Thought I'd drop this into the Celebration Zone.

My wife is a Turkish National and holds a Turkish University degree as an English Language Teacher. We have been married and living in UK for over 10 years now but unfortunately, as her Degree is teaching English as a foreign language it has not been recognised as sufficient to allow her to teach the National Curriculum in British Schools.

She has a passion for teaching and has missed it greatly. She was desparate to commute her existing qualification to allow her to continue, so for the last three years, as well as being a Mum and part time teaching assistant in a local Primary School she has been studying as a distance learner for a Post Graduate Certficate in Education from the University of Cumbria in order to allow her, on qualification to practice as a Primary School Teacher proper. Earlier this year she qualified and so this week past we went up to Carlisle to celebrate her award with an official ceremony held at Carlisle Cathedral. A beautiful setting for a very special day it must be said.


My wife in gown and mortar board with my little girl. My daughter's apt comment was "Mummy, you look very important".


My daughter (who is four) took this one on an upward slant, (sorry about the back light).


It's lovely inside the Cathedral.


As the procession of graduates came in, I went for the arty, mixed focus shot but it didn't quite come out as I hoped.


The successful Candidate.


My wife with all the other Lancashire based students.


My Daughter got to wear the "very important" hat... and all the ladies in their nippy dress shoes were very jealous of her comfy pink trainers.

A crackin' Day. I'm very proud of her. I can't imagine me getting very far if I attemted to do a Degree in Turkish.