Oh, the Great and Many JOYS of Turkey

Yesterday EcoDad and EcoKid wanted some time to themselves. Something about a Christmas present crafting session… but I didn’t delve deeply into the matter…

So, EcoBabe and I went out for a walk. Off to visit the little homeless puppies again, to feed them and see how they’re doing. (Oh, how I wish we were in a position to adopt!!!)

I bundled up EcoBabe in a toque (that’s a warm hat, for my non-Canuck readers,) a scarf, mittens, and his bulky, warm winter coat, then popped him in his stroller and headed out.
***There’s more than this… link through to find out the whole story!***

Cinderella

This afternoon, EcoKid and I attended a pantomime. If you’re not a Brit, you’re probably not familiar with this bizarre seasonal performance. Though I began life in England, I didn’t experience my first ‘panto’ until I was 29. They are their own thing. I must say that I like them, in spite of myself.

***Link through for an exciting video from the production!***

On Absence and Betrayal in Istanbul

My cousin C just left us after a wonderful ten day, unexpected visit. It was the longest stretch of time I’ve ever spent with my cousin and may, in fact, have amounted to more cumulative time spent with her than I’d had with her to this point.
EcoKid adores C and delighted in the time she got with her. C does the girly things that I don’t. She painted EcoKid’s fingers. She did her hair. She played princesses.
***Link through for the full story and loads of Istanbul photographs!***

We’re Going Gluten-Free and Casein-Free!

“We” is a bit of a mis-statement. EcoBabe is going GFCF. We are implementing the change.
EcoBabe has ongoing gastro-intestinal issues. I won’t be excessively graphic; I’ll just say that he’s got some persistent messy bowel issues that we’ve been unable to sort out or explain.
And there’s oodles of anecdotal evidence to suggest that a GFCF diet can help alleviate some of the symptoms of ASD…
***Link through for the rest of the post!***

On The Frustrations of Dealing With The PTT

The PTT is Turkey’s mail provider. Rather, it is Turkey’s supposed mail provider. We are not being provided with our mail.

We haven’t received package since September 30th. There are packages that have been en route to us since late August that haven’t arrived. In total, we are waiting on 9 packages that are between 6 weeks and 2 months late in arriving. This includes birthday gifts for EcoKid. Birthday gifts for me…

***Link through for the full story!***

A Birthday Delight

EcoKid doesn’t turn four til Wednesday.   But we tend to celebrate birthday seasons around here, rather than just on the birthDAY.  This makes the occassion stretch out longer and helps spread out some of the stuff that might otherwise be overwhelming if it happened all at once.
So EcoKid and I have been working away at [...]

On EcoBabe

EcoBabe is a gorgeous little boy.  There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing him fresh from the bath, oodles of rusty red ringlets cascading down his back over his glistening milky white skin.  He revels in nakedness and tears through the apartment, his perfect little bottom all a-jiggle.  Actually, seeing his usually serious features break into [...]

Understanding Turkish

When I go back to Canada, people always ask me about my Turkish.  You know, how much I speak and how much I understand.
To be honest, I don’t put much of an effort into learning Turkish.  I only have so many hours in a day and I like to focus most of them on my [...]

Ankara Attacks EcoDad

Specifically, steps on a major pedestrian thoroughfare attacked him.  Passive-aggressively.  By being terribly broken but unmarked and unfixed.  Another of the joys of expat life in the third world; contending with a lack of infrastructure.
EcoDad was headed to the market to get some nuts for EcoKid and some fruit and veggies for us all.  He [...]

Canada is COLD.

Should I amend my statement to say that Northern Alberta is cold at risk of offending those basking in the warmth of Nanaimo, Halifax, or Flin Flon?  (Yes, we really have a city named Flin Flon in Canada… and it’s name alone is enough to live there!  LOVE it!)
Nah… I won’t amend.  Most of Canada [...]