Here we go again...

For the fourth time in seven days, I find myself in an airport. This time I am flying to Muscat, Oman and then on to Karachi in time to go back to work on Monday.

I have had a wonderful time in Egypt and it has been wonderful to spend the last few days with Thomas. The airlines were good to us both and we arrived in Cairo on time and after a night in the airport hotel we went back to his apartment.

The apartment is best described as 'compact and bijou', but it's adequate for their needs at the moment. The location is good in Downtown and means that they are near to everything they need, including being about 200 yards from the main building of the American University Cairo, where Andrea is studying. Sadly, Andrea's course is taught at the brand new campus which is a 90 minute bus ride away!!

Thomas is more fortunate as the apartment is only a couple of minutes from the Metro and his new office is only 3 or 4 stops away.

After an evening in Cairo with some delicious Lebanese food, Tuesday morning was spent getting ready for our trip to Luxor. This required a trip to the barbers so that we could get a shave and a mini facial! Now it was only a pale comparison for the services provide by the marvellous Mavis, of Clippers fame. But it did only cost about a tenth of what it does when I go to Clippers.

Back at the apartment we were able to play our first game of Super Scrabble, which I manged to win!

Later on, looking absolutely stunning, as always, we set of for the airport and I was able to surprise Thomas with fact that we were booked into Business Class. Now compared to other airlines I have travelled with, EgyptAir Business Class from Cairo to Luxor is no great shakes but it was nice to have just a little bit of luxury on our way.

We were booked into a locally owned hotel, El Gezira Gardens on the quieter East Bank of the Nile, which had been recommended by Mr Ryan. It was a lovely little hotel, in which we had an apartment. The main benefit of this was separate bedrooms, which is a blessing at two levels. One I am always hot (Thomas suggested that I am 'on the change'!! Thankfully, his lingustic abilities are beeter than his biological ones!) so I could have the AC on. Two, Thomas alledges that I snore, so he was spared the trauma of trying to sleep in the same room as 'a rhino with nasal problems!' (and I'm quoting).

Wednesday morning was spent on the West bank wandering around the Souk and getting our bearings. We then went back to the hotel and had a swim in their heated pool. After which, got ready for Dinner across at the Japanese restaurant, in the Sonesta St George. This was not my first visit, having celebrated my 33rd birthday there back in 2003, when staying at the Sonesta with Will Drain. It was nice to be back and I am pleased to say the food did not disappoint.

From there we headed down to Karnak Temple in a caleche (horse drawn carriage) and after a heated argument with the driver (he tried to double the charge we had agreed and then wanted something for the horse as well!!) we watched the Sound and Light show at Karnak.

New Year's Eve had an early start for us as we were in the hotel reception by 5am in order to meet the car taking us the hot air balloon launch site. Unfortunately, due to some miscommunication we had arrived 50 minutes early!! When we finally got to the balloon the early start was well worth it, as we were high above Luxor as we watched the sunrise. This is a sight I have been fortunate to see twice before, but an awesome (in the true sense of that word) sight every time.

After our early start it was back to bed for a couple hours and then some brunch in the hotel. Whilst waiting for the food we engaged in a few games of Backgammon and I have to declare that I was well and truely beaten in an
8 - 0 defeat. We retired to our balcony for another game of Super Scrabble in which I was once again the victor!

We then made ourselves ready for the 'complusory' New Year's Eve party! We were fashionably late and after a very pleasant buffet, and not so pleasant belly 'dancer' (and I use that word reluctantly) we were unable to contain our excitement any further and returned to the apartment to see the New Year in together in the company of Messers Hislop and Merton and their various guests.

The first day of 2010 was spent lazing around the hotel with more Backgamon (with honours more evenly spread this time) and Super Scrabble (where a late spurt from me just pipped Thomas to the post by only 4 points).

After which we headed back to Luxor airport. Sadly, our journey home was not as smooth as we would have liked. The business class lounge at Luxor is still to be built and EgyptAir's idea of a replacement is to offer 'one soft drink' in the cafeteria! Unfortunately for them, this did not met with my expectations and so the airport manager ended up with an ear bashing in both Arabic and English pointing out the need for better customer care. This manged to get us upgraded to a slice of pizza and a soft drink, but there will still be a strongly worded email sent to EgyptAir early next week!

Today's main event was buying cheese, which was interupted by a robbery in the shop. The biggest problem being that calling the police was not an option, as it was the police that were carrying ut the robbery! I was in Thomas' apartment brewing the coffee when this happened but the experience had obviously upset and angered Thomas.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Thomas and we spent sometime looking back over the last 10 years and reflecting that neither of us would have seen ourselves in the places that we are, in 2000. We also both acknowledged how fortunate and bleesed we were to be able to live the lives that we do. We are both very grateful to God, for his mercy and grace poured out into our lives and blessings that he gives to us.

In my own mind I have also been looking forward, as 2010 (should that be said 'Twenty Ten', or 'Two Thousand and Ten'?) will be my 40th year. Now am sure there are some of you out there saying 'only 40!', but I can assure that regardless of how I look I will be 40 at the end of August. Being my mother's son, I already have somethings planned including a meal with my family, in early August, a visit to Cairo to see Thomas in mid August and a party with my friends in Karachi actually on the big day.

As to what else this year may hold, I am happy to say 'I don't know'! But this I do know, that as I go out into the darkness I can put my hand into the hand of God and that shall be better to me than light and safer than a known way...