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Published: July 19th 2013
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It’s been a busy few weeks as we sort through cupboards, check documents, clean everything to within an inch of its life, mow the grass, and all manner of other jobs that have been on the back burner. Ollie is serviced, has had all his fluids checked and he’s sitting on the drive waiting for his final wash and polish before he hits the road again. So what’s next……..
Woolly says – Were off to Turkey!!!! Not just for a holiday but for good. I’m so excited and have packed and repacked my trunk several times with everything I might need. I found lots of new things to buy that I could take at the car boot we had a stall at but Jo wouldn’t let me buy anything pointing out that we were supposed to be getting rid of stuff not increasing it. I thought it was a bit mean but had a great day selling lots of things we don’t really need. The packers arrive on Tuesday to pack everything else into a container ready for our belongings to set off on their own sea trip to the port at Antalya. On Wednesday our stuff leaves
and so do we, Ollie is really looking forward to pounding the roads again and he has quite a way to go. This time we will be on the ferry going to The Hook of Holland before crossing the Netherlands, gliding through Germany, cruising through the Czech Republic, adventuring in Austria, hurtling through Hungary, roaming round Romania and bombing through Bulgaria before touring through Turkey. So many places to see in the three weeks it will take us.
We had already planned to move to Alanya in January 2014 but life being what it is and with the cost of living rising in the UK we have moved the plan forward by a few months. Our paperwork and residents visas have already been obtained on our last visit, getting these had provided us with a complete adventure in itself.
Woolly says – the Blue Book saga started with our first queue at the police station where we were given forms to fill in, having completed the relevant questions in triplicate we were back in the queue to have the forms checked. I thought we had finished but instead of handing us our little books
we were given a bill and told to go to the tax office. Driving to the other side of the city we joined another queue and paid - payment depends of the length of time you want for residency which can go up to five years – having handed over our Lira we headed back to the police station to join another queue. I was getting very bored at this point even trying to work out which country people were from had lost its appeal. Reaching the front of the queue we handed in our receipts and were given our forms back, brilliant I thought…..but no, we weren’t done yet. Off to a printing shop to get photo copies of our forms and passports and back we went to the station. The queue was still going strong and we joined it again, maybe this time I would get my book! Forms, photocopies and originals handed over and the very official man stamped and stamped and stamped our pieces of paper, I think I would like his job. Twenty stamps later and we were given a small piece of paper telling us to return in a few days to collect our
documentation! The days went past until finally after another even bigger queue I left the station proudly clutching my ‘Blue Books’ tightly in my paws.
Our official paperwork now only has to be produced at customs when we arrive and where we also obtain a Green Card for Ollie to cover his insurance and at the port when we claim back our worldly goods and chattels. It does make moving very easy and, except for queuing, very stress free. Our home will be in the area of Alanya, two hours from Antalya, which gives us so much scope to continue our travels in the years to come without crossing France at all which is pretty much our only option when travelling from the UK. Africa is only two ferry rides away and Asia is a few border crossings which gives us so much freedom.
Woolly says – before the packers arrive we needed to make some family visits to wish our loved ones Bon Voyage. The area of Exmoor was first on our list and I found the drive really lovely, when England blooms it is so pretty and with the high temperatures it almost felt
like we were abroad already. We spotted some Exmoor ponies and got a photograph but before we could get out of Ollie they were moving off. They were much bigger than I expected and Ian’s sister told me that this is the biggest herd they have had there for quite a few years. Having caught up with the news and said our goodbyes we set off for our three hour drive across country to Bishops Stortford.
With the weather being so lovely it did seem a shame to be driving and given the excuse for a stop we gave into Woolly and pulled over.
Woolly says – I got so excited when I saw the signs for Stonehenge, it’s in my I Spy book of Ancient Britain and was a must see as far as I was concerned. Driving up the road we found that thousands had already arrived and with the road going past now ‘permanently closed’ we pulled onto the English Heritage car park, parked up and joined a mammoth queue. Forty minutes later we had barely moved an inch and with the sun blazing down we were not the only ones
to decide to forget it. I was a bit sad but it saved £8.00 GBP each, which buys a lot of ice cream!
Having consoled Woolly we set off again only to find ourselves driving down the parallel road to the Heritage site where he was able to see the ancient stones in all their glory. Arriving at our destination very hot and tired we were glad to sit down and enjoy a few cold drinks while we caught up on our travels and the plans for the future. Although sad to be leaving our families behind we will be over to see them and we expect them in Turkey for every holiday from now on. Only one more stop to go….. But that’s another story.
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Wow!!!
You had mentioned Turkey, but I didn't know you were going to move there. I look forward to your blogs as you settle down.