Well what a week tf has been- oddly enough quite action packed in it’s own “this is our life for now” way.
Monday saw the week begin with quite nice weather. David started the day with his run along with fellow joggers continuing to give him words of encouragement and motivation, which is excellent as by the end of the week he had completed 5k and has his own personal best- so a real achievement for him. However, getting to the next step of another few k’s is going to be more difficult as we only have one route here, so it will mean doubling around as we have been stopped by the police twice while out dog walking on the beach road, but it’s better than nothing.
The scenery here is gradually changing as spring starts to take hold, small headed poppies are pushing their way up and through the increasing carpet of daisies and buttercups, and the trees are filling out, with an amazing wisteria beginning to take centre stage on the camp. On the downside more gnats and mosquitos are out and about and as ever seem to love me, despite applying Skin So Soft all over every day, more industrial spray is needed to keep them at bay.
In addition to the daily exercise routine we have been trying to do a different activity each day, challenging our brains thinking of them and actually making them as well as the doing of them. Tuesday was a big dread for me- cards. The Whitney family has never been one for card games at any time, Happy Family’s was unheard of in our family home (for more than one reason), with board games often gathering dust after the first few outings. But we are now a community and we do community things, so cards it was. At this point I would just like to say that I kicked butt and won hands down, with me now considering a new career as a card sharp, but that wouldn’t be completely true. I did however win the sevens, which I thought was quite an achievement. Not so good at Crazy Eight, and Rummy well that still remains a bit of a mystery to me. The session although played late afternoon was helped along by a glass of vino and a beer-after all they go together like a Horse and Carriage. The session was ended when the cold and the rain really got to us all and we beat the retreat inside for food, on this occasion a treat for David and I as Katherine and James had made a lovely veggie and cous cous dinner for us- yum.
Wednesday came bring April along with it and we with so many others I would imagine, hoped to wake up and find out all this was one big long planned Aprils Fool and our phones, Ipad’s etc would be ringing out with “Got Yer” but No, and despite constantly looking at the phone and still hoping the news remained as ever, not good. Thankfully that day’s activity was one of international standing, currently under discussion as to whether it should become an Olympic sport, and Yes you’ve guessed it -paper plane making and flying! Each contestant was allowed two entries and no test flights were allowed beforehand. Some competitors however, had taken to google the night before to see if they could get a competitive edge.
James thought he should have been the favourite, being the oldest and having therefore a longer misspent youth in the days when life was simpler. Amazingly, given the core material was only A4 paper none of the twelve entries were the same and none of them remotely flew the same. A few crashed and burned after inches, some did amazing high somersaults and back flips before crashing to the ground, but the resounding winner of this competition is our favourite neighbour both here and of the UK the French. Joe has also kept his prototypes in hope of production and also making the Olympics, should or when paper plane flying makes the grade.
Wednesday saw our little bit of Turkey change when Sundance decided to open its doors to other motorhomers with three more vans arriving over the next couple of days. One having done a 600k drive to get here to safety, the other two having been moved on from a beach not so far away, where they thought they had been safe. Our Thursday afternoon activity of golf putting was met with some degree of amusement by two of the new arrivals, and thankfully over before the other two arrived, as them driving over the course would have ruined the greens completely.
For the golf putting we decided David should be handicapped, as it’s his given game of choice (I didn’t think that was fair as really I have had to listen to every single hole and shot played by him for many a Saturday, so I know his skill base!!) and even playing one wrong handed, he failed to win the competition with James, another golf aficionado coming from behind to beat me to the lead.
Friday brought a glorious day and the arrival of another two more motorhomes, Belgium and German. One couple bring our first little person to the site, plus in contrast a Big Dane, making a total of ten dogs now on site, a few more and we could make Crufts one of the activities! Our friends Danny and Lisa, who although with a Land Rover, have opted to rent in Kemer joined us for a BBQ. Social distancing is maintained as much as possible and like everyone our hands are now skin free from over washing, but it was a lovely afternoon and lifted everyone’s sprits. Social gatherings here aren’t banned other than on the beaches at the moment, and given the life style we are living here, it would be hard for each of us just to sit on our outside 20 square metres looking at each other, given that we then share toilets, showers and washing up facilities.
More restrictions were brought in by the Turkish government on Saturday, and when we went to the market, masks were compulsory. Along with the over 65 year old ban, no under 20’s are allowed out now either, plus no crossing of territories along with the other usual rules. As ever, the market was fun, with the stall holders now recognising us. We left again despite the list, with more than we need and marvelled at the upselling of one particular vendor where we wanted to buy one melon. We came away not only with the melon, but a monkey sized portion of bananas and a huge punnet of strawberries whilst still chasing us down the road with his apples!
So here we are at the end of the week, a merry band of motorhomers living in our own little groupings and having already been defined by Ennis (Kamp Commandant). The two more rustic self-made vans by the beach- The Hippies, our Buster (Elddis) and Jez (Adria) being the luxury section, the others the Roughie Toughies. Oddly Buster and Jez do stand out, because they are white, shinny and obviously wouldn’t be seen dead off-roading getting their tyres dirty. Whilst we also manage to pull out house sized amounts of must haves from them, with Katherine and James surpassing us as they have a garage, which is a veritable Aladdin’s cave. But having said that, we all have our skill sets and uses and that will materialise more as time goes on.
Tortoises are now so common we barely bother to mention them, but are considering collecting a few and making tortoise racing an activity. The chickens now hand fed from us and thankfully the Viper has not made a re-appearance.
Ah, nearly forgot the excitement didn’t end there, as David and I were interviewed by Alan Dein -Radio 4 -Don’t log Off on Tuesday, although we’re not sure we’ll make the grade as our tale of woe didn’t seem to cut it when we listened to one of his broadcasts, and the sad stores of other poor individuals trying to live a life in these altered times.
As we publish this blog, another van has arrived. This time bring not only two adults, but another two children- they will stay in the kindergarden section, hopefully not straying into the luxury area!
April has arrived, but it’s no fool and will bring with it many challenges, good and bad as we all settle down in our community.
Top Tips of the Week
Don’t suddenly have White Coat Syndrome when you have your temperature taken in the market.
Do try and exercise every day, not only for sanity, but also to counteract the inches being gained from Katherine’s delicious homemade cakes.
Gary and Zoe says
Certainly some nice food on the go! You are becoming very good at this BBQ Al Fresco thing! Maybe the next IOW trip should see us take a small barbie to Steephill Cove to do our (your) thing!!
Stay safe dear friends and do hope you can stay positive. Must be so frustrating for you. Thinking of you and sending our love and best wishes!
Matthew Wadhams says
You’ve created quite an alternative community there Dave and Karen, like a couple of hippies. Surely better than being stuck indoors in London now the summer is on its’ way. Relax and enjoy the semi solitude. You’ll soon be up and running again.