Dalyan – 29th & 30th April

Tuesday 29th April was a ‘getting caught up on the work to do list’ kind of a day. It was literally the calm before the storm too as from tomorrow I had more excitement coming up. I had fruit and quark for breakfast and at lunchtime I just had a sandwich because I was busy searching for my own flights. I’d decided I was going to accompany Vanessa on a trip back to the UK and had found some flights. Captain Caveman and I had decided to book the Dalaman to Manchester flight in 3 week’s time, but I wouldn’t book the return back just yet. Vanessa had very kindly said that I could stay with her in Sheffield which I was very grateful for. It also meant that I would be back in Sheffield for 2 birthday celebrations.
After work I totted up my money situation and we had spent more than I usually would have on a weekend away. Including food, petrol, accommodation, drink but not the hire car (Captain Caveman paid for that separately and in advance), we had spent 18,772.30 lira – £363. Not bad for the 2 of us but that would be a months’ budget spent in one weekend! The hire car came to £84 for 3 days so we spent just shy of £450 in one weekend. Now, my priority was to work harder and get the savings back up ready for the next one.
In the evening, I probably should have been resting up and not drinking wine but I had arrangements. Penny and Phil had invited me round for a Spag Bol and who can turn that down!? Not me, it was lovely and we had a good catch up too. I had quite a bit of red wine and walked home quite late having had a lovely night. Fat Club’s weigh-in wasn’t going to be great tomorrow!

Gratitude List
1. Getting through the working day despite being so tired
2. Spag Bol with Penny & Phil
3. Wine.

I took my measurements on Wednesday 30th April and was very pleasantly surprised; my bust and waist had stayed the same and I’d lost 2cm from my hips – all on or under target! However, my home scales showed that I had put on 2.9kg (6lb) – that wasn’t good and I was now 2.2kg (4.8lb) over target. Today was also the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnamese and American war so friends in Vietnam were having celebrations. Captain Caveman had booked my flight to go back to England with Vanessa in 3 weeks and I was looking forward to going back.
After my berries with quark for breakfast and a Yorkshire tea, I headed off for a spell of doggy day care. I’d been awake since 5am when the storm had finally happened. But now it was warm and dry again so I didn’t think I’d need a coat. I was off to look after Coco and Bebe, 2 cute little dogs. I walked the 1.5km over to check on the dogs and feed them some left over lamb chop bones before my Turkish class. Both dogs were so cute and came for some fuss. There was no electric on so I assumed a power cut from the storm and I walked back the 1.5km to Turkish class.
After the lesson I walked back again to let the dogs out but by the time I arrived, it had started to rain. The electric wasn’t off, the switch had just tripped so all was good. I had cheese spread on toast for lunch before walking back to town to go to Fat Club, by this time in the heavy rain.
Carol’s scales were kinder and I had only put on 1.8kg (4lb) but I really needed to get back on track. I called at the supermarket on the way back, here’s what I bought at the shop, prices in lira;

Migros Supermarket
1 plastic bag 0.50
Pasta 12.95
Tinned tomatoes 12.95
2 red peppers 23.99
400g mushrooms 69.95
7% fat beef mince 285.95
Total spent 415.29 lira (£8.10)

Initially I had been meaning to meet with Drew, Norman and Edna for walkies with all 4 dogs but, as it was raining, Drew drove over with the dogs a bit later. None of the dogs were impressed by the stormy weather. Ironically, I had walked 6km today already but none of it with a dog and all 4 refused to go for walks because the rain was now torrential. Most of my clothes were soaked so they were around the house drying. I had fish fingers and beans for dinner then did some work until quite late, while the dogs napped. At bed time, it was very cold so I had to put a duvet on the bed and it was still very stormy. All the dogs were a bit scared of the thunder and lightning.

Gratitude List
1. Measurements good, despite weight gain
2. 4 cute dogs
3. Managing to cope with getting caught in the rain without a coat.