Dear Reader,

Welcome to the sixth issue of the Bodrum Bulletin.

As the weather gets nicer, and strawberries start to appear in the markets, we'd like to do some articles on the many things that the peninsula offers in spring and summer, so please tell us what you're looking forward to doing or seeing on the peninsula - whether it be day trips, sights, enjoying the views, or perhaps some interesting walks.

Our Readers' Recommendation section is growing nicely - don't worry, if it get's much bigger I'll just list new companies, and list the directory in full on the website. Please keep your recommendations coming.

David Good - Editor

• Yoga Yalıkavak - 9.30-11am, Yalıkavak (more information...)
  
  
• Mother and Baby Toddler Group - 9.30am-11.45am, Ortakent (more information...)
  
  
• Six Nations Rugby - Sue's Place, Gümbet (more information...)
  France vs Wales, 21:00 match time, 22:00 Turkish Time

• Free Book Exchange - 11am, Bodrum (more information...)
  
  
• Bodrum Children's Library - 10am-4pm, Bitez
  Now includes a children's lunch! (more information...)
  
  
• Family Fun Day for the Turgutreis Day Centre - 12.00pm, Gümbet
  
  To raise funds to support the Turgutreis Day Centre in their excellent work helping physically and mentally handicapped children and adults bring the children for a fun day, with games, raffles, and entertainment for all!!!
  
  We are looking to raise as much money as possible to help keep this excellent facility running, their main cost at the moment is fuel to heat the building. On the day some of the children and staff will join us and will bring some of the arts and crafts they produce, which they will be selling.
  
  Refreshments will be available on the day, with a selection of snacks, burgers and drinks.
  
  We are also looking for donations for prizes, so if you can help us, please e-mail bryang60@hotmail.com or call me on 0536 773 43 92.
  
  Location: Uncle Festers Restaurant, Lale Sok. no:1, Gümbet
  Contact: 0252 319 46 87, 0542 592 36 92, 0535 764 31 22
  
  
• Six Nations Rugby - Sue's Place, Gümbet (more information...)
  Italy vs Wales, 16:00 match time, 17:00 Turkish Time
  Scotland vs Ireland, 17:00 match time, 19:00 Turkish Time

• Sunday Service - 11.30am Bodrum International Grace Church (more information...)
  
  
• Sunday Funday - 3pm onwards, Gümbet (more information...)
  
  
• Six Nations Rugby - Sue's Place, Gümbet (more information...)
  England vs France, 15:00 match time, 17:00 Turkish Time
  

• Mother and Baby Toddler Group - 9.30am-11.45am, Ortakent (more information...)
  
  
• Dot's Coffee Morning - 12.30pm-3pm, Konacik
  Now at the later time of 12.30am-3pm, but still with the same great selection of home made cakes, biscuits, and other fresh produce... (more information...)
  
  
• Paddy's Night - Musti's Steakhouse, Yalıkavak - (more information...)

• Yoga Yalıkavak - 9.30am-11am, Yalıkavak (more information...)
  
  
• Steps to a Healthier 'U' - 10.30am, Özel Bodrum Hastanesi, Bodrum
  
  
  The ever popular Özel Bodrum Hastanesi seminars continue with another interesting topic: Nutrition & Healthy Living. This free of charge seminar (in English), starts at 10.30am, with refreshments served.
  
  Additionally, every participant has the chance to get a free BMI (Body Mass Index) check-up by our dietician.

  Location: Özel Bodrum Hastanesi, Bodrum
  Contact: Deniz Gökova, d.gokova@ozelbodrumhastanesi.com, 0252 313 65 66/444

  Have you used this business? Add a review now!

• Turkish Language School - Bitez (more information...)
  
  
• Charity Quiz Night - at Uncle Festers, Gümbet (more information...)

• Bodrum Children's Library - 9.30am-5.30pm, Bitez
  Now includes a children's lunch! (more information...)
  
  
• Yalı Trash Bash - Musti's Steakhouse, Yalıkavak (more information...)

• Yoga Yalıkavak - 9.30am-11am, Yalıkavak (more information...)
  
  
• Mother and Baby Toddler Group - 9.30am-11.45am, Ortakent (more information...)
  

• Bodrum Children's Library - 10am-4pm, Bitez (more information...)
  
  
• Six Nations Rugby - Sue's Place, Gümbet (more information...)
  Italy vs France, 14:15 match time, 15:00 Turkish Time
  England vs Scotland, 15:30 match time, 17:30 Turkish Time
• Wales vs Ireland, 17:30 match time, 19:30 Turkish Time
  

• Sunday Service - 11.30am Bodrum International Grace Church (more information...)
  
  
• Sunday Funday - 3pm onwards, Gümbet(more information...)
  
  
• Mother's Day Lunch - 2pm, Köşede Steak & Wine House, Yalıkavak
  
  We have a special Mother's day lunch; starting with SOUP, then ROAST LAMB with mint sauce, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy, finished with a dessert of CHEESECAKE or APPLE CRUMBLE. 25TL per person. Enjoy a nice Sunday at a fabulous place, super food and wonderfully friendly service. To be sure for a table make your reservation now.
  
  Location: Köşede Restaurant, Yalıkavak (map)
  Contact: Emrah, emrah_273@hotmail.com,  0536 948 47 66
  

• Mother and Baby Toddler Group - 9.30am-11.45am, Ortakent (more information...)
  
  
• Dot's Coffee Morning - 12.30pm-3pm, Konacik
  Now at the later time of 12.30am-3pm, but still with the same great selection of home made cakes, biscuits, and other fresh produce... (more information...)
  

• Yoga Yalıkavak - 9.30am-11am, Yalıkavak (more information...)
  
  
• Turkish Language School - Bitez (more information...)
  
  
• Charity Quiz Night at Uncle Festers, Gümbet (more information...)

• Bodrum Children's Library - 9.30am-5.30pm, Bitez
  Now includes a children's lunch! (more information...)

• Giant English Book Sale - 11.00am-13.00pm, Defne Restaurant, Bitez
  
  The next giant book sale for animals will be on Saturday, 4th April. Books will be for sale at just 2TL each, with all proceeds going towards treating street cats and dogs.
  
  Please feel free to bring any books you wish to donate. Local marmalade and chutney will also be on sale. The Defne restaurant/bar will be open should you want to buy refreshments and/or lunch. For further information contact me via the details below.
  
  Location: Defne Restaurant, Bitez (map)
  Contact: Linda Bennett, linda@lindabennett.net, 0533 493 90 07

• Charity Dinner and Fun Auction - Our Secret Garden, Yalikavak
  
  Our Secret Garden will be hosting a charity dinner and fun auction to celebrate St. Georges Day, and to raise money for Turgutreis Children's Rehabilitation Centre. The menu will be: Slow cooked Leg of Lamb or Roast Chicken with mashed and roast potatoes, fresh vegetables, gravy and mint sauce followed by Apple Crumble and Custard at a cost of 30TL (of which 5TL will go to charity).
  
  Tickets will be available from the restaurant or directly from Jack Davies. Reservations by 21st April please. Please help us beat last year's total of 750TL by donating an item for the fun auction which can be left at the restaurant any time before the dinner. Jack will also be taking part in a cycle ride through Mexico in November; sponsor forms and a collecting box will be available in the restaurant. Please come along and support Jack and help us raise as much money as possible for the children in Turgutreis.
  
  Location: Our Secret Garden Restaurant, Plaj Cad No 40, Yalikavak (map)
  Contact: June Barnes,  june_barnes@hotmail.com, 0252 385 50 03, 0535 549 02 01

Jack's Mexican Ride

Local man Jack Davies, 61, of Yalikavak will be taking part in a challenging charity bike ride in November this year. This is the impressive 480km cycle ride "Cycle Mexico" and is in aid of Bodrum Health Foundation and the Turgutreis Disabled Children Rehabilitation Centre which specialises in the rehabilitation and education of disabled children. To read more about it, and for sponsoring details, click HERE.

Contact: Jack, 0536 399 47 04, jackinturkey@gmail.com.

Urgent request for beginner in Turkish

A small group of students started Turkish lessons with Çimen in December and it has been going really well (see my review for Çimen in the Reader's Recommendation section of the website).

Unfortunately 2 of our group have decided not to continue so it means the remainder of us can't continue. Are there two relative beginners who speak English and want to learn Turkish out there?

Çimen doesn't follow a strict course schedule and is very patient and understanding. We really want to continue the group so if there is anyone out there please get in touch for more information. We meet on a Friday between 1.30pm - 3.00pm just outside Bodrum but easily accessible either with car or on public transport.

Contact: Carol Edwards, creolecaz@hotmail.co.uk

Wanted: Does anyone have a car for sale?

We are after a smaller car as a runaround. Must be in good condition and be available for full inspection. Price around 10000TL.

Contact: Murray Rawson, jimrawuk@yahoo.co.uk  

Cookery and Baking Lessons

I have started providing cookery and baking lessons. If you are interested and would like to learn more please contact me and we can make arrangements

Location: 3 Yagiz Sok., Konacik (Map)
Contact: Dot, 02523196237 05386519672 dotmckillen@gmail.com  

Home computer training offered

Personalised to suit any needs from simple e-mail to more complicated. Anything you need to know about your computer. Help and advice. Contact me for info.

Contact: Audrey Rowson, audjojo47@hotmail.com, 0536 852 39 86  

Wanted: House or Apartment to Rent

2 or 3 bedrooms with balcony and sea view in Bodrum. This will be for approx 2 years.

Contact: Dawn, dawncur@gmail.com, 0533 968 03 69

For Rent: Houses for Rent - Furnished and Unfurnished.

Three bed (1 en-suite) triplex villas close to beach in Bitez. Long term rental preferred. Walled garden, parking space. On site pool in summer months. No site fees. Contact for further info and viewing.

Contact: Audrey Rowson, audjojo47@hotmail.com, 0536 852 39 86  

For Rent: Upstairs Studio in Bodrum Centre

The Studio is in Bodrum between the Marina and Migros. 1 bedroom with fitted cupboards, open kitchen and living room with balcony, parking place. Entrance through garden. 550TL per month plus deposit. Please call for more information.

Contact: 0532 682 62 87

For Rent: Large Property in Central Bodrum

100m from harbour with a panoramic view of the sea and castle to be rented from the owner as an office or house! Can be rented as a whole building or flat by flat.

Bodrum Merkezi de deniz manzarali dublex bina Office yada Ev olarak butunuyle yada kat kat sahibinden kiraliktir.

Contact: Necmi Cavli, oojami@yahoo.com, 05363994579  

For Rent: House in Gumusluk

Lovely detached house in small beautifully maintained quiet complex with 24 hour security and three swimming pools available.

Comprises; entrance hall with built-in storage presses, open plan sitting room and well equipped kitchen. Downstairs WC and laundry room. Upstairs; three double bedrooms, master en-suite and separate bathroom. Outside storage room. Beautiful views from terrace and shaded patio for outside dining. Rental: 500 Euro per month.

Contact: Doreen, doreenmellott@gmail.com, +353 (0) 1289 92 35, +353 (0) 860 677 831  

For Rent: 2 Bedroom Apartment in Gökçebel

2 bed apartment for rent, fully furnished. In small sitesi half Turkish and English owners. Communal swimming pool and gardens, close to Tansas, Migros and Carrefour in Gökçebel, 10mins to centre of Yalıkavak by dolmus. Long term or short term. 500TL a calendar month and 100TL maintenance fee a month.

Contact:  Carol Phipp, cazzer516@hotmail.com, 0252 386 38 07, 0534 209 67 60  

Repeat Classifieds:

• Alexander Hills Sitesi - Request for Management Tender
  (more information...)
  
  
• Textile Arts & Crafts Courses
  (more information...)
  
  
• Yoga classes with Melek - All levels
  (more information...)
  
  
• Attractive Ground Floor Flat for Rent 280EUR/month Central Bodrum
  (more information...)

Optimising Photos for Email

I often get asked how to correctly send photos via email, without clogging up your, or your recipients' bandwidth and computer resources. Fortunately the answer to this is dead easy, and emailing reduced size photos becomes as little as a 2-click process. Let's look at this in a bit more depth.

Usually, digital cameras are set to take photographs at their highest resolution - this is great for capturing lots of detail, and for producing great prints, however, when you want to share these with your friends or send them via email, you should consider reducing the size, this will enable you to send more photos much faster and with much fewer problems.

To give you an example, most modern cameras are somewhere between 5 and 15 "megapixels", these typically produce images between 5MB and 10MB. If you were to email like this, it'll take you a long time to send the email, and there's a good chance that it will 'bounce' back, or give you an error, it also takes your recipient a long lime to download the image. When emailing, you should aim to send a photo that's under 500KB.

Click HERE to read this article in full, and see how you can reduce the size of your photos in just 2 clicks.

More Articles:

• Spyware, Malware and other 'nasties' removal
• Problems with MSN/Live Messenger and SPAM?
  
• Virus Scanners
  
• Clean temporary files from your computer
  
• Defragmentation
• Creating an Email Account - Gmail

If you'd like to know more, would like a certain topic covered, or have questions, please contact me at dngood@gmail.com

This issue, we've taken a quick look at the price of grocery shopping in Turkey compared to the UK in a hope to finally settle the argument of which is cheapest. We selected 50 items, including branded and unbranded items, imported, and local goods, and compared Migros, to the same (or equivalent) items in Sainsburys, and used a 2.45 conversion rate between TL and GBP to get everything in the same currency.

Here's how the basket breaks down by section:

Overall the basket was 18% cheaper in Turkey. Now of course everyone will have their own view of this, and yes, it's quickly affected by exchange rate fluctuations, and a few items, but one thing's clear - if you shop smartly in Turkey, sticking to domestic items and local produce it's easy to save money compared to a similar shop in the UK.

For more information, and a full breakdown on what was included in the basket, please click HERE for the full article.

Lucy...

This is Lucy. She was abandoned in Bitez a couple of months ago - heavily pregnant. She has raised her puppies and has now been neutered. She has a very kind personality, and would make someone a loyal companion. She has had a rough time. Would anyone like to give her a well deserved 'second chance'?
Contact: Liz, 0535 957 8826 or call the Bitez Belediye and ask for Head Zabita, Ugur.

Lucy's Puppies

These are Lucy's puppies. Their mother was abandoned in Bitez a couple of months ago. They are now 8 weeks old, and ready to go to new homes. Boys and girls available! The girls have been neutered. Contact us if you think you could offer one of them a good home.
Contact: Liz, 0535 957 8826 or call the Bitez Belediye and ask for Head Zabita, Ugur.

Let me tell you the amazing story of ‘Honey’

Honey has been lucky because of her unluckiness... This poor little puppy was found at the roadside, a kind lady bought her to the vets. At the vets it was discovered that both her back legs were broken in multiple places and needed serious surgery to have a hope of walking again.

First, pins where put in both legs, this proved to be unsuccessful so they had to be replaced with long term surgical plates. All this has happened in her short life of just 4 months, so Honey will need unconditional love for the rest of her life.

If you would like to adopt Honey please contact me.

Can anyone help find a home for these two lovely dogs, who are both currently staying at the Torba Dog Home, due to their owner's tragic death? The one on the left is male, the other female. They are both fully house-trained, friendly and love human affection. They long to be loyal to a new owner.

Contact: editor@bodrumbulletin.com

The Torba Dog Home is always looking for help - whether you want to play with, groom or walk the dogs, or even help operate! You can do as much or as little as you want - all the help is greatly appreciated. Meet other English helpers on a Monday, or go up any day of the week.
Contact: editor@bodrumbulletin.com

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Skiing in Izmir!?!
With the cold weather lifting, the Hock family recently had a perfect stay at Bozdağ Ski Center, just outside Izmir, which offers some great skiing right through until April. Click HERE to read their full article, written by Luke (4) and Callie (6).

Cheap Flights - For those that missed last week's Bodrum Bulletin Newsflash, you may not know that the Pegasus Airlines direct Stansted to Bodrum flights have now gone on sale. The key facts here are simple - they may only fly on a Monday, but they mean that it's now the cheapest way to fly to Bodrum for the summer months. (the direct flights stop on October the 12th as far as I can see).

We've also updated the flight-watch table, for the 14 main UK airports flying into Bodrum. Have a look and see how the airports compare across the year (more information...).

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You can view the full Readers' Reccomendation directory on the website by clicking HERE or by clicking on "Directory" on the top menu of the website. Note, however that you need to be logged into the website to view the detail pages, if you are having problems logging in, please click HERE.

To recommend a business (or an individual), just email us at editor@bodrumbulletin.com.

Current Readers' Recommendations:

• Airport Transfers
  • Bodrum Tour/Onelli Tour and Rent-a-Car (view or add a review...)
• Builders
  • Unal Agkoc (view or add a review...)
  • Bodrum Home Care (view or add a review...)
  • NEW: Alpha Management Services (view or add a review...)
• Car Rental
  • Bodrum Tour/Onelli Tour and Rent-a-Car (view or add a review...)
• Curtain and Material Shops
  • Premier Home (view or add a review...)
• Dentists
  • Derya Guncan Ortmen (view or add a review...)
• Electricians
  • Huseyin Celik (view or add a review...)
  • Bodrum Home Care (view or add a review...)
• Gardeners
  • Huseyin Celik (view or add a review...)
• Handymen
  • Huseyin Celik (view or add a review...)
  • Unal Agkoc (view or add a review...)
  • Bodrum Home Care (view or add a review...)
• Healthcare
  • Derya Guncan Ortmen (view or add a review...)
  • Özel Bodrum Hastanesi (view or add a review...)
  • NEW: Universal Hostpial (view or add a review...)
• Legal
  • NEW: Ozlem Kocanaogullari (view or add a review...)
• Plumbers
  • Huseyin Celik (view or add a review...)
  • Zeki (view or add a review...)
• Pool Maintenance
  • Huseyin Celik (view or add a review...)
• Property Management
  • Alpha Management Services (view or add a review...)
• Turkish Language Teacher
  • Tansu, Yalıkavak (view or add a review...)
  • Mehmet Ali Aslan (view or add a review...)
  • NEW: Çimen Sevanç (view or add a review...)
• Vet
  • Animana, Yalıkavak (view or add a review...)
  • NEW: Pethane Veterinary Clinic, Konacık (view or add a review...)

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If you have a question about any aspect of life in Bodrum, let us know and we'll post it to this section as an open question. But here's the important bit - we need your help to answer the open questions; so please don't be embarrassed - send us your questions, and answers.

New Questions:

Q21: Does anyone know how the Gümbet Belediyesi Sport Centre works? Is there a time table for the pool opening hours? how much is it to swim or can you buy a monthly pass etc...? Is there anyone there that speaks English there who is helpful?
A21: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q20: I am diabetic and would like to spend more time at our villa this year. In the UK I can only get my insulin on a monthly basis due to the shelf life. Is there any where I can get insulin in the Bodrum area, other than flying home every month to pick up supplies?
A20: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q22: Can anyone recommend a health insurance company for UK Ex-pats?
A22: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q23: Does anyone know if a flat panel TV purchased in Turkey will work in UK  with terrestrial TV? I know the old style English TV's are not compatible with the Turkish TV signal but maybe things are different in the digital age?
A23: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!
Editor: You should have no problems – although it may depend slightly on what flat panel TV you have over here, and what you want to connect it to in the UK. Modern TV's have a variety of connectors, which follow (European) standards, most problems you might encounter will just need a simple adapter.

Q24: I have heard that if you hold a residence permit you can obtain treatment and consultations at state (devlet) hospitals and clinics the same as citizens (albeit for a considerably cheaper fee), does anybody have any info on this at all.
A24: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q19: Has anyone discovered any materials in Bodrum suitable for improving the sound proofing through a shared block partition wall?
A19: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q18: Does anyone know of someone willing to be a 'Leader' for a just-for-fun line dancing group?
A18: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q17: Our TAPU (title deeds), has the "Kat Irtifaki" box ticked. Can anyone tell me what this means, what the implications are, and if applicable - how to change this; we believe we have a copy of the habitation certificate.
A17: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q15: Does anyone have seeds or cuttings of Chilean Jasmine (Mandevilla laxa) or M. splendens 'Alice du Pont' that they want to get rid of, or know where I can get some?
A15: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q14: I have a Panasonic CD player which I bought over from the UK. Since I transported it a 'click' has developed when it plays CDs. Does anyone know where I can get this looked at or fixed?
A14: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q12: Can anyone recommend a good English speaking solicitor to give us some advice on making a will - we have 2nd marriages with 2 lots of children so it's rather complicated!
A12: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Q10: What costs are involved with obtaining a habitation certificate - I am being charged 1350TL for a property on Alexander Hills - is this normal?
A10: Know the answer, or have any advice? let us know!

Old Questions:

Previously answered questions have now been archived to the Q & A section of the website:
http://www.bodrumbulletin.com/community/questions

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Here we list businesses which offer Bodrum Bulletin readers a discount.

• Car Rental/Airport Transfers:
  • NEW: Bodrum Tour (Onelli Tour/Rent-a-car) - up to 15% off (more information...)
• Restaurants & Bars:
  • La Pasión, Bodrum - 10% off (more information...)
  • Meyhane Serhoş, Bodrum - 10% off (more information...)
  • Our Secret Garden, Yalıkavak - 10% off (more information...)

If you would like to list any kind of business here (not just restaurants), it's free - all we ask is that a discount is offered to the readers' contact us now!

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New crosswords:

• Adjectives

Archived crosswords:

• Around the House
• Meat & Seafood
  
• Transport
• Colours
  
• Numbers - 1 to 20
  
• Animals
• Fruit & Vegetables

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Found something you want to tell others about, or do you want to pass on some important information to others? Let us know now!

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