Dalyan – 15th May

My first job on Friday 15th May was to check where I was against the weekly budget. This week I had overspent by £85.33 on a budget of £105! This was due to a trip to the Hairdressers, a boat trip, a takeaway, 3 bar visits and a meal out. Only 2 days had been without alcohol and the cost of booze certainly can add up if I’m not carefully tracking it. This next week was about to be an expensive one though as I had meals out and 2 boat trips booked in with the family. I was prepared for this, had upped the budget to £20 per day for the rest of May and planned to drastically reduce how much I spent at the end of the month to compensate!
I worked all day, only for a break when the water delivery man came. I pay just 120 lira (£2) for the 19 litre water containers and they deliver quickly. I broke off work at 5pm, a rare thing for me even on a Friday, as I was meeting the family for an early bar and needed to get ready.
Ma & Pa decided on Efe bar for a pre dinner drink where I just had a soda water for 70 lira (£1.17). The men ordered beers but the ladies were sensible with soda waters and Neil paid for the round. Mom nipped to the stationers which, conveniently, was open at 7.30pm – worth noting if you need a last minute souvenir or print out.
Our meal was booked at Firat’s for 8pm and it’s a firm favourite of my parents’ and mine. It’s a simple family run, small restaurant set in the ‘Turkish Quarter’ and always has excellent food. Mom & Gayle ordered the fish while Dad, Neil and I had kebabs. We also got 2 lavaş (balloon bread) with garlic butter which we love. Dad and Neil also ordered the cold rice pudding (sütlaç) for afters and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a glass of white wine with my chicken shish and paid 1,100 lira (£18.33) including the tip.
After, we decided to call for a nightcap and was going to call in to Dalyan Lounge but settled on Ozzy’s Bar. We didn’t want too much of a lively night as we had a boat trip booked for tomorrow so didn’t want to be hungover. Ozzy’s was rammed full with customers so all 5 of us had to squeeze on to 2 sofa style bench seats. It was also full of too many smokers, which I’m not a fan of. It’s meant to be illegal to smoke in bars now but it doesn’t seem to have been implemented in Dalyan. I ordered a red wine, my parents had Efes Malt, Gayle and Neil decided to try out the cocktails; sangria, long island iced tea and pina colada – all met with Gayle and Neil’s approval.
I paid 200 lira (£3.33) including a small tip for my red wine and we headed off back home. I checked I’d put my out of office on for tomorrow as I had been lucky enough to be invited on Gayle & Neil’s private boat trip and I couldn’t wait!

Gratitude List
1. Tracking spending despite overspending this week
2. Another family outing
3. A fantastic meal at Firat’s.