CLOG050810
Capt’s Log – 05/08/10. [CLOG050810]
Due to misunderstanding with Big Phil, spent 5 hours sat on a wooden chair at City Airport with concrete breakers and sundry other construction noises as a lullaby. Eventually got away at 06:30h in my favourite Avro (HS) 146 to Zurich. Must have been still quite dozy as I left 2 BP tabs in the wash-room. In transit at Z, faced with another Security check and had my water, penknife and newspaper confiscated. I said this had already been checked in London but culprits mumbled that it was new regs. from USA. I suggested from Tel Aviv also and asked what had happened to that William Tell spirit? Perhaps more people were needed from Chur and Appenzelle? Fuzz not amused but handed back the pen-knife and newspaper.
Found myself upgraded to second class on flight to Cairo. Quite impressed but stewardess failed to straighten up my jacked which I had hung jauntily on the coat-hanger. Appenzelle bier and Swiss red wine both required spritzerizing. Otherwise good meal. Banker in next seat very cagey about giving away information but I deduced that he was Egyptian and had worked for Lloyds-TSB but was now into something more clandestine, in Genever. On time at Cairo’s vast new airport – reminiscent of Milton Keynes – but found that my bag had been left in Zurich – may have been not unconnected with my encounter with the fuzz there. Should arrive tomorrow.
Apparently kidnapped by driver who met me at airport – we finished up, not at the hotel near the airport to which I had been directed but at another at Giza, at least 20 km away. No sign of any other member of our party. I’m not sure whence Shihab appeared. I should have seen him coming as he is not, by a long chalk, a particularly inconspicuous man. It seems that this new hotel was the only one which could accommodate our whole party. As USD 120 per night was outside my budget, I stated my intention of moving to somewhere less salubrious (and nearer the city centre or the airport), whereupon Shihab announced that the room price had suddenly reduced to USD 60 and that it would only be for one night – we would be moving out towards our objective the following morning. I was advised to rest awhile, did so, overslept and eventually went down to dinner at 21:00h. Ibrahim H and others had arrived and joined us at dinner. Unfortunately my denture fixative had exhausted it’s sticktion so I could not get beyond the soup course. A wedding party then turned up and the din would have drowned out Armageddon. I went out to a Pharmacy for sticky-stuff and attempted to resume my dinner but the buffet had by then been cleared away.
Took out a 60 min card for the Internet but I will now have to stay up until well after 1 am to use it (all) up – what a burden to be working class! Anyway I will now save this and see if there is anything (interesting) in my Inbox.
Most interesting item was from Icelandic Society in London. Friendly but referring me “elsewhere” for the info I was seeking.
I will try to post this now. Capt’n Jim.