A Sunrise Moment

Driving toward a sunrise

Everyone has a few 'perfect moment' times in their lives. Mine come from unexpected places. Driving home from our holiday marked the end of summer in a sad, nostalgic way. We usually set out very early before dawn on our road trips, and buckle the kids safely in their places while they still sleep so we can enjoy the peaceful, empty roads in safety and comfortable silence.


So, when I felt like I was leaving summer and relaxation behind, this incredible vision, in every shade from orange to deep blue, reminded me of new beginnings and new adventures waiting for me in the autumn.

Love Knots (or Love Knits?)

Ah, old-fashioned romance. Who doesn't still believe in it? And some love stories just never grow old as I saw for myself when I trekked through a teeny little village in Camlibel, Edremit in the Northern Aegean region. There were dozens of these hanging from a post:

At first they look like pieces of different coloured yarn twisted into charms with little gold discs. When I looked closer, they were actually for sale as souvenirs. I was told they were talismans of love and called 'Yazgara'.

Back in the days when love fed on a strict diet of blushes, secretive glances and coded words, girls in this village would make and wear these as a symbol of their maiden status. When she wanted to wed and chose her man, perhaps after following the above diet, she would give him her Yazgara. Once the proud fellow showed this off to his friends it meant that no-one else could ask for her hand and she was his. Beautiful.