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I think I said all I wanted to say about 23rd April in 2012, and anything I missed out I added in 2013. In 2014 I was in Greece on 23/4 and this is where I took these two photos of a flag showing St. George about to slaughter a dragon next to St George's red cross pennant flying from the roof of a church in Hydra. I was sure that there was something deeply meaningful to say about the flag that was once a symbol of everything great in England but is now an emblem we are embarrassed to acknowledge lest we be thought racist (How did that happen!). About the flag of a saint born in what is now central Turkey, hoisted above a Greek orthodox church. But as you can see from the previous two sentences, this notion is not easy to articulate. So 2014's 23rd April post was left unwritten and having got this far, you are probably wishing that I'd left 2015's in the draft box too.
So why should this Thursday be a date to remember? Because I exchanged 100 pounds today and received 400 Turkish Lira. This is the first time the Lira has dropped so low and broken the 4 Lira barrier. The general feeling now is that the only way from here is down. On that depressing note here is a happy picture of a tree prettily decorated for Children's Day.
It's not just that the Lira is weak, but that the pound is unnaturally strong, Annie. I think it will probably drop back to more normal levels after the election. I like the idea of Children's Day, though I remember from your previous posts that the reality doesn't always live up to the ideal.
ReplyDeleteWe also have an election on 7th June so anything could happen.
DeleteB to B, There are so, so many notions here that are hard to articulate, it's hard to know where to begin. The dollar is also, I think, unnaturally strong and I feel for Turkish businesspeople who have to pay debts in dollars and thus have taken a terrible hit. BTW, I don't get the sensitivity re. St. George but you don't have to explain. Sounds like another one of those confusing and complex notions.
ReplyDeleteIn the "old days" nobody ever quoted prices in TL, maybe we are heading that way again.
Deleteflags, along with the nation states and religious and political factions they represent should be abolished for the primitive tribal symbols they are. Bunting is fine - it neither offends nor incites anyone
ReplyDeleteIf we banned flags I'm sure Nationalist bunting would appear.
DeleteSwings and roundabouts, I guess. It does make Turkey more attractive to tourists which should help the economy and people with overseas income must be cashing in but I assume that inflation is on the up which hurts everyone, particularly those on low incomes. I read the CHP has shifted its focus recently with more emphasis on the economy and public finances. Got to be a good thing, I think.
ReplyDeleteCHP has promised cheap fuel to farmers I'm not sure how many farmers we have left
DeleteSo sorry about the weak Lira and all its consequences to the economy; I have family and friends being hit by it. One feels especially for the youth and the children, especially on the Children's Day, Ozlem x
ReplyDeletePensioners are very hard hit.
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