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This angst-ridden leviathan does have a message, but perhaps the expression on his face speaks volumes.  After all, asking people to think about what they throw away (and how they do it) is sometimes difficult - you might even say it can be a waste of time.  People do not like to be preached at.  So how on earth do you make a European Union Directive interesting enough to grab people's attention?  Through art?  Well, it's worth a shot!  So, a mysterious seven meter creature was born.

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So here is the result - WEEE Man!  On average a citizen of the United Kingdom will produce 3.3 tonnes of waste in their lifetime.  At the same time that sounds like an enormous amount but, considering our lifestyles in the West it does seem rather small at the same time.  This is only, in reality, a fraction of the waste that one person creates.  In fact, it only represents the electrical waste that will be produced by an individual in their lifetime.  The WEEE man weighs in at this exact weight - and as such offers a direct insight in to the enormity of the problem.

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What is he made of?  Firstly, large household appliances, such as washing machines and television sets make up a large part of his structure.  Then there are smaller objects, such as toaster, irons, and other electrical tools.  There is lighting equipment and automatic dispensers, IT and telecoms equipment and toys and leisure items, all making up this latter-day Frankenstein's monster of Brobdingnagian proportions.  This guy is big!  Waste is no longer out of sight, out of mind.  The hope is that his birth will make people think about their behavior when it comes to disposing of the electrical equipment they no longer want.

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People still do not consider recycling sufficiently.  To draw attention to this the British Royal Society of Arts started to think - and think big.  Hugh Knowles Mark Fremantle, both Fellows of the RSA developed the idea in tandem with Giraffe Innovation. The result was WEEE Man - seven meters tall and, yes, over three tones in weight.  He is a scary looking guy - hardly the ‘wee' man you might imagine if you were told you were to be introduced to him at the bar after work!  Wee, of course, is Scottish slang for someone of diminutive stature - and this wonderful play on words is integral to the impact of this work of art.

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At the risk of sounding like a cosmetic ad, here's the science (or at least the boring bit - the reason why WEEE man was created in the first instance. WEEE actually stands for the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) which became European Law way back in 2003.  Its aim was to set targets for the collection, recovery and (mais bien sur!) the recycling of any and all types of electrical equipment.

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The law recognizes that it is not the sole responsibility of the buyer to dispose of their electrical equipment once it has become redundant.  Rather it is the equal responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that their customers can return their WEEE with ease - and for nothing.  Additionally, the organizations mist use the collected materials in a way that is ecologically friendly - which means no more selling off the used goods to poorer nations to bury a few meters below the ground and ruin the water table for the local inhabitants.

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So, the WEEE Man was considered a good way to draw attention to this.  After all, out of all the European Union Member States only little Cyprus managed to meet the deadline to place this Directive in to their own national law.  The UK (and its usual tagalong play mate Malta) were the only two member states not to transpose a framework of the regulations at the very least in to their national law.  Step forward the Royal Society of Arts with a reminder of the governmental responsibilities - and we are not talking a post-it note on the PC monitor here, either!

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Once the point had been made, at the South Bank in the heart of London, WEEE Man now finds a home at the marvelous Eden Project in Cornwall.  There he remains (but will be on tour again soon), a colossal reminder of the waste that we produce and a nudge to our consciences that we must do something about it.  How he has managed to encourage discussion around our throw-away consumer society could never properly be quantified.  However, something this big gets noticed perhaps this WEEE Man has made people think about their choices when it comes to the disposal and recycling of our waste.

I decided to check trip advisor which I often do when booking. You have to check the place you're staying hasn't had any stabbings, rapes or murders. The resort I choose did not have too many negative reports, only a few loose door knobs and overpriced at the local shop. I was sure I could handle these kinds of difficulties. Plus a couple of comments about how the staff spat at them when they spoke. But they were talking metaphorically not literally and I put this down to over sensitivity or possibly a lisp. I had read a bad review before I went to Goa, India, about how a member of staff had trapped the daughter in a room and asked to have sex with her. Now I know this is serious but when I saw the members of staff, most of them couln't climb a set of stairs without puffing, not many were the right side of fifty.

So I had to take some of these reviews with a pinch of salt, especially the ones that say everything was fantastic and tremedous from someone with a very similar name to the owner of the hotel. If you're going to lie on a hotel review at least use some creativity and change your name.  I decided to go ahead with the booking after being forced to change my accomodation to avoid the dreaded single supplement.  You're only allowed to be single if they can shove you into a less popular hotel and charge you extra for self catering. But I wanted relaxation. I wanted sun. So Cyprus was booked but the seeds had already been sown for disaster.

You have made the decision to sell up and move to Cyprus, this article is a brief outline with tips relating to Southern Cyprus. The North of the island is separated and run by Turkey.

Research the areas around Southern Cyprus carefully, find out about the climate in towns and villages as best you can or you may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation. Nicosia is the capital city and in the summer it becomes extremely hot and humid, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos are not as hot but in the summer the temperature is only lower by a few degrees and they are humid areas too. The hillside villages have a breeze and make the hot summers more bearable, but be careful as some villages get very cold in the winter months of January and February, Polemi village on the Paphos side of the island recorded -5 in 2007; this will also feel extra cold after the heat of autumn. Find out before you settle what seasons your potential new home will have.

Before signing on the dotted line on an amazing villa with fantastic views, think, where is the nearest shop, Doctor and telephone line? Don't let excitement cloud your vision. Not all villages are linked to the main line telephone system yet and if you rely on the internet for working this is an important consideration, several hillside villages don't have shops as we know them, some are in a neighbours house and unless you know this you might have to get the car out and travel miles just for the milk, the main supermarkets are well stocked with products from Europe arriving daily and if you are from the UK and are used to a General Practitioner system, forget it in Cyprus, some villages have a visiting Doctor or you have to go the main town clinics, the ambulance system is getting better but is not paramedic manned ,the private one ‘Sophie's Angels' are manned with the medical support that is expected in an ambulance service it is worth finding out more about them, losing their child through poor ambulance support, motivated this couple to set up a modern system and named it after her. If you are retired an E121 form from the UK pensions department will cover you or private medical insurance is available, if you intend to work on the island you can contribute to the social insurance scheme. The hospitals are good and the majority of staff will speak English.

There are many court cases ongoing in the expat community related to house building, ask your High Commission which solicitor to use, the UK one has a list of those they consider will represent the British expat fairly, this is an island of cousins and quite often all situations are family linked, beware of using the solicitor of the builder as he could be more in favour of the builder than you. Rent a property for a year, research all those you want involved with building your dream home, research the land, is it the builders to sell? The Land Registry in Nicosia will help you find the boundaries and ownership. If the plot is away from the village, ask the village president, the Muhktah if the property has right of access and if so who is responsible for making the road up, you might find yourself with additional expenses if they won't recognise it as village land.

You will need to go to Immigration and register your stay on the island if you intend living permently, take with you several photocopies of paperwork with you, they say one copy but they really mean four or five! If you wonder, will I need this, take it as you can be sure that if you leave it at home they will want that one piece of information. Save Bank statements before you leave your original country, they do want to see you can support yourself financially and money laundering is not an issue. Organise your work and forget efficiency as you know it, this is Cyprus they are just getting to grips with the mountain of paperwork entering Europe has given them, there are expat support companies who will do this for you if you wish, their fees are not horrendous either. Patience needs to be packed when moving to Cyprus; a friendly smile will usually help you get through any obstacles.

Driving a car in Cyprus is the same as in the UK but not so safe, the driving is erratic and you do need your wits about you, safety is not an issue with a Cypriot driver, getting to the destination at speed is. The motorway is bliss; there is little traffic even at rush hour. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident the police have to be informed and the cars left in position until they have arrived, even a minor prang will be called in. There are police radar traps and if you import a car, think kilometres not miles per hour if you have a twin speedometer. Road tax and MOT are required, the Ministry of Transport Office is where you register your car (if you import one then Customs will guide you through the process), the road tax can now be paid online or through The Cyprus Bank.

Taxes are paid in every country and in Cyprus the taxes are much lower than the UK, there is a dual treaty taxation agreement between the two countries, contact the UK tax office for the relevant forms, financial advisers are on the island and can help you go through the system smoothly.

Village taxes are paid at the local office in the majority of cases and there is not always a bill presented, find out when the water and community taxes are due and write it down, that way you will be able to keep track of payment months.
There is no piped gas on the island, gas bottles are used, electricity is about the same price as the UK and Cytanet the telephone company have various rates to offer, both the electricity board and telephone company require a deposit, you will need to register in the main offices, take passports, alien cards if you have one, photocopies and original of your rental agreement or proof of purchase, if you rent your landlord has to sign paperwork as well.

Since the introduction of the Euro currency there has been an increase in the cost of living in Southern Cyprus, the cost of currency exchange can be painful, the UK Nationwide Building Society does not charge you for using your credit card or debit card abroad, there are currency exchange companies who keep their costs low or you could bring all your money over from UK in Euros.

Many shipping companies in UK are used to Cyprus customs office, ring around and find out who has exported to the island before. 

 

The key factor is to research and ask questions, the lifestyle is very different to the fast paced life you are leaving behind, don't expect to get anything done on the day, if it happens enjoy the moment as it is rare. Websites such as smyhomepolemi or Cyprus Living will have information and links to help you plan and prepare.

The choice is simple for some. Cyprus has low cost of living; we drive on the same side of the road; nine out of 10 Cypriots speak English, and there is a community of expatriates who will provide support.

However when the newly arrived come to settle in it often feels very different to their experience as visitors. There is a sense of detachment from their habitat and suddenly all the things that excited them as holiday visitors become factors in their sense of alienation.

For many this can lead to a sense of isolation and in some cases develops into an expat' fortress mentality. Here are some tips to help you survive the move and make peace with the island of Aphrodite.

• You will want to make new friends on the island. Make sure you include Cypriots in your new social circle. Cypriot people are generous and outgoing. Show them that you are too.
• Try to learn a little of the language. It's a mark of respect. Imagine how you might feel about people who moved to your country who weren't even willing to learn a little of the language.
• Many expats' who have undergone feelings of estrangement after their emigration, take it out on their hosts. If you sense that your new expatriate friends and acquaintances are denigrating the indigenous population then dump them. Too many expats' want the island to be little Britain in the sun. In fact they give the impression that they would prefer it if the Island's population left completely. These are people who will impoverish your life not enrich it.
• You are going to need help from time to time: builders plumbers electricians etc. Contrary to what some expats' believe the local tradesmen know how to fix things in Cyprus better than odd-jobbers who have come over on the boat. Beware of tradesmen who wave the Union flag too much. Some of them were rogue traders in UK, and continue to be in Cyprus.
• Rather than joining the UK Citizens Association, think about visiting the local coffee shop. After a short while you will become recognised, welcomed and will be picking up a few words of Cypriot too.
• As a general rule aim for local brands when shopping. The brands you recognise from home will be dearer because they have been imported. Cyprus Sugar is just as sweet as your own familiar brand and a fraction of the cost.
• In restaurants try local dishes. They are nutritious and flavoursome. Remember you will be getting all the best from the acclaimed Mediterranean diet; fresh vegetables, fish and a little red wine; so good for your heart.
• In a fish taverna, do as the locals do. Ask to see the fish caught that day and pick what you want. It will be weighed on the spot and you will be told what the cost is. Always go for local fish. There are no mussels in Cyprus, no cod and no prawns, however there are wonderful bream, sea bass, tuna and swordfish, and it will be grilled to perfection.
• Finally, don't expect everything to be the way it was back home. Things are different. They are not worse or better, they are different. It was one of the reasons you moved - remember. Enjoy your new life in harmony with your surroundings.

In Cyprus, we are well placed to take advantage of the health-giving aspects of the Mediterranean diet: the olive oil, salads, fish and of course red wine. What a pity so much of the wine is insipid. It need not be so.

The amount of sun should produce intense reds. Look what comes out of the Southern Rhone or even the softer Herault reds…. Even comparing like for like, some of the reds from Greece like Nemea or the big-bodied fella' from Santorini offer a satisfying mouthful.

And leading the way under extreme duress is a gentleman in the Lebanon - Serge Hochar. He produces a magnificent red, complex, aromatic and mouth-filling that rivals some of the big wines from the Rhone or Bordeaux where he trained.

Some years his acclaimed wine, Chateau Mussar, does not declare a vintage. The problems of a vineyard six checkpoints away from the winery in the Bechaar Valley; picking and transporting while shells burst around, defeat even his enthusiasm. But when he makes it, the wine is long-lived and delicious.

Here, winemakers are only just cottoning to the fact that there is more to it than pouring cheap alcohol down holdymakers' throats. Try Keo's Heritage, a vintage wine from rediscovered Cyprus varietals; at the moment limited to 15,000 bottles a year. Another good drink is Kannavera from Vouni Panayia Winery and let's not forget Fikardos' succulent Lefkarda.

You might also keep an eye on some of the wines coming from Kathikas like Vasilikon. Providing these producers don't get inflated ideas on cost, we should all heartily support them. After all it is for the good of our health.