From this month's newsletter

June 2008

We certainly know when summer arrives here in Istanbul as the place takes on a whole new ambience. The beach resorts on the Black Sea set up their sun beds and parasols ready for the summer trade. The waterfront cafes and restaurants are now such lively places too, as everyone wants to sit outside and enjoy the breeze from the sea.

As the schools that haven’t already closed for the summer will be finishing shortly I am sure many of you are now getting ready for the summer and planning vacations and visits back to your home countries. I do hope you will be able to find a few minutes to relax and read through our last newsletter before the summer.

Talk on organic products

We had a very interesting and enjoyable time at Tookoo’s home in Zekeriyakoy, listening to a wonderful talk on Organic produce given by Chevrel Traher. Chevrel told us about the Omercan Organic Farm in Cannakle with which she is involved. She explained how the organic crops are grown and rotated and all the benefits of eating them. It is quite frightening to hear some of the statistics when pesticides are used as to how much is left on produce even after washing! Of course with organic produce no sprays or pesticides are used making it so much healthier – as long as you don’t mind the odd bug or two!

There was a very lively discussion with many interesting points being made. Chevrel had very kindly brought along some wonderful organic salads and some delicious organic strawberries for us all to try. A big ‘thank you’ to Tookoo for hosting the lunch, and to Chevrel for her giving us her time. For those of you who could not attend the talk and would like to contact Chevrel for more information on her produce you can contact her via e-mail at cat@englishgardens.com.tr.

Bomonti Spring Fair

Many of you very kindly baked cakes for the Corona Stall at this year’s Bomonti Spring Fair and they certainly sold like ‘hot cakes’! Our stall raised a total of 1000YTL which was given to the Sisters. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the stall and to those of you who helped out on the day.

Annual General Meeting, 2008

Tuesday 28th May was our AGM. Nineteen ladies attended the meeting which was held at the beautiful venue of the Istanbul University Social Club – Baltilimani.

Alyson commenced the meeting by welcoming everyone. Alyson and the committee then went on to review what a successful Corona year we have had. Along with the Treasury, membership, and cooking report our chosen charities were covered too, as this is an important part of Corona. The meeting was finished with tea and coffee outside on the terrace with a beautiful view of the Bosphorous. The minutes of the meeting have now been sent out to all members. The committee would like to thank all of you who attended and for your support.

Coffee morning

Jean Smith was our host for this month’s coffee morning. Her conservatory dining room was filled with lots of delicious cakes, with her chocolate cake being especially good! It was so nice to chat and catch up in an informal and relaxed way. We would also like to welcome Jo Howard who is a new member to Corona. It was nice for her to meet some of you and to make her so welcome. Hope to see you at future events. A big thank you to Jean for inviting us into your home.

Preserve Preparation Day

Alyson held the preserve preparation day at her home in Kemerburgaz. In her wonderful country kitchen, several of us prepared the jams and chutneys while some of us decorated the jars. The day flew by as we chatted while chopping, slicing and stirring. It was a lovely and worthwhile time as we made a total of 60 jars of preserves that day going towards the final total of 253 jars for the BCC Spring Fete. Thank you Alyson, for the use of your kitchen and for the wonderful lunch. Also to all those ladies who kindly helped out.

BCC Fete

The BCC fete last Saturday was a very successful day. It was also a very hot one too! Alyson, who was busy behind the stall, has written a few words on the day.

We are proud that Corona’s table at the British Community Council Fete on Saturday 14th June raised the of 2,160 YTL with a variety of 253 jars of preserves

Lemon Curd Strawberry Jam Apricot Jam Black Cherry Jam Peach & Apricot Jam

Grapefruit Marmalade Three Fruit Marmalade Seville Orange Marmalade Orange & Lemon Marmalade

Sweet Summer Fruit Chutney Hot Indian Chutney Mixed Fruit & Fig Chutney Apricot & Apple Chutney Banana & Date Chutney Pumpkin Chutney Peach & Chilli Chutney Mango Chutney Pickled Cabbage

Our thanks to the Preserves Co-ordinators: Dawn Öztamur, Janice Beaney, Cynthia Royce, Roz Kirton

Thank you Catherine Andrews for making the Vanilla Fudge while in the UK and sending it over – to Ann Soğuksu for the Gingerbread, Linda Caldwell for her outstanding contributions, and to Ayşe Yücel.

Jo Bradley & Hale Selvi for all your help on the day

You all did a marvellous job ladies!

Annual Boat Trip

Our Annual Boat Trip this Year was a huge success with both the boat and the weather beating all expectations. Our thanks to Claudia for organizing the Lufer5 boat which it seems had received a bit of a make-over with new tables, chairs and cushions which made it just perfect. Roz, our committee member for the event and Claudia have kindly written a piece on the day and there are some great photos too!

Roz writes – ‘The boat pick ups went smoothly with the Asian side ladies being well settled and relaxed by the time they got to the European side. All the ladies from the European side were ready and waiting by the time the boat arrived and we were boarded and on our way right on time. The food selection was a great and everyone had a super lunch with the odd glass of wine or two! We also saw some dolphins (well I only saw one) but the ladies all got very excited. The Lufer boat this year was very good and some ‘old hands’ said it was the best one yet! There were 37 of us in total and the young people had a ‘splashing time’ swimming in the Bosphorous and jumping from both the upper and lower decks. Those of us who were not quite so adventurous got into the water by the more conventional route of a ladder. We actually stopped twice for swimming, once before lunch and once after. At 4-30 we then set sail for our return journey and the European ladies were put ashore at Bebek at 5-30 and the boat continued onto the Asia side. The consensus of all was that "it had been a very successful day”.

A few words from Claudia – We had a truly fantastic day: the boat Lufer5 was absolutely perfect for our group. It arrived a little early in Beylerbey but we were all there so off we went to the European side where they were all waiting. The boat looked as if it had had a facelift: all the wood had been re-varnished, the green carpeting had been renewed as had the cushions, and there were more tables upstairs – on the upper deck! The white plastic chairs had been replaced with nice modern ones and it was just great! We set off and first anchored in one nice little bay and then moved on to Poyrazkoy. Everybody swam and had a good time generally. The food was just excellent, especially Ayse’s aubergine and roast vegetable terrine! There was even sushi!! Yes, and everyone more or less welcomed a glass of wine! The crew was very willing and pleasant and the whole thing went off without a hitch! We even saw a few dolphins!”.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

As the Corona events are almost over for the summer break, next Tuesday 24th at June 10.30 am, there will be our last meeting of the season at Gloria Jean’s, Metro City. It is a nice place to drop by and have a chat with friend’s while maybe get some shopping done at the same time! If any of you know of any ladies who are new in Istanbul, do bring them along too!

DIARY DATES

The IWI’s Opening Meeting will take place in mid-September (date to be announced). Please be sure to visit Corona’s table for membership registration, newsletter, Autumn programmes details and information.

Your newsletter and invite to: CORONA’S OPENING MEETING will be forwarded to you in September.

We welcome anyone who wants to be active in Corona, and if you know of any new ladies please put them in touch with us coronaistanbul@hotmail.com so that we can help make them feel at home and add their details onto our mailing list.

Our thanks to all our members for their continuous support and encouragement throughout the season, and to all the volunteers who will form the new Corona committee for September 2008.

Whether you are in staying Istanbul or are returning to your native country this summer, we wish you a pleasant and safe summer holiday!

Aileen Soğuksu & Alyson Sarioğlu Co-Chairwomen September 2007 – June 2008

REVIEW OF CORONA’S PROGRAMMES 2007/8

As Corona’s season now draws to a close for the summer, and we take this opportunity to thank you all for your participation and support in our programmes.

A special thank you to all our hostesses & guest speakers October 2007 – June 2008

Our thanks and gratitude to Mr. Fatih Sensu, General Manager of Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel,
for the use of their kitchens
- to House Cafe & Aşcıoğlu Inşaat for sponsorship $2,000,
and to ‘Autoban Design’ for creating the backdrop for Christmas Bazaar stall,

 Raffle Contributors
Christmas Lunch Raffle - Decleor Facial (Ann Marie Sabuncu)
Easter Coffee Morning Raffle               Brunch at House Cafe
Afternoon Tea Raffle- Corona Committee personally donated

And finally……..Please remember if you are having a sort out this summer or maybe leaving Istanbul, Annelies is always in need of Bric-a-Brac for the Bomonti Fairs. You can contact her on 0532- 344 7492 or Heleen Wiegersma on 0555 496 3488.

Roz would like to thank everyone who has brought back ingredients from the UK to be used for the Christmas cakes and puddings. Without these it would be almost impossible to make them. If anyone has room for a couple of cans of Condensed milk ( or I think it’s available in plastic bottles now), Catherine Andrews will kindly make some of her delicious fudge for the Christmas Bazaar, as it really sold well at Bomonti.

I would also like to personally thank everyone who has contributed an article or photographs for the Corona Newsletter. It has made it much more interesting to write. Thank you too for all your positive comments which make’s it all worth while! Lynda.

The 2008 Committee would finally, just like to take this opportunity to thank all our Corona members for their continued support throughout the Year and to wish the new incoming committee all the very best. Enjoy the summer, take care and see you in September!

contact us : coronaistanbul@hotmail.com