This week we had a visit from Ville's lovely Finnish uncle and (he will accept this!!) even lovelier partner. Unsurprisingly the daughter they brought with them, and her partner, turned out to be excellent people too. It's a reassuring thing to see, as you get older, that plenty of love in a household does tend to result in good people. Their visit coincided with Ibtissam's visit to see Justin Bieber in concert. Kids I need to tell you this little tale about your Dad (though I am sure that you, like I, will never actually doubt his kindness and brilliance). Ibtissam, our friend and an asylum seeker from Morocco has a pretty serious Bieber fixation.  She was walking with us on the Island last month telling us about his visit to Istanbul and Ville told her we would buy her a ticket the next day. I was just so proud that he didn't hesitate, that he knew that what she needed most was a day off from being a have not. Our Finnish relatives were fantastic with Ibtissam and it was great watching everyone peel off their socks to dip their toes in the Marmara Sea. I also enjoyed helping Ibtissam get ready for the big night, a bit of a foretaste of pleasures to come, though I have to admit to hoping that Neve has more interesting taste in music!

Saturday had been one of those big days on the horizon for several weeks. Matti was playing in a piano concert and I was becoming godparent to my Hungarian/ German friends' new daughter in Karaköy at 5. We got everyone on to the 10.45 vapur wearing ironed clothes (one of the three or four days a year!). Just before 12 the boat turned back to the Island of Kinalıada because of heavy fog (which had already caused an accident) and there it sat. Matti didn't make it to play and at 3 with the fog looking like tendrils of smoke I began to doubt whether we were getting to the baptism either. At 4.30, with our boat to the city showing no signs of departure we jumped over to the other waiting boat, bound for home. We got there an hour later looking a little creased and weary, but, to the kid's credit, six hours sat on a stationary boat was not too bad at all. Happily today Matti had another concert and Anton and I were able to watch him, and Anton said he felt 'very proud'!

So my photos this week are of a trip to Miniatürk, Anton determinedly cleaning our windows, a Moroccan and a Finn in deep conversation, Matti on the Friday night trip to the 'orange house' and a very foggy day.

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