In the midst of life, we are in death...

This has probably been the hardest week I have had whilst living here in Pakistan. Sadly, over 60 people were killed on Saturday evening when terrorist exploded a bomb in front of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. The terrorists claim to be servants of Allah, but the saddest part of this whole sorrow tale, is that the majority of people who died where the drivers waiting in the car park, most of whom would have been Muslims.

The result of this terrible attack has been to make most people here very twitchy. The BDHC (the British Government’s representatives here in Karachi) have been their usual helpful selves, and have given the advice that we should avoid the major cities of Pakistan!! They really are about as much use as a chocolate fire guard!

I have to confess that for the first time since arriving I have been feeling a little wobbly. I am no where near packing my bags and getting ready to leave, but I thinking about what I doing each day and where I am going. Your prayers for Pakistan would be appreciated.

On a lighter note I did a spot of entertaining last night. I was joined for dinner by Andrew and Tamkeen, George and Kiran (Pakistan’s answer to Richard and Judy) and then later Kathy. We started with a Melon and Pomelo salad and homemade hummus, followed by Lasagne (made with soya mince and three types of mushrooms) accompanied by garlic bread and Greek salad. The meal was concluded with coffee and a selection of petit fours (shop bought I must confess).

After dinner we chatted and played Risk, well Andrew and Kiran played and the rest of us sort of took part!! It was made more interesting by the forfeit that Andrew had arranged, ie every country that you lost you had to eat a Jelly Bean. Now that may not sound much of a forfeit, except that these Jelly Beans were either good or bad, eg Buttered Popcorn or Rotten Egg! Thankfully, I only hit a bad one once!

This week is going to be a very tiring one! My mother achieves the ripe old age of 60 on 4th October and she is having a party this Friday in Stalybridge. I, being the dutifully so that I am, will be leaving Karachi at 3am on Tuesday morning and traveling to Stalybridge, only to leave Manchester airport at 11am on Saturday morning, a journey of 9000 miles in 4 days.

There are also a couple of bonuses to this trip, the first being that I get to see Thomas for the first time in 6 months. I last saw him at Karachi Airport as I waved him off back to Egypt and as he spent the summer in America I have only been able to speak to him on the phone. He was going to pick me up from Manchester Airport, unfortunately, the clutch on his car has died and so Charlie will be collecting me in my car instead.

Another bonus is that I will be able to celebrate William (Thomas’ brother)’s 18th birthday on Thursday and we are going out for a family meal.

The last bonus is that I can increase my stores of the vital provisions that I can only get in the UK, including soya mince, Marmite (available here but at twice the cost) and of course that most delicious of creations, Angel Delight, is it too late to make some now…

oh, I do like to be beside the seaside...

Today saw me undertake my first A level Geography field trip. Seven Year 12 students and I boarded a minbus and headed for the coast! Thankfully, this didn't take too long as we live only 10 minutes from the beach! Unit 2 of the A level has a section callled Crowded Coast and so we headed off to check out the coast defences and usage along the Karachi coast. We had a very interesting time and took lots photos which we will be analysing. We are hoping to head off further up the coast after Ramzan and look at the different coastal features and uses as we make our way to French Beach, where if the Sixth Form get their way will involve an over night stay and a BBQ! Then our next plan is to head of to Dubai so that we can compare and contrast the two areas, I am really enjoying teaching Geography!!

I have restarted my Urdu lessons and we are revising all the work we did last year. I remember about 60-65% of the vocabulary and only about 10% of the hand writing and reading which I don't think is too bad. I am trying to speak as often I can at school and I am managing to make myself understood most of the time.

I am preaching again this weekend at the Cathedral, I have the title 'Understanding and Overcoming Satan', just goes to show what happens when you don't attend the planning meeting...

Aunty Sybil was right...

I am sure you will all be pleased to hear that I am very happy my new washing machine. Although it is fully automatic it also a top loader, which is where Aunty Sybil's advice comes in. You see, Aunty Sybil has alway extolled the virtues of the top loading washing machine, and up until now I was never convinced!

However, I now a convert. You must have encountered that most annoying situation where you have just switched on the washing machine and you are heading back to the front room when you find a sock which you dropped on the way from the bedroom, or you turn round in the kitchen and see the tea towels you intended to put in the machine, now you can!!

School has settled down well into the new term and all seems to be going well. I have finished the re-vamp of the timetable and I am quite pleased with the results. As well as resolving the problem of the vanishing maths teacher, I have also been able to remove a couple of problems that were there for a couple of teachers which is an added bonus.

I am also enjoying teaching Geography A level for the first time. I have a grroup of 6 students and we have had some very interesting discussions, including the American Education System, the War in Iraq and does Global Warming actually exist! And that's just in the first week and a half.

Pakistan also has a new President, Mr Asif Zadari, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan. He was elected on Saturday as so far so good,we shall see what the future brings...

Back in the swing...

Firstly apologies for the delay in undating my blog. I reported that the man from Worldcall was coming on the 27th, he finally turned up last night and still has to return tonight to make my internet work!! The internet has also been a little hit and miss at school and I have had so much to do that by 5 o'clock I was ready for home and not in the mood for my normal witty repartee!!

The first week back has been good, apart from having 'lost' one of our maths teachers. Unfortunately, she did not return after the summer break and all attempts to locate her have failed. We have heard on the grapevine that she is still in the city and is not coming back to school! Sadly, this lack of good manners is not unique and we have had staff before who have just not turned up which inevitably throws everyone else into confusion and leaves some of us which a great deal of work to do. I have almost managed to cover her teaching load and now just have to modify the timetable to allow this to happen.

Last Friday saw my 38th (yes I am cetain I am only 38 regardless of the rumours being propigated by my 'friend' on Facebook!) Birthday which I spent in Karachi for the second year running. After a busy day in school I took myself of to Clippers and had a very enjoyable 90 minutes in the chair, having my hair cut and a massage and a facial, which I can highly reccommend it. After this Andrew took me out to dinner at the Japanese restuarant on the roof of the Avari hotel, where we had excellent sushi followed by tepanyaki, which was delicious.

Alongside some 'flat pack' birthday presents from my family, I had already had a Dalek tin containing confectionary from my sister before I left and I receive a wonderful present from my godson, which was exactly what I wanted(he did have the advantage of me having asked for it!). He sent me a poem he had written and five songs he had recorded especially for me. He has a wonderful voice and it is great to be able to listen to him whenever I want. Also the poem not only made me feel very special but also has given me something to think about.

My Urdu lessons start again on Wednesday and I am going to be in so much trouble, as I have done nothing since I left Karachi in June!!! I wonder if I will get away with the dog ate my homework...