A few weeks ago Tara at Turquoise Poppy wrote about things she’s learned since coming to Turkey. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I’ve made my own list. – Living within walking distance of a beach in a hot climate is a terrific and wonderful thing. – Communication doesn’t require language – But language is very important to me. – Cooking a meal from scratch from whatever is in the kitchen is a skill everyone should have (the Click for more
Slow Learning
The children are out on their new bicycles at least once a day, rattling along on their training wheels. The Brown-eyed Girl has mastered the u-turn at the end of the road but Little Boy Blue sits and waits to be pushed around the turn. Neither are ready to be left alone where cars may turn into our cul-de-sac at any moment. So I’ve walked the road more times than in the four years previous, chatting to the newly-arrived summer Click for more
Sisters-in-arms
Sisters are on my mind lately. Initially the real thing, busy with work and hopefully with pleasure soon, I follow her journeys with a bird’s eye view, imagining the new city streets she sees, the small coffee shops, the sprawling conferences. I tick off a list of cities I have ‘seen’, saving them for longer visits in the future or discarding them as not worth the effort. There are the new sisters I have gained, many through shared interests, most Click for more
Perspective
A few weeks ago I had a problem. It should have been simple – there were only two solutions. All I had to do was choose. But I couldn’t, no matter how hard I thought about the problem both solutions looked bad. It was a rock or a hard place, the frying pan or the fire. I was spending far too much time obsessing and getting nothing done. Then the Handyman provided a flash of inspiration. ‘There is no wrong Click for more
Out of the Doldrums
I really didn’t think it would affect me much. The work would be done outside the house for the most part, I’d be able to sit inside, write, work, clean and of course make the builder-required cups of tea. The Handyman would be around to oversee the work, so I’d be free to continue as usual. I was naive. First there was the pre-work arrangements, involving trips to various workshops, grotty stores and building suppliers. There would be idle chat Click for more
Subordinate passion
I’ve been taking a creative break lately. Unlike Rose’s holiday break this has been a business one. Yet I have to admit I have been more productive in the last month than in a long time. I’ve set up this blog, set up Skaian Gates English and overseen changes to house and garden too. I’ve entered a new phase in my hybrid life as my business will lead me back to my scientific roots. And combined with the increase in Click for more
Working Wife
A recent post on expat+HAREM has got me thinking about being at home and what it means to me. I never had any desire to be a housewife, in fact as a teenager I went so far as to reject the idea of marriage and family, a sure case of baby going out with the bathwater. A lot had to do with my mother, from whom I felt a lot of mixed signals about her life at home with the Click for more
Busy, Busy, Spring, Spring
It’s been a very busy few days around here. So I’ll just leave you to amuse yourselves with a few pictures from the garden.
To Do, To Don’t
I wrote last week about television being a distraction, but I feel I should admit that I can be distracted such exciting things as paint drying. The internet is a major danger zone. I start each day with an ambitious To Do List 1 – Write next great Irish/Turkish/expat novel 2 – Blog tremendously witty posts 3 – Post inciteful comments on Twitter and a range of blogs 4 – Arrange and clean house to reflect that domestic goddess resides Click for more
Peace and Quiet
Most satellite dishes around here point two ways. Southeast towards Turksat and all channels Turkish; or south towards Hotbird and all channels, em, hot, plus BBC World. Ours points at the north star. We took it down to do some work on the house and haven’t put it back yet. There’s some debate that we may not put it back at all. We’ve been going to bed earlier and the Handyman’s blood pressure is not being increased by hours of Click for more