Sign Istanbul was busy this weekend

Dear Diary,

Wow, what a whirlwind weekend! Istanbul wasn't anything like as toasty as I had hoped but it still beats those naff Christmas markets and shuffling about in the rain and cold. Found all sorts of stuff for Christmas, most of it in the Grand Bazaar. They've got around 4,000 shops there, all of them stuffed to the gunnels with lovely things: jewellery, carpets, pots. Bought Mum an Ottoman harem ring. Not sure she'll appreciate it, but maybe it will give Dad a smile.

I had hoped to take a tour along the Bosporus, but the weather was turning a bit too dull for my clothes which were decidedly not rainproof. Anyway, why spend the afternoon on a river in the rain, when I can do that at home? Instead I took a tour around Sign Istanbul to see if there is anything I've missed in the latest technology. I didn't find anything that we can't do without, but noted that HP was out in full force and that their stand was absolutely heaving. So it's not just me that's keen on the Designjet L28500 printer. The thing was churning out maps of downtown and posters of Ottoman palaces like there was no tomorrow. But there is always a tomorrow which meant I couldn't hang out as long as I fancied in Istanbul. Great break though, and great to know so many people are buying those L28500s. Maybe it's time for a new ink conversation with HP?

Toodle-pip!