Columnists

Say cheese!

By A.J. Griffiths-Jones If you enjoy eating a traditional Turkish breakfast, you’ll know that it would be incomplete without cheese. It is used in a variety of dishes such as omelettes, borek, menemen and fritters, as well as being cut into cubes and served alongside tomatoes, cucumber and olives. As with any cheese from around…

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Building begins

By A.J. Griffiths-Jones With less than a month to go before construction companies get into full swing on new builds and resume progress on planned sites, it’s a bit of a puzzle to figure out where all the expected purchasers of these new houses will come from. There has undoubtedly been a downturn in the…

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Confusion, goodbyes and the RP conundrum

By Chris Evans It’s been a slightly odd and sad year. We’ve all said goodbye to friends who’ve packed their bags and left for good. Uncertainty over residence permits is invariably cited as the main reason. Immigration is an issue affecting every country in the world. Different solutions are being used, but they all seem…

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We Have Guests

My subliminal efforts, through the Voices columns, seem to be working. I have friends coming to visit. I’d love to think it’s because they want to see me, but the reality is they probably want to see the beautiful area we live in and have a beer without having to brew it themselves. They live…

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For the love of books

By A.J. Griffiths-Jones I confess, I’m a total bookworm. In a typical week you can find me with three types of literature on the go, a paperback, an e-book and an audiobook. I digest books like most people breathe air and can’t imagine a life without my favourite classics on the bookshelves in my home.…

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Fire risks: Taking responsibility

By Chris Evans Recent weeks have seen wildfires breaking out all over the world, causing huge damage to the environment, homes, and livelihoods. One such outbreak saw a concerning number occur in the Didim area, ranging from Yesiltepe to Apollon Temple to Hunter’s Valley. It’s incredibly rare for three separate fires to break out in…

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AJ’s column – Deadly driving

The statistics for deaths related to traffic accidents in Turkiye is absolutely staggering, yet week after week reports show the numbers climbing as roads become busier and drivers more careless. One of the worst local roads for fatalities in Aydin is the Soke-Didim road, one that is regularly monitored for speeding by traffic police, yet…

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Seven years in Didim – and no itch, yet

Some things seem to come around far too quickly. Birthdays once we’ve passed 21, annual car insurance payments, and renewing our residence permits. We are lucky in Didim. The residence permit office is superb and offers far more help than they need to. They highlight the very best services our area has to offer. It’s…

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A Surprise Trip On A Party Boat

My neighbours have arrived for their summer holiday. It’s when I know I can have a couple of weeks behaving like a tourist and enjoying the wonderful area we live in. It also means I, invariably, agree to do some different things while having a nightcap and a laugh at 2am. This time it was…

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All-Inclusive holidays

For many families in Europe, July and August are the months in which their main holiday is taken. A long-awaited break when children are off school, for most this is a big treat, something that has been saved for over the course of the year and booked well in advance But what is the real…

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