Gifts from Orient afar

Technically Turkey is the start of the Orient, as the Orient Express travels as far as Istanbul. Son Number 2 has just returned from holiday there. He and his girlfriend D, seemed to have had a marvellous time, scuba diving, sun-bathing and visiting the odd Turkish bath.

He brought a little gift for his mum and dad - some proper dried herbs and an All-Seeing Eye. This is the Nazar Boncugu or Nazar Boncuk charm that protects the home against the evil eye and is a disc made of blue glass which the Turkish hang in their window to ward off the Evil-Eye.