As scary and unprecedent events erupt in Iran, and across the Middle East, we hear in this episode from an Iranian student, based in North Cyprus with his family, about how they are struggling and his hopes for the future of his country. WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions.

This episode is celebrating the fifth anniversary of Talking Round North Cyprus podcast. It's our 124th episode and in that time we've chatted with some great people - all of whom have a link to the TRNC. Roger and Sara pick out just a couple of their personal highlights but there are so many. Thank you so much to all of you who have been on or who regularly listen and support us. Hopefully we're breaking down a few misconceptions of this forgotten corner of the eastern Mediterranean.

Barry Miller retired to the TRNC ten years ago and is a big supporter of local football team Iskele. He travelled all the way to Lapta to watch them play only for it to be rained off. But, every cloud has a silver lining, and he spent time with co-host of this podcast Roger Bara who chatted to him about his love of the local game.

Podcast host Sara gives you a tour of The Gillham Vineyard hotel - an exclusive boutique hotel and winery nestled in the hills above Girne (Kyrenia) in North Cyprus. Hear from the manager, about the unusual wine spa and the excellent wine tasting on offer.

https://gillhamvineyard.com/

Hosts Roger and Sara are together in North Cyprus bringing you this episode. They chat about Christmas and New Year in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus - what they've been up to as expats - Roger is living the good life as a retiree near Kyrenia and Sara has an holiday apartment in Iskele.

Teresa Cefa is a busy lady. She has been running a wedding planning business in the TRNC for a few years but is now also an event coordinator for Heartbeat - that raises thousands of TL to help those with cancer. Roger caught up with her in a bar.... of course he did!

How tough is it to run a popular restaurant business in the TRNC with the cost of living rising all the time? Roger went along to chat with Emma Elmaz, who runs the Wild Duck near Lapta with her husband, to find out.

Roger and Sara catch up after Roger’s trip to the UK. Did he have to run through Istanbul airport again?! And how much did Kurt Duffield raise for the local cancer charity? Listen to find out!

Roger chats with the amazing Kurt Duffield at the finish line of his epic 1000 km run and cycle for Tulips cancer charity to find out how it’s gone - and what he might have planned next.

How will the next five years shape up for North Cyprus with a new President? We are joined by the Editor-in-Chief of Cyprus Today - Eltan Halil - who gives us his insight and commentary on Tufan Erhurman and his policies going forward.