My Dad tells a story about when he and Mum travelled Istanbul. They visited the Grand Bazaar, this amazing indoor market that sells anything you could possibly imagine - from piles of exotic spices to fake designer handbags and literally everything in between. Dad claims he saw a giraffe at the pet stall, but I’m pretty sure that’s an exaggeration.

Dad wanted to buy some saffron because it was impossible to buy in Ireland at the time. He knew it was expensive, but he didn’t have that much cash. The stall holder said it would be fifty pounds for the weight Dad had selected and if you listen to my father that was for like 3 strands of saffron. Again, I’m fairly sure that’s an exaggeration.

Dad guffawed in the man’s face, much to my mother’s mortification, and proc...

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