I am sat typing this, in my ‘drawing room’ (they really do call it that here) with the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings College, Cambridge on the CD player. On the bookcase, all four candles of my Advent crown are lit and next to Mary and Joseph wait by the manger for the birth of the Christ child.
In the kitchen my Christmas Eve meal of Sweetcorn Chowder is bubbling away nicely. Later I will head off to the Cathedral for our Christmas Eve Communion Service. This is the second time I have spent Christmas in Karachi and I am really enjoying myself.
This afternoon I head off to Clippers for my now traditional Christmas haircut, head massage and facial. Two hours of being pampered and spoilt can’t be beaten. I did attempt to do a little last minute shopping after my treat, but Park Towers was very busy so I shall pop in on Boxing Day as it is not a holiday here and the place should be a lot quieter.
The last couple of weeks have been very busy, with so much to do at school. I have also had the very odd experience of being in school until the 23rd of December!! Now I am aware that you out there with ‘proper’ jobs will hardly be weeping for me especially as school does not open again until 12th January!
Last night was taken to dinner at the Karachi Boat Club, Naseem and Maria, friends from school. It was very pleasant, and as is almost inevitable in this city of 18 million, we ran into one of the students from school! The food and company was excellent, and I partook of French onion soup, King Prawn Thermidore, with potatoes and seasonal vegetables, followed by Baked Alaska.
Itvar ko may Kenya ja raha hu. May Karachi me do hafte vepas ke bad aunga. For those whose Urdu has yet to reach the tiny heights mine has. I hope I have written ‘On Sunday I am going to Kenya. I will come back to Karachi, in two weeks.’ Urdu is going ok but I have missed far too many lessons of the last month. I am starting to get the hang of things but feel a little frustrated by my lack of progress. I am particularly frustrated by not being able to read. I can write my name and a couple of simple words, and I can read most letters on their own but once they are part of a word, I am lost!
Well my chowder has reached the blender stage, and the chapel congregation have reached the Ninth lesson which means my favourite carol is next, so the neighbours are about to be treated “O Come all Ye Faithful’ at full volume, with descant!!! This could cause a serious setback to Christian/Muslim relations…
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