Happy Sweet Sixteen Tania
My number one girl is not my mum (sorry mum) but my niece and God-Daughter Tania.
Tania turned sixteen last saturday and it broke my heart 
that I could not be there to celebrate with her. Tania and I are very close, she made her First Holy Communion during my ordnation, meaning that she was the first person to receive Communion from me when I became Uncle Father Paul.
It occured to me that this blog would be a great little way to tell her what a fabulous lady she is, just how proud I am of her and how much I love her.
This is a copy of an email I just sent her from Antayla, which is where I will be for another day. Please don’t count the spelling mistakes, I am working with a Turkish key board and only just managing to get by!!! Some of the email you won’t understand so let me explain. First, when Tania was growing up (at the age of 2) I absolutely refused to take her to McDonalds because of the way they oppressed their staff and used objectional work practices (yes, I did explain it to her in such terms). Second, when her other uncles and aunts were spoiling her with expensive gifts all I could manage was a trip to the $2 Shop 
- a tradition I continue to this day (uncle tight ar##).
The trip has been just amazing thus far. Turkey is a mixture of Europe and the Middle East.
Take Care, Paul
PS. Mum is a VERY CLOSE second.
PPS. You can see a picture of Tania, together with Sarah, Daniel and baby Jessica in the Jessica Ghanem picture folder.
PPPS. Happy 40th Wayne
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Dear Tania,
What can I say === your Uncle Paul has become a mad back packer and is travelling Turkey with not one but five other women. Tough life for a priest!!!!
I am having a wonderful time but am so so so so so so sad that I missed your sweet sixteen. On the night of your birthday I was in a cool place called Goreme and I felt so sad that I went out with one of the girls and she picked out some heaps cool jewellery for you ……. and guess what? It cost me than $2, in fact it cost me almost double that amount. WOW, I really broke the bank that night!!!!!! In the end I bought something for Sarah, Daniel and Paul Jnr as well, but yours cost almost as much as a McDonalds poison burger while the others only got the equivelant of a McChuck-up pig fat ice cream. How generous have I become!!!!!
I will be home in three months and I can’t wait to see you and hear about life, love, study and work.
Miss ya heaps,
Your Favourite God Father
xxxxxxxxxxxxx X 16
