Dalyan – 8th March

Dalyan – 8th March

The first job of the day on Saturday 8th March was to make a shopping list while drinking a cup of tea. I decided I would go to the bank before the market so that I had enough cash to spend and then I could get some nice treats for the week. I also decided I would treat myself to a spinach gözleme (pancake) from the market for my breakfast. Here is what I bought on my first visit, prices in lira;

Market
Stall 1
Potatoes & red onions 35.00

Stall 2
Strawberries 150.00

Stall 3
Carrots, Mushrooms and Spinach 120.00

Stall 4
Spinach Gözleme 80.00

Total spent 385.00 Lira (£8.14)

I rushed back, bumping in to my parents’ neighbours as I had a call booked in but I was stopped in my tracks when I read some bad news.  A Facebook friend and ex colleague, who was about 10 years younger than me, had died from Cancer after a reasonably short illness and chemo. Of course it really upset me, as this person had been so motivational in recent months and had helped to encourage me to get on with life in a much more positive way. I had a cry and felt too upset to even be able to respond to his wife just yet.
I had a video call with Vanessa, who was sympathetic and really helped to cheer me up, as she always does. While on the call, I realised that I had forgotten some things from the market so, blaming the menopause, I went back to the market for a second visit in the afternoon. Here’s what I bought with the prices in lira;

Market visit no.2
Stall 1
Tomatoes & apples 75.00

Stall 2
Peppers 40.00

Total Spent 115.00 lira (£2.43)

Just over £10.50 in total for the weekly fruit and vegetable shop plus breakfast didn’t seem too pricey to me. On the way back I also bought a comb as I was getting tired of having to remember which house my hairbrush was in. It cost 19.90 lira (42p) from Şevikoğlu supermarket, so was a bargain! I had some strawberries when I got back and I gave one each to the dogs as I had read that it was good for cleaning their teeth. Norman was not impressed but persevered and Edna wanted a second one – she will shove anything in her mouth, that girl!
For dinner I had a warmed up Sunday dinner (on a Saturday) which I had defrosted from the freezer, and it was so good. I refrained from any wine and was hoping to be 100% fit for tomorrow’s meeting up with friends.

Gratitude List
1. Being able to go to the market (twice)
2. Video call with Vanessa
3. Celebrating it being Women’s Day by simply being alive!

Dalyan – 21st & 22nd February

Dalyan – 21st & 22nd February

On Friday 21st February it was absolutely freezing. After tea and toast for breakfast and a couple of enquiries for Rhodes and Belfast I nipped to the bank to make sure I had put in the rest of the money needed for February. I was chuffed to have managed it and it meant that I would be able to apply for my Residency Renewal after the 1st March when I had the evidence in bank statements for the last 6 months. New cash machines had been installed so the queue took longer as people tried to figure out how to use them.
I had the rest of the feta and roasted vegetable pasta for lunch and then got back on with work. I have a Resort Experts colleague in Belfast who was able to give me some great tips on where to visit – so much so that I added Belfast to my own list of places to visit in the future. I completed all of my follow up calls that had agreed to them but I still had 2 potential customers that had not responded yet. I also got an enquiry for Vietnam about what the weather is like in March, and often people don’t realise how long the country is so there is quite a difference from North to South.
Dinner was more of the spaghetti and meatballs with half a bottle of red wine and catching up on watching episodes of ‘The Apprentice’. It is my guilty pleasure as it often reminds me of people I have worked with previously and I absolutely love Alan Sugar.
Captain Caveman messaged me at midnight to ask about the weather in Dalyan in April for a friend who was interested in a visit and, again, it can depend; sometimes it’s been hot and sunny and other years it’s been chilly or rainy.

Gratitude List
1. Completing all my Friday Follow up calls
2. Leftover meatballs
3. Wine.

Market day was upon us again on Saturday 22nd February and I decided I needed to go. I had quite a big list of what I thought I needed but I didn’t get there until lunch time. It had been so cold during the night and I was glad to have had 2 quilts plus extra blankets on the bed. I worked all morning as I was still working on 3 enquiries while I ate breakfast of tea and toast with cheese spread on. At the market, it was really cold in the shade so I didn’t hang about. Here’s what I bought with the prices in lira;

Stall 1
Onions 20.00 lira (44p)

Stall 2
Bananas, strawberries, mushrooms and a pineapple 445.00 lira (£9.89)

Stall 3
Peppers and courgettes 45.00 lira (£1)

Total spent 510 lira (£11.33)

This week I’d spent a bit more as I had treated myself to strawberries and a massive pineapple, but I thought it was worth the extra. After putting the shopping away and doing more work in the afternoon, I had a quick break. I went to Tez bar, just as the sun was going behind the mountains, for a wine with friends. I helped them with a search for a hotel in Rhodes. My wine cost me 170 lira (£3.78). After saying my farewells to my friends, I went to the supermarket. Here’s what I bought with the prices in lira;

Migros Supermarket
1 Bounty chocolate bar 34.90
1.5kg Washing Powder 89.95
A 1.6kg whole chicken 116.92
400g pack of fish fingers 159.95
Total spent 401.72 lira (£8.93)

The fish fingers were a bit of a luxury but were on offer, inspired by Captain Caveman after he had told me he had a fish finger sandwich so I had been fancying fish fingers ever since. I made a Slimming World style pizza using veg and meatballs for dinner as I’d only had a bit of fruit with Quark for lunch. I also had wine and later had a second dinner as I was still hungry; fish fingers with potato wedges.

Gratitude List
1. Getting to help more people find good holidays
2. Having my colleagues in the destinations to ask questions of
3. Having a catch up with friends.