Looking back at December 2009

We would like to start this Newsletter by wishing you all a very
Happy New Year

What is it with December that makes you look back at the year but it always does. Isn't is funny how a simple change of date alters our perception from the 31st December where we look back to the 1st January where we look forward but it is how we look back that is important whether you focus on the couple of bad things or on all the wonderful things that have happened and we look back at a wonderful year but what is more we look forward to another, even better year in 2010 and we wish that for you all.

December Pictures Click on any picture below to see a larger image or CLICK HERE to take the tour.

Our second floor saga continues but it was the connection of the electric that was the most fun. We couldn't just take the electric upstairs we had to have a new meter fitted so that we have an electric meter for downstairs and one for upstairs even though both meters are fitted downstairs. Well after just over a week of promises the man finally came from the electric company as we were not allowed to fit it ourselves even though we had the meter and had paid all the charges. Within a few minutes of his arrival we had no electric at all followed a little later by so much electric that he blew up the air-condition unit in the dining room with an almighty bang, melted the wires together in the bedroom so that we couldn't turn any of the lights off even when we turned all the power off to the house as the trips had also melted. After several phone calls and much shouting (by them not us as we just watch and think “this is Egypt it will all work when it works”) they decided it was time to go to prayer. We felt that that might be a good idea given the circumstances. They duly arrived back and worked until 4 p.m. when they left saying that they would return the following day and arrive they did but we had no electric and neither did most of Luxor as we found out that for two days they were working on the major cables so they could do nothing. A week later there still wasn't electric upstairs but we were many Egyptian pounds lighter as we had to get the air-conditioning engineers in especially as it is so cold after dark and it is our main source of heating. It wouldn't’t have been so bad for it to have been blown up in summer as we don’t like it cold so unless we have visitors we don’t have it on much. Friends who visit laugh at us and say that it isn't cold but it flipping well is.

Well the upshot of it all is that electric to our second floor was finally connected this afternoon and they will be back tomorrow (1st January) at 9 a.m. to sort it out, oh well this is Egypt. We actually have doors fitted and most windows with glass but tomorrow the final 2 windows need to have their glass fitted and then we are going to clean everything upstairs ourselves as every time a workman does one job he seems to damage what another workman did. That said we are very pleased with it and looking forward to moving all the AWOL bits up there and setting up the new sewing machine. Obviously this is our home and before anyone says it it has all been paid for from our money but as we have the space it will be good to use it for AWOL until the AWOL Medical Centre is built.

It was lovely to have Jan here and for her to be out with Pauline and AWOL daily but we did manage a quick trip to Esna temple which was really nice but it was also a little depressing to see the way that it has deteriorated in such a short time due to the damage caused by so many pigeons but this is something we are seeing more and more of throughout the temples within Luxor. It was also great to have Tony and Paul back as well as so many other visitors so December has been busy but excellent.

Pauline and Graham XX and our zoo xxxxxx

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Click Here to go to our December photos tour.