Well, its mid September, cold, and perissssssstently raining outside, Ive got a rare day off, and Ive spent much of the morning reading stuff on the forum, and looking though photos of the lovely Icmeler. May as well take a moment to actually finish this year's blog!! First time for everything, I suppose!
I've not had much grief of
JT to finish it, tho that's probably got more to do with the fact that Im currently supplying him with hundreds of bottles for his home brew!! (I hasten to add, these aren't bottles I've drunk, I'm saving them in my pub!!!).
So. The last day. And always the least enjoyable. Cos you know the end means 'home time'. I usually spend this day walking round wearing the face of a condemned man. We were'nt getting picked up until half 7, so it was a day to chill round the pool mostly, chatting to the other guests, being shamed at the pool table by our 12year old, and having a laugh with Tango and Mustafa. We also ate our final meal at The Rhodes, a lovely fry up, and a tonne of coffee to start the day. It's time to pack the bags, somehow managing to struggle to fit everything in, even though we're actually taking less home! Never did get how this happens, but it does. So while the eldest and the mother try and wring out the last few hours of sun before the dreaded journey back up 'that hill', and the youngest gets stuck into yet another art project, I head off for a final stroll. I call in to Jimmy Asda to say farewell. Again! Do the same at Club Sun Village and Moonlight, and finally stroll to say my goodbyes to the Three Bells lads. Two pints, which I drink verrrrrrrryyyy slllllooowwllly, and it's back to Rhodes for a final dip, get changed and take my place in the bar for a final couple of beers with Sheila (biddy), and Mike.
I'd already carried our bags downstairs with a heavy heart, and to be honest, a tear in my eye. Hard not to, after a final look out of the kitchen window across the Old Village. Still miss that view. The Mosque. Those mountains. The smells. The sounds. Even the chickens!! (And what I wouldn't give right now, just to hear the crazed early morning cockadoodldooing!!!- anyone want to buy a second hand right arm??)
We hang around for a while awaiting our pick up, who arrives a little late. Pleased to see that it's the same blacked out windows limo job that collected us at the airport all that time ago (2wks but it feels like years). We hotfoot it to Dalaman, and take one last lingering and tearful look over our shoulders from the top of the hill, as the sun sets, and the lights start to come on. Another lovely night in
Icmeler for some, but sadly, not us.
Arriving in the airport in record time, we join all the other miserable faces in the same miserable queues, and head for something to eat. Never a good idea in Dalaman, but the eldest is insisting, and even offering to pay, so..in for a lira!! Turns out there's a Summer Sale on in Burger King, cos we manage to secure 4 cheeseburgers, 4 cokes, and 4 chips for the bargain knockdown price of just £3,457.99!! Or something. Anyway it's onto an uncomfortable night flight to Blighty, making sure we don't get much sleep on the way, and that our backs and necks hurt as much as possible! Baggage at Manchester comes through fairly quickly, and we step outside just in time for the heavens to open!!! It lashes down, we do our best drowned rat impression as we clamber into the car, and drive home through underwater conditions!!
Within 24 hours, Im back in work, while Mrs SF takes care of the washing, and the girls sleep for what seems to a be a whole week..
And, that, ladies and gents, was our 2013 holiday. Over in a flash it seems. But, as ever, we had a fantastic time, met some lovely new friends, and met up with some great old friends. We ate well, had a drink or, ahem, two. We stayed in a fantastic place where we were well looked after, and we did an awful lot of laughing. A great, great, holiday, in the company of my lovely family, who, because of work, I don't see enough of.
Thanks for reading my nonsense here folks, and for all your kind comments on the blog. We're already booked for next year, but I don't think I'll be doing another blog cos I found it difficult to find new and original things to blog about this year. Thanks for reading. And if you're there right now, or going out soon, have a beer in The Three Bells for me!!
Cheers,
Paul.
by Mandy Mo » 19 Aug 2013 13:19 
) just to keep us all updated of the comings and goings in our 2nd home - very thoughtfull of you. We still not quite down to single figure sleeps yet, but not long now and can't wait to be back. I personally shall not be able to blog whilst out there as we do not have the technology 
- but will try and put something on when we get back home. Cheers everyone and happy holidays. xxx 
