Up and down

This morning Caitlin and I chaperoned twenty eight of our young residential students on an excursion to one of the tourist highlights of Istanbul - Dolmabahce Palace in all its splendiferousness.  And what a splendiferous day it was too - beautiful blue skies and glorious warm sunshine. Built mid C19th for the Sultan, the palace is all opulence and grandeur. Fun facts include that the massive crystal chandelier (given by Queen Victoria) is the largest in the world, weighing in at an astonishing four tons. After the exile of the last Sultan and the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, it became the seat of government and the residence of Ataturk who died here on 10th November 1938.  Indoor photography is not allowed, but there are no restrictions on capturing this building in its splendid location on the twinkling shores of the Bosphorus on such a day as this.

It is with great sadness I close my day by writing that gentle Frank, my ex father-in-law, passed away during the night after a short spell in hospital.