All guests are gone, and the cousin with COVID is quite self-sufficient, hurrah. He is in very strict lockdown indeed – when I went to drop off his instant coffee, a man rushed out of the building shouting ‘very bad, your friend, very bad!’ At first I worried that the cousin had developed bad symptoms […]
Boaters’ bazaar
The agent entrusted us with the key to the flat, though we are not yet its owners, so we took the Trial to see it. It was really gratifying: she really liked it, and could see the potential in it. A bit of a relief to have someone outside my and the GF’s head see […]
The trial
Another relative has arrived, this one staying with us on her way to Lahore. It is a relative I am fond of, but she is undoubtedly a bit of a trial and I have to remember each time I see her that one doesn’t need to engage with the stream of consciousness. She is a […]
Connecting paths
I finished up my work this morning and by that time the GF was awake and had finished his rather long morning rituals, so we left, planning to go to the farmer’s market. We hadn’t made it more than a few steps, though before we decided not to bother: the kitchen in this flat is […]
Wet and windy
But not cold. This afternoon we had a late start and I was nearly perishing of hunger as I had breakfast at my usual sort of time, around 8 or 9, and we didn’t leave until around 2 for lunch. We walked to Karakoy and took the ferry to Kadikoy, where we went through the […]
Feeling of dread
So, we have gone ahead with the flat purchase, at least verbally, and have taken steps to bring over the money etc. It’s the more sensible one in the end. I’m feeling a rather strong feeling of sadness and dread, which is distressing to the GF I think, as he is quite pleased and excited, […]
Night of naps
A very long day/ night – my deadline was yesterday, but I asked if it could be extended to midday today and then spent basically all night, with 10 minute naps every hour or so, working on it. I sent it off around noon, and I must say I was very unhappy with it and […]
Nothing day
Nothing but work, that is. One guest left yesterday evening, so we are down to three. The one who is staying over for a couple of evenings returned to Balat to buy a red star coffee cup to match the hammer and sickle, but as happens often Google Maps lied and the place was shut. […]
Back to Balat
This afternoon we took our guests to the Chora Museum. Since our last visit screens have been installed over the mosaics as part of its transformation into a mosque, but they are less obstructive than those in the Hagia Sophia. It was really beautiful, as beautiful as I remembered it, so I was pleased to […]
On a cliff edge
We are now very close indeed to final agreement on the small Galata flat. I’m still not entirely happy with it, but it is the sensible choice and hopefully we will rent it out most of the time anyway instead of having to live in it. Two of our visitors – the ones staying in […]