Jonathan: Wow....... I have looked at website, and Uludag/Bursa is only 1 or 1 and half hours south of Istanbul. Starting 27th December until April which is excellent.

Jonathan: Please let me know if it was extremely cold. Or is it sunshine reflecting the snow:

Jonathan: Thank you for information.

Ski-ing: Does anyone know if you can have a ski-ing holidays in the snow capped areas:

Hoping this Xmas to have a week ski-ing, after the trauma of last Xmas. Having had a major op. and sitting around for 4 months resting, putting weight on. Now I feel more agile and want to do something exhilarating.

If anyone can give me advice on any ski areas anywhere. I would be pleased to know.

Two weeks ago I came back off holiday in Turkey. The resort was very quiet beginning of October. A few of us were out there to get our tapu/deed, as there has been a big holdup from the Turkish parliament. Still awaiting it.

ARE TURKS TRUSTWORTHY the heading: maybe moreso to their fellow countrymen?

I encountered trying to get water and electricity in my name for 14 months, and succeeded last time I was out. I never get a proper holiday for the stress,of sorting something out.
As this arrangement is done through the agent then through the builders, the builders were being difficult. This money for connection charges was paid 14 months previous.
I went up to their office. I gave a command performance. "I should have had an Oscar". I told them I would get my solicitor power of attorney, and one asked where the solicitor was from. I showed them the name and address in my book. "From Istanbul", I said. Knowing fine well this big fish couldn't buy his way out, as being out of their own town. I said they would have court costs, connection charges and could probably be closed down and fined a considerable amount of money.
Within 3 days it was all sorted. He came with a smile on his face and had everything done with my numbers on the connection for water and electricity, as well as giving me the Iskan. Proof I believe, of the building being built for Earthquake and building procedures.

Then I met up with a Welshman, who had been asked by an English girl in a bar to help, when A Turkish/Kurdish man was coming onto her heavily. She was a policewoman in the England. When he spoke up, he got a headbut with considerable force. His eye was red, as the blood took this direction and he was checking his teeth. Needless to say, he booked out of where he was staying, as a relative of the man who injured him worked in the place. His sentiments, "They are not ready for the E.U. yet"! "They're savage".

I met 3 Englishmen in my new apartment block. One had had a similar experience. This man was over 6' tall, he did the same and spoke up for a girl who was being harrassed in a bar by a local man. Next, all he knew was a 4 x 4 pulling up and four men got out and one had a gun at him. He said, he was absolutely petrified. a Turk/Kurd spoke up and said this was a friend. This is the quickness of a mobile phone and a lot of relations are on the spot within minutes. One emphasized, come here when there is a lot of people out, it is better for us.

Personally, I would like Turkey in the E.U. as a lot of us own properties, and we would all benefit, along with Turkey.

Then I was asked to get on the back of a scooter which I declined. My agent said just coodle him, coodle him tight,(cuddle) he is a good driver. I was afraid, nobody seems to wear crash helmets. I was frightened we may hit a bump in the road, and I would be thrown to the road. When I have been in my agents car he speeds through the town at 60mph. I don't know if there are any restrictions, like here in Britian.

One night we came out of my apartment, it was very dark, as there needs to be new roads, which they are in the process of having done during the winter. There was a seven foot drop over a manhole and water at the bottom. A child or person walking could have easily walked and fell. We got a wooden tray and covered it. Our friend reckoned a waggon could have hit the cover and it could have smashed and fell into the hole.

There were a lot of health and safety issues, I don't know what leglislation, because we have these cordoned off in Britian.. Live wires in a box suspended over a pool. No breakers in the electricity to the pump. This is from the Welshman, as he is an electrician. Plus many others, which he took photographs of.

My agent has a loaded gun, he told me they were expensive. Also I know my builder has a one. I was extremely worried when I saw one, as if I wondered to frighten. Now it does not worry me, I think it would take a lot nerve to use a one. The consequences of penalty would be high.

I have come to the conclusion, the sweet talk when talking business, and wanting payment from you, is a different matter, to when they actually have your deal. I notice the attitude changes in contrary to what we are accustomed with, as we are told "The customer is always right",
The attitude I have found is not what I expected not even comparitively like ours and becomes more dominant when they are dealing with especially women.

I put this down to experience, live and learn. Have to go with what laws the country have, which
we are in at the time. Take heed of the ways and traditions. Use what knowledge and help available.

Someone has started an advice centre in the resort to help with questions, directions and guidance. Which will be of inevitable value.

Jinggay:

I think you know the answer deep down, and you are wanting verification from us to our views.

Please give him a wide berth, he has no respect for you asking for money and he has no dignity as a man.

We have to be careful what goes on behind the smiles, the charm and look at the underlying motives. They do exist believe me!

If you sent him money, you would probably not hear from him again. As he wants you to give him in advance, and pay you back when he returns to Turkey. He is in Turkey so why can't he get it now!

Bursali, thankyou for your appreciated comment on my apartment.

Angela(Ivy)

Interest to all who want to buy property:

These last few months property has decreased in Altinkum, due to too many new builds standing empty. The builders are needing the money. I think some of the builders may be desperate.

It is an excellent time to buy if anyone is interested.

Also I notice there are not as many people buying, as they seem to have had the glut of the sales.

My properties were valued in May and when I went out in September had decreased by thousands. I still bought at a good time the year previous.

It is predominantly English living there in Altinkum. If they have tourists coming in from Germany and other European countries, then the buying will start.

I don't know if the other European countries will start and charter flights and holidays to Altinkum. They do to other resorts.

Antalya seems to get all the foreign nationals as it is an all around the year resort.

People are also buying because of investing in real estate, hoping Turkey will go in the E.U. and their property prices rise as a good investment.

English costs to Turkey by sms Orange company is 20p.

Telephone costs for info:
It was costing a lot in telephone charges as I had to speak to my agent a lot approx. £1.50 a minute, by main phone and also mobile.

Now I am on One-tel and the cost is much less, this is on a main house telephone, very surprising how lower when I get the bill in. We still pay the standing charge, line rental to British Telecom.

I have downloaded Skype and have a microphone which I believe to be a free communication.
Ideal if you both have Skype and microphones.

Hi Kelly:

Very true what you wrote on love.

The girls were asking questions which I hoped some of the men in here would answer them.

Maybe not stereo types but in certain countries, marriages are arranged without being in love, and dictated by families. Then they learn to love.

Even some European countries as my sister in law who is Cypriot stipulated her brother here in England went to look at who is now her sister in law and then arranged to be married. Same with her cousins. Without courting etc. Also in another country without falling in love I was asked by two different males to seriously get married. I had just spoken with them. One said he did not want a girl from his own country as they are lazy and liked a lot of money to spend. He was under the influence that we work hard. That there was another English girl nearby and I would have a friend of an English girl. All in the plan!

Another just talking to him was a sailor, very well off in his own country and had a beautiful speedboat etc. he got someone to say to me. Next time he came back from sea he would not go back if I lived with him. Plan again.

This same race of people, I was told by a colleague that he was friendly with a European and he was not happy because he was married to a girl from here and she worked in a shop and lived in a colliery house. He must have thought all English people live in big detached houses and are very wealthy. He told my colleague. My colleague also said he had a plan exactlty the same conclusion I came to: and he got to work in places to meet wealthier women. He worked in a hotel to try and meet a wealthy woman and then went to work in a hospital as a porter and ended up marrying a lady doctor and they are living in a very exclusive area in the North of England, in contrast to his previous wife. His plan paid off. I don't know which country he was from but he is from a country where there are 6 countries in. Work it out.

Maybe sometimes the brain takes over love.