Fethiye woodland
10″ x 8″, Acrylic on card

It’s been one of those glorious winter days here, just perfect and, unlike those childhood days that seemed to last forever, this one is flying by.  Ziggy, our 6 month Vizla ate the fairy lights that Gina hung in the potted trees flanking the porch. I managed to recover and rewire what was left. I repotted a couple of pot-bound plants on the terrace.  Early ants have been repelled from colonising the garden wall lights with a combination of ant powder and sealant. I watched my bids fail to win some boat electronics on eBay. This turned out to be a lucky thing as I discovered Paypal were not going to let me access my UK account from here. I read the Sunday papers and replied to the mail and I went into the woods to collect some kindling.  Then I painted this.

In 25 minute our neighbours Bob and Pauline  are arriving for a steak and kidney pie  and I’m cooking the starter. As I said, today is flying by…..

So many of our friends, family and the expat population here have fallen foul of the latest flu virus.  It’s even nastier than usual and probably arrived onboard the Xmas flights from the UK.  My contribution to making victims and their carers feel a little better is to point them to this article by Michael Quinion.  The Dreaded Lurgi

Kayakoy Cottage
8″ x 6″, Acrylic on card

The cottage in today’s painting can be found just behind the Sarnic restaurant. I have no idea who owns the building but In my opinion, the simple, sympathetic restoration makes me happy and shows what might be achieved in Kayakoy.

Red Tulips in a glass,
Watercolour, 10″x 8″

TULIPS

In Turkish history, the period between 1718-1730, a time of peace and prosperity during the reign of Ahmed III, is called the “Tulip Era” and Tulips or Lale in Turkish, became an important symbol in Turkish life thereafter. Many embroidered and handmade textiles, ceramics and artwork featured tulip designs and shapes and Tulip gardens were popular around the Golden Horn. In fact many cultivated varieties were widely grown here long before they were introduced to European gardens. This Era ended with the Patrona Halil revolt in 1730 when the Sultan was dethroned. As I painted this, thousands of tulips were being hand planted by large crews of village workers in the parks and gardens, along the promenade and in central reservations and traffic islands right across  Fethiye.

Poppy, Watercolour,
10″ x 8″

POPPIES

In 3,400 B.C. when the opium poppy was cultivated in lower Mesopotamia it was known as Hul Gil, the “joy plant.”  And what a lot of joy we manage to get from this flower!   Painkillers like morphine and codeine,  ornamental flowers for the garden and food like bagels for example, it’s even planted for soil erosion control,. Sadly, in it’s more dangerous guise as Heroin, it’s responsible for many wars and atrocities, most famously in the Opium wars of the mid 1800’s and today in Afghanistan and the Far East. Round here though, the sight of meadows full of pink poppies is one of the true joys of summer.