Bargains – Simply Be Discount Code | 20% off | simplybe.co.uk & Argos Kitchen Electrical Sale | 50% off | argos.co.uk & Wow! This Is The Best HQ Hair Discount Code Yet & Valid Travelodge Discount Code or Travelodge Voucher Codes& Made Free Delivery | £10 off | Made Voucher | made.com & Mankind Discount Code | mankind.co.uk
We are now getting used to the horrific traffic jams and so we left early and headed for the Land Registry. We were so prepared we arrived there at 8.40. Azmi arrived at 9 and Soner (our buyer) was late but then he is a Turkish Cypriot! By this time as usual, the land registry office started getting busy and chaotic. We had our passports with us, the original Kocan (deeds) , driving license and Azmi told us we needed no money. All our bills had been settled the previous day at the Beledeysi.
Soner and his wife stayed in one section while we went off with Azmi to the other building where they produce a yellow form , 4 copies with no carbon so Mal and I have to sign all 8 copies, one in his name and one in my name as the house was in joint names. THEN the lady says we have to pay land tax because (wait for this one) “we have trees on the land”. Yes, the land did have originally until the big fire of 1997 when they all burnt down, we still have the tree stumps to prove it as one of them I made into a fairy house. But we have a really old Kocan, so we have to pay it….roughly £1,000!! This is now getting a bit of a joke and as much as Azmi tries, we are going to have to pay this new tax they have just dreamt up. He has never heard of it before. Well, I didn’t have a spare grand in my pocket and I don’t carry a load of cards with me so nothing else for it but to drive back home and get a card to pay up. This took us over an hour in 34 degree heat.
We met Azmi, went back to the payment office with him by which time it has gone up to £2,000! My flabber was certainly gasted! I have to say Azmi was shocked too. He argued that this was wrong while Mal and I stood there waiting for the girls calculator to make up another larger figure if we left it too long! Azmi went off to see the boss. He came back and another long discussion with the girl along with two other members of staff who had joined in. Finally the original figure was agreed on and we paid up. How can you argue with them? The cashier finally completed the work on the four sets of forms while the three of us were waiting anxiously clock watching as the offices closed at 12. It was then a mad dash, run actually, back across the car parks to the original building and into the office where Soner and his wife were waiting. Another lengthy process but more involving Soner than us, more forms for us all to sign and finally the bankers draft was handed over and as often happens by this time (12.30) we had all been locked in the offices. We were let out and we have sold our house. OK, half the original asking price but at our age we decided we have known so many people who have died from the stress of all of this, so better for us to think of our health and let it go. It is not easy to keep it on long distance and anyway, there are other places we want to visit for our holidays.
Photos were taken of Soner and his wife with us but at the moment he doesn’t want them putting on the internet, so I respect that. They seem a really nice couple and part of the deal is that we can stay in the house until our flight in a couple of weeks. We need that time to empty the house of our personal things. The furniture is staying.
We then walked around the corner to Peanuts for a drink and sit by the sea! We were exhausted.
From here we drove to Creditwest to deposit the bankers draft and had an appointment with Deniz. She was with someone and so we walked around the corner to Tempo coffee shop until she was finished. Now we have to wait for this to clear and have another appointment to see her next week.
Then on to Azant to thank Azmi and Anthony. I never thought I would use all these words together in one sentence…..”A good estate agent in North Cyprus.” Today I did for the first time! We arrived last week, they had three interested buyers, we accepted an offer and within 8 days the process had been completed and there wasn’t even any need for a solicitor, Azmi did all that.
We arrived home and both jumped in the pool! Proof, if we needed any of how much stress we have been under, Mal layed down on the bed and was asleep within seconds!
In the evening we just decided to drive and think about where we would eat once we passed somewhere. We went to Seapoint in Lapta. The nice waiter we have missed at Acmenya greeted us, so he has obviously a new job there. We sat at a table and then a voice said “well, it’s Mal and Maggie.” We looked and it was Joan and Jeff and they invited us to join them at their table. After such an awful day we had such a lovely evening with them. Joan has recently had an operation on her back but seems to be recovering well bless her. It was so nice catching up and reminiscing. Thank you Joan and Jeff,
A perfect end to a tough day.
Thought for the Day – “Happiness is meeting an old friend after a long time and feeling that nothing has changed.”