Just when you think you've seen it all...

Last evening whilst returning from the petrol station, with yet more petrol for the generator, I saw something I had not seen before. In front of me was a guy riding a motorcycle with a pillon passenger. Nothing unusual in that you might think, however, the rider of this bike was not only talking on his mobile phone, but also on another phone he was sending a text message. Only in Pakistan!!

Life is returning to normal after the school closures of the other week. Sadly, there have been further terrorist attacks in Rawalpindi and Peshwar, with further loss of life. The bomb in Peshwar killed many women and children as it was detonated in a market place. The one in Rawalpindi was exploded in front of a hotel. Thankfully, Karachi is still peaceful, but many are wondering when trouble will come here.

School will be closed nest week for half term and we are hoping that after the break, everything can return completely to normal. I do have several things planned for the holiday but more of that in a moment.

On a brighter note, the mothership has landed in Karachi!! My mother arrived on time at 13.55 on Saturday afternoon after having had a very enjoyable flight in business class with Emirates. She had been 'facilitated' from the plane door, to the car park which made her pass through immigration very smoothly.

She has been keeping herself busy since then with some shopping, and lunches out. She has also been to the British Women's Association weekly meeting and she is now part of the team running this year's Christmas Bazaar!!

On Monday, along with Kathy and Zulfi and their children, we are off to the beach for the day. Tuesday after another BWA meeting mother and I will take lunch and have a little light retail theraphy in the afternoon.

Wednesday, should see Thomas arrive from Cairo and then in the afternoon we will all head of the Country Club for a couple of nights of peace and quiet and a little luxury!

Saturday, Thomas and I have an appointment with the marvellous Mavis and her colleagues at Clippers where we will be treated to a few hours of pampering.

Then on Sunday 15th November, I will cease to be a layman, when I am ordained Deacon and become The Reverend Michael Philip Pearson B.Ed(Hons), but you can all still call me Michael!

I am collecting together the necessary paraphanalia of my new condition, and already have my clerical shirt and dog collar and I will be able to collect my cassock from the tailors on the 10th. I am really looking forward to the service and am delighted that mum and Thomas will be here in Karachi to share the day with me. After the service a group of us will be heading to the Sheraton for a breakfast buffet. Then in the evening, the family, ie mum, Thomas, Andrew, Tamkeen and I will be having a celebratory dinner chez Ryan.

After half term we have just five weeks and then we will be on our winter break. After spending my third Christmas in Karachi, I will be heading to Egypt to spend a week with Thomas. Our plan is to fly down from Cairo to Luxor, which will be a new experience for Thomas, and spend a few days in a family run hotel just a few minutes walk from the River Nile. We shall see the new year of 2010 in at a party organised by the hotel, and hopefully a fuluka ride on the Nile.

Until then there is much school work to be done, and so I suppose I should get on with it...