WHERE HAVE ALL THE TABLES GONE?

At the height of summer Cihangir and several other streets around the Beyoglu area are devoid of tables and chairs.  There has been a crackdown leaving bars and restaurants struggling.  No one wants to sit inside on balmy summer nights and let's face it smokers are often drinkers and vice versa and since they can't smoke inside they tend to hog the chairs outside.  No more.  It began on Asmali Mecit street off Istiklal nearly a month ago.  Rumour has it the prime minister could not take his car down the street as it had been taken over by restaurants placing their tables on them.  Indeed, as a walker it is hard work getting past everyone never mind cars.  Within a short time the tables and chairs had been taken away on the pretext that an ambulance (if needed) could not go down the street.  Fair call really.  However, it's also been said that the municipality want to levy a new tax on tables and are working out their strategy which is easier to start from scratch really.  Now Cihangir has followed.  No tables and chairs allowed on the pavements or streets.  Businesses are struggling.  Some bars have put out a few cushions so that people can sit there and everyone is now looking for new venues to go to where they can enjoy these August nights.  I think we need to see what happens when Ramazan ends which could be what this is about.  People who do without like to have everyone do without.  Terribly selfish really to expect others to be considerate to your fasting choices when you are not very considerate to those that don't wish to give up their own routines.

OVERHEARD

Becareful what you say in Toilets.  Last night was highly informative, so much so I stayed an awfully long time in the toilets of one large party gathering to listen to what everyone had to say.

Overheard:

'Yeah he's my ex.  You have can have him but he's not very good in bed'.

'Don't know why he's flirting with me with his girlfriend right beside me.'
'But you have a crush on him.'
'No I don't.  He's ok, there is someone else I like.'

'Did you see what she was wearing?'
'I thought it looked good on her.'
'Yeah I mean, she looked great.'

'Do you think her tits are silicon?'
'Must be.  Never seen tits so high up on a woman so old.'

'I'm still waiting for him to show.  He said he was coming.'

'Do you have a good contact for botox?'
'No, why would you think I would?'
'Oh, I thought you had botox done.'
'No, do I look like someone who has had botox?'
'Well yes, otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it.'

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD

Our would be authoress who recently had her book opening and got everyone to pay for their own drinks has not finished with gathering hate.

No one got a look in on her book until the opening and since those that attended were press ganged into buying the book they thought they should read it.  Horror… mouth a-gasp … jaw drop … some local expats were easy to pick out.  Character assassinations were put to paper and for one lady it was just all too much.  Tired of hearing about how she is portrayed in her once best friend’s book (be careful of your best friend it seems) she has decided to leave.  Not just leave the area she lives and works in but leave the country altogether. 

Naturally she is now regretting having had this particular best friend and although they broke up some time before the book was passed around we now know that as this lady was pouring her heart out to her friend, this friend was putting it all down on paper.  Naturally not all written is true but the likeness is very obvious and must now be very uncomfortable for her. 

It will be interesting to see how many more people this would be authoress can alienate before she needs to leave.

GORGEOUS GUYS - spot them, shoot them, submit them. AUGUST SIGHTINGS

WE LOVE IT THAT THESE GUYS ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR BODIES IN THE GYM.  Let's hope they are as good at taking care of our bodies!