New Year's Eve

May we raise a glass to all of you and wish you
A HAPPY NEW YEAR



(Believe it or not - this is an outdoor restaurant!)


We spent the New Year period in Izmir and soaked up the atmosphere

There was live music from a Latin American Band and some fabulous festive lights

Followed by an excellent firework dsiplay

Our new mosque at the end of 2009

Our new Mosque is still rising. As you can see the minarets are now under construction.





If you look back to the end of last year's blog, you will see how far it has progressed.

Boxing Day Charity Swim

Boxing Day in Altinkum brought the now annual swim for charity.





There was a good turn out ...

both of swimmers and spectators/sponsors.

The Swimmers were very lucky this year ... as you will have seen in the side panel, the current sea temperature is 17.4'C and it was a sunny day (21'C)

This time last year the sea was only 12'C , it was raining and a lot colder.

Christmas Sing-a-Long

Christmas is getting in to full swing here as we attended a Christmas Sing-a-Long party at the Hilltop Bar. The words had all been printed out for us, and the DJ put on some all-time Christmas classics, you know the ones "Let the bells ring out for Christmas", "Jingle Bells", "White Christmas". We were hoarse when we left!!

Christmas in Izmir

We visited the Ikea complex in Izmir, and the Christmas/New Year bug has certainly taken hold there.

There were lights and trees and Santas everywhere (although the palm tree in this pic is a little disconcerting)

Even the food hall was bedecked with flashing lights

Panto Season

We had great fun at a panto put on by ex-pats to raise money for a local school for the disabled.

The ugly sisters really were ugly weren't they??