Joycies home,

[joycie]

Well we made it. Our escort for our trip home had made the trip to Atalya from Heathrow to Frankfurt to Atalya yesterday. He met us in our lovely hotel and said that Bri had definetly had a heart attack and he would escort us home. His real job is as a Doctor in Brighton but he was lovely everything sorted he took over completely. Such a relief. One tiny problem we were to picked up at 4am but unfortunately the transport company sent a Ford fiesta for the three of us our luggage and the doctors all important bag. He was not best pleased but we made it to the domestic terminal with a few smiles .
Bri deposited into wheel chair suitcases wheeled by me through security in a whisk and plane to Istanbul bang on time. Mind you holidaying in Turkey cant be good for your health there were three patients with escorts at the front of the plane and one on a stretcher at the back. Mind boggles what everyone else had been up to. Flight just under an hour and even breakfast served we arrived in Istanbul at about 9am
Again wheel chair and escort no baggage we wouldn't see that till Brum but one of the most cosmopolitan airports Ive ever been to. It was absolutely heaving every nationality under the sun and loads of Americans. I was totally awestruck.
We had a two and half hour wait there but it passed quite quickly and then the transport to the departure lounge which was like a wheelchair on a Segway arrived for Bri and me and young doc ran after them as they raced to the departure lounge.
Again very smooth transfer on to plane only a couple of patients this time and we settled into our seats.
We took up four seats for three people so that Doc could access Bri oxygen cylinder was produced bag over his head and off we go.
I must say that Turkish Airlines are excellent. We were given a menu to choose lunch smoked salmon which was lovely chice of chicken kebab with rice and vegetables or eggplant with mince which was excellent a lovely creamy dessert cheese and biscuits glass of red wine and tea or coffee. It was as flying used to be before we had to pay for everything put in front of us.
Lovely sleep entertainment on the screen in the seat in front and plenty of legroom.
Flight time just over 3 hours and glided into Brum bang on time.
Again excellent assistance from everyone and smooth transfer through passport control. Doc had completed his paperwork and introduced us to the private ambulance which would ferry us to our door. He was going back to Brighton to do his day job.
Joutney lovely and smooth bit different to the last ambulance ride Bri took through them there hills but at last we were home safe and sound. Still got an artery to unblock but i'm sure it will be attended to ASAP. Our local hospital is Stafford but we've always been treated well by them.
Motto of this long winded tale. Please please please do not skimp on your travel insurance. We would never have been able to afford the care we've been given and Bri is still here to tell the tale.
Excuse me Blue Lizard what happened to them Yesterday?

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=11658.0

[Kalkan Magic]

Joycie, so pleased that you and Bri are home safely, that's absolutely the main thing. At least you have seen more of Turkey than you originally intended! I hope Bri's hospital appointments and future surgery are very successful - he looked the picture of health yesterday so can't imagine how healthy he will look once all of his procedures are complete!
Good luck with everything...x

[joycie]

Thank you. Our stay in Kalkan was eventful but your apartment was wonderful and the views to die for. It was wonderful first thing in the morning to watch the little boats go to and thro and not once did we have any noise from the old town below or any fireworks or dogs. The noisiest fireworks were in Antalya.
So thank you everyone has been wonderful and hopefully one of these fine days we will return to special magical Kalkan.

[MartynE]

Thanks for the update, Joycie. All's well that ends well, as my mum used to say. We've been so worried about you both and it's such a relief to know he's in good hands. 

Have to say your comments about Turkish Airlines are spot on... I have used them quite a lot for my trips back to UK and they are top notch.

As for holiday insurance...totally agree. Your experiences are a true cautionary tale for all those who baulk at the premiums!

Take care of him and keep us informed....hope to see you again before too long x

[Blue Lizard]

Hey Joycie! glad you and Bri got home safe and sound..as nice as Kalkan is and as well as you were looked after it's best to be surrounded by things you are familiar with, family and friends and the good old NHS.....Kalkan will still be waiting for you when Bri is fit and well...on the other subject? i'd keep Bri away from St Andrews for a while I fear a lot more twists and turns not good for a dodgy ticker!,nothing will change till the Chinese crooks that have sold everything bar the tea lady and ripped the heart of the club are banged up and ousted!! still that's part of being a Blue..you don't suddenly think "ooooh!! i'll support Birmingham City" it's family and area that decide you..The best we can hope for is survival till new owners come along.
Best wishes to you and Bri and as the Blues song goes   KRO (Keep Right On)
 

[clara 50]

So pleased you're both home safe. As my gran used to say I don't know you both from Adam, but I feel like I've been with you all the way, like many others. I agree about insurance,  Ìt just goes to show it can happen to anyone. Hope you've settled back and as for the tears,  I'm useless, think it harks back to childhood hols in Butlins and the  teary "we'll meet again" on the last night. Guess you never grow out of some things. Hope Bri get's good follow up care  and you have plenty of support too, please keep us posted. Best wishes to you both x

[joycie]

Thankyou xx

[Pompeyalbie]

BL know what you mean about crooks, we had Russian, Isreali, more Russian & Hong Kong, thankfully we came out the other side alive , just, best raid the piggy banks and buy it yourselves like we did. It's going to be a long way back but we know the Crown Jewels are safe from being sold off & the money disappearing like before.
Joycie, you'll have a few tales to tell when friends ask about your holiday , talk about a round trip, Gatwick to Dalaman, then Atalya to Istanbul to Brum. Good luck to Bri.

[antler]

Joycie, well done and we are pleased you are both home safely. I endorse what you say regarding Travel Insurance. It costs peanuts and when you really, really need it, it kicks in and you are so grateful. (Bex, our eldest suffered DVTs in Sydney and from the moment the Surgeon rang us at 6am one morning to tell us it was touch-and-go with her, until we arrived back into Manchester with a nurse, 3 weeks later (with Mrs A suffering with something similar, when she got out to Oz as well!!) we had everything we needed from an Annual Worldwide Policy costing us 99 quid per year.

Take care and stay well.

Antler