All Change

The arrival of May signals change in Bodrum.  Shops that have been closed for the winter, open. Yachts that have spent the winter in the boatyards, go back in the water. The town fills with seasonal workers who have spent their winters at home.  There is a general air of optimism that, despite poor showings for the past couple of decades, this will be the year when tourists fill their suitcases with carpets, leather jackets, gold jewellery and pottery windmills. Winter woollies are packed away and summer clothes are put back in the wardrobe,  except this year April was much warmer than the first half of May.  

When we owned a Travel Agency in Bodrum, May usually started in a panic, as villa and hotel owners who'd known their first guests were arriving on May 10th would be still painting and decorating on May  9th and we'd still be waiting for deposits from Tour Operators, promised in April, to arrive in our bank accounts.   I don't miss those days at all. 

Now May heralds our move to the country, a bit late this year because of the cool weather, and Jake's haircut. A process that takes over 2 hours and leaves everyone exhausted. 

I was determined to get my winter knitting projects finished by May, and with a couple of evenings non-stop needle clicking, I managed to get my second blanket finished.  I've never attempted anything big before, but with the encouragement of the H3a knitting group, I'm now set up for the next cold winter.  I'm hoping to learn to knit round corners next year. 

May also herald my annual trip north to The a highlands of Scotland.  Which is where I'll be, with limited internet access, when you read this post.