So this is very much a catch up on trying to see the positive side of things in our lives in Cairo.
Don't be worried, Cairo continues to through up lots of opportunities to see the positive side of things. Just before Christmas, on the day the kids broke up from school, our TV service disappeared. We had been warned by other expats that this was going to be happening but somewhere deep inside I could not believe that it would really happen. But on the 19th December off it went. Who knows the true reason for this. Orbit the company which provides the service had successfully distributed new HD boxes to all their customers in the entire Middle East, including Saudia Arabia and Yemen, but not to Egypt. Most people are sure that somewhere the right bribe had not been paid to the right person here, and Orbit called the bluff and off the service went.
When it happened, it really felt like the bitter end. How was I going to get through the holidays without the benefit of any TV to keep the kids occupied for at least an hour a day. But then within days we found that new things were being found to be done. Radio was being listened to more, and games played on the Computer. Number 1 child began writing a book and number 2 making interesting collages. Then we discovered that the new PS3 could also link to the internet so the whole world of YouTube, played on the TV, opened up. Now, about four weeks in, we hardly miss it.
So the kids went back to school and I went back to work. I have to admit to being rather nervous as I was sure that so much would have changed after the three weeks I had been off. There was also an element of concern that my colleagues would be resentful of the fact I had disappeared for so long while they laboured through the busiest time yet. But I arrived and everyone was kind and seemed genuinely pleased to see me. Within a few minutes of arriving I was led into the office and told that I was going to be doing new work in the office. Over the next few minutes I learned that I was going to be doing all the paperwork in reporting the previous days events and taking to the US company which part owns the business. My initial thought was of internal panic, especially as the numerous processes that this involves were shown to me. Outwardly, I hope I appeared calm but inside the old demons of lack of confidence were telling me I would never get the hang of it. But now, one week on, I am genuinely excited by the new things I am learning and doing. They are small and to be honest, not challenging in the grand scheme of things, but I feel I have learned new things and that can genuinely do something to help make the business run just a little more smoothly. I view each day as a minor work of detection, getting to the bottom of problems with the tills balancing and the credit card not reporting properly. When at the end of the day, everything is sorted and signed off, I feel a genuine surge of satisfaction. I don't know how long this feeling will last, but for the moment, I am enjoying the sensation.
My final challenge of the New Year is a physical one. Both lifts in our building are now not working. Well of course, I am tempted to think this would only happen in Egypt, I know this is not the case,but there is something deeply Egyptian about completely overhauling both of them simultaneously without thinking how people living 8 floors up are meant to run their everyday life. Initially I have to admit to getting very angry about this. But hold on I thought, this is one year of living positively, and that is an easy one to turn onto its happy side. About five days in, I am now making it to the 5th floor before my legs start to turn into lead. I hope that in a few days I will make it right up to our floor without this happening. Who knows, if it goes on for much longer I will make it right up to the 7th floor without gasping for breath outside the flat door. People play very good money to go to the gym when they really don't need to. They can move to Egypt and wait for a challenge to put in their way. I already do a step class a day climbing up and down the pavements and a short sprint worthy of Mr Bolt avoiding the traffic on the way to work. Add to this the miles I walk in the shop and we have a full workout all in the course of the normal day.
My final positive thing to write about is something so Egyptian that it is the first thing many people think about when thinking about the country. I just want to write a brief paeon to our cat, Monty. He is a ginger baladi cat with a beautiful small head and long body and eyes the size of saucers. He is naughty scavenger who can drive you made by waking you by biting your toes at 3 in the morning. Now I know I am moving into eccentric cat lady territory but it is truly worrying how quickly a family can become dependent on the cat that condescends to live with you. I really do look forward to getting through the flat door at the end of the days work because I know Monty will be there stretching from his hard day sleeping. The children and I can be found laughing hysterically as he enters his mad hour and careers up and down the long corridor as if chased by the hounds of hell. As I write he is sleeping on a chair, with his head on his outstretched paws, like a ginger sleeping syphinx.
So here are five positive things about sharing our life with Monty....
- He brings out the soft side in my increasingly huge son who can be found talking to him like an amusing baby.
- My daughter, who thinks she is his "owner" has learnt that taking on the responsibility means you have to look after him everyday of his life.
- It is truly one of the funniest things in the world seeing him balancing on the back of a chair trying to catch his tail in the gaps in the wicker back.
- Its hard to be stressed after ten minutes of slowly stroking his almost cashmere soft fur.
- The huge ants, which used to walk through our bedroom and into the bathroom have miraculously disappeared!
Its nice to be back.
Persephone
