So last week my birthday present arrived.

I took too many photos. And I’m not even sorry.

C is probably for the Casa part of Casa Batllo?

So any of you who keep your ears and eyes on the news, or who are just basically capable in both fields of history and maths, should have realised that last Sunday was the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

To buy a fat oyster?

Also known as ‘It’s my birthday and I ate dumplings ’cause I wanted to’

Bring me those vaulted ceilings!

Our final half day in Istanbul we were extremely lucky to be able to meet up with Selin, a real live scientist from the Institute (sometimes we get let out), and also a real live Istanbul-ian.

So Andy and I finally got our bikes fixed (well, mine was fixed, he just bought a new one), and have begun the Great Ride West every morning, for the past 5 or so weeks.