Saturday 15th should have been market day, but it was pouring when we got up. We checked the weather on the web and as it said it should clear in the afternoon, we decided to wait. However, by the time it did clear it was probably too late so we abandoned that idea. As it's Bayram (religious holiday) next weekend, there will be no market, but they may hold it on Wednesday before the holiday instead., so we'll try again then. Otherwise we'll have to resort to the (more expensive and poorer quality) supermarkets. I spent the rest of the afternoon installing software and setting up a computer that a friend had left with me.
Sunday morning the sun was out so, while Sue was making mince-pies and generally tidying up, I cut up wood for the fire and then spread sand over the garden project to level off the land. The next job will be to cover it in polythene and then fill it with stones. 
In the afternoon friends came over to collect the computer, and have a quick lesson on how to use it. Before we got into that we went for a nice walk along the beach in the sunshine. Then we had coffee sitting outside in the sunshine and then as the sun went down we got down to the nitty gritty. Before our friend got overwhelmed with info, we stopped and had dinner before sitting down in front of our log fire. They didn't seem in a hurry to leave, not surprising really, a log fire is quite unusual around here, but we're glad of it.
As Bayram was fast approaching, Monday morning we thought we ought to get in the heavies .... you know, bottles of lemonade, wine and that sort of thing. We also needed to call at the post office, try to sort out Vodafone with our Turkish friend, but no joy again. We'll have to try a different tack. We had to get back home as Phil and Lorraine were coming round to have me look at their computer, install software ... I should set up a business, shouldn't I?
Tuesday was bright and sunny, perfect for continuing with our garden project, putting down the polythene and covering it with stones (kindly donated by Bob). Many wheel-barrow loads later and we'd run out of stones before we'd run out of garden ... oops. Now we'll have to try to find about ½ m³ more of stones. We also scattered some of the excess sand around the rest of the garden. The remainder we'll keep for the cement to lay the mosaic on and to make more “anchors” for the boats (ours and friends'). We have also put aside a bucketful for Lawrence who has to build a small table on his terrace. Then it was off to see Mandy and Lawrence, before returning, lighting the fire settling down in front of the box.
On Wednesday we had to go to the market ... I know, we're always going on about market day being Saturday, but as Bayram starts Thursday, there won't be a market on Saturday. In fact it's a bit like Christmas Eve as all the shops and banks closed at lunchtime and everything winds down ready for the holiday. This festival is known as the festival of sacrifice, and to that end, there were several vehicles transporting sheep and cattle around. Tradition has it we're told, that a third of the meat goes to the relatives, a third to the poor and the rest to the family. So off to the market, post-office, then home to prepare for a visit from Yo and Nigel. They were coming in to Altinkum from Akbuk as they needed to get money from the bank before it closed for the holiday, and were going to pop over to see us. I just had time to chop wood for the fire before they arrived. We spent a few hours chatting over lunch and coffees, but, as it's Bayram, we had to make sure that they could get home before the Dolmuş finished.We didn't want to find that the Dolmuş had stopped leaving them stranded. Not that it would have mattered that much .. we have got plenty of beds after all, but they were supposed to be entertaining guests themselves in the evening.
Bright and sunny again on Thursday although a little on the cold side in the northerly wind. I'd had a cry for help from Wendy, another computer owner with problems, so while I went to help sort those out, Sue baked some mince pies and took the opportunity while I wasn't getting in the way to have a massive clean-up. In the afternoon Phil and Lorraine appeared, needing guidance with their laptop, so as we helped them we consumer tested the mince pies ... delicious!!
We took advantage of the sunshine, and the peace and quiet (no builders next door because of Bayram) to have our breakfast on the patio. Out of the wind it was quite pleasant. After breakfast Mandy and Lawrence came round and we all went for a walk round Marti Sitesi, and along the sea's edge on the other side of the peninsular. We had an invite to spend the evening with Mary, and her parents, who are over here from Ireland for Christmas. Mary had really gone to town with the decorations and it was very cosy and Christmassy.We spent the evening sipping mulled wine, eating Christmas nibbles and enjoying the craic (I think that's how you spell it!).
Saturday, without the market, proved to be a quiet day. Gardening in the morning and reading on the top terrace in the sunshine in the afternoon.
Sunday we again made the most of the sunshine and after a bracing walk down by the sea we breakfasted on the back patio. Then we utilised the sunshine to read in the garden until the builders turned up unexpectedly next door (it's Bayram!!) and started to break bricks. Fortunately, by then the sun had made it's way to the front of the house and we were able to lay on the top terrace and continue with our reading.
And so to Christmas Eve ... and it was up town for essential supplies and a quick visit to the PTT to see who had sent us Christmas Cards. Then we thought we'd spoil ourselves and take a walk along Altinkum seafront, sit in a sea-front restaurant and have lunch looking out over the sea ... beautiful, or as it's Christmas perhaps it should be “bootiful” á la Bernard Matthews advert.
And what happens here on Christmas Day? Well this year Brian was the first to phone us to wish us Happy Christmas. We really do appreciate those calls we receive. Then we met up with Pat and Stuart and walked the prom again at Altinkum, before taking a pre-dinner drink or two at a little bar, where we met some new friends, who apparently are just spending Christmas and New Year here. They've really been lucky with the weather this week. Then it was off to P & S's for our Christmas meal. We spent a lovely afternoon with them, before returning home to ring our daughter and grand-children to wish them a Happy Christmas.
Boxing Day we lazed about reading until lunchtime. Then we decided to walk the beach path here in Yeşilkent, from Gaye 2 to Pine Beach and back through the village. We met up with Lynn walking her dog and the three others she'd picked up on the way. As we walked we compared Christmas notes on how things had gone. Then it was back home for a lovely Boxing Day meal of gammon (thank you Gavin and Tania), and a few phone calls with friends. So that's Christmas over for another year.
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