March 2007

Here we are in March and the "stress free" life is showing signs of wear. On Friday 2nd we had to go to the tax office, yes that's right, the tax office to book our MOT or visa as it is known here in Turkiye. We have to take in our current one and our passport. The information is then checked on the computer to make sure there are no reasons we shouldn't be allowed to continue, such as convictions etc. Then we had to pay up front for the visa, which in Altinkum occurs once a month on the first Monday of the month.

Over the weekend we washed and cleaned the bike and checked all the nuts and bolts, brakes, lights and anything else we could think of. We had heard that the queues were likely to be long, so it was up early and a trip to the bus station, where the MOT centre would be set up. It was a fine sunny morning and there were already 30+ vehicles queuing.

We had to wait around for around one and a half hours before the MOT station was opened, wondering just how long after that it would take. We needn't have worried, within twenty minutes it was our turn. How did we get to the front of the queue so fast you ask? We found out. The "MOT" consisted of checking that the engine and chassis numbers on the documents were the same as those on the documents. Unfortunately one of our documents had the numbers transposed, so although we were given our mot, we will have to take the bike on a two and a half hour journey to Aydin, so that the county police can check the numbers for themselves and correct the error.

Stress meter up!!! OOO

On Tuesday we had arranged to share a minibus with four of our friends with the intention of going to Izmir to look at boats. We are all in the market for a boat, but each of us wants something different. Nigel wants a fishing boat, Lawrence and Mandy want a large sailing boat, and we would like a small sailing dinghy. We get three quarters of the way up the motorway, when the clutch fails.

Stress meter up a bit more!!! OOOOOO

We managed to nurse the vehicle to the next exit, which was also the entrance to Ikea. We waited there nearly two hours for a mechanic to arrive. While one of us waited by the vehicle, the others took the opportunity to take a look round the store. The back of the minibus was duly filled. Then we all got fed up, so we went back into the store for lunch, leaving a note on the windscreen for the mechanic to ring our mobile when he arrived. Fortunately we had finished our lunch before the phone rang. It didn't take him long to fix the problem enough for us to continue, although the clutch was still slipping so we kept our fingers crossed it would take us round Izmir and back home before it failed completely.

Stress meter up a bit more!!! OOOOOOOOO

We made our way to Karşiyaka, where the boat yards are supposed to be. We found two, but then they dried up. We hunted all over but no sign; however, we did find a Carrefour Hypermarket, where we stocked up on croissants, which are not available in Didim.

On the way back to the motorway we got lost, and ended up driving through the heart of Izmir between 5 and 6 in the evening ...... horrendous, driving at it's worst!!

Stress meter up a bit more!!! OOOOOOOOOOOO

We managed to limp back to Altinkum eventually.

On Wednesday we woke to the sound of water cascading down the roof. David went onto the roof in his dressing gown, to turn the supply to the solar panels off ... good job it was early. Later he returned to the roof and climbed onto the tank to see if there was a simple solution. Nope! So we decided to call out the men, as it was still under guarantee. Meanwhile we had to return the minibus and complain about the condition of same as well as it's lack of maintenance. The people there apologised and said they would see what they could do by way of compensation.

Back to Yesilkent. The boys turned up to fix the tank ...... climbed up onto the solar units as David had earlier to check out the problem. Catastrophe!!!!! The framework collapsed, almost catapulting the boy off the roof, the extremely heavy water tanks balanced precariously on the glass solar panels and the lid from the expansion tank jetisoned over the roof, and down into the garden, missing Sue's head, 30 feet below, by a matter of millimetres.

Stress meter critical!!! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The upshot was, that the apparatus was made as safe as possible while the boys went off to get a new frame made. They were back 2 hours later, with it and a man to weld it into place. Then the disassembled system was reassembled, pipes reconnected, and everything checked >>>> it was OK. They left with a large sum of money, and we were left with the clearing up.

Stress meter at danger!!! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The following day we went back to the car rental establishment to speak with the manager. He tried to blame it on our driving at which point the steam came out of David's ears and all hell broke loose.

Stress meter blown apart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We eventually had to leave with no recompense, but with us vowing that we would make sure everyone would know how REPTOURS treat their customers. It is not the first time REPTOURS have let customers down, and we've now heard several tales about their poor customer care, and the state of their vehicles. Some people even lost their entire days shopping in Kos, when the REPTOURS guy left it on the quayside. Needless to say there was no compensation.

So not the best week really, but we finished it with a walk along the beach and that is always calming, and with the sun shining, and temperatures up in the mid-twenties in the middle of March, we must put things in perspective .... We love it here!!