Brenda and I have just returned from one of our best ever holidays in Calis, the highlights of which all have one thing in common - lovely, lovely people. Here are a few of the memorable times
Seeing Adem (shoe shine) walking on the prom with his wife and twin babies. The man is a gem who works all hours for his family. I wish him the best of fortune.
Having a fabulous boat trip with Sukru in the company of fellow CBF members, anne (the barmaid from hell) and billy (sillybilly), heather (heatherhanum) and Nigel. A special day.
Meeting some of the wonderful 3 C's people at the charity shop. I have no idea how mercury came by her alleged reputation.
An evening in Maya in the company of lots of people we know from our Letoon days - fellow guests, the lovely cleaners, the security man and the odd job man. A fab night.
A visit to Uzumlu with number 2 and his son to meet the lovely Lynne and Dave. Such good company and a really relaxing afternoon. Such a pity we had to wait for an hour for the dolmus.
Night caps most nights in Maya chewing the fat with Nevra and Andy, but special separate nights with gordonA and loz, badger, his immaculately dress wife Irene and their friends and maria and her partner.
Meeting Nadine (Mustafa from Scarlett's wife) with their new son Mikail Hakan and Mariella (cowboy's wife) with her family.
An evening in Okanyus in the company of Anne, Billy, Firo and Eric. So glad we managed to get there on the night of the storm.
The 60, 70's night in Anna Bar with tinkerman (and Pauline), kayakebab (and John), diverbaz and ladybaz, scot (and Brenda), gordonA, loz and maria (sorry we didn't get to chat). Wish we could have stayed longer.
A lazy lunchtime in Mozaik with Nichola and Dogan and then with Bruce (scot) and Brenda
Finally finding Century 21 where our good friend Kartal works. Missed him on our second visit though.
Many thanks to all of the above (and many others) - to us you are all A+ celebrities.
Having said that, the absolute highlight for me was sitting in Maya on the Thursday morning after the storm the previous evening. I'm afraid I cannot find the words to describe just how beautiful a view, that I have seen many times before, was around 10:00am on that morning. It was crystal clear (indeed Andy suggested that Rhodes was visible) but the real beauty was in the light that morning, truly stunning and so reminiscent of God's own country.
