Wow! That is how we all reacted when we arrived in Seville early on a Sunday morning in May. Our taxis followed thousands of racing cyclists as travelled alongside the Guadalquivir River to the centre of of the city. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and Seville looked beautiful. There were nine of us in the British group: four staff and five students and we all had a wonderful time, from the moment we landed to the the moment we set foot back in England. We would like to thank everyone who made this such a wonderful week - and also share with you some of our most special moments.

Crossing the bridge to Triana

On our first day we explored a little, including crossing the bridge to Triana. We were puzzled by the padlocks on the railings, but someone explained they were there because lovers put them there - and threw the keys into the river.  How romantic!

Our first Spanish tapas

                                                                                     


We also had our first tapas! We enjoyed it very much!  In England it is usual to have one large plate for a main meal , with some meat or fish, vegetables or salad and potatoes, pasta or rice all together.

I think it is different in every country. It's a good job food is the subject of our project - it gives us an excuse to try lots of different styles of eating!.

We loved walking along by the river - and even going on a boat under some of the bridges.

Resting in a shady park.

Resting again! We did move sometimes you know!

We were very impressed by your huge cathedral and the fantastic palace of Alkazhar!

 Mark Nicholls was very excited to discover some of Star Wars was filmed here!

 We really enjoyed a very interesting day at your school.  Thankyou for making it so interesting.  We were impressed with how well everyone spoke English.

The flamenco dancers were fabulous - as was the rest of the programme we enjoyed during the show at your school.  You are all so talented - pupils and teachers!

 Superb!

Very beautiful and talented young ladies.  We applaud you!
Thank you from Sonny, Sonya, Sol, Aidan, Elena, (our students) and Barbara, Jill, Mark and Clare (staff).  We had a wonderful time with you in Seville and can't wait to see some of you in Brighton next year!

Travelling Times

This summer I am determined to go places. I know I've already had a holiday to Kalkan, Turkey ( ahhh - wonderful, take me back...). Dave and I have also been to Devon for a weekend of cycling - and eating. But I want more! So in July I'm going to Mongeham, August I'm off to Jersey, then south of France and finally Turkey again - that's Kalkan followed by Istanbul! Brilliant!

The road to Kalkan

Click on the buttons to hear some music on the road to Kalkan. (Actually, I'm flying this time but one day maybe...)

Food for thought

Food for thought

Dear Fairy Godmother,

Dear Fairy Godmother, Where have you been? I've not seen or heard from you recently. Last year you seemed to be around quite a lot, and life seemed on the exciting side - but this year, I've found you absent and rather missed you. The dreams are there, plenty of them, but there seems to be a problem with them coming true. This can be a little disappointing and frustrating. I'm sure you know what I mean.

The thing is that I need you here to whisper in my ear that you believe in me. Sometimes I'm full of myself and can see life leaping and dancing away with me in the driving seat, off on adventures here, there and everywhere. But, then the shitty bits of life invade, rather rudely, and scare my dreams away. People call it reality, but it's not the only reality, is it? There I go again you see, questioning and mistrusting myself. I need you, fairy godmother, to tell me to stop the nonsense and stick to the dreams coming true path. Just to remind you, here are 3 of my top dreams. No particular order, any dream will do. (I think there's a song there...)


1 Travel. I want to go places. Turkey is pretty high on my list, but I'm flexible! What will I do there? Explore, write, teach, enjoy!

2 Try things: climb mountains, sail seas, ski beautiful mountains, paraglide off cliffs etc. You only live once and I want to try more stuff.

3 Work on a film. I love making films, but I'd love to be involved with a bigger budget one. Maybe my son can help with that one...

Ok, so that's it for now. I'm not one of these people who think that every dream should come true. But if you're reading this FG then I'd really appreciate you stirring in a little bit of magic for me, just to get things moving. Thanks

Sail away

Sail away?  Yes please!

love letter to Kalkan

My dear Kalkan,
How I miss you!  As these winter nights draw in I find myself sitting huddled round my computer, gazing into the screen searching for those long lost evenings of spectacular sunsets, dreamy dinners and so much laughter.  Laughter: yes, I miss that so much.
I remember that first night of ours.  Pitch black,  almost silent; and we were lost.  Even D had finally accepted that the sat nav was barking mad after it had taken us off on little detours into the wilds of Turkey on our night journey.  I would have been unbearably smug about the superiority of a map in these circumstances - had I not left the map on the table at home, with the torch... and the mobile phone.
So we relied on memories of google earth.  I'd zoomed in curiously on the Meltem Apartments in Kalamar Bay many, many times and noticed the swimming pool - on 3 levels, with a waterfall link.  It looked fantastic - and unique.  Therefore I got out of the car and walked in front, peering over walls trying to spot the pool.  Several times we passed packs of dogs, hanging out on street corners - they totally ignored us, (we were travelling very slowly after all) but there was no sign of our holiday home. 
Until we came to the steep hill.  This was the understatement of the year.  When hills were mentioned in Kalkan info we thought nothing of it.  We live on a hill.  We used to live on the steepest hill in Brighton - and we survived.  No hills r us and we can take them.  But this was more like a black run down the Matterhorn. We came upon it, started to descend and then swerved off swiftly onto a side road as it appeared we were on the brink of tumbling down into an unseen abyss.
And luckily this was where our holiday home was!  And what a dream of a place it was - and still is.  A little piece of heaven.   
The next day we discovered that the hill (still steep but not quite so daunting) led down to the Mediterranean sea, that deepasforever, crystal clear sea that spent the next few weeks enticing us in and making us welcome.
We also discovered lots more about you Kalkan.  Fantastic wonderful things that I'll remind you of when I write again.  But for now
Kendine iyi bak

x