There is nothing like silence here in Egypt.  At this very moment I hear the following:

Clang Clang Clang – the sound of the gas canister seller, banging away, as he pulls his cart along to let the apartment dwellers know he is in their street.

Boom Boom Boom, Doef, Doef, Boom Boom Boom – the sound of drums at the school down the road, intermingled with children shouting war cries, children laughing and shouting and now and again a teacher’s voice rising above the din to try and restore...

Whether you like it or not, the cacophony of sounds is part of daily life in Egypt.

From the constant hooters blowing, bikes and cars racing up and down, celebrations that don’t keep time at all, Egyptian and western music blasting, junk collectors, vegetable sellers, fish sellers, gas sellers and a variety of other vendors shouting out, to the preacher who calls to prayer and on a Friday preaches for an hour (all over a loud speaker system aimed to the outside of the mosque not just kept ...

There is a new game in town.  It is called Blame it on the hormones.  Entirely developed by yours truly, well maybe not just by me but I would say at least 90% of it.  Some of the rules are written by my better half, certainly all the defense strategies we can lay at his feet. 

What do you need to play this widely popular game already being played by millions?

1)      A hormonal  woman

2)      Even better if she is going through menopause

3)      A better or worse half

4)      A foreign...

Hello everyone,

It’s been a while and I have sat in front of the screen on a few occasions to write a letter and then something more urgent crops up, or I have an errand to run, or I just can’t put the words on paper.

I finally decided this morning, that I must pull up my socks and give you all an update.  Here goes…

We moved into our apartment in Port Said a month ago and like most buildings in this part of the world, they look like they are falling down and you shudder to think tha...

Egypt, Egypt

Egypt, Egypt their blood calls out to you,

From the ground, where it has soaked through.

Brothers killing brothers in anger and hate.

Egypt, Egypt stop! Before it is too late!

Egypt, Egypt hear the multitude calling,

“Catch us, help us, we are falling”.

We cry in sorrow and we cry in pain,

Egypt,  Egypt, we are calling in vain.

Egypt, Egypt, you have turned a deaf ear,

We are running away from you in fear.

You used to mother us, hold us tight,

Egypt, Egyp...