Dalyan – 22nd May

The weekend started well on Friday 22nd May, unfortunately it didn’t end that way. I’d booked a table at Lukka for music bingo that evening with the family plus a couple of friends. We were all looking forward to it and I’d agreed I would meet everyone after work at Retro bar for a pre dinner drink.
I worked all day and was knackered but as family were here I made the effort and got ready to have a good time. My budget was blown but we’d been having such a good time that I didn’t begrudge it. After this weekend I would be back to being very frugal. When I got to Retro bar Ma, Pa, Gayle, Neil, Julie & Gareth were already at a table for 8 and were having drinks. I pulled up a chair and joined on the end, ordering a rosé wine for 140 lira (£2.33). I barely had time to finish the wine and we were rushing off to Lukka, eager to eat and join in the fun.
I ordered the beef çökertme, which I love and a glass of red wine. Mehmet brought everyone bread and dips but they didn’t offer a gluten free option, which was disappointing for my sister. Gayle had also fancied a chicken satay but she couldn’t have that as it contained gluten and she had to choose something else. I decided I didn’t want to peak too early so would have wine by the glass. Neil and Dad shared a bottle and then I ended up sharing some so I bought a bottle too. Despite the lack of gluten free options, the night seemed to be going well from my point of view but something was afoot.
The music bingo started around 10pm and there were 2 rounds. Mehmet was funny and I thought everyone was having a good night. At the end my sister, mom, Julie and I even got up to dance and I danced with a friend who had popped in for a drink. Julie and Gareth left around 1am and most of the other customers had started to drift off too. My sister found an unattended microphone and made use of that until Mehmet took it off her. Unfortunately, things went bad and I ended up leaving. I paid for my meal, a glass of wine and a bottle of wine at a total of 2,300 lira (£38.33), apologised to the staff and went home.

Gratitude List
I didn’t write one that night.