SANTA KEEPS COMING AND COMING...

Since we came back to Istanbul, we are trying to settle and the house still is a madhouse. But on the other hand, we enjoy the sun, drinking delicious tea during hours while looking to the blue of the sea, the friendship of fluffy street cats, breakfast with crunchy simit (Turkish bagel), being spoilt by mom treats...etc.

This time the new year came to us with new plans, challenges and good surprises. Meantime, Santa also is very busy and keeps visiting us everyday. (Oh yes, he is still around). He brings us  packages full of love and care from special friends.

First from Ankara, from Tülin...

Then from Izmir from Depressive Bear...

And today from Istanbul, from Eda...

Dear friends, thank you all for being there, for your love and care! You enlightened our week!

FIRST SECONDS OF THE NEW YEAR

We believe the new year depends how you begin to it. This is the photo of the first seconds of our new year. 2013 came to us with great music, dance, lots of booze, happy people and ...jump! ...jump! ...jump!

Happy new year again folks!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year Everyone!

NEW YEAR GIFTS FROM EDA

This morning a lovely and smiling postlady brought a big package from Eda.

Inside a colorful and lovely gift wrap, there were lots of surprises: a vintage style cushion cover, a christmas tree ornament, a film for watching in long winter evenings and a caaat bookmark! Wooow!

Dear Eda, thank you for all and happy new year!

LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Christmas Day morning we woke up at five o’clock in the morning for going to watch christmas swimmers in Serpentine in Hyde Park.

Last year, when we were walking there, we were quite surprised to see Oxford Street totally empty for the first time. 

This year was the same.So, we enjoyed the emptiness of the main, busiest and most popular streets of London and took some christmas lights photos. The photo above, is taken at 7.30 o’clock in the morning in Oxford Street.

The Regent Street...

Mayfair...

Bond Street...   

A VERY BRITISH CHRISTMAS FEAST

Last year was our first christmas in London and we were very excited about it. We were familiar with christmas traditions in our country and many other countries but, except the one of the best christmas movies Love is Eveywhere, we didn’t have so much idea about British christmas.

We decided to experience it in a fancy place with a nice christmas dinner.  (Then, we were thinking that the christmas feast and the turkey time was Christmas Eve like in a lot of countries but we were wrong. Brits eat Christmas feast on 25 of December, Christmas Day and not dinner, lunch). All restaurants were taking reservations for christmas dinner (which was totaly different thing, this was for the christmas parties which people make with their friends in restaurants instead of home and during all december but no in Christmas Eve or Day.) So we didn’t make christmas dinner shopping and until last day kept our hope for finding somewhere but we were wrong again. At the end, christmas eve and day were not very “feast”ive days for us. After some light snack at home, we went to one of our favorite pubs (luckyly was open) and enjoyed the live music and warm British beer.

This year, after watching since two years all kind of Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey, ...etc  “christmas special” food programs, we decided having our “Very British Christmas Feast” at home. Days before we made our grocery shopping and ta taaa!

British turkey stuffed with meat, chestnut and onion  and oven roasted potatos with goose fat: done!

Brussel sprouts and carrot cooked in our style: done!

Christmas pudding with brandy cream and mince pies: done!

Christmas crackers (of course purry ones): done!

Instead of eating on Christmas Day, we had our christmas dinner yesterday evening, on Christmas Night. After the dinner, we realised why Brits eat christmas feast at lunch instead of dinner when we were drinking cups of tea and trying to digest all those goose fat, brandy cream, etc. After the dinner we were planning to go to the pub for the live music, having more booze and dancing. But we were knock-out and drinking tea, lying at the couch and looking to our christmas lights.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

(photo © Cancer Research UK)

CHRISTMAS POP-UP MARKET AT DALSTON PIER

Small, 5-6 stalls pop-up christmas market at Dalston Pier. It’s worth only if you are in the neighborhood.

CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST THERE

London is ready for christmas. A door from North London...

SANTACON 2012

This year’s Santacon was less joyful compairing the last year’s but the thing which was not missing certainly was the originality. This year there were some new Santas in the town. 

The Beach Santas...  

Santas throwing Brussel sprouts to Elfs...

Pink baloon Santas...

Some holy personages visiting Santas...

Cool Santas...

Stylish Santas...

And some examples of this year’s Miss. Santa creations...  

THE BOOK OF CHRISTMAS

Yesterday we visited The Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibition in National Theatre. There were some really good landscape photos. 

After the exhibition, before going to the London Philarmonic Orchestra concert at the Royal Festival Hall,  we stopped at the National Theatre’s bookshop and found The Christmas Book which is about everything about christmas time like traditions, food, legends etc.  The Christmas Book written by Jane Struthers can be a good alternative to the perfect christmassy gift.   

CHRISTMASSY

Every year the christmas and new year spirit come to our home 1st of December. But this year we couldn’t wait and we called the lights and the reds and the greens (and the cat) earlier. Since one week we enjoy the lights and the spirit.  

MANCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET

Yesterday we were in Manchester. During this two years we went maybe ten times to Manchester but never before christmas. This time a surprise was waiting for us: a big christmas market. Best christmas markets we know are in Germany, they are really good on it. Christmas markets in London (except the Winter Wonderland where there is a lot of German touch) are not so successful. 

Manchester Christmas Market, is a big classic German christmas market and it is brilliant. Main part of the market is in Albert Square. There are also stalls in King Street, Brazennose Street, Exchange Street, Hanging Ditch. If you want to visit, it will be open until 23 December,  Sunday-Wednesday 12.00-19.00, Thursday-Saturday 12.00-20.30. 

As a typical German market (even is in Britain), it was full of mulled wine, beer, sausage and chocolate smell, also christmas decorations, Polish pottery, lots of gift choice. We didn’t miss the chance to eat a good charcoal grilled German sausage. 

If you want to bring home some of them, also there is opprtunity. 

We first met in Frankfurt with Polish pottery and we love them. 

For warming your feet in cold winter nights. 

Who can resist to this variety of chocolates? 

TWO PINTS IN PAXTONS HEAD

Today while we were walking in Knightsbridge we stopped in one of the cozy, old pubs of London, in Paxtons Head for a pint. Outside there was a cold and very grey day but after stepped inside once, we were in a early christmassy coziness.

Christmas craziness already began in our little kingdom early november and in this lovely pub it was the same.We settled in the comfortable chairs next to the fireplace and enjoyed the early christmas while we were drinking our Guinness.  What a lovely life! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy new year everyone!