Saturday saw our third week of static living at Sundance Camping and in all honesty the time has gone fairly quickly. Afternoons are often the slower part as we watch the clock until it’s a decent enough time to open a bottle of wine, but that also seems to be the tale from home as well as wine o’clock gets earlier and earlier. So the coronavirus won’t necessarily be the only problem we all have by the end of it!
Our activities have now become a steady few, with cards, boules and putting taking the main stage. Thus far the competition seems to be fairly even amongst us all for the various games, with no real winner coming to the fore-Joe is probably nudging it, but then he does have the benefit of youth, being the youngest out of our gang of six.
With the camp now settled into its two fields of campers, routines have been established by all, with a fair amount of maintenance being done on the older roughie, toughie vehicles- an ideal opportunity. For us we regularly turn the inside of Buster upside down as the Borrowers continue to do their thing, David’s head phones still remain with them.
There was one oddity this week as everyone, or at least mainly the men decided it was hair cut season and even as we know the Turks are a nation of barbers, none are available here to do the job. The hippy section were the first to take to the scissors with a very nice job done by Hubert’s girlfriend, although he still reminds me of Justin Hayward, from the Moody Blues (no bad thing I might say). We then happily charged up another pair of shears for our German neighbours, although this was a unisex affair with Olaf creating a lovely shoulder length bob for his wife, before she gave him a rather trendy spikey cut with the shears. With the weather getting increasing warmer, Oscar our Welsh springer spaniel was also given a number one all over by Katherine- it did become a two person job when it came to his belly and private areas, bless him. The same dog shears had also been used to cut James hair early in the week.
With no offence meant Oscar’s was the most hansom of the two cuts. Annetta also did a fine job on Joes’ taking a five years of him at least, which at his young and tender age wasn’t required. So the question now is who’s going to do David’s and with what-scissors, man hair shears or the dogs ones. I’m certainly not up for the job as the last hair I cut was on Patch, my doll when I turned her into a boy. David at the moment is favouring Annetta (young and pretty) in a hope she might knock the same amount of years of him.
Wednesday, brought with it a very grey day which was not surprising as our dear hippy friends had decided to make pizza for the camp. The oven was an amazing home constructed job then fuelled with fire wood. Six kilos of flour was used to make the dough first thing in the morning and there was no shortage of toppings or pizza for all. The rain put a slight damper on it for everyone and it was also decided that group gatherings (even though we are all self isolating together) might not be the thing as it’s not allowed for the locals and no one wants to do anything that might cause an upset to the camp. But we all had to say the pizza was as good as any we had tasted.
The rest of the week was passing quite nicely with the sun re-appearing after a full on overhead thunderstorm on the Wednesday night, until those who rule the roost in Turkey decided, with no more than an hour’s notice to place a 48 hour curfew in place, starting Friday evening at 10pm.
#Here, the locals shop mainly on the Saturday (including us) having worked Monday to Friday, so this really was an ill thought through idea on the governments part. Or was it, with some degree of rioting taking place in Istanbul, did they want mass gatherings to try and push the virus through. It certainly was one school of thought from the many here. As the news rocketed through the camp Saturday morning, you could feel the spirits of everyone drop and the day assumed a very despondent air. For our gang of six, it was the fact that we had pre-ordered a leg of lamb to have Easter Sunday lunchtime, just like home. Thankfully, even with it being our shopping day we had enough food in the main, the more problem was the dropping alcohol and chocolate supplies.
Like everyone the main topic of conservation is what are we are going to do when all this is over and with each week that passes it has almost taken on a “what would we do if we won the lottery” dream like quality as reality slips further and further away. Oh if we won a million we would buy a house, a new car etc. Oh, when this is all over and the borders open, we’ll head to Greece, no think we’ll catch a ferry etc etc. We all wish for the lottery dream again rather than the coronavirus dream.
Regular calls to friends and family helps keep us all sane, but on a few occasions this week I have been quite upset by one particular topic that keeps arising- Jersey Royal potatoes. The annual arrival of the season’s crop of Jersey’s has been part of my life since I could walk. The taste of them being absolutely unique to any other potato and also a sign of spring arriving. I have scrapped them dutifully since I was that child with the skin staining my fingers as I went. The current trend of having pre- peeled Jerseys as per the big supermarkets is just not kosher, they have to be small and unpeeled, and I will happily scour many a greengrocer and pay a king’s ransom to obtain and eat these delightful little pieces of heaven. So when chatting away on the phone to home and my so called friends and family keep mentioning how they have just starting having the first crop of Jersey’s I am beyond apoplectic, I can just about cope with this situation (with the aid of certain regular refreshment) but not if everyone is going to tease and torment me by mentioning Jerseys- the pain is just too much!! So remember don’t mention the War, Brexit, Coronavirus or Jersey Potato’s!
With the 48 hour curfew over, a big shop has been undertaken, with a few more extra’s just in case the curfews keep happening or become longer, but we’re not stockpiling- honest.
With the sun setting on Easter Monday, we go to bed dreaming a mix of what if’s and when, plus Jerseys Royals floating by just out of reach.
Top Tips of the Week
Don’t leave the dog food supply unattended when the camp dogs are on look out.
Remember to tuck your shirt in your trousers when bent over pruning pomegranate trees-ouch David has bad sunburn
Vincent says
Great Post and keep safe
Katherine says
That shopping did NOT all belong to David, but most of the beer did!!!
Chris and Peter says
Nice to hear you’re all still safe and … sane! Keep it that way. We’re happy we have at least two bloggers with real camp stories, be it static!
Keep safe and healthy! Cheers!
Ken says
Oh dear, I hope this lockdown lifts soon so we can all get back on the road 🙁
We made it home from S Africa by the skin of our teeth just before they closed the airport.* I’m not saying I’m envious of your situation but you know all those jobs you say you’ll do round the house when you get time…? I’ve been under orders for three weeks now – waaaaah! I never want to see another paint brush as long as I live.
Good luck, and looking forward to the next post 🙂
xx
*full story on the blog
Janice Tovell says
You both look remarkably well and even with your Social Distancing you still have a much better social life than any of us. Us meaning the ones sticking to the Lock Down and we most certainly are. Hair cutting seems to be the common denominater this week! Michael is sporting a mighty fine cut even if I say so myself. Looks like you are well stocked for the time being so just relax in your beautiful temporary home. It certainly looks like however you are spending your time it agrees with you. Much love as always
Lesley Parr says
Ha ha hair cuts! Tell me about them. I scared the living daylights out Jackson this week when I had my first (and now last) attempt which resulted in a missing chunk of hair. I immediately messaged the hairdresser and wished her luck sorting all these slip ups out one day.
I look at your photos and pray we can all get back to that life soon. We would have been setting off for New Zealand this summer and home schooling for 6 months. Now I’m homeschooling anyway but the furthest we get is an hours walk a day. I sit here looking online at hot tubs or pools or any luxury that could make me feel like my garden was somewhere abroad. Mind you just a pizza oven like your camp one would be a dream come true.
Stay safe and stay sane!
Lesley, Geoff and Jackson x
Gary and Zoe Grant says
Oh Dear! I feel guilty about mentioning the Jersey Royals now! Better not tell you that I’m on my 3rd bag now then! tee hee!! Suffice to say that my Au Gratin (Gruyiere) will be waiting for you when you get back from all this!!
Stay safe!