The Ides of March

And so, did the stress levels recede? Marginally maybe. We still haven't got our motorbike document issue resolved, but it's worse now, because they have got the receipt for the thing as well. This could leave us in a very sticky situation, as we have no proof of ownership at all. We're back to how we started ... Shankes pony or Dolmus, for if we use the bike with no paperwork and we're stopped by the police ... well it doesn't bear thinking about.

We continued our search for a small sailing craft in Bodrum on 15th (beware the ides of March!!!!). We spotted these flamingoes as we got petrol just past the Airport between Milas and Bodrum.
We searched all round Bodrum, going to places we never knew existed. We found loads of boats, but none of the type we were after. You wouldn't think it would be so difficult would you? We found all manner of speed boats (the Turks really like the status symbol of these!). We found yards full of huge yachts for £1,000,000 plus .... probably a little out of our price range, but sailing boats around 4 or 5 metres ---- yok!! (English translation .. none)

The Bodrum Peninsular was very clean and a beautiful part of the coastline. Among the places we visited, apart from Bodrum itself, were Yalikavak, Turgetreis, Ortakent and Içmeler (Bodrum not the one near Marmaris).

We had taken Mandy and Lawrence with us as they are also looking for a slightly larger craft than us, but they had no luck. They had been told there could be one moored at this marina at Turgetreis, but it had already sailed to Yalikavak. we chased it there, but couldn't find it.

Finally we returned home boatless ... perhaps we'll try Marmaris or Çesme next.

The following day we went to visit Yo and Nigel for lunch at their new house. They have finally moved in and wanted to show it to us and Mandy and Lawrence. Very nice it is too. We should have added a photo of it here, but do you know? we forgot to take one ... oh well next time we're over there. Unfortunately, with Akbuk over half an hour away on the bus and us and them being so busy since, we haven't had a chance to catch up since.

Friday, Pat and Don arrived from England for a 10 day visit. It's always like Christmas when they come, as they kindly bring us many of the home comforts we can't buy here ... you know the sort of thing; Cheddar cheese, bacon, sausages, brown sugar, glacé cherries and the list goes on. Having said that, we have found substitutes for many things, but it is nice sometimes to have the real McCoy. Also, every month the choice here gets greater, as the supermarkets realise the spending power of their new customers, the Brits. A shop has just opened in Didim selling British bacon, gammon steaks, baked beans, Bisto gravy, Colman's mustard and many other goodies not usually available. The goods are pricey, as the hoops he has to jump through to get them into the country are phenomenal, but sometimes it's worth it for a little treat.

Talking of jumping through hoops, we've had our own experience of that over the last three weeks as we tussle with customs trying to import a small spa pool we purchased from ebay. IT was cheap, but the duty they are trying to impose on it is three times it's value. Negotiations continue ... we'll keep you posted.

Fitted between going out and about with Don and Pat, overseeing Bob's house painting and other mundane household things, Sue has even managed to decorate the hall, stairs and landing (30ft up to the ceiling) and the entire ground floor. Don't quite know how.

Many of our friends are returning now from the UK to spend the summer in Yesilkent, so some of the time we've been catching up with them, as well as entertaining our long time friends Margaret and Ted who came over from near Kusadasi.

This week the weather had a complete change around and we had gales, storms, and power cuts.
The gales dislodged the lid from the tank that you may recall was recently re-installed after the collapsing framework fiasco. It turns out that in truly Turkish style, when they could only find one hole to screw it on with the installers left it at that. When David went up there in the gales to try to effect a repair he found they had put it on back to front, which is why the holes didn't line up .... hey,ho!!!

The weather is now back to it's best, and we are once more able to eat breakfast out on the patio, and enjoy the warm sunshine at the same time. The spring flowers are in abundance everywhere, so everywhere looks a real picture.

And with these pics we leave you for this month, except to say that we would appreciate the odd comment, then we know someone out there is actually reading about our adventures here in Turkey.