Just a quick update - due to 'deaths' in the family my visit to Mohmadea was shorter than expected - I ended up coming back to Alex Thursday around noon. The silver lining in the cloud. I love my family - but their beds leave soooo much to be desired. I did not get a lot of sleep - I am a pampered westerner - they have a cotton mattress and pillow on the bed of honour that I am given - and even with all my padding I hurt - every time I move my hips, knees and neck groan in agony - so I was very 'grateful' to get home early.

Today I am busy doing laundry and cleaning my house in preparation to taking off again. My visit to Ain Sokhna will be shorter than I was planning on due to the prophet's birthday - a day that is celebrated here with a day off - which puzzles me as the 'religion' purportedly does not 'favour' celebrating birthdays - hmmmm - must admit it does confuse me - the mixture of culture and religion and trying to figure out which is which. I am soo looking forward to some sand and surf time - mmmmm. Taking some books to read on the beach - working on my tan - I know I know - I will be liberally covered with sunscreen - wearing a hat - keeping my face out of the sun. I will soon like these Arab girls who use products on their face to bleach their skin colour so they appear white - and then their hands and feet are nice and brown - only difference is that I will NOT be bleaching my face - no way no how.

I need to make a quick trip to my MIL to drop off the scissors that she gave Aymn to be sharpened - needless to say they are still as dull as dishwater. If I knew where to get them sharpened I would - but I do not have a clue - and according to Aymn Mom does know where to go and get them sharpened - guess there is a place not far from her apartment.

Anyhow - not much else to report. Life here is as usual - have not had too many I HATE EGYPT days - must admit having my driver's license makes me much happier when I am out and about driving - did not driving illegally - always anxious when I see police check points - and they are always out there. It is like Christmas in Canada - with all the Checkpoints - all the time here in Egypt. I have yet to travel to Cairo without encountering at least two checkpoints - and when we came back from Mohmadeah yesterday there was a checkpoint - no idea what they were checking because I got flagged through.

So TTFN - think of me basking on the beach and floating around in the beautiful blue water.