HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy new year everyone! 

THE TRUST

Beautiful pubs we had in our neighborhood in London.

AT THE SAME TIME IN ISTANBUL...

The sun was warming our bodies while the smell of the sea and the voice of the seagulls warming our hearths. 

And something was happening... 

HEADING TO SUN

Our three years stay in our little kingdom comes to an end and we are heading back to sun, turquoise blue Aegean and Mediterranean waters, fluffy street cats, variety of juicy and tasty fruits and vegetables, amazing smell of the bakeries, adventurous motorcycle rides and Mediterranean style slow living.

There is a long list of the things we won’t miss like rain, unbeatable British summers, health and safety craziness, tea with milk but we gonna miss our home, the pubs, antiques shops and markets, city foxes, first class football, film quality British dramas, the smell of the fireplaces in the middle of the city, Guinness, canal walks, small theatres, delicious Indian food, our friends in London and also in a very special little pub in Edinburgh.

But,
at the end,
the question still is:
What’s the meaning of Stoneheeeeeenge? 

TRAVELLERS' CHILDREN IN LONDON FIELDS

A black and white documentary photography book we bought on Saturday. Clerkenwell born photographer Colin O’Brien which is taking London photos since 1948, captured Irish travellers' children in London fields in 1987. Photos of little ones with a grown up expression on their faces... 

SUPER SUNDAY

Saturday came to London with the joy of the sunshine. Following an early wake-up and breakfast, we walked to Broadway Market by the Regent’s Canal. At weekend, for us the best time for walking in canal is early hours of the day, before big happy families, lost tourists and crazy cyclists time. The Regent’s Canal walk is one of our favorites in London. Every time you can see different boats each with its own character, discover little details like a street/canal art, a wood fired earth oven or meet a big heron in the middle of the city.

After the Broadway Market, we walked back home, then to Camden Passage Market and Chapel Market. Bought some photography books, some christmas decorations, made some grocery shopping and tea time, we enjoyed our recorded dramas, photography books at home.

We were expecting another sunny day today but, you know... Then we changed our plans to go to Colombia Road Flower Market and following a lazy morning at home, we went to King’s Head to celebrate the “Super Sunday” accompanied by few pints. First match of the day, Aston Villa-Man United was a good quality 90 minutes football. Man United won with a scor 0-3 against Aston Villa. The next match Tottenham-Liverpool, despite the 5 goals of Liverpool wasn’t as tasty as the first match but the result was nice. (Sorry Terry, “it” happens).

Now it’s the time for curry, then tea and British crime dramas at home. Super Sunday=Happy Sunday.

BILL’S

Bill’s is one of the charming cafes of our neighborhood. We like its grocery style decoration with shelves full of  nice products. We have been once there for a latte and croissant and the coffee seemed very week to us like drinking pure milk.

Yesterday evening we met with two greek friends of us and went there for a dinner this time. It was full but we could find table without reservation with no problem. The photo is from the end of the evening. When a turkish and a greek couple go out to dinner, this happens. You eat and chat and enjoy “yavaş yavaş” or “siga siga” (slowly slowly). 

As starter we tried hummus and tzatziki plate, green gordal olives plate, potato and rosemary bread and sweet potato fries. They were all good but the highlight was the potato and rosemary bread which was one of the best breads we ate in London. As main we tried rump steak, duck pie and pumpkin risotto with blue cheese and they were all good also. We are little bit picky in dessert that’s why no comment about them. And this time we ordered the coffee double shot and it was better. La Garenne  Shiraz  from Languedoc we tried was very smooth but tasty and we didn’t know where did they go two bottles in couple of hours.

And yes, we didn’t take the bus and walked to home after eating half of the menu... 

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN

Yesterday evening after few pints at The Dog&Duck, our favorite small pub in Soho, we went to Gielgud Theatre for Strangers on a Train, a play written by Craig Warner based on the same name novel by American crime writer Patricia Highsmith.

We didn’t watch the film of the novel directed by Alfred Hitchcock but we can say that the theatre version was brilliant and it was another London theatre production show. The projections they used in the play were impressive. The only actor we knew from before was Laurence Fox from tv series Lewis and we were excited to watch him in a live performance.  All cast was really successful and we are very pleased to have a chance to watch the play. Definitely recommended.

“A seemingly innocent conversation soon turns into a nightmarish and dangerous reality for Guy Haines when he meets Charles Bruno on a train journey, ahead lies a lethal nightmare of blackmail and psycological torment that threatens to cost Guy his career, his marriage and his sanity. His choice: to kill or to be framed for a murder he didn’t commit...”

HOMEMADE BREAD WITH FENNEL SEEDS

In a foggy, dark and cold London day, one the best things you can do, is baking a bread and filling your home with the smell of the fresh baked bread. And prepare the smoked mackarel salad... And pour your Polish oak vodka... And enjoy!

If you want to give a try, here are the ingredients and the recipe of this bread we learned from our friend Ayşegül Ural:

1,5 cup yogurt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 egg

1/2  teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon of fennel seeds

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.  Beat the other ingredients in another bowl until getting creamy and add them to the dry mix. Mix well all together with a wooden spoon and put in a bread pan. Level the top with a spatula. Bake at 170°C preheated owen for 45 minutes.

SCOTLAND'S DOORS 2

More Scotland doors here.  

WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2014 PHOTO CONTEST JURY MEMBER: KERIM OKTEN

Today I’m (Aybige) writing the post because I’m proud of Kerim one more time. During his twenty years carrier he always succeed on the assignments he covered. It’s impossible to write here all of them but with few exemples; one of the photos he took during 2011 London riots, was one of the symbol photos of the riots printed in world’s most big newspaper’s covers, also cover photo in all editions worldwide of Time magazine same week. Another photo he took during Istanbul Gezi Park Resistance this summer became another  significative photo and published as cover photo in world’s 25 big newspapers in one day. Do you remember the photoreporters running faster then Usain Bolt after the finish line on 2012 London Olympic Games and taking his photo? Yes, he was one of them.

Today, one of the most prestigious press photo organisations of the world, World Press Photo announced next year’s contest’s jury members and Kerim Okten is the Sports Jury Chair and Final Jury Member of 2014 World Press Photo Contest!

Congratulations Kerim! I’m proud of you, again!

  

A ONE DAY ESCAPE TO FRANCE

Since we came to London, for our Paris travels we were using EuroStar trains but today finally we experienced Dover-Calais ferries for crossing the channel for a short trip. The London-Dover train (2 hours) + Dover-Calais ferry (1,5 hour) system worked very well for us and the weather also was very helpful for having a little “air de France”.

Calais surprised us with its empty streets on a sunny Saturday. The 80’s music broadcast from the loudspeakers at the empty but christmas decorated Place d’Armes was little bit twilight zonish. The 55 metres high Calais Lighthouse visit with the accompanied by the lighthouse guide was the best part of the day. Climbing 271 steps of this lighthouse built in 1848, definitely worth.

At the end of the day, on the way back, we were the only ferry passengers without carrying huge bags full of beer cans, etc. and it was interesting to observe the amount of daily trade circulation/activity of people between two ports. 

LIFE IS SHORT

Enjoy the moment, drink and dance! Life is short...

LONDON TATTOOS

A beautiful photo book by our photographer collegue Alex MacNaughton. Colorful portraits of Londoners with artful bodies. 

LONDON DOORS 3

North London doors.

More doors here, here, here and here. 

WEST RESERVOIR IN STOKE NEWINGTON

Saturday. Sun, certainly not warming the bodies but warming the hearts of Londoners. A walk through Stoke Newington. A break for tasting delicious quiches in a café in Church Street. Then tea time at West Reservoir’s cafe watching the brave people of North London Sailing Association over the water despite the cold weather. Afternoon, an early rakı table with delicious mezes. Happiness!

WATER OF LEITH IN EDINBURGH

An oasis in the middle of Edinburgh. A beautiful walk way along the water under the trees. Peaceful, quite and just beautiful.  

THE LADYKILLERS

1955 dated The Ladykillers is a British black comedy we watched last year. The film is based on the story of five gangsters who rent a room at the house of an old lady and pretend to be musicians while they are planning a bank robbery.

Yesterday evening we headed to Strand, to Vaudeville Theatre, for watching The Ladykillers at the theatre this time. We arrived little bit earlier and popped up at The George for few pints, a lovely old British pub established in 1723. Then continued with coctails at the bar of the theatre. As a dessert, we had The “spectacular” Ladykillers. We really loved the play, the performance of the players, specially Angela Thorne as Mrs. Wilberforce and John Gordon Sinclair as Professor Marcus but our special respects are for the set designer Michael Taylor and special effects designer Scott Penrose. What a wonderfull scenery they created in such a little place. It was just: impressive!

If you still didn’t watch The Ladykillers at the scene, last days to have the chance. Don’t miss it.   

LONDONERS BY CRAIG TAYLOR

One of our London books we bought after moving here.

“From the woman whose voice announces the stations on the London Underground to the man who plants the trees along Oxford Street; from a Pakistani currency trader to a Guardsman at Buckingham Palace – together, these voices and many more, paint a vivid, epic and wholly fresh portrait of 21st-century London” 

WHEN THE MILK SLEEPS

When the milk sleeps, becomes a beautiful homemade yogurt, best mate of bite size stuffed vine leaves (yaprak sarma).  

90th YEAR OF TURKISH REPUBLIC

Today we celebrate 90th year of Turkish Republic. 90 years ago today, the founder of modern Turkey, Atatürk declared the republic and us, the Turks (or Crazy Turks as they call us), we will defend forever his heritage, our secular republic system, our country, our liberty against fundamentalist enemies of our republic.

Photo source here.

MEDITERRANEAN BREAKFAST

Mediterranean breakfast at the little Italy of our neighborhood, Food Lab. 

JOB APPLICATION

Beautiful pubs we have in our neighborhood.

LONDON’S CABMEN'S SHELTERS

Here is another curiosity to discover in London streets. Today there are only 13 of theme which exist and all are Grade 2 listed constructions. This one showed in our photos is located in Kensington Park Road in Notting Hill.

They are built after the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund founded in 1875 around the city to provide a shelter to cabmen for being protected from the weather. A place where also they can have a hot meal, read newspapers and books while drinking their tea and coffee. They were providing these services with a very low fee and they were used only by cabmen.

These little green sheds are part of London’s history and also one of the little treats of London for you to discover. 

LENTIL KOFTA (MERCİMEK KÖFTESİ)

What if red lentils, bulgur, paprika sauce and cumin meet in a Turkish home in London and it’s raining outside and you want to drink few glasses of rakı and you have plenty of British crime dramas recorded on your tv?

Yes, prepare the lentil koftas (mercimek köftesi), pour the rakı, have a seat in front of the tv and enjoy! 

LONDON BELONGS TO ME

Currently reading this book and -through the pages- sharing the lives of a group of Londoneers who live in the same building: 10 Dulcimer Street, London in 1938...

MUSEUM OF BRANDS

Yesterday we enjoyed the sunny and warm weather and went to Notting Hill to visit The Museum of Brands. Since three years we were delaying this visit and at the end: hallelujah!

With its full name The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising is smallish, compact but beautiful museum and a very kind crew welcomes you. (The only bad thing is that taking photos is not allowed inside of the museum). In the museum you can see packages, advertisements of lots of British and some foreign products since the Victorian era through today.

If you are vintage lover and around Notting Hill, do not miss visiting The Museum of Brands in 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Road.

Happy 50th year Museum of Brands!

HOMEMADE CORN BREAD

There is no such a good thing as starting to the day with the smell and the taste of homemade bread. Happy stomacs, happy people!

Corn is one of the major products in northeast part of  Turkey and people living there consume a lot corn and corn flour in their kitchen. Today’s bread is from this region: Black Sea style corn bread. Yummy!