For Captain Caveman’s last day in Dalyan on Monday 1st December, I decided we should go on the Yellow Boat to Köyceğiz. I’d booked the 2 of us on at 400 lira (£7.27) each, leaving at 10.30am and returning by 5pm. I was mainly looking forward to buying some fruit and vegetables at the market as we hadn’t been to the Dalyan one. My first job was to feed my friend’s cat, get cash out of the bank and then grab us a couple of croissants from the bakery for breakfast. It cost 180 lira (£3.21) for 2 and they were really good and fresh. I checked the stats for my JOLOYOLO.COM blog and was pleased to see I had 6% more views in November than October. The top 3 nationalities were listed as the UK, Turkey, then the USA. Unfortunately, Vietnam was down in 15th place – beaten easily by Australia, Thailand and the Netherlands! It was quite chilly out but dry, so we were optimistic for the boat trip today. When we got on, there was just us, Brigette and her hubby, Jim, plus a Turkish lady who was the mother of a walking friend of Captain Caveman’s. Usually there are about 16 onboard so this felt like our own private trip!! We sipped our hot drinks and nibbles on simit, as we sailed along the river and towards Köyceğiz Lake. The water and scenery was so beautiful and my phone camera didn’t even do it justice.
When we arrived it was around midday so Captain Caveman and I headed to the market. Here’s what we bought with prices in lira;
Potatoes, onions & garlic 45 Peppers & courgettes 45 Black Olives 50 2 pairs of Slippers 100 Total spent 240 lira (£4.29)
For lunch we decided to try Kebapçı Antepden 1999 where I had a lentil soup and Captain Caveman ordered a chicken wrap. The waiter also brought us some free starters, lots of bread and it was all very nice for 480 lira (£8.57). Our next stop was to call for a drink by the lake at one of our favourite places, Avantgart, where we spent 700 lira (£12.50) on a glass of red wine and a rakı.
Back on the boat we had some fruit and snacks then I had a wine and Captain Caveman had a beer. We all watched a bird eat a snake, which was a little grim, but interesting! It was a really good boat trip and we even tried dried persimmon with pecan nuts with the Turkish lady – they were delicious.
After dropping the shopping back in Dalyan, I went to feed my friend’s cat and we had sausage casserole for dinner again. This time Captain Caveman had the leftover lamb added to his. Later, we headed to Ozzy’s bar to meet my parents for a farewell drink. Here’s what we had with prices in lira;
2 Efes Malt 300 2 red wines 320 Total 620 lira with 60 lira discount Total spent 560 lira (£10)
My parents and Captain Caveman were on the same flight back to Manchester tomorrow, as well as Julie & Gareth, so they were all going to the airport together. As I wouldn’t get to to say bye to Ma & Pa tomorrow, I said my goodbyes that night.
Gratitude List 1. A great day out in Köyceğiz on the Yellow Boat 2. Tasty food 3. Leaving drinks with my parents and Captain Caveman.
It was still raining when my alarm went off at 6am on Sunday 30th November. I didn’t go to feed Baby C until it stopped raining around 7.30am. On the way home I checked on the 2 white dogs who were fine but one of them had a half wet blanket.
Back home, I had a cup of Yorkshire tea and decided I would go with Captain Caveman on his Sunday Walk. As usual he’d had lots of people saying they might come but no definites and it’s always hard to know who’s coming when it looks like rain. My parents and several Dalyan Dwellers were going to the Çaliş fair so it looked to be a quiet Dalyan. I was hoping to sit and drink tea but when we got to the Kaunos tea garden meeting point there was only us. We decided to have a walk around the edges of Dalyan, just as it started to rain again. Opposite the tombs is a ridiculous wooden frame with plastic flowers draped over it, which were coming loose and blowing in to the river. I picked up several plastic flowers and put them in a bin. After about an hour and 15 minutes of walking we reached the Kefal tea gardens and ordered something to warm us up. Here’s what we had with the prices in lira;
That was breakfast sorted and we decided to continue along the river walk towards the Denizkızı ferry. We bumped in to Ghislaine and her dogs so had a chat and I found it tricky to walk through the puddles with tons of stray cats round my feet, who may have thought we had come to feed them.
We got home before 1pm as we needed to shower and get ready for a lunch arrangement. Sezgin and Nur wanted us to join them for lunch at a place they love to go to eat lamb. Joining us were Debbie and Mike who we hadn’t had chance to catch up with yet either, so that worked well. I don’t eat lamb but I know that Captain Caveman loves it so I was happy to oblige. Sezgin recommended we all try the Tandır Lamb dish which is roasted lamb in the oven, slow cooked for a few hours. It came with plenty of bread, salad and pickled vegetables so I managed to eat just a little of the lamb. Mike ordered kofta (meatballs) instead but I wanted to try the dish Sezgin and Nur really liked. It was good, and cooked really well. Captain Caveman loved it and we even took some home to have for tomorrow. Here’s what we paid for our share of the meal with water to drink;
Köprübaşı restaurant 1,850 lira (£33.64)
After, we drove back to Kefal tea gardens for a second visit and had a drink and a chat. I paid for the drinks and here’s what we had with prices in lira;
Kefal tea gardens 1 soda water 25 2 Large Turkish tea 40 1 Espresso 65 2 Black coffee 80 Total 210 lira (£3.82)
It was almost 4pm by the time we got in, so on the evening cat feed I took Captain Caveman with me so we could go for another walk after. We were surprised to see people we knew in Sofra bar who were already back from Çaliş, including Jamie. We decided to join them for one and ended up having 3 drinks. Here’s what we had with prices in lira;
Sofra bar 3 Efes Malt 450 3 Red wine 540 Total spent 990 lira (£18)
We didn’t stay out late as it had turned quite cold and we needed to get some rest before Captain Caveman’s last day tomorrow. We walked past a new cafe which Ozzy was opening and would cater for people arriving late from the airport. Before bed, I checked where my finances were on my income & expenditure spreadsheet as it was the last day of the month. I had just about managed to get back to breaking even; I’d spent £780 against a budget of £1,000 so I was pleased with that. I’d also got a surplus of £392 to take in to the last month of the year. My credit card was paid off (as always) and all the bills were paid.
Gratitude List 1. A Sunday Walk for just the 2 of us made a nice change for me 2. Traditional Turkish Lunch out with friends 3. Being within budget.
I decided not to bother taking the day off work on Tuesday 25th November as I correctly assumed Captain Caveman would be doing something without me. I fed the cat and had a stroll back via the bakery where I picked up some croissants for breakfast. I hadn’t thought about Fat Club weigh in tomorrow so I’d probably accidentally had a Sabotage Tuesday (again). We ate breakfast then Captain Caveman went to play Bridge. I logged on and did some work. When he got back I made us a cougette pasta for lunch. I carried on working while Captain Caveman lolled on the sofa with his phone until 5pm then he went to the grocers for veg and more eggs. I fed the cat in the evening, then came back to make a chickpea and spinach curry which we didn’t eat until gone 9.30pm but it was rather tasty.
Gratitude List 1. Croissants for breakfast 2. Spending the evening with Captain Caveman 3. Great Slimming World friendly food.
Wednesday 26th November was a bit of an odd day really. I was feeding my friend’s cat before 7.15am, saw the sunrise and then went back to bed with a cup of tea as it was cold out. After breakfast of toast for me and homemade şakşuka for Captain Caveman I remembered to get weighed and measured. My home scales showed I had lost 0.8kg (1.8lb) this week, which was very surprising given that I had consumed far more syns than I should have! My measurements showed I’d put 1cm on my bust and hips but lost 3cm from my waist – impressive really! Captain Caveman and I decided to have a bit of a walk around and I introduced him to the white dogs, before he went off to the barbers and I went to Fat Club. Captain Caveman’s haircut and shave cost him 400 lira (£7.27) which he was happy with and they did a good job. Disappointingly, but realistically, Carol’s scales said I had remained the same as last week and not lost any weight at all! I would need to try harder in December to get back to target before the end of the year. I had just under 5kg (11lb) to lose so it was not looking likely that I would reach target again this year. At 6pm I had arranged to meet up with my parents, Jamie and Vanessa at Ren Garden for a drink. I was surprised to see Ma on the beer and Pa on the water but he’d got a bit of a cold and dodgy tum so was taking it easy after their Jiva Beach trip. While Ma took it steady with a few beers, Pa had a latte but he wasn’t feeling too great. I nipped off to feed the cat and she wanted some attention so I stayed for a little while to give her some strokes with her pâté. When I returned, Vanessa and Matt had arrived after the pool afternoon with Mark, Kate and Sarah. We weirdly ended up playing games and taking over the front room of Ren Garden’s bar area – and we were loud! Here’s what ours and my parents’ bills came to that night.
Ren Garden – us 4 Red wines 520 5 Efes Malta 600 Total spent 1,120 lira (£20.36)
Ren Garden – Ma & Pa 2 waters 40 1 latte 130 3 Efes Malt 360 Total 530 lira (£9.64)
I’d obviously gone mad on the wine (again) on a Wednesday and was easily swayed when a suggestion to go for food came up. Dad and Captain Caveman decided to walk on ahead to Çağrı to go there but they turned back when they saw it had been open but was closing. We decided Pizza 48 would be a good place, despite it being outdoor seating. I don’t recall us being cold and we all had our own pizza and a drink. Captain Caveman ordered a meat pizza and an Efes Malt, I had a mushroom pizza with a red wine which came to 1,080 lira (£19.64). I was planning on taking some home but it was pretty good and I ate it all.
Gratitude List 1. Weighing less on my home scales 2. A night out at Ren Garden 3. Spending time with friends and family.
On Monday 24th November, I had fed and watered the cat, well before 7.15am and was on my walk back home when I met 2 of the dogs I usually see by the river. They walked all the way through town, along the river and almost home, with me. Captain Caveman and one of my friends had planned a hard walk up a mountain which I was neither capable of nor invited on so he had made a packed lunch and she was picking him up at 10am. I spent the morning doing some ad-hoc work tasks and looking at flights for 2026. I had leftover chicken for lunch and then just pottered about on my non-day off. By 3.30pm, Captain Caveman was back and had thoroughly enjoyed his Monday walk. He got changed in to an outfit which could only say that he was unlikely to be intending on leaving the house. I left him at home while I went to pick up my coat which I’d finally got round to having the zip fixed on, at Dalyan Tailors. They are based in the square next to Migros and it cost 100 lira (£1.82) which I was happy with. I went to feed the cat and we had some cuddles, she even got on her box for more attention. Captain Caveman had put ‘normal’ clothes on for the evening and we decided to go to Ozzy’s for a drink. We had tickets for a comedy night at 8pm so we had to look sharp. We should’ve got food at Ozzy’s but Captain Caveman was keen to eat Turkish so we paid our bill and sped off to get food. Here’s what we paid in lira;
Ozzy’s Bar 2 red wines 2 beers 690 lira (£12.55)
We thought Çağrı would be a good bet and it was on our way to the comedy night venue. Unfortunately, it was closed as they had decided to close on Mondays during the winter. We both joked that we needed to just ‘get anything but not China Town’ as neither of us fancied an expensive Chinese and we only had 40 minutes before the start of the show. Lots of places close on Mondays now, or places that Captain Caveman had thought of were now closed for a break/winter. We ended up having to go to China Town which is a bit outside of my usual budget. It’s not my favourite place but we got served straight away, the food was piping hot and we were paying and leaving at 3 minutes past the start of the 8pm show. Here’s what we had with the prices in lira;
China Town 1 red wine 140 1 Efes Malt 150 1 plain rice 150 1 Won Ton soup 190 1 Chicken & Sweetcorn soup 190 1 Singapore noodles 430 1 Chicken in black bean sauce 450 Total Spent 1,700 lira (£30.91)
The soups were good, my chicken dish not particularly authentic and the noodles very good. We were also very close to our next venue, who had messaged to check if I was on my way – very attentive. We got seated in Books & Cookies where we had 2 tickets for the comedy show with Ege Öztokat for 800 lira (£14.55). We ordered drinks of 1 beer + 1 wine totalling 340 lira (£6.18) and got sat in our seats. There were a few familiar faces in the crowd too and it turned out to be a very funny and interesting evening. I really enjoyed being able to watch comedy in Dalyan as, along with good live music, it’s something I miss going to, on a regular basis.
Gratitude List 1. Working on a day off while checking plans for my own trips in 2026 2. Saving money by not going to Köyceğiz as I’d hoped 3. Comedy night at Books & Cookies.
The day of Captain Caveman’s arrival was finally here on Saturday 22nd November – I was super excited and quite hungover! Having consumed wine with dinner, 5 mulled wines and a further 250ml of red wine as a nightcap, I had totally overdone it with Jamie and Drew last night! It had been good to let my hair down but now, as I went to feed the cat at sunrise, I desperately wanted to be having a lay in, keeping warm under the duvet. I was back home by 8am, with no wandering round Dalyan unnecessarily this morning. I was going to go back to bed but instead I had a Yorkshire tea and a litre of water before deciding to move my office back upstairs in to the spare room. I moved the spare table first and it wasn’t that difficult, but my beloved red office chair was a little more cumbersome. I had to have a sit down when I got them in place but I was pleased as I was hoping to have a reduced work schedule this coming week so wouldn’t need our dining table as a desk. That morning, I finished my internal pages of ‘The Handy Travel Planner’, uploaded that and my book cover by Nicole at I Am Claire Clarke on to Amazon and hoped they would vet it and agree to publish it quickly! They said it could take up to 10 days, which was a bit long but there was nothing I could do and I just had to wait now! Overall, I was very pleased and excited with it but I was still annoyed with myself for not having got it done sooner so that Captain Caveman could bring me a copy to see!! For lunch I had beans on toast and got a message from Captain Caveman who was getting the train to Manchester airport ready for his 13.45 flight. He was due to land at Dalaman at 21.00 so I still had all day to wait. After doing some last minute work, I decided to pop out to the shops, help my Mom by getting her the stationer’s email address and feed the cat again. Here’s what I bought from the various shops with prices in lira;
Şarküteri 1 Chicken Tikka sauce 190 lira (£3.45)
I rarely buy the ready made sauces from the import shop as they are pricey but I decided I’d left it too late to make a curry for dinner.
Migros Supermarket Mentos 20.95 Marshmallows 39.95 2 Nut Dido chocolate bars 60.00 3 tins of chopped tomatoes 149.85 1kg chicken breasts 172.09 Total spent 442.84 lira (£8.05)
I was so excited to get the tinned tomatoes, finally!
Yaman Büfe 2 2 Efes Malt beers 170 1 bottle of Red Rituel wine 288 Total spent 458.00 lira (£8.33)
After buying some booze to have with dinner, I went home to chill out, finish some blogging and await Captain Caveman’s arrival!
I managed to finish a few blog posts, check the coming week’s weather forecast, start my marketing plan for ‘The Handy Travel Planner’ and schedule a week’s worth of Resort Experts posts before I got a text to say Captain Caveman was on his way. Luckily, the curry was done and simmering away, the beers were cold and the apartment was nice and tidy. It was gone 10pm when he arrived, hand luggage only but with half of his bag full of treats for me! He’d got a transfer from Sonuç at Dalyan Transfers. By 11pm Captain Caveman had unpacked his wares which included; 2 bottles of Kahlua from Duty Free for £31 A 2026 Diary A power bank 5 cheeses 2 butters Steradent tablets An Advent Calendar for Nanny Kay
I was so pleased that Captain Caveman had managed to bring so much in his hand luggage this time. We cracked open the beers and I dished up the chicken curry with steamed rice. It was almost midnight by the time we had finished eating, which was extremely late for me but Captain Caveman was 3 hours behind, on UK time. I set my alarm for in 6 hours time as I needed to make sure I was up for the cat feeding. Captain Caveman had also organised a Sunday Walk for tomorrow. There was so much to go on my Gratitude List today that I had trouble narrowing it down to just the 3!
Gratitude List 1. Finally submitting ‘The Handy Travel Planner’ to Amazon to be published 2. Captain Caveman arriving in Dalyan 3. Getting some treats from Captain Caveman.
Wednesday 12th November was chock-a-block with stuff! Norman and I were out before daylight and he tried to go back to the spot he’d found the fish. He’d got an oyster shell in his mouth which I quickly retrieved – luckily as it was broken and could injure an animal. After Norman’s breakfast he went back to bed while I took my measurements. I’d lost 0.4kg (0.9lb) on the home scales, which was surprising. My bust had stayed the same, I’d put 1cm on my waist but lost 1cm on my hips. Not bad, considering Sabotage Tuesday had got me. I did some Resort Experts work before prioritising The Handy Travel Planner – yes, it now had a title! I updated the Packing, Itinerary, Must Do, See & Eats pages as well as reformatting the questions pages. I had soup for lunch before taking Norman on a quick outing before Fat Club. Bizarrely, on Carol’s scales, I was the same as last week. I was getting a bit frustrated that I wasn’t losing the weight but, although I was drinking far less and not as often, I wasn’t being as strict on the food. Even though I was walking Norman 3 times each day, it wasn’t far or fast. After Fat Club I called at the shops to pick up some shopping to give to Kate. I was meeting her to pick up house keys so that I could start the cat care from tomorrow. Here’s what I bought, with prices in lira;
Migros Supermarket Plastic bag 0.50 Pasta 13.95 Courgettes 18.98 Rice crackers 24.00 Milk 39.95 Chickpeas 69.95 Bananas 76.92 Pesto 79.95 Dark chocolate 84.95 Mushrooms 89.95 Total spent 499.10 lira (£9.07)
When I arrived at Ozzy’s to meet Kate, it was a little chaotic! Kate had just finished hosting the quiz and was trying to do 3 things at once. She apologised as she was very busy and had forgotten the key. I sat down next to Vanessa and had a soda water but I had to leave because I was meeting my next cat owner to discuss her requirements and pick up her key. Vanessa and I took Ozzy’s phone number so that we could order delivery from him this coming weekend.
I said bye and headed to my next appointment, buying a couple of chocolate bars on the way as I was a bit early. I was eating a chocolate bar outside the Millennium shop when my friend arrived. We walked to her house, she gave me a spare key, and ran through the cat’s needs. Norman and I had a little walk and bumped into my parents to say farewell and wish them a nice break at Jiva Beach in Fethiye. We then wandered past Phil who was walking Caramel and he’d left Penny in Tez bar. I decided to go in to say hello and had a glass of red wine while Norman got some fuss. He enjoyed listening to the regulars singing and even got a dog treat from Penny. Back home I had a video call with Captain Caveman who was working in Scotland and was in a hotel. I had a very late dinner of chicken casserole then some cheese and wine as a weigh day treat.
Gratitude List 1. Not putting weight on 2. Norman 3. Things going well with half of the cat sitting arrangements.
I was awake at 5am on Friday 7th November and, by 6am, I was walking Norman before the forecast rain came. He wouldn’t go down the steps again but on the way back he tried to get up them and struggled so I had to push him on his bum to help. He was still faster than me at getting up the stairs and I had to put the torch on my phone as it was still dark and the automatic light didn’t stay on long enough to make it. After his breakfast, Norman had a nap on the sofa but he woke up at 10am and I decided to take him for another walk. This time we got quite wet in the rain and saw a dead snake. Norman was surprised to see Lukka bar was closed for the winter as he had a look to see if he could see any of his friends. I got back and dried off quickly before a call with a friend in the UK, which was lovely. I decided to get weighed after having a shower and found that I was just under 70kg, for the first time in a while. As I sat at my desk (kitchen table) on my new office chair, I saw the updates on a Dalyan Pub Crawl group that I’m on. Matt & Vanessa had organised a pub crawl from 3pm and I had said if they were still out after work tonight I might join them. They were starting in Ozzy’s with the intention of checking out several bars, perhaps in persuit of the cheapest beers and best pool tables. My last appointment was another Zoom training session about expeditions to the Galapagos islands which looked so good. Once I’d finished that, I had a chat with Norman, who had presumed I was off out without him and was on a bit of a downer. He’d now started referring to my parents as Granny Annie and Grandpa Stupid, as he thought it was funny and we did a video to send to Little Daddy and Stepdaddy Drew. I had to once again carry Norman down all of the stairs and he was so slow walking, as if he didn’t want to go out. The Pub Crawlers had only got as far as Ozzy’s then Jiks in 4 hours so I stopped there to have a drink with them. Plus, Norman was reluctant to go any further so it was a good pitstop on our evening walk. We were just going to have one drink and then go back – I’m sure you can guess how that turned out!?
I perched on the end seat next to Kate and opposite Vanessa – little Norman had a sniff about for any dropped food! My Dad ordered me a red wine and it was evident I needed to catch up massively. Everyone was ready to move to the next pub (well, it was a pub crawl) during my first drink. I knew Norman had struggled to make it this far so I said my goodbyes and was about to call it a night when Kate told the others that she was going to stay with me at Jiks for one more drink and then she would see everyone at Corner bar. I ordered another red wine and told Norman to get comfy as Kate and I discussed her 7 cats, including the 2 new blind kittens. When I went to pay for my 2 wines, it turned out my parents had paid for my first one and I’d not even had chance to speak to them for long. I paid my 150 lira (£2.73) and we left. Kate was going to join the others in Corner Bar, which had become the new place for some of the Dalyan Dwellers to frequent. As we got to the end of the road, where I would turn right to return home with Norman and Kate could go straight on, Norman got a second wind and continued on with Kate – we were off to Corner bar! When we arrived there, everyone was eating takeaway chicken wraps with chips from nearby Bliss so I had a few of Vanessa’s chips and they were good. Kate and I jumped on the band wagon and ordered a chicken wrap with chips to share. The food was really good and only cost me 180 lira (£3.27) for my share. Vanessa and Matt left quite soon after I arrived, about 10pm. Kate left not long after that. I’d just got my second glass of wine and had started talking to Dad when everyone but Mark decided to leave. I had 2 red wines at a total of 280 lira (£5.09) but that was my limit for a Friday night as it meant I’d had 4 in total and I was on a budget still. Norman was sleeping on the couch and Mark went over to chat to a fella and his son, so I had a photo with the waiter and then left. Norman and I were home by 11pm – Norman had thoroughly enjoyed his pub crawl, even though he only managed 2 of the 3 bars!
Gratitude List 1. Training on expedition cruises 2. Norman – he loved joining the pub crawl 3. A rare night out with friends and parents for 610 lira (£11.09)
I worked hard on both the Resort Experts content for social media and the design for my new planner on Friday 31st October. By midday the neighbour who shares the same stairwell as us, decided to have a party for one, with deafening music. I knocked on the door to ask her to turn it down but she didn’t answer. I made myself a pizza style wrap for lunch and tried to get back on with my to do list. At 5pm I had an hour long training session with Travelpack and Swan Hellenic about Expedition cruising, mainly in West Africa. It was super interesting and made me really think about the types of holidays I wanted to promote and go on myself in the future. I finished just after 6pm then had to get ready, as I was off on an evening out. I wore my orange t-shirt from the Aussies, as I know how much they love Halloween. I decided to wear some lace up pumps for the first time since breaking my foot and I didn’t take my crutch. I was a bit nervous as it was dark and the floors are uneven in Dalyan, but I would take my time and walk slowly. At Ren Garden, the owners had really pulled out all the stops and it was very Halloween themed, which I hadn’t bargained for. Joining me were; Jamie, Nanny Kay, my parents, Julie, Gareth, Adam & Kath.
Some people had really got in to the spirit of dressing up, including a lady dressed as an old woman who lots of people were scared of. There were a few other familiar faces who we chatted to, too. We had a good night but by 8.30pm my parents, Adam and Kath were hungry so they decided to go elsewhere. Julie & Gareth stayed a bit longer, along with Nanny Kay but, after they left, Jamie and I decided to go for one in Sofra. We left there about midnight and went back to Ren Garden where it was pretty lively. Jamie and I had another drink in Ren before sauntering home. I had quite a few wines at 140 lira (£2.57) per glass and lost count of the total. It had been a nice evening and I didn’t realise until the next day that my parents and their friends had gone for a meal at Olivia’s and then come back to Ren, but we had already left for Sofra. I didn’t check my budget v spending for the end of the month, as I would do it tomorrow when I was sober.
Gratitude List 1. Being busy with content writing 2. Nice food 3. Ren Garden with friends and family.
Monday 27th October was a busy admin day and I didn’t really stop for a minute. I spoke to Captain Caveman at lunch time who was also busy but he helped me out with something related to a hotel booking. Norman was well behaved but sleepy and didn’t want to walk far on his walk. I had more leftover bolognese for dinner and then arranged a night out for tomorrow. Lukka bar had been asked if they would have one last Music Bingo night and they had agreed if there were enough takers. My parents hadn’t been to it this year and their friends had never been, so I booked us all in for tomorrow. I was looking forward to it, even though it was on a school night.
Gratitude List 1. Being busier at Resort Experts 2. Norman 3. A video call with Captain Caveman.
I was awake early on Tuesday 28th October and had a busy day. The sky was cloudy and the rain was forecast. For lunch I made a Slimming World style vegetarian pizza. A friend who had booked a holiday with me was on their family holiday and she sent me a message and a photo to say they were really enjoying it, which was great to hear.
When I finished work, I went to join my parents and their friends, Julie & Gareth, in Retro bar for a quick drink before our night out. It was good to see Nusret, the owner, who had been working hard this year on making the bar even better than it was before. I had a red wine which I paid 150 lira (£2.75) for, including a tip. We had to be at Lukka bar by 7.30pm for our meal and had decided to push the boat out on their final Music Bingo night, which I absolutely love. All 5 of us ordered food and drinks and the night was really good fun. I really enjoyed my beef dish, which I had the last time I came. There was singing, chair dancing and Julie even won a bottle of wine on the music bingo. As midnight approached, it did get a bit chilly sat outside with just a denim jacket on. When we came to pay the bill it was probably the most I’d spent on just me on a night out, in quite a while, but it had been such a good laugh. Here’s what I had, with the prices in lira:
Beef Çökertme 950 Baklava with ice-cream 375 5 red wines 1250 200 tip Total spent 2775 lira (£50.92)
Gratitude List 1. Update from a friend in Fuerteventura 2. Norman 3. A night out at Lukka music bingo.
It was back to it on Monday 20th October and I had plenty to do, before looking after Norman on Wednesday. The weather forecast over the next few days predicted rain. At lunch time I had a break and warmed up a curry I had got out of the freezer, then cracked back on with the to do list. I finished on the laptop at 5.45pm and made myself a ‘pretend’ pizza with a wholemeal wrap base, but forgot I didn’t have any grated mozzarella – I used cheese balls instead and it still tasted fine. At 9.30pm I had a video call with Captain Caveman who was continuing to work hard in the UK. We both agreed it felt a long time to be waiting to see each other again.
Gratitude List 1. It not raining yet 2. Easy and tasty meals 3. Speaking to Captain Caveman.
I had a bit of excitement on Tuesday 21st October; I pushed through the to do list in the morning and then had arranged to meet up with friends, Dot & Ian. The rain hadn’t started yet so I made my way to Okyanus where we had some drinks and a lovely lunch. Dot ordered Menemen, Ian a breakfast sandwich and I had a chicken wrap with homemade chips. Dot and I had a couple of white wines, Ian drank Efes and we chatted loads. It was great to hear their future plans and it was lovely sunshine until the rain came. I’d helped them out with a passport situation when I was in London last so they insisted on paying for lunch, which was very kind and totally unexpected. I really enjoyed our catch up, the lunch was lovely and it was nice to take a little bit of time off too. We said our farewells at my gate and I spent the afternoon catching up on some content writing. I even sat out on the balcony as the sun was back out and it was rather warm. A friend had organised a ladies night boat trip which I had to decline, not just because it wasn’t in the budget but, because I had a full diary until 6pm and it started at 3pm. I got a message saying I would be missed which was thoughtful.
I messaged my parents to see if I could call in after going to the shops later, as it had been a week since I saw them. Unfortunately, they already had plans to join friends for a night out and were waiting for confirmation of where and when to meet them. At 6pm I decided to pop to the shop to get something for dinner and see if there was Quark in stock. My Mom messaged to say they could meet me for one drink before they went out with their friends, if I wanted, so I said yes. Here’s what I bought in Migros, prices in lira;
Migros Süpermarket Green peppers 13.98 Red peppers 15.88 2 Dido chocolate bars 49.00 Bananas 53.70 2 Dido Gold bars 54.00 2 packs of Mozzarella cheese 147.80 Total spent 334.46 lira (£6.14)
I walked over to meet Ma & Pa in Jiks, which is opposite the supermarket. They already had Efes Malts on the go and I ordered a white wine and soda (with it being a school night). Mom kept checking her phone to see if her friend had sent the location of where they needed to be and my plan was to go back home with my shopping and make some dinner, once they left. We had a couple of wines in Jiks and, when I went to the loo, Dad ordered me a third wine. This meant I’d had 5 wines today and was quite tipsy – weigh day tomorrow wasn’t going to go well! We paid the 1300 lira bill at Jiks (£23.85) and we were ready to leave. Ma & Pa still hadn’t heard from her friend so we decided to call for one in Ren Garden. There is a cute cat that hangs about in there and it had befriended my parents (who don’t usually like cats). Once we got in there, we didn’t leave until midnight. I was sozzled and hadn’t had any dinner. Our bill in Ren Garden came to 1400 lira (£25.69) which I paid for and I don’t remember getting home!
Gratitude List 1. Lunch with Dot & Ian 2. Getting to see my parents for an impromptu night out 3. Remembering to take my shopping home.
I was up early on Monday 13th October so that I had time for my last buffet breakfast at the 5 Star Selectum Luxury Resort hotel in Belek, near Antalya. Debby and I had breakfast together and we learned from some of the others that it had turned in to a late night for some of the party animals. We laughed that we were getting old as we were in bed with a hot drink before midnight. I decided to stock up on pastries and take some back to the room in case Jamie and I needed sustenance for the 4 hour journey home.
The Manchester Travel Agents were flying first, then the Gatwick ones. Check out was not until midday but I went back to pack, ready for getting back to Dalyan. Although I had managed very well with my broken foot and crutch, I was definitely tired and was looking forward to a rest – and less walking! I met Jamie and some of the Anex staff in reception, and everyone was talking about how good a time they had been having on the Fam trip – we really had been well looked after. Before we knew it, we were heading over to the bar area where Amanda ordered a tray of Baby Guiness and offered them round to the 6 of us. Amanda and Stacey, from Anex, had the idea that Jamie and I should join them at the Kremlin Palace hotel tonight.They were already booked in for a few nights there so Jamie got on a video call to Drew to check if he minded and could he dog sit for one more night and, of course, he was fine with it. We did consider Drew coming to join us but it would not have been Norman’s cup of tea. I googled the bus times from Belek to Dalyan and the bus had already left Belek at 9.55am. There was a bus from Antalya at 11am which would mean getting a taxi to there, immediately! The bus would also take over 7 hours with stops in either Aydın, Fethiye, or both, then Ortaca. Stacey got on the phone to check availability and get us a discounted price to share a room at the Kremlin Palace while the attentive bar man placed more shots at the bar. Our discounted price on an All Inclusive basis at the Kremlin Palace was £160 per room, so £80 each, and although not within my budget, I hadn’t spent anything in the last 4 days. We accepted the kind offer and took a Baby Guiness! Having checked out of the Selectum, we went to wave off the Manchester lot as they boarded the bus for Antalya airport. It had been great to meet so many lovely people but we were surprised that the farewell committee consisted only of the Anex staff, Debby, Jamie and me. I had some chocolate strawberries in reception and discovered there had been a cake bar just metres away from reception – I’m glad I’d not noticed it earlier. Jamie also found out that you could get soft drinks at any of the bars! The Gatwick Travel Agents left next and we, of course, formed a very small farewell committee with the Anex staff. Jamie tried to convince Fulya to come with us to the Kremlin Palace but I think she was looking forward to a well deserved rest.
Once Jamie had drank enough soft drinks and coffee, we arranged to drive over to the Kremlin Palace, which wasn’t far, and meet the Anex staff there. I had work to do so I logged in at a table in reception as our room wasn’t ready until 2pm. Jamie and I had people in mind back in Dalyan who would love a stay in the Selectum but either didn’t have a car or were unlikely enough to be sober enough to drive a hire car back to Dalyan after an All Inclusive break. I messaged drivers in Dalyan to ask how much they would charge for a transfer. One was a bit shocked that anyone would be flash enough to pay for that and quoted £320, while the cheapest one way journey was a bargain in comparison at £200. A hire car or the bus were still the better options.
After a few work related tasks, we had more of the Kremlin Palace’s champers and I had some Turkish delight. At 2.30pm, we went to our room which had a double and a single bed and had a bit of a sea view. There were snacks, fruit, drinks and toiletries as well as a complimentary bottle of Vodka, Whiskey and Prosecco, which was nice. I decided that as I was going to be paying £80 for an extra night, I was definitely going to make the most of it. I polished off the cookies and the baclava then we went to meet the 3 Anex staff; Amanda, Stacey and Tracey. Of course we waited at the beach bar, where Jamie was not impressed that we had to drink our all inclusive beer and prosecco from plastic cups. I spoke to the waiter and got free snacks to soak up the fizz. I tried the red wine and that was pretty good too.
The girls joined us and we had a good laugh as they had a great sense of humour and we were all on the same wavelength. There was a shop at the Kremlin Palace that sold loads of stuff, including Salt & Vinegar crisps – ideal if you’re there with kids or drunk people, or both! The restaurant was a bit of organised chaos and definitely had that ‘we don’t queue’ vibe from 95% of guests in there. Having said that, there was also a drinks waiter who was very generous on the wine pours and I thought the red wine was very good. As for the food options, there was so much choice and from various cuisines that it would suit even a fussy eater like me. All of the dishes were clearly labelled so that those of us with allergies could at least work out for ourselves if they were suitable. I had a chicken and rice dish with chips and some salad and it was very tasty. I didn’t really fancy a dessert but, as I’d paid for it, I got a bit of cheesecake down me – it was pretty good. After dinner, we took a walk around the grounds where we tested out the (children’s) mini cars and had a race! It probably wasn’t wise with a broken foot but, to be honest, they were very easy to use and meant I was the speediest I’d been since I arrived in Antalya. Poor Tracey took a wrong turn and the man in charge had to chase after her. Reversing on cobbles also turned out to be trickier than it looked. We decided, although it was technically a day off for us all, we needed to check out the Kremlin Palace indoor bar. Not everyone was impressed; the bar man was fast, abrupt and gave dangerous measures, the lighting was dim and the bar lacked atmosphere. However, there were ramps, the bar was near to the toilets, and there was a seating area with round booths which were ideal for chatting to your companions in. If you know what you want to drink, the bar man isn’t an issue – if you like your (premium) vodka and coke so strong you have to ask for a separate coke, you will love this place! There was also very few English guests so it did actually feel like you were on holiday, rather than down a Wetherspoons. I actually enjoyed the Kremlin Palace and would definitely recommend it for the right sort of person. I knew we were very lucky to have had the extra night and I’d enjoyed getting to know Amanda, Stacey & Tracey more.
Gratitude List 1. Farewell breakfast with Debby who had been a great room mate 2. Staying an extra night in another hotel, the Kremlin Palace 3. Getting to know the Anex girls and sharing some great stories together.
After the excitement of yesterday and knowing there was an outing planned tomorrow, Tuesday 23rd September was a day spent at my desk. I had lots of bits and bobs today so I worked down the to do list and ate nice food.
In the evening Captain Caveman and I both looked for flights for him to come to Dalyan but they were looking quite expensive for the dates he needed. We were still planning on flying to Vietnam for Christmas and Captain Caveman had seen some flights from the UK.
Gratitude List 1. Nice food 2. Flight searching for ourselves 3. A fairly calm day.
I took the day off on Wednesday 24th September as Jamie had invited me on another boat trip. He had friends over on holiday and there had been a spare place for me. Before that, I got on the home scales with it being weigh day. I had put on 0.95kg (2lb) which was hardly surprising. On my measurements, my bust had increased by 1cm, my hips had remained the same and my waist had lost 3cm. Of course, I was about to potentially make it worse by going out for the day. Jamie & Drew had organised another day out with Captain Ünal on Duran Duran boat to Ekincik Bay. We did the usual boat trip which never gets boring and everyone had a fantastic day. It was quite choppy in parts so I plonked myself in the shade at the back of the boat while most of the others were up the front or on the roof making the most of the sunny weather. Mick, Nick’s Dad, kept me entertained with his hilarious Sheffield banter and we had some delicious food. Nick played mother and got me my plate of food which was really lovely, as always.
I didn’t do any swimming as my foot was hurting so I just chilled out. On the way back I had to have a second sea sickness tablet and also gave a couple out to others who were feeling a bit iffy. We stopped at Little Dalyan for fruit and cake while seeing some turtles. By the time I got back, I was super tired and drowsy but everyone was going to Lukka bar so I did too. Instead of alcohol, which I’d had none of for 3 weeks now, I ordered one of their excellent milkshakes. Everyone carried on their night and I was told later most ended up in Sofra bar. I needed my bed as I was exhausted. I’d spent a total of £45 today and had a very lovely day – I wouldn’t need any dinner and I ended up falling asleep on the sofa.
Gratitude List 1. Losing centimetres from my waist 2. Being invited on another boat trip 3. Having such lovely food and fun company.
Jamie had invited me to join him and some friends on a boat trip on Thursday 11th September and it had been booked long before I broke a couple of metatarsals. I had already paid my money to Sioned to go on Captain Unal’s Duran Duran boat and didn’t want to miss it because of being in pain. It has been a week since I’d not seen that very small step! It was also a good chance to catch up with my parents, Nanny Kay, Jamie, Josh & Martha, Ann & Stuart, Karen & Shaun, Julia and Evie. The boat was moored the nearest to home that it could be, which was good for me crutching to get there. I took a seasickness tablet as well as my medication and I was well away before 10am. We sailed to Ekincik and, as usual, we were served welsh cakes and other nibbles with our hot beverages. It was a lovely day out albeit limited because of my mobility but I did manage to get down the lovely disabled friendly steps to go for a swim. The lunch was great and my mom was kind enough to do the buffet run for me. The food was amazing with extra meatballs being dished out by Ünal. In the afternoon there was a delicious cake with fruit. It was probably one of the best I’d had on this boat too – I really did need to just stick to the fruit next time! I was a little sad that Captain Caveman was back at work in the UK and unable to be here for this trip. Due to my medicine it was another alcohol free day, too, and I wasn’t really missing drinking. After the trip, I was tired and resting up on the sofa while adding stuff to my to do list for tomorrow.
Gratitude List 1. Being on another one of my favourite boat trips with lots of friends and family 2. Going in the sea and managing to get back out without further injury 3. Amazing food on the boat.
I think the phrase ‘I didn’t know my arse from my elbow’ was pretty accurate on Monday 8th September. Firstly, I hadn’t slept well on account of not getting to sleep until after the non-jazz playing Jazz bar had closed around 2am and by then I was tracking Captain Caveman’s flight. Secondly, I’d not heard from my parents to say they had arrived but I imagined they wouldn’t have their UK phone on and would have no Turkish Wifi. Finally, I was in pain with my foot and kept waking up so I was rather exhausted on my first day tackling the Resort Experts to do list. I didn’t even have chance to have breakfast before sorting out a few emails and booking in for some training sessions that were due this week. My mom messaged me to ask if Captain Caveman had got off ok and I let her know he was already back in Barnes, ready to start work. They had loads to do including getting the internet put on, which was in my name. I was very pushed for time and knew I couldn’t walk to the shop and back very quickly so Ma went on her own and sorted it. At 11am I ate some fruit and quark for a late breakfast, with a cup of sage tea. Around 4pm I finished off the White House beef wellington which warmed up nicely in the air fryer. For dinner, my parents were keen to get out for a meal and I agreed to join them, with it being a while since I saw them. It also meant that they could help me up the stairs in the dark now that Captain Caveman had gone. They chose Duble so I hoped they had chicken soup but they still didn’t. Dad and I had liver (again) and Mom had a seafood pasta dish. I drank water and my parents had a beer. I paid the 2,610 lira (£47.45) bill as my parents had been good to us when I visited the UK last time, letting us stay at their house. It was a very reasonable price for the 3 of us and we all enjoyed it.
Gratitude List 1. Getting through the day without falling asleep 2. Having my parents back in Dalyan to help me up the stairs if I needed it 3. Dinner at Duble with my parents.
Captain Caveman and I were having breakfast at home on Saturday 6th September. He was contemplating going to the dog shelter to walk some dogs. I was going to do a few bits of content editing for next week, being back at work, so that my 2 weeks off went smoothly. I also had loads of stuff to share from this holiday, with Captain Caveman, and couldn’t wait to get it on my business page. Our friends Josh & Martha had arrived in Dalyan to join their family and they had booked the Princess of Ekincik boat for a private day trip, after I had recommended it. There had been a group chat to discuss requirements for the wheelchair user on board so I hoped it would be suitable and comfortable for all of them. For those who might need to know, a wheelchair up to 60cm wide will fit! Martha got in touch to say that her and Josh had been delayed on their flight, after another passenger had a medical emergency, so they were super tired. She wanted us to join the trip so that we could catch up and help keep everyone lively. I was on the strong medication and lidocaine based sprays, so I was away with the fairies and said yes. I hadn’t accounted for the fact that I needed to walk all the way to the boat which took me absolutely ages. When I got there, Ismail mentioned that they do have a mobility scooter that they can collect disabled guests on, should I have needed it. I got a hot drink and sat myself down with my leg propped up until the others arrived. When everyone got on board; Martha, her parents, brother and Josh, it was really nice to see them all and we got on great straight away. The wheelchair went on and off fine and was parked up so that Zac could see the amazing scenery as we sailed down the river to the sea. The crew, the boat, the food, the drinks and the company were absolutely perfect and to see Zac be able to enjoy a boat trip in Dalyan was just fantastic. We had a couple of swim spots and even a visit to the back of the beach, Little Dalyan, where I kept Martha’s mom company on the boat while the others went off for a bit of adventure. I even had a cherry juice in a wine glass so that Trish wouldn’t feel alone in her red wine enjoyment – it was a real pleasure to see her have a bit of time to herself and not worry about Zac, who was in very capable hands. When the family got back, they had enjoyed a jaunt over the beach to the sea and Captain Caveman didn’t fall for the joke of me having red wine in my glass – he knew I wouldn’t be drinking against Doctor’s orders. We then decided to go to the boat end of the beach so that we could see the tourist part and it was very busy. We saw turtles which was great as some of the guests on board hadn’t seen them before in Dalyan. We all enjoyed a really lovely lunch on board which, given that Captain Caveman and I had decided to join only this morning, was plentiful. After spending the rest of the afternoon on the boat and enjoying ice creams, then some cake with fruit, we returned to Dalyan at gone 5pm. I’m not mentioning any names but I think more than 1 of us had a power nap, as we were just so relaxed.
That evening, after resting my foot, Captain Caveman took me for a slap up dinner at White House. We both had my favourite meal, the beef wellington, which is just so good. Captain Caveman had wine and cocktails but I had water and a friend booked our table while waiting to chat to her boyfriend. Our bill was 4,000 lira (£72.73) which I thought was reasonable. Because of having eaten so much, though, I had to take half of mine home. Tomorrow was Captain Caveman’s last day in Dalyan and I wasn’t looking forward to him leaving.
Gratitude List 1. Having such an amazing day that it was difficult to pinpoint just 3 things to be grateful for! 2. The Princess of Ekincik boat trip, being so good. 3. Beef Wellington Dinner with Captain Caveman at the White House.
Photo credit – some photos by Martha and her family
joloyolo 