In search of a Kocan in North Cyprus

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
06/03/2012 19:07

I put on me Deerstalker

Grabbed me stick.

Whistled the dog

Shouldered the net.

Donned my hat

Sarnies in pocket.

And went in search

Of the elusive Kocan



Is it a bird

I thought.

A card game

Many want it as I read.

So high value indeed

Find and capture.

But where to start

The Lapta strip.



Conjures up image

Of scantily clad woman.

Adorning my computer

But no it’s a road.

Watch out they will

Run us down.

Bloody clown

Mobile phone.



Card game to start

Into bar water the dog.

No cards here

But plenty of beer.

Ex pats abound

I ask is there a game.

Of Kocan around

Cor blimey Gov.



No but Jack will sell you

Anything you want.

He knows every one

But yer ain’t seen me right.

Jack old chap I say

To a shaven head.

You got Kocan

Naw mate, not yet.



Waiting for the game

Of Kocan to appear.

Meharba say a chap

Good gracious what is that.

Well I am puzzled

But know I am on the scent.

As they talk of ins and outs

So I have another beer.



I ask my

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
06/03/2012 19:09

I ask my question

He tells me just down the road.

A bar where they play cards

Watered the dog.

Still thinking who is Merharba

Probably for boats.

Ask my question of fat man.

Eh up he says wanna buy a pie.



No I am looking for a Kocan

He says so am I.

I must be quick, quaff my beer

Unsteadily retire.

More than me looking

A prize in deed.

Another bar

No cards.



But more boaters

When I say hello.

Five of them

All looking for a Kocan.

Another beer

Listening for clues.

Residency they say, ups and downs

Time to go because now I know.



It’s a bird

Outside I gaze at the mountains.

Dog pulls me into a ditch

Crossing the road taxi driver.

Gets hand stuck in me net

Dragged for 1km but no fare.

I ask him you have kocan

He laughs and says.



Something that I do not understand

But I can see his eyes.

Have changed.

Yes he wants one too.

I feel sick and sit down

The dog gives me a grin.

And noses the hole in me net

Balefully eying superior man.



To be cont

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
06/03/2012 23:02

Where is the rest ?

TRNCvictim


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 1417

Message Posted:
06/03/2012 23:15

astro941 (mess 1)



Please continue

stevie-d



Joined: 13/07/2007
Posts: 1420

Message Posted:
06/03/2012 23:24

Hi Les, Very Very Good well done. Please continue.



stevie-d

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
06/03/2012 23:32

Great verse

but could you get bard ?

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 01:01

Kocan Part 2



Weaving across the road

Builders van brand new.

Skids to halt from 70mph

You silly old b----r.

Or silly old t—t

You got Kocan I hic.

Don’t need one

Cos I only half build them.



No help there dog gives a yelp

Sit down again, water the dog.

Yes it must be a relative

Of the Toucan.

Guinness says the sign

Why not I says to the dog.

I ask the barman

You seen a Kocan.



He says not got mine yet

Puzzled I look for a cage.

Barman I says where are the birds

Casino he says, wiping froth away.

Mmm, this is odd

Card games again.

No I says, feathers and fly

He jerked his thumb up and away.



I exit secretly looking out for boaters

None here, not followed.

Dart back in, comfort break

Loo I says no Fatima the wife says.

Meharba she says, doing my head in

Take solace that cheese sarnies.

Packed this morning are sweating away

Two for me and one for the dog.



Feeling light headed Nonchalantly

Look around pretending to admire.

The builders rubbish heap

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 01:04

Feeling light headed Nonchalantly

Look around pretending to admire.

The builders rubbish heap

Can’t see secret harbour nor boat.

But know they are here some where

Not my quest, the Kocan

Dog sits down and gives a wine

I sit down and mends me net.











I show sarnies, dog gets up

We reach the road head.

Following barman’s thumb

Ilgaz says the blue sign.

Inadvertently if give a little fart

Ill gas I giggle and laugh.

Dog gives a little yelp and sniffs

His nose no longer seeking the net.



I look up, Cor I say to my self

Mountains of the moon.

Surely the Kocan resides up there

Perhaps they eat it I thought.

And trips over road hump

Banging me chin.

Little old lady she stops

You ok? want a lift.



Wiping blood from chin I get in

Dog sniff my exposed rear.

And is consigned to the back

Do you have Kocan I say.

Yes, Turkish Title, right on track

But ‘Pasha’ what’s that about.

I cogitate this and think of eunuchs

And tightly close my legs in fear.



Up, up

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 02:07

Up, up and away, she drives

Like a banshee honking here horn.

She ask what do you do

I’m a policeman I lie quick as I can.

It’s easy cos I really am

Retired with private brief.

To investigate property scam

And find the elusive kocan.



Where are you going she says

As high as you can.

Where did you find it I ask

Our Banks, builders, Developers.

And estate agents and our lawyer.

My husband, in a posh voice she says.

Is an esteemed retired High Court Judge

Esteemed I think, must have been painful.





To be continued

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 02:08

Dropped at Ilgaz village, goodbye

We say and I adjust my underwear.

Turkish title Pasha, well I don’t know

Pausing to admire the builders dump.

Dog surrounded by village dogs

Isn’t it strange how they sniff.

Checking sphincters so sublime

Come on I say, through the village.



Merharba they all say

But I don’t fall for it.

And grandly proceed

Around the corner to a track.

Followed by eight other dogs.

Looking over walls.

For hidden boats

Oars and life jackets, this and that.



Merharba, what can it be

No where can I find it.

In my pocket dictionary

I meet a man at the last house.

Merharba and something like nasal

I blow my nose in case.

I have a dangler

Hello old chap I say.



You got Kocan

Yes he says, exchange.

I give him a cheese sarny

He gives me a funny look.

And gives me nowt back

But a smile.

The village dogs go home

My bloodhound and I go on.



We sit down and admire

The view, dog licks chin,

I think of earlier in the village.

Sarnies out, one

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 02:10

We sit down and admire

The view, dog licks chin,

I think of earlier in the village.

Sarnies out, one for me and one for him.

Water dog, water me

Merharba I puzzle, nasal thingy?

Anagram, no they must bury

The boats under the builders rubbish.











Up we get quite refreshed

Dog cocks leg.

And I, well you know

Strange we both shake our leg.

I watch him grin and walk

It’s funny, my pace is short

But his does not shorten

4 x 4? God is a clever chap.



Higher and higher up we go

We meet a shepherd with his flock.

Meharba he says offering a bottle

I sit down, Raki he says.

I take a swig and give a cough

Nice sheep I say, no goats.

You’re kidding I say,

You are right they just have.



You seen a Kocan I ask

He says I don’t need a Kocan.

Up here we are free

Free as a bird.

He told me what a Kocan was

And why they were so scarce.

What’s a Merharba, Hello he says

I take another swig, say goodbye.

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 02:11

Hoshchacal he says

What’s a Turkish title and exchange.

Ah so that is it

My quest is solved or was it wasted.

Going down we met the same man

Merharba, nasal I say, OK mate.

He gave me a bag of almonds

Horse charcoal I say, he grins.



Descending through the village

We all chorused our Merhabas.

But nasal was not used at all

No hidden boats.

The dog he laughed

I laughed.

Time for a Guinness

We had had a good day.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 08:09

astro941:



Great stuff - keep 'em coming!



Only thing tho' - that pesky kochan still seems to be eluding you!



Anyone buying pre '74 Turkish Title will be cherfully refused PTP and so no Kochan, or ever any chance of one.



As for 'Exchange' - 'Esdeger' - what 'exchange' - the Kochan for this type of property isn't worth 'bog roll'!



So any chance of a Kochan is a myth - just like the elusive Kochan you can't track down!!!

shel56


Joined: 10/09/2008
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 10:11

Astro 941 - What a nice way to start the day with a smile, the occasional laugh and a good read all rolled into one. Well done you and keep them coming.



A short note for message 13:



We got our kocan and our villa is on pre-74 title we also know others still getting their kocan here to and they are expats. Just thought that info might be helpful to others reading this thread.

stevie-d



Joined: 13/07/2007
Posts: 1420

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 10:23

Hi Les, Very enjoyable reading. Still having a giggle.



stevie-d

pollymarples


Joined: 08/08/2010
Posts: 1778

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 10:24

astro you are a one, I think I might just be the other one. You make me laugh which is just as well because the urge to weep is very strong.

astro941


Joined: 22/05/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
07/03/2012 17:24

Ms 13



I don't need a Kocan, I rent and as far as exchange is concerned, I will be making some more cheese sarnies for a further expedition, If my one brain cell allows. I am thinking of a visit to a certain bank as a fly on the wall in their board room.



Ms 16



Shedding a tear does releive stress but strong people don't cry, man must have written that.

Don't forget many people are supporting you and I found it interesting to note that the property issue here was highlighted in the news paper Zamman today. The dim light from here has begun to illuminate this injustice and your fight. I also noted that the facebook page embargoed is recognising the issue.

I did post a comment in the Cyprus Mail regarding this issue and as you would expect it was answered with N v S rhetoric but all publicity is good publicity . If more people become active in this exposure of the situ here, in any way that they can, then all power to their elbows. Keep your chin up. x