Very many thanks everyone, some very useful information. At the moment I am looking Qatar with a Biz class pp of £3300. The Turkish website still doesnt like me so I have asked my trav agent to check them out based on the responses her yesterday. I will also look at Oman air, we w ere originally going to Oman but had a change of heart .
DJ6, you are of course correct about empires but the Ottoman empire did operate ina rather Byzantine way '
tkas again and best wishes for New year
PB