...to my weblog. There probably won't be something new every day, but keep coming by and have a look what makes my day (or doesn't....). And if you have any comments, drop me a line in my guestbook!

Current entries:

September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 To the current weblog... To the mainpage...

Ever wondered if I am the only non-Egyptian person  living here that thinks this country is strange? Go and have a look at Walters' World, that's the site of my colleague Steve. It's worth a look, although he is actually funnier live!

Friday, Oct. 26, 2001 Hey look, at photo of Karin, my landlord and me. Sorry for the poor quality.... Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001 Actually went to bed last night at 10. Normally that would mean that the first prayer in the morning would wake me up - 4.30am that is. But, no, I slept through till 7am like a baby. Felt a lot better though today. And it's almost weekend, thanks! Sadie is due to touch down at Alex airport in about an hour, so she should be back to work on Saturday and can take some stuff off me. It's still pretty insane at work, but we actually managed to get all those samples done or so far on the way, that it should not be a problem to send them all on Saturday. Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001 The afternoon was frantic. I was doing ok until about 4pm. Then, in quick succession, I had requests from several customers, asking to achieve the unachievable and spent the next 2 hours running around in a frenzy, looking for people to help me out and having fast impromptu meetings and international calls, trying to get some order into the chaos. Subsequently I am in deep shit until at least Saturday. By which time it is either sorted or too late..... Monday, Oct. 22, 2001 Karin goes jogging at the Corniche every morning. Well, she used to until yesterday. A boy of about 13 years threw stones at her. The first stone missed, the second one hit her in the lower back. She turned around, screamed at him and he ran off. It makes you think! Her Phillipino maid added another couple of outrageous stories about people flicking burning cigarette butts at her and so on. Perhaps is is time to leave Egypt after all? Perhaps I'll make up my mind when somone throws stones at me. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001 Ok, I bought this fruit, I already know it from Vietnam, but I don't have the foggiest, what it is called - in German or in English. Any ideas? Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 My free day, hamdul'allah.... Sadie is still in the UK, so I am still struggling with every single customer. Too much work. But I am getting used to the situation, i.e. I am not freaking out every other day and start screaming at people..... Fridays at the moment mean sleeping, chilling out and trying to get the maximum rest achievable. Just watched the news. We are finally falling apart. Sharon issuing more idiotic statements, Arafat losing his power, at the meeting in Gent they topped up police presence with anthrax decontamination containers - what a f***ing mess we are in! On the plus side, Karin called - looks like I am going to see "Shrek" again tonight and we will go to dinner with a couple of friends. Life goes on. Favourite Music of the moment: * Staind, It's been a while * * Jamiroquai, Love with a little L * * Mary J. Blige, Family affair * Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001 Unbelievable, but true. I finally got my work permit today. Only took most part of the last year....... And I thought German bureaucracy was bad.... Since I've been back from London, nobody has said a word about Afghanistan. I tried the direct approach today and asked Osama, what he thought about the situation. All I got was "It's not fair". Oh, well. I guess they have a pretty good idea what I think about it and just don't want to create any friction. At least I am not perceived as the enemy - everybody just treats me as always, although I'm a "Westerner". Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 After my meeting on Tuesday I had another stroll down Oxford Street and bought another pair of pants. Carpe diem, as I will be in No-Shopping-Land again till Christmas. Finally went to that small Korean restaurant off Oxford Street and had an absolutely fantastic bulgogi and some kimchi. Great food! Went over to the British Museum to have a look at that new roof over the Great Court. Bloody hell! Amazing, it looks fantastic! Off to the airport, left plenty of time. Can't say I noticed any improved scurity measures. Same as usual. Ok, besides of the increased police presence. The guy with the machine gun or what ever it was - nice touch.... Back to work. Plenty to do and Sadie will not come back for another 2 weeks, she had to go back to hospital for another check-up. Our bosses finally decided that we can get ex-pats as assistants. But who is going to move down here at the moment? Fat chance. I decided that I have to go on little trips more often, long weekends to London or to see friends every 2-3 months. Otherwise I will go mad! Sherif made a point of "forbidding" me to go out today. Well, Friday prayers just started. In moments like these I wish I could understand enough Arabic to know what that guy is preaching..... Tuesday, Oct. 09, 2001 Saturday night went to Sabras with Andrew. Willesden Green re-visited. Still the best Veggie Indian in London. If there wasn't that stupid trek from the tube station. Met up again on Sunday to go to Greenwich. Pub lunch, wehee! Had a pint of Old Speckled Hen and with it a steak ale and veg pie. How I missed all this! What I do not miss is the constant drizzle. It rained all day. English weather at its best! In the evening met Caroline, went to see a movie, "Enigma", and then to Wagamama on Leicester Square. Yum! Perhaps I was a food critic in an earlier life. Floyd did not get back to me about meeting. So by early afternoon on Monday I had had it. He should have just said that he didn't want to meet. So instead I had a very nice dinner (food again!) with Nigel, who was really pleased to see me. Spent most of the evening telling me how it was to be in the US during the attacks. Had my 2 meetings, will fly back to Alex in 6 hours and hopefully, in the process, won't get shot down by a lost missile..... Will be very interessting to be back at work tomorrow afternoon and to see their reactions to the attack on Afghanistan... Saturday, Oct. 06, 2001 Flew to London yesterday. 4 and a half hours, pretty boring. Although it's bearable with BA. The usual palaver at the airport.... Guy with MP in front of the entrance, checked my passport and ticket, waved me inside.... Baggage gets screened right after the entrance..... Guy at the entrance to the check-in hall, I give him my passport and ticket, he gives me back the ticket, checks my passport and scowls at me to give him the ticket. I just gave it to you, mate!!! Can't handle to have two things in your hand at a time? Behind the entrance a desk with two other geezers. They check my passport and ticket, have a nice trip! Finally the check-in counter!!!! She checks my ticket and passport... Any sharp objects, scissors, knifes, chainsaws.... After check-in another desk with two geezers. They check my passport and ticket and finally whack a stamp in the passport. The entrance to the gate, they screen my remaining luggage again. Finally I am inside, aaaaaahhhhhhhh! What the f...???? Talk about avoiding unemployment..... Finally London, dropped my stuff in the hotel, went to Covent garden, bought some shoes, went to an Indian, had Chicken Madras, onion bahjis, Sag Aloo and and and..... Heaven on a plate!!! This morning went to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, two of my favourite places in London. Had lunch in a Sushi Bar in Covent Garden, went to the cinema, will meet Andrew in an hour. Found this Indonesian restaurant in Soho, let's see if I can drag him there.....

London calling...