Not a great day

Went to Ikea today by taxi, we don't have a car yet, and Hannah decided to puke all over the back seat, great. As many of you know I am NOT good with sick and I was covered in it, ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Poor Hannah!

It was obviously something she must have picked up from school, I just hope the rest of us don't go down with it.............................

She slept all day and woke up a bit better and demanded food, noooooooooooooooo I don't think so hunni, I gave her some water she kept that down so as she claimed she was starving I gave her a dry biscuit - she ate it but then sat on the toilet for the rest of the evening so obviously no food for 12 hours then............

Finally Moved

We moved into our lovely apartment today! We have no furniture as yet but are using an airbed to sit on in the living room, airbeds to sleep on. We are going to Ikea tomorrow to order mattresses for the beds which are currently bobbing around in the ocean somewhere........................

Didn't move!

We were supposed to move into our apartment today but it isn't yet ready - apparently this is completely normal for Turkey. Not what we wanted to hear!

The relocation agent has kindly let us stay in one of her other apartments for the time being, it has one bedroom and a sofa bed in the living room. I guess it will get us through the next couple of days and it's certainly better than a hotel room!

Moving Tomorrow!

We are moving into our apartment tomorrow so I need to get to Ikea today to pick up some bedding!

Got into taxi, said Ikea. Got the usual response of "huh" followed by blank look. I thought oh good here we go AGAIN. In the end I wrote it down, taxi driver smiled and said AH Ikea!!! Yes I thought, that's exactly what I was saying......

Blue Mosque

Paul thought it would do us good to get out today and see some sights. I agree!!

We went down to Sultanhamet to the Blue Mosque, WOW what a fascinating place, we then went to Hagia Sofia which is a museum and a mosque which is no longer in use. Photos are to be found on Flickr!

Hate it here

I've stopped feeling positive about living here I'm afraid. The traffic is driving me bonkers, everytime I go out for a walk I'm amazed I get back to the hotel in one piece. If you dare to cross a side road and someone suddenly wants to drive down it they don't slow down they just carry on. I've lost count of the number of times I've nearly been mowed down. I daren't take the kids out for a walk.

Mindless bloody ignorance if you ask me. Thank god our apartment is on a housing complex and not near a main road.

Turks just seem so ignorant, it maybe just me I don't know but I was told Turks were friendly and welcoming, ha ha I've found them to be the total opposite.....

Truth be told I want to go home.........................

Leaving Movenpick Hotel

So we are having to move hotels because we were only booked in here until today and they are fully booked and we don't have a temporary apartment to move into, great...........

So Sheraton here we come.

No Temporary Apartment yet

Well we are trying to get a temporary apartment sorted out because we can't have our "posh" one until Wednesday 24 September!

Hotel Alone

Paul has gone to work today and I've taken the kids to school by taxi, it's a nightmare trying to direct the taxi drivers who have absolutely no idea where they are going. Most of them have not heard of the school but they know the area Zekeriyakoy so that helps I guess, I can direct them from there!

Living in a hotel sounds great but it really isn't, it's not like a holiday where you go out and see sights. I'm here alone all day, kids gone, hubby gone and it's not fun :(

Looking for a potential home

Went out today with the relocation agent to look at homes. She took me to various areas Istinye, Tarabya, Kirecburnu and Emirgan. I didn't like any of the villas they were all quite old and as we've got to think about earthquake safety I decided not to go for a villa. She showed me some apartments on compounds which were all ok but there was always something missing?!? Anyway we then went to an apartment in Tarabya and the instant I walked through the door I knew it had to be this one, I just had that feeling, a vision of us living there! It had all mod cons, pool, gym, sauna, indoor pool, squash courts, playground, kids playroom/ballpit AND a fantastic view of the Bosphorus!

I mentioned it to Paul when he came home and we are going for a second look on Saturday morning, he'd better love it - OR ELSE!!!!

School Meeting

Went to the school today for the introductory meeting met both teachers properly, we're very impressed with the school so far!

It's so hot here 29oC but I'm slowly getting used to it! It's good to have some sun after the crap summer in the UK!

First day at school

Kids start their new school today, Hannah can't wait to get there but Alex isn't quite so sure! I'm sure he'll settle in fine, he takes after me in that respect he gets nervous about new things he's quite a sensitive lad! Hannah on the other hand chucks herself into anything!

Went to school and met the teachers, both teachers seem great but Hannah's teacher wasn't told she was starting today (great) so her teacher was a bit taken aback when we turned up lol! Went to pick them up after school and they had both been fine!

Movenpick Hotel

So we are in the hotel now, Paul has hired a car today so we can check out some areas.

Setting Off

Well here we are in Heathrow, everyone is so excited about starting a new life in Turkey. Personally I'm not so sure we are doing the right thing but ho hum life is too short to not take risks!!

Said my tearful goodbyes to family and friends, see you all next summer :(