Hi, no pictures this time, but now Christmas is over we have a little story to tell. Many people who know us probably think we are a little obsessive when it comes to security. However, Saturday night (22nd), we had just fed the stray dog we call Wolfy. At 7.00pm he was a little late so we quickly dashed out with his food and settled back down to eat our own meal. We were watching the news whilst eating when suddenly the doors burst open and we were attacked by 4 men who overpowered us and robbed us. We saw very little of them as they were wearing scarves, hats, gloves and dark clothing. It was all over in minutes and after making sure that each of us were ok we called the police. When they arrived, they checked out the crime scene before taking us to the hospital to have our injuries, which fortunately were no more than cuts and bruises, assessed and recorded.
Then we were taken to the police station to give our statements. They had also picked up some suspects and wanted to know if we could recognise any of their clothing. Unfortunately, because we were pinned face down to the ground, we saw very little of any use. We got home at 3.30am and then proceeded to phone around the banks to cancel credit and debit cards. In the morning we contacted the insurance company to claim for the stolen items and all those things such as chairs, glasses, carpets,  spectacles etc. all damaged during the attack.
On Christmas night at 10.30pm we had a phone call from the police to say they wanted us at the police station to identify a man we had seen acting suspiciously on the afternoon of the attack. They sent a car for us, and we were at the police station for another 2 hours.
We are both ok, although we are obviously still very unsettled and traumatised by the whole incident. We have taken every precaution against burglars, from metal bars to alarms and lights. We did not however even consider they would be brazen enough to attack us in our own home.
We really must thank our neighbour, Sevtap, who was with us all night at the hospital and police station providing us with translations, comfort and support. We really don't know how we would have managed without her.
We are writing this so that everyone is aware and can take appropriate action to keep themselves safe.

Rough Seas

It's very rare for summer visitors to see the sea around Altinkum like this

The fisherman got soaked several times while we watched ... dedication or stupidity???

 

Kusadasi

Kusadasi has this new walkway

Where? Well it's over the TOP of a new shopping and café complex by the marina

The roof of the complex is all planted up with shrubs and cactii

and there is also a viewpoint that overlooks the marina

Why oh why can't someone at Didim council have some vision like this?

Underneath are cafés and shops and gardens ...

as well as some lovely water features.

Oh, by the way, for those readers who use the Attinc for great value meals through the year ... it is currently being totally refurbished, so unfortunately totally closed!!!

Birthday celebrations ...Continued

Once we had opened the cards and breakfasted, we headed for Kusadasi and the Charisma Hotel

It's a beautiful place on the seafront by the marina.

There the hotel spoiled us, and also provided this complimentary birthday cake.

Oh well, the diet will have to start tomorrow.

 

Sue's birthday

Today is Sue's birthday and look who's come to help open the pressies and the cards!!
 

Pre-Birthday Bash

This afternoon we had a pre-birthday bash for Sue at Ozsut. Some naughty cakes, some lovely coffee and some great company were the order of the day.

Ann had also kindly made a beautiful cake to celebrate the day. Thanks to everyone who attended and especially to Ann for the lovely cake.

 

Relaxing in our bike basket

Just lounging around in the sun ... it's so good to get the rays on your tummy isn't it?
 

The Red Palm Weevil

This palm is obviously suffering

Today a team from the Belediye and a gentleman from The Agriculture Ministry turned up to remove it, as it was infested by the red palm weevil. Apparently the beetle has been demolishing palm stocks around the Mediterranean since the late '80s. 

Using the JCB the palm was quickly uprooted

and removed onto the back of a waiting lorry for disposal

This is the offending beastie ..

It lays around 200 eggs into young or injured trees at the crown or injury point. The eggs hatch into these larvae which then burrow up to a metre into the tree.

They continue to cause damage for about a month before exiting the tree, dropping to the base and forming a cocoon from the fibrous material found there amongst the leaf litter.

Then they proceed to turn into a chrysalis 

Eventually they emerge as adults and the cycle continues,

each cycle lasting around 6-7 weeks

 

Because of this pest hundreds of palm trees have had to be removed from Didim this year.

Construction Mania

This is the progress so far on the 4 houses being built at the top of our road. As you can see they are up to the 2nd level now, with one more level to add. As it is, it is already at the height of the house adjacent, so once complete it will tower over the rest of the neighbourhood.

Once the shell of these are finished, the builder is going to start on a similar construction on this plot.

Meanwhile in the next road, Sokak 218, they are installing sewer pipes using some very heavy machinery.

and just round the corner, yet another house is being constructed.

In all we think there are 7 or 8 new constructions going on around Yesilkent, and what we would like to know is, where are the buyers coming from? as there is precious little sign of them recently ... not for this price range of property anyway.

Monastir

Today we decided to make the most of the continuing warm weather by taking a picnic to Monastir Beach. We were very lucky as we had it all to ourselves, soooo peaceful compared to at home at the moment. We were joined briefly by a young German couple and their dog, but all too soon it was time to pack up and head back to the noise of the construction site next to our home.
 

Bayram

Here we are in the middle of Kurban Bayram (Feast of the Sacrifice). We went for lunch with our friends David and Ann. Later in the afternoon we all went down to the bay where they have their boat moored.

As you can see it was a beautiful day. While we were down there, the Turkish family that lives there invited us all to join them in their evening meal. It was really generous of them and so we sat down with them and shared in their Bayram celebrations.

Emma and Ege's New Baby

Emma and Egeman have a new addition to their family, Eva was born on Saturday 20th October in Izmir hospital. Mum and babe are home now fit and well. Ellie is really happy with her new little sister.
 

Unusual Visitor

We had an unusual visitor to the park this morning. We think it's a red-eared terrapin, which apparently lives both on land and in water, and eats both vegetation and animal matter.
 

Our Return

Bear in mind that we had only been gone for 9 days

During that time the excavators had moved in, cleared the ground, dug the ground works ...

Put in the base concrete ...

and were well on the way to start building the top structure of the 2 pairs of houses at the top of our road.

Oh well; no peace this winter then ... the builder expects to finish around January ... maybe!!