| 1st September 2008 - The
time in Egypt has flown by and recently we have been trying not to
count down the days until we go back to wet and windy Wales but this
is not helped when we meet people in the street, shops etc and the
first words from their mouths are "So how long have you got left" or
"when do you fly home?" or when we go into Sunshine and the children
ask if we are going home this week! Three weeks left and we intend
to make the most of it. We went into Sunshine today and it was good
to spend some time with the children on the first day of Ramadan and
many of the children were fasting but that did not stop them being
full of energy.
I don't know if I would find it too hard to do without food
during the day but in the heat to go without water or any other
drinks would be very very difficult. While walking home just before
sunset the streets were almost deserted and there was a strange
"peace" all over the place and with minutes to go before the cannon
went off to announce the breaking of the fast it was good to see the
few people who had to work instead of being home with their families
had food prepared and laid out ready. |
| 2nd September 2008 -
Another day at Sunshine and this time we were out later in the
evening and witnessed the amazing sight of prayer time after the
breaking of the fast where literally hundreds and possibly a
thousand people were praying in the streets as they could not fit
into the mosque. Every available space was taken up and it was great
to witness the prayers which are normally conducted within the walls
of the mosque. |
| 3rd September 2008 - A
headache today confined me to bed for most of the day and while Jo
worked from home I had a lazy day and did not surface until well
into the afternoon. |
| 4th September 2008 -
Feeling better today it was back to Sunshine and for a change Jo
came to Television Street with me and we put music as the boys
played on the computers and it was a nice relaxing and fun
afternoon. We had been invited to join some of the children at their
breaking of the fast and had a great time with the children and
learnt a little more about the traditions and customs of Ramadan.
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| After dropping the children
off at home we both had what I can only explain as "that Friday
feeling" even though it was a Thursday and did not want to head
straight home so we stopped for a drink in a local cafe and after
chatting for a while some friends turned up and we ended up staying
and chatting for hours. |
| 5th September 2008 - A
visit to the Cocktail Boat in Luxor was another first for us today
as on all our trips to Luxor we had never once set foot aboard
before. We were pleasantly surprised especially as we went during
happy hour and drinks were buy one get one free. Joining us were
Ken, Amanda and Kim and we could not have asked for better company.
After being bought a few drinks we headed to get a boat to the West
Bank but instead of the usual many offers of motor boats we were
forced to take to ferry as the area had an eerie silence and was
strangely empty of Egyptians so after a ferry ride across the Nile
we were treated to a meal at Africa's. We had a quick drink at El
Nakhil before heading back over the Nile. While our friends headed
home we visited the Souk as we needed to buy some headscarves for
the following day. |
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| 6th September 2008 - A day
of shopping and preparation today as we were expecting some of the
children from Sunshine to join us at our flat for their "breakfast".
As the boys had been to us a few time to watch the football it was
the girls turn to come and we had a "girly night" planned which is
why we needed the headscarves from the souk the previous evening.
They arrives in full spirits and after a little confusion as to
whether or not the cannon had gone off they began eating with dates
and water followed by Macaroni, Jacket Potatoes and Salad and all of
them seemed to survive my cooking without any ill effects. After
praying they enjoyed putting on the headscarves and make-up and
danced to some music both European and Arabic. All of the girls
behaved so well it was a pleasure to have them over and they even
put a headscarf on me but I refused when the suggestion of lipstick
and make-up was mentioned. Even though it was a "girly night" it was
such good fun and for me certainly one of the highlights of the
trip. |
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| 8th September 2008 - Back
to Sunshine and this time we were joined with a young man called Guy
who will be coming to live in Egypt for a year shortly. He seemed to
cope well with the children and he was even given an Arabic lesson
by one of the older boys who has great fun telling him the Arabic
for everything from head to toe (well hair to shoes). His Arabic is
excellent already so could even chat to the younger children who
have yet to get a proper command of English. |
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| 10th September 2008 - A
visit to the new Sunshine Village to take a few photographs of the
work and I was impressed at the progress but also disappointed that
we will miss the completion by just a few weeks. |
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| The afternoon was spent
photographing the children for the Sunshine's Egyptian website and
some of the photos have come out so well but with others the
children look as if I am about to shoot them rather than take their
photos. |
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| 11th September 2008 - More
photographs for the website while Jo made bracelets with some of the
children. A comment today made me realise that it is the 7th
anniversary of the Twin Towers attack and also seven years and one
day ago I arrived in Egypt for my very first trip! |
| 16th September 2008 - We
were invited to "breakfast" at Sunshine today and had a wonderful
and educational evening. It was so nice to join them in this special
occasion and was a nice relaxing time before heading to the Souk in
order to buy a few presents before going home. |
| 17th September 2008 - It
was great to have a chance to take a picture of the view from our
balcony today without any cruise boats spoiling it ! |
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| 17th September 2008 - We
made a visit to Sunshine's clinic for disabled children and it was
great to see the two boys from Sunshine doing so well and they
seemed happy to see us and keen to show off what they could do. We
then went to see the boys in Television Street before stopping off
to see the Cannon on the way home. Each evening as a sign of when to
break the fast the cannon is fired and it was nice to see it up
close and we were shocked by just how loud it was. We got home just
in time for our final Arabic Lesson. I don't think the lessons have
been able to get us anywhere near fluent but we do have some basic
knowledge but they have certainly given us the opportunity to make a
very very good friend in our Arabic Teacher. |
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| 18th September 2008 - After
a day at Sunshine we had a wonderful evening at the Pizza Hut where
we took our Arabic teacher and her son. It was great to go out with
them and we hope they enjoyed it as much as we did. The final
farewell was a little tearful for Jo and our teacher but hopefully
we will be nack in Egypt again soon to see her again. |
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| 20th September 2008 - A trip
out to buy foam ready for the new seats at the Sunshine Village with
money generously donated by friends of ours and it was good to see
exactly what the money was going towards. |
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| 20th September 2008 - On of
the highlights of the trip for me was a small party at Sunshine in
Television Street this evening. The twelve oldest boys as well as
the twelve oldest girls were there to say goodbye to us and they had
even made cards and gave us photos etc. Although it was a highlight
of the trip it was also a very sad time as it was the last time we
would be seeing some of them for a very long time. I think we could
have stayed all night but at the end of the evening we had to say
our farewells and leave but we took with us some wonderful cards and
memories not only of the evening but of the entire trip. |
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| 21st September 2008 - Our
final full day in Luxor and we bought a small gift for one of the
little girls who has been so friendly to us every time we have left
or returned to our flat. |
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| 21st September 2008 - After
saying goodbye to the older children from Sunshine last night it was
time to say goodbye to the younger ones at Ahmed Esmet Street. |
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