Calmer Karma

I recently went on holiday to Istanbul.  If you haven't been, go.  Now.  You can see some of the best holiday snaps in the Flickr feed over there on the right of the page if you need any extra persuading, but if you like pretty things, bathing and eating, this really is the place for you.

Anyway, possibly the best thing we did was go to the hamam, the Turkish baths.  We went to a local, non-touristy one and it was a little like stepping back in time.  Floating in the plunge pool, looking up at some ancient plaster-work with the Winter sun glinting through the little circles of coloured glass set in the domed roof, it was hard to imagine the 21st century buzzing along outside.  And it was blissfully relaxing.  Possibly the most relaxed I've been all year (I had just been massaged into a jelly-like lump).  So whilst I was there, I promised myself that I'd try hold on to that feeling of utter peace and not let myself twist into knots over work/xmas/new year etc.  So far, so good.  I have even made an effort to use up all my annual leave at work, which very rarely happens for me. 

Now it's time to pass the good karma on.  These decorations were made (very calmly) by me one peaceful afternoon.  I'd like to give them to you.  There are five in all, so if you'd like a little happy holiday holly, leave a comment below and the first five names drawn out of the hat on Friday will get one each to kick-start the run-up to Christmas.