Latest news and happenings from North Africa

We we had some pretty dramatic and exciting weather. Unlike the dramatic and exciting weather we used to get in New Orleans which entailed sticking wife, family, kids, tortoises, valuables in the mininvan and heading off in a different direction, this dramatic and exciting weather would be described in the UK as "a spot of rain". As we have not seen any since we have been here the kids and wife found it all very exciting. P on the other hand found it exciting in anothr sense because he had to travel to work on the now slippery ring of death......

We had our first visitors this week, Becca and Co. turned up to "do" Cairo before heading south and then onto the Sinai. Like the 3 kings in the Christmas Story they came bearing gifts, Wine (9 bottles, Australian Chardonnay), 2 bottle of Sarsons Vinegar and 4 bottles of Branston Pickle. After having to the airport twice (long story, moral being never travel with a Canadian) they seem to have a good time with Ahmed Da Driver and Ahmed Da Egyptologist doing the museum, pyramids, coptic Cairo, club etc etc. Ahmed dropped them off at Giza station and the last we heard off them was a text message saying they were on a train presumably heading down to Aswan. Good luck guys, it was nice having you!

T visited the Care and Rehabilitation Society home (http://www.cr-home.org/) and met the lady in charge and the kids who use the place. It has 51 kids mainly with Down or Palsy or similar, some day visitors other stay the whole time. Cathy, my old bosses wife, raised money for them and we now have a large wad of cash which they are going to buy a new kitchen with. T is now full into production of Card Touche cards, the profits of which will go here. Any donations or orders for Cards from Mrs T gladly recieved!

Its halloween and Mrst T spent a wihle trawling round the streets of Maadi for round pumpkins, the egyptians seem to specialise in mishappen ones. Frankly I like the natural ghost ones!

We now have a date for moving in, next Wednesday. Now just have to coordinate container and workplans and move in - simples.