I have discovered that for different reasons the weeks surrounding the Easter holidays, both Western and Orthodox have become my favourite period of the year to reflect on life and death and indeed make changes to my temporary existence on the planet.  Rather than making News Years' resolutions on January 1, I find the feeling of spring in combination with the memory of the death and suffering of our Lord and Saviour a stimulating mixture to bring change into my usually rather mundane life.

In addition to beginning an exercise programme, which is an alien concept to most parts of my body, one such decision was to take up writing this column again.

I never explained why I stopped and since in hindsight some of these reasons do not seem so relevant today, I will refrain to do so. Anyhow, it suffices to say that much has happened in the first quarter of 2006 that might warrant closer attention.

As Bulgaria entered the final lap of its accession period prior to entering the European Union we cannot seem to avoid the hype of "Le Cirque Politique du Bruxelles" aka "Will this bullshit fly or shall it just remain stuck to the road?".

I find it amazing that all that is going right in this country is attributed to our future within the European Family (as if we're not in Europe already) and all that is going bad is blamed on a few gangsters and politicians. In my humble opinion, I see a lot `going good' because of many hard-working Bulgarians who are trying to make something of their life, both as employers and employees, a selection of honest hard-working politicians and civil servants.

The recent influx of money from `Europe', accompanied by an army of opportunistic foreigners who are making this country their temporary home as (expert) consultants while en route from Nicaragua to Afghanistan, or as recently made redundant real-estate salesmen from some Spanish costa-del-beton, is not having the positive effect on this country many will try to make you believe.

Large amounts of the so-called structural pre-accession funds have been successfully syphoned off from right under the eyes of these same foreign consultants who have long ago left these parts for greener pastures and better pickings in the valleys and mountains beyond our borders, while leaving Bulgaria to pick up the pieces. Although some of these projects have been somewhat successful, many involve roads and other works that are already in urgent need of repair due to the use of inferior construction materials. The forced privatisation of many state industries due to EU regulations has left many capable and motivated people unemployed without the benefit of unemployment benefits or pensions. The prevailing excuse I have heard from the new, mainly foreign, owners of these companies is that these people were damaged by communism and could never adjust to their `western' ways of doing things. Amazing to hear excuses like that since communism left 17 years ago and their `western' ways do not seem to differ all that much, as many of these investors hail from countries like Britain, France, Greece, Italy, Turkey and Spain, where work ethics do not differ all that much from here.

The real-estate market is beyond scary as in recent years the market in Central Sofia apartments and fixer-upper properties in the country have been replaced by cubicles in resorts in the mountains and at the seaside. Although I very much like both, as a permanent resident here I am painfully aware that the seasons in both are terribly short. The mountains usually have little or no snow prior to New Year and the water of the Black Sea doesn't really warm up until late June and after the middle of September the season is pretty much over. I recommend all potential buyers to visit these places in the low season, try Sunny Beach or Golden Sands in October and Bansko and Pamorovo in April.

In February, we saw the election of Associate Professor Boris Velchev to the position of Prosecutor General.  Velchev promised to make his office ready for EU accession, tackle small crime, lift immunity on politicians and lock up the mafia bosses. Of course I wish this man all the success in the world and even more the personal protection of Jehovah, Allah, Buda and Krishna (which he will need), in my opinion he is aiming way too high. Velchev should take a look at how the new Mayor of Sofia began his job, the mighty Bobocop started with small changes and has left it at that for the moment while he is contemplating the rest of his political career. Boiko the Great successfully turned Vitosha Boulevard into a pedestrian zone, unsuccessfully tried to enforce right side of the street only parking, put spotlights on churches and monuments, which would have been a good idea if he had them painted first, and is still in deep negotiations about the dupki (holes in the road), garbage, stray dogs, street prostitution, homeless children and traffic.
It's good to be back.

Koos Jan Schouten was born in Amsterdam (1954), has lived in Bulgaria since 1998, owns webfactorybulgaria.com and has been married since 2002 to his lovely Lilly.