Not the normal holiday snaps

12.9.21 Today feels like it’s been a productive day.

This morning our Gap Oto garage people brought us tea and fresh bread. How lovely.

We were later given another loaf and invited to drink tea. I did some washing, and we put the dogs outside in the shade as it was so hot inside. John re routed the heater matrix hoses as our heater isn’t working and not needed at the moment anyway, in the hope that its another issue eliminated.

I uploaded photos of my house and wrote the description and sent it off to the new agency. They advertise on Zoopla and other large sites and within an hour had my first enquiry. By this evening I had 11.

My son Curt is going to be doing the viewings, he’ll probably love doing them. In my former life I worked for Halifax Property Services, I absolutely loved it although the green suit wasn’t the best.

Gave Naz an interior spruce up. If she gets us to Nemrut we might even treat her to an outside wash. I’m sure we have gained at least 5 kg of dead insects.

When it finally cooled down a bit we walked into Kahta town to get cash to pay the garage tomorrow, it was a 6 km walk each way, fine going there but pitch dark coming back along the dual carriageway, mostly with no pavement. Apart from an autication with a nasty dog at a petrol station the dogs loved it.

People were actually slowing down to stare at the weirdness of dogs on leads, kids were hanging out of car windows pointing and pedestrians were backing away before they got eaten. Little children were literally squealing with excitement!

Two young boys came to say hello and could they walk them, we declined… They were practising their English with me and the can you give us money question didn’t take too long. We’ve encountered a lot of children begging here, some right cheeky ragamuffins.

When we first moved to Fethiye children used to shout money money when we passed a school, or when we were walking in villages. I can’t remember the last time it happened.

I had said to John I doubt they’ve ever had tourists in this town before. We’re always perceived as wealthy.

I explained that our karavan is very poorly so now we have no money. They spotted Bim supermarket and said please could they have some cola. I bought them a bottle each and a bag of sweets. They were very happy, grateful and polite. John thinks I’m mad.

We soon got distracted by a künefe cafe. It was lovely with a cool garden. We were baffled by all the bits that came while we were waiting. They even had flat white coffee on their menu. No price by it, that confirms my no tourist theory.

Absolutely delicious.

We got back not long after 8 pm and at 8.30 pm the garage guys came over and removed the radiator.

The good news is that the thermostat is fine.

The bad news is that the water pump has had it, so has a big belt that runs the pump, alternator etc.

To be honest, we don’t care, we are just pleased they’ve identified the source of the over heating problem. Poor Naz, no wonder she’s been struggling and gone pop.

They also explained that until they put the new bits in they won’t know if the head gasket has blown. Fingers crossed. Luckily they take credit cards as I’m not walking 12 km into town and back and along that dual carriageway again.

I asked him for a very honest opinion about Naz as I’m wondering if we should get rid of her. He said that she is great. He said this model is better than several other makes of vehicles he rattled off. He said if they are looked after properly they are very reliable.

The radiator is coming from Gaziantep tomorrow. The pump and belt can be sourced locally. IF the head gasket needs doing he can do it the same day.

Looks like we could well get to Nemrut tomorrow, everything tightly crossed.

I cannot believe how hard the guys at this garage work. Saturday evening they finished around 11 pm. They were back today, Sunday, at 9 am even though they’re not open on Sundays.

We fed our little puppy and we think probably his mum.

Weird to say I’ve enjoyed our time here, Turkish hospitality, hopefully the solutions to Naz’s problem, the mosque toilets and the puppy.

But enough’s enough now, we’ve got places to see and things to do. We’re running out of days as we need to be back in Fethiye by 20.9.21.