a builder’s warranty on new build, if so how long?
Yes, warranties for new build are for one year.

What type of running costs should the client expect?
Apart from the annual Real Estate Tax of EGP 500 (approx. GBP 50) and the annual maintenance fee of GBP 500, there will be utility (water + electricity) charges substantially lower than by European comparison.

What is the construction of the building?
The foundation of the building is reinforced concrete. The construction is of brick.

What will be the orientation of the apartments?
The apartments will face South-East.

What will be the layout of the development?
There will be 12 buildings forming the whole site. Each building will have 5 floors each with 4 apartments per floor. Each of these buildings with 20 apartments will have a lift for their own use.

Will the apartments have sea views?
Apartments on the third, fourth and fifth floors will have sea views.

Will there be a rental pool?
Yes, with rental prices based on our achievable rental return calculations – refer to our DP Rental Return document.

How long is the rental season?
12 months.

What are the expected rental opportunities in the area?
Refer to final page of brochure.

What is European Design & Finish?
Normally in Egypt a new build property is sold as a shell, doors or windows are not installed, walls and floors are not finished, kitchens and bathrooms are not equipped. European Finish includes; polished ceramic floors, tiling in kitchen and bathrooms, windows and doors installed, all electrical installations, pre-installation for digital TV platforms as well as sockets for telephone, television and data lines. Fitted kitchen with base units, stainless steel sink, granite worktops and mixer taps. Bathroom sanitary fittings in white porcelain (toilets, sinks, baths showers) with mixer taps and extractor fans. Bedrooms with fitted wardrobes.
Are the properties sold fully furnished? Furniture and kitchen appliances are not included in the sale price, but will be available as furniture packages.

What are the quality specifications of the properties?
See above.

What are the purchase costs?
Registration of the unit and lawyer fees will be £995 all in.

What are the lawyer’s fees involved in the purchase of the apartment?See above.

Is there a Real Estate Tax?
There is an annual Real Estate Tax of EGP 500 (approx. GBP 50).
Is there any Stamp Duty?No.
Is there any Government Tax?No.
Is there any Capital Gains Tax or V.A.T?No.
Is there any Inheritance Tax?No.
Can I sell my property at any time?Yes.

What is the general overview of the area?
The town of Hurghada, known as Al-Ghardaka in Arabic was founded in the early 20th century as a fishing village, with over 40km of coastal resorts and spectacular beaches. The Red SeaRiviera has fast become a community of mixed nationalities and cultures. The permanent summer weather and leisure activities, including desert safaris, diving and golf, make this the most popular resort in Egypt. With its crystal clear water, untouched reefs and a multitude of ship-wrecks, Hurghada has become one of the most popular diving and snorkelling destinations in the world.Nearby lie the stunning resorts of Sahl Hasheesh and El Gouna, both exclusive destinations offering residents and tourists fantastic views of the desert, mountains and natural lagoons. At the heart of the El Gouna Resort is the Abu Tig Marina, the most beautiful harbour on the Red Sea designed around the spectacular El Gouna Golf Club, an 18-hole, PGA professional golf course.

What are the facilities in development, immediate and surrounding areas? Swimming pool and bar, gardens, internet café/business centre, gymnasium, games room and laundry – all within a gated environment. For information on surrounding area refer to brochure.

How long are the seasons in Hurghada?
The Red Sea Riviera’s warm climate makes it an ideal destination at any time of the year. There are two seasons: a hot summer, which runs from May to October, followed by a mild winter for the remaining months. Temperatures range from a minimum average of 15ºC (59ºF) in winter, with cool nights, to 30ºC (86ºF) in summer, with comfortable warm nights.

How accessible is the area?
Flight time from the UK is 4.5 hours with scheduled weekly flights. Charter flights from Germany are almost daily. Flights from other major European cities include Munich 3.5 hours & Rome 3 Hours.

How do you get there?
Egypt's national air carrier is EgyptAir, and Air Sinai also has good connections in Egypt. Most travellers come into Egypt through Cairo, although people are increasingly disembarking at Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada (Al-Ghardaka) and Sharm el-Sheikh. These airports are serviced by a number of smaller carriers and charter companies with direct connections to Europe.
Are there any websites you can recommend?http://egypt.travel


More info at www.desertpearlsales.com or info@desertpearlsales.com

Sales in Hurghada Egypt continue to outsell everything else. Property for sale in Hurghada is being snapped up very quickly by savvy European investors. Buying apartments in Egypt in such places as Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh has never been easier. Desert Pearl in Hurghada is now selling phase 3 (also known as Coral Sea Pearl) earlier than planned due to the huge demand for Holiday/Investment properties in the Red Sea Riviera area.

At Sunset Pearl in Sahl Hasheesh, the proposed new Marina is something to behold. You can see an animated flythrough at www.sunsetpearl.com

All the current info can be found on the following sites. Dont lose out, contact us now while a few units remain. Now selling Phase 3 at Desert Pearl Hurghada Egypt

www.totallyflorida.com

www.desertpearlsales.com

www.sunsetpearl.com

Newly Refurbished for 2006!On Sale: $349,000!

Why Florida?

Innovation -- not Euros, Yen, or Dollars -- is the currency of today's global economy. Innovation fuels productivity, attracts investment, and stimulates economic recovery. Where innovation thrives, so will the successful enterprises of the 21st century.

Nowhere else is the spirit of innovation more evident than in the State of Florida -- a location quickly getting a reputation as the "Innovation Hub of the Americas". The region's pro-business, pro-technology climate, combined with easy trade access to key growth regions of the Americas, provide a fertile environment for establishing and growing businesses.
Learn why businesses are awakening to a side of Florida that's much more diverse than orange juice, theme parks and beaches…

1: Florida's Technology Leadership
Florida has a robust base of technology-driven business, with more than 18,600 high-tech companies employing more than 258,800 high-tech/high-skill workers.
Among U.S. states, Florida ranks as the…
- 4th largest "cyber-state" for high-tech employment
- 3rd largest state for high-tech companies
- 3rd largest exporter of high-tech goods and services
Florida has a significant and growing presence in "new economy" sectors, such as: Life Sciences, Information Technology, Aviation/Aerospace, Homeland Security/Defense and Financial/Professional Services.

2: Florida's Global Gateway

Florida is the strategic and economic center of the Americas. Geographic location, combined with economic and political stability, put Florida at the center of trade and finance throughout the hemisphere.
South Florida, in particular, boasts a multi-cultural and multi-lingual workforce that's skilled in facilitating international trade throughout the region. In fact, the Miami area has often been called the business center of Latin America.

3: Florida's Entrepreneurial Environment

The state hosts a variety of tech incubators, accelerators and university-based research hubs.
Florida has four of the top cities in the nation for entrepreneurs, scoring high in entrepreneurial activity, small business growth, job growth and risk (Entrepreneur Magazine).
Florida ranks high on the “Small Business Survival Index”, which rates the policy environment for entrepreneurship across the nation.

4: Florida's Global Connectivity

Florida's connections to the world run deep, both literally and figuratively…
Florida has one of the world's most extensive multi-modal transpiration systems, featuring international airports, deep-water shipping ports, and an extensive highway and rail network.
Florida is "wired for success." The state has multiple hubs that allow for high-speed data transmission from around the U.S. to Europe, Latin America and Africa.

5: Florida's Business Climate

Recognizing the need for global competitiveness, Florida's invitation for investment includes:
Incentives for job creation, investment and training.
Additional incentives for rural, urban core, enterprise zone and brownfield investment.
Expedited permitting.
Capital availability and assistance, such as: enterprise bonds, micro-loans, and venture capital.

6: Florida's Workforce Talent

As the 4th most populous U.S. state, Florida offers a diverse and available workforce.
Florida receives the largest in-migration of all U.S. states.
Florida's "A+ Program for Education" dramatically boosts the State's investment in education.
State-sponsored workforce training programs give new and incumbent workers access to skills training for the demands of "new economy" jobs.

7: Florida's Business-Friendly Government

State and local governments have automated access to many of government's most vital business-oriented functions (visit www.myflorida.com).
Florida has a pro-business, pro-technology agenda for policy-making and business climate improvement.
Business sector associations advise legislators on the issues impacting global competitiveness. Some key players in "new economy" stewardship are: Aviation/Aerospace Alliance, BioFlorida, Florida Defense Alliance, and IT Florida.

8: Florida's World Renowned Quality of Life

Already the world's #1 travel destination, many visitors recognize the "play here, stay here" philosophy and choose Florida as their permanent home.
Since 2001, Florida has earned top rankings in Harris Poll's "most desirable place to live" survey.
Florida offers a very competitive cost of living, with ample affordable housing and NO PERSONAL INCOME TAX.
Florida is a state of choices -- urban, rural, suburban, multi-cultural, and more.

9: Florida's Economic Development Partnerships

More than any other state, Florida's economic development goals and initiatives have been developed and embraced as a statewide vision. Economic development organizations regularly combine forces to help existing and prospective businesses find the right location(s) to match their needs.

10: Florida's Growth Economy

While many regions struggle just to maintain the status quo, Florida's economic engine continues to surge forward. To put Florida's size and momentum into focus, consider the following:
If Florida were a country, it would have the 15th largest economy in the world.
Florida has the 8th largest economy in the Western Hemisphere.
Beyond the State's own output, it also serves as a platform for trade throughout the Americas.