3.2.26

Despite being totally sleep deprived I was awake really early. The bed is a weird set up, there’s just an under sheet and a pile of thin blankets, no top sheet. I used my beach towel as a sheet. The ceiling fan is super efficient.

The problem with waking so early is that it’s easy to eat a whole packet of biscuits before getting up.

Liz and I were a little early, so we explored a little ‘department store. A small but rammed to the gills shop with food and toiletries.

Every British chocolate you can think of and more.

We met up with Kevin and Sharon for our relaxing reading day on the beach. First stop a lovely little cafe for breakfast. Feeling guilty from the biscuits I opted for the yogurt, fruit and honey. Delicious.

We went to Rogers shack. The way they rustled up 4 sunbeds together, 3 under brollies and one in the sun for Liz reminded me of the fabulous service we get in Turkiye. Nothing was too much trouble. They even provide towels.

No book reading ensued. Liz slept, I was trying to figure out how to use my new hosting service for my first blogging on it, not touched since November. Sharon settled down with her book. Kevin didn’t have his as Sharon hadn’t packed it.

Sharon pointed out that he’s responsible for his own beach preparation. Kevin was so disappointed and decided to aggravate everyone by sulking, cursing, chatting and even resorted to reading the date stamp on his Kingfisher beer. It was in fact a new topic for conversation as so far all the beer he’s had has been out of date. Oh how we laughed, poor Kevin.

After reading the same 5 pages 4 times Sharon gave up and they went for a swim. We’ve all been assigned sit with Kevin duties to relieve Sharon of the stress.

Determined to at least work out how to log into Web9 I battled on with blogging.

Before we knew it it was almost 3pm. A late lunch, Liz and I just had to have the same as yesterday, Kevin also gave the honey chilli chicken and cheese and garlic a try and Sharon had seafood Pad Thai. It was all fabulous.

I wanted to stop on the way home to get some cleaning materials. Earlier I found a grimy dust pan by our washing machine. I wanted a hand brush to go with it, some cloths and Jif, or Cif, or whatever it might be here. Liz firmly forbade me. She wants to speak with the manager and get the place cleaned.

I hid in the bathroom while she called Mounika, not sure where she fits in to the puzzle of whose property it is, but she’d sent a welcome message and told us the house rules, eg leaving the place clean.

The outcome was that photos were sent and the cleaning lady is coming tomorrow at 9am.

We also had a text saying that the blood was definitely not on the curtain yesterday, so we must have done it. That’s really annoyed me.

We have the option to have a refund minus the 2 nights and leave by 11am.

I really don’t want to leave, the location is perfect, we’ve got masses of space and yes, it’s grubby but just a quick wipeover the most annoying bits and some bleach in the shower areas would be suffice.

I’m dreading any confrontation in the morning, I worry that the cleaner could lose her job etc.

We met up and went in a place with beautiful seating and lush plants. It was a shock when Liz’s orange juice was 3 times the price of the Bacardi measure!

Next we went to a place with live music, didn’t expect much from the singer but he was really good with a range including Bee Gees, Queen and Country and Western. The staff were lovely, I’ve rediscovered Bacardi Breezers and we’re booked in for the Quiz night on Friday.

It was midnight by the time we left, they were closing up around us.

The funniest part… Kevin’s book was in his bag the whole time.

We might have reading on the beach day part 2 tomorrow… Unless we’re evicted and searching for a manger.

An observation section from our first 2 days…

The people are so friendly, hard working and helpful. We felt totally safe as 2 women walking home at midnight. Many people of all ages, some with children, called out goodnight from their motorbikes.

There must be approx 15 dogs just in the area of our beach bar, no aggression, well fed, some friendly, some scared.

On our 10 minute walk to the beach we see at least another 20.

They’re all different colour varieties of the same mixed ‘breed’. I really miss seeing our street dogs in Turkiye.

There’s actually very little litter. The huge expanse of beach is immaculate, the bar staff go round litter picking after they move the sunbeds and set up for evening meals.

Our food so far has been fab. Incredible variety of local and ‘western’ curries, Chinese, English, seafood, salads, Italian etc.

Great coffee and tea selections, lassi, milkshakes,smoothies etc. Alcohol is very reasonable, a big choice and huge choice of cocktails.

Crows, crows and more crows. They hunt in groups of 2 or 3, quietly watching people eating from a distance. When the people leave they swoop down for any leftovers.

Off to make a morning coffee now. I’ve eaten my last pack of biscuits while writing this. Why am I such a pig?