All joys

Today I went with colleagues on a school organised shopping excursion to Ikea and all the other major stores in the enormous retail park in Umraniye, Istanbul, where the Festive Season is full swing. I managed to buy new bed sheet (heaven - cotton), some wine and a few small things I didn't know I needed when I left home this morning. No baubles. After yesterday I am not sure about festive decor - maybe I will, maybe I won't - but colleagues were happy enough with their trees and trinkets.

Worthy of note was the weather - about as unseasonal as it is possible to get - bright bright really warm sunshine ! A wonderful wonderland of surround-colour. Joy to the world.