Life is Fun! It's Christmas in Istanbul!

This is the gingerbread house at the Swissôtel. 

It is made out of slabs of real gingerbread, and lollipops. 

We've had a wonderful Christmas. On Christmas day, we went to the Swissôtel for lunch. The meal was magnificent and the service was excellent. The food was set out in a mouth-watering display and our table overlooked the Bosphorus - it couldn't have been bettered.

The food was beautifully displayed. This is just a fraction of what was on offer. 

(Notice the exquisitely carved water-melon and the ice sculpture.) 

Some of the desserts on offer at the Swissôtel. 

On Boxing Day, we walked by the sea of Marmara, played on the fitness machines, and watched Jessica having fun in the playground The sea was quite rough, but the weather was mild for the time of year. We are very lucky to have all these facilities close by.

David, Clare, Jessica and John, try out the fitness machines. 

Jessica enjoyed the playground. 

My birthday came and went. Clare and I shopped, we went out to dinner at Kirpi, and returned home for champagne and ice-cream. A most satisfying way to spend a birthday.

Jessica, David and Clare, wishing me a happy birthday. 

Clare and I have had great fun shopping, Jessica has been a happy girl and John has had a good rest, ready for the ofsted monitoring visit to his school. Now we are off to England to celebrate the New Year. Happy New Year to you all, and may this be the best year ever!

Me, practising to be a photographer.