Serves me right
for shouting about the gorgeous weather… it’s now so cold that there was ice on
the dogs’ water bowl this morning and half the plants in the garden are
wilting. There was snow in Istanbul on
New Year’s Eve and Sarikamis–where we are going skiing at the end of this month–
is currently minus 30°C with the wind chill factor IN THE DAYTIME! I hope it
warms up before we go or all the thermals in the world are not going to get me
out on the slopes.
The boys got new
ski clothes for Christmas, those being one of the things that made my suitcase
overweight coming back from Canada. I
had thought they were bulky but not heavy, but actually they are quite heavy
too. They were still a bargain compared
to what I would have paid over here and should last them a long time. Kaan is so excited about skiing that he keeps
walking round the house with all his gear on.
After opening
our presents on Christmas Day, we went to the hotel and were joined by almost
20 family and friends (and a small dog– see picture). Most of these were Turkish and some were very
excited to be celebrating Christmas for the first time! Even the crackers–which last year we forgot
to pull–were a source of amazement.
The food was, as
usual, an eclectic mix of British Christmas dinner and Turkish side dishes–Russian
salad and haydari (minty yogurt) among the turkey and roast potatoes. The
turkey was a little too free-range for my liking, as in it was actually free-ranging
round a neighbour’s garden until a few days before Christmas. Still, it was plucked and prepared by the
time it came to me (though I did have to get Kaan to take the neck off) and it cooked
alright though maybe a little tougher than usual.
Everyone ate
plenty and later I cut and dished out Christmas cake which also has a mixed
reception, being so unlike any cake or dessert here. And after that, the music was cranked up and
the assembled company started dancing, as Turkish people love to do at any
excuse!
Emre went back
to Ankara on Monday (28th) and I didn’t think he would be down for
New Year but Cem called his friend Fikret who lives in Ankara and persuaded him
to drive down and bring Emre with him.
They arrived on Thursday morning, having driven through the night (a bit
over 600km–a distance people think nothing of driving at the drop of a hat over
here) and it was a nice surprise to see them.
We were back in the hotel for New Year’s Eve, but with less running up
and down stairs to check on food for me as Cem’s mum and one of our friends had
prepared most of the food.
So here is
January–Ocak in Turkish which means stove or hearth and boy do we need one
now! I miss my wood-burning stove which
I have refused to put up this year because it smokes a lot and makes the walls
sooty. I think the weather is warming up
a bit tomorrow and rain is also due.
Emre and Fikret left at midday today to drive back to Ankara; Emre has 3
days more of exams and then starts the mid-term holiday and Kaan has 3 weeks of
school beofe.
I hope you are
all flood-free and have not been suffering too much from Storm Frank – and all
the other inclement weather over there.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and let’s all hope that the news this year contains fewer
horrors and more joy!
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| Breakfast on New Year's Day |
