Hello Pete!

I thought that it´s time to get to know each other and to negotiate the conditions of the marriage between Charlotte and me!

I´m Turkish as you know and in my country the father of the bride has to pay a dowry for getting rid of the burden to be father of a daughter (more than ever in Charlotte´s case!).

So I thought, you could give me half of the money you actually have. I think this is a fair offer, isn´t it?

I accept € and also $.

Another possibility:

You could give me the ten fastest camels you have in your flock. As you know: I´m Turkish and for me it´s okay to accept camels as a dowry.

I always accepted camels as a marriage-portion and now I´m the owner of one of the biggest camel-flocks in Istanbul!

Please think about my kind offer – I would be glad to hear from you and to reargue the conditions of the contract and the money/camel transfer.

Kind regards

Timur

Dear Son in Law to be (if you can afford it).

I am sorry that I have taken some time to answer but I have been consulting the family oracle.

Yes it is true that in Turkish law I should be paying you a dowry for my daughter´s hand in marriage

But (yes there is always a but)

SHE is English and living in Europe.

Therefore our law takes precedent.

Ignoring half the money I actually have for a moment.

To educate her to the basic state she has now reached has cost me £5,000 per year x 5 = £25,000.

The odd car she has written off another £10,000.

The money we had to pay to the man she attacked with her handbag in some German night club or other (perhaps less said about that better)…

I think £50,000 should overcome my investment.

So with 10 year compound interest I think £200K should cover my outlay.

I would not expect you to pay all the family debt as I have two daughters..

Only half

I make that £950K.

I don´t want to be too fiddely so let´s call it £1 million.

I too am not worried how you pay but I prefer £ or $ to €

Land or property is even more acceptable.

Perhaps half camel´s leg (slightly rancid) would be a better starting point.

Kind regards

Possibly Your future father in law

Pete