An overdue update

I recently had cause to look at our 'old' blog and thought that it had been a good way to keep a diary of what we were doing at the time.  I was amazed to see that the last entry was 4 years ago so here's an update: we're still in North Devon and we moved to our new home 2 years ago from 'Chamings'.  The decorating and DIY are definitely taking second place to the garden which although time consuming is one of my favourite places to be, I can't take any credit for our cherry tree in our front garden  - it became a favourite for local photographers. Pete

Love the place, but never thought we'd end up in Barnstaple!

People often say to me, 'Bet you never thought you'd end up in the Middle East?'  In fact it was no surprise to either of us we had years of planing, preparation and then 8 years of living through Arab springs in a variety of countries.  More the surprise that we ending up in Barnstaple North Devon. A area with a dramatic rugged coastline near to Exmoor of Lorna Doone fame.  The Atlantic sea is a bracing Sunday walk away from us with its  dramatic crashing waves  So many people have been for meals and to stay a night or two and I just love the continuing hospitality that flows out of our home; reflecting back the kindness given to us in other lands. But its just our home for a while with in all its quirky 18th century beauty.  Jane

Chamings Cottage

We have finished working at Gilead, Okehampton - we really enjoyed living in community with the 'students' who were recovering from their drug and alcohol addictions.  We learnt what it means to be honest with one another especially when sharing our feelings.

We have decided to move up north (north Devon), to Barnstaple where we hope to continue to work with those on the edge of society, and other things - Peter has applied to work at the local hospice and Citizen's Advice Bureau.

We feel really blessed with our new home which is a quirky fully furnished ex-holiday let; we got rid of all our furniture 8 years ago.  Our new home is an barn-conversion on Hume Farm or to be more accurate a dairy-conversion: 'Chamings Cottage' is named after Arthur & Gwen Chamings who ran the dairy and delivered milk by horse and cart.  We will reproduce a modern version of the photo in a later blog - I'm sure Jane has a similar dress!

Wild Creation calls!

We love living in the wild scene -scapes  of Dartmoor.  A few minutes drive and we are completely in barrenness and  beauty with only the sheep and wild ponies for company. Sherlock Holmes in the novel 'Hound of the Baskervilles' novel says 'It must be a wild place' and he is so right! On top of the Dartmoor Tors the snow from a few weeks past remains and looks like its staying a while longer yet. We have been living on a working farm that is also a christian community and rehab for the last 6 weeks; this brings much discovery joy and challenge. The Wilderness forays become a necessary escape to keep life in perspective, wild creation calls!

New starts - moving on again ...

I'm starting to get that lump in my stomach again, and its not to do with too much celebrating at Christmas; we are on the move again.  Its all good, new and exciting; the jobs are exactly what we what and where we want to be (amazingly).  I just need to find a big dollop of courage to pack up and start again.  I may be also being a little 'over dramatic' as really we are just moving from North Devon to Mid Devon its not quite like flying back to the 'Middle East' as we have done so many times before.  We are moving to Okehampton to work and live on a farm with people who are learning to live without dependence on drugs and alcohol.  Its an exciting place (we have done some taster days) with some incredible people learning about faith, trust and brand new starts - a great theme at Christ -mas time.  Jane

Party popper Birthdays!

One of the brilliant things about living in the Uk again is that we can  now attend all the family birthdays especially the big ones like Brenda's 80th, auntie Margarets 70th, Philips 21st and many more in November.  Now we can crouch in darkened rooms clutching party poppers and then emerge on mass to 'surprise' our elderly relatives.  When we were living in the 'middle east' we would be on the end of somebodies skype phone, so we could be actually 'at' the occasion but not present in the flesh.  Being present is definitely the better option. Pete and I at the grand old age of 56 years  have all four parents living and relatively well for their ages. As we relocate to Devon, spending time with then has become a special occasion, a time to appreciate their latter years, and anyway at 85 Wallace ( Pete's dad)  can still make a mean Cottage pie with 5 types of veg followed by a delicious apple crumble- not to be missed for the world!   Jane

Moving South

Some people hire a removal lorry or rent a van to move house but we just used our small Skoda Citigo.  We managed to squeeze a couple of suitcases and a few bags into our little car and so after 14 weeks of living out of our suitcases we finally unpacked.  We're staying in a small, lovely, holiday cottage in Devon for three months so that we can reflect, relax and recharge and generally have some time out.  The north Devon coast is already proving to be the ideal place get some late-summer fresh air, although that may change when the winter gales start blowing in across the Atlantic.  But after dry and dusty Cairo a few walks in the rain will refreshing in more ways than one.  Peter

The Dash from Devon

The end of August, and we have finished our wanderings around the UK which has included 14 link churches and many supporters.  The happy occasion above was the confirmation of our God daughter Eleanor Thompson together with Lucy, Adrian and escaping brother William, with the Bishop of Carlisle who was doing the confirming.
For Peter and me it was a dash from preaching at St. Margarets Topsham, Devon to Christ Church Cockermouth ( in the Northern lakes).  With a whistle stop mentality we managed the journey in 7 hours stopping only for loo breaks and feeding and watering one another along the way.  We arrived 30 minutes late  at the church but as we entered the spirit of  joy and worship was physically tangible.  About a dozen young people were confirmed and it felt so special to have entered into a happy party celebration of developing  and growing faith. Jane

England's antidote

Our journeys around England - apart from the M4 & M5 - are proving to be the perfect antidote to Cairo.  We started in Somerset and Devon, including Lee Abbey (picture above), and then we've travelled to Kent, Yorkshire and all inbetween.  We miss the buzz of Cairo and our friends but not the traffic and pollution.  We're gradually sorting our belongings into stuff for storage and stuff we actually 'need'.  Decluttering is a constant battle - it makes you think about what you buy because something else would have to go from our suitcases or storage unit to make room.

Smooth

We had a smooth return to the UK.  Our various journeys to and from airports were without hitches and our 9 cases/bags arrived safe and sound. In reply to a friend's question we said that we had a smooth journey home meaning without difficulties, but he thought that we had an uninterrupted flight. This got me thinking about other smooth things in the UK - apart from me of course.
Our train to Devon was incredibly smooth and the connections were straightforward, the Tiverton link road was flat as a pancake, the coffee creamy, and my new shirt suave.  There are obviously some striking differences between sleepy, smooth Somerset and chaotic Cairo, one of which is road safety particularly as a pedestrian. Most of the time you have to walk in the road because there are either no pavements, they are in a dangerous state of repair, certainly not smooth, or blocked with rubbish, cars and building materials.  New building sites have no safety barriers and the buildings are often built right up to the edge of the road.  This causes additional problems for pedestrians who have to negotiate piles of sand, bricks and scaffolding: planks of wood tied together.  Here is a picture of the site of our old language school which was demolished to make way for a building four times as big (building regulations are not being enforced since the troubles).  A few days ago I was walking along the road when I heard a very load bang, looking around I saw that a scaffolding plank had just fallen from the 12 storey building - after this incident road safety then meant looking right, left, down (for holes and obstructions) and up!

Electricity

Where did April go?  The days and weeks before we leave Egypt seem to be flying by and most of them seem to spent in darkness as the power cuts continue. A power cut at home is bearable - a time to switch off the TV and computer and read or play my guitar, but a power-cut during an English lesson causes a great deal of disruption.  Despite the power cuts new air-conditioner units are still being fitted, often bigger and more powerful.  This is a view from our lounge window where you can see our A/C (very rarely used because it makes the dry desert atmosphere even dryer) and opposite the new large A/C units being fitted to our neighbours apartments.  They are too large to even fit into the original space designed for them.
Whilst we're on the subject of electricity I bet we have more light switches in our main room (a lounge/diner) than you!  We have 24. There are 5 switches for lights, 3 for balcony lights, 1 for a ceiling fan, and 1 for the light outside our front door.  I'm not sure what the other 14 were designed for.  We find that best way to ensure that you switch on the correct switch in a cluster is to turn them all on! P

Dust and Sand

Each morning is greeted with a bout of sneezing as the nasal passages acclimatise to the dust and sand that the overnight wind has brought into the already heavily polluted city.  The steam from a hot shower also helps to increase the humidity just for a few minutes. What doesn't seem to suffer are our poinsettias which were bought from our local florist at Christmas.  After decorating our apartment for a few weeks they began to sag so they were put on the balcony to get some 'fresh' air.  As we approach Easter they are flourishing with new leaves still appearing.  Their watering time is also a washing time when their original colour can be enjoyed for a brief time before they get covered in another layer of sand.

Just another Sunday lunchtime view ...

It was just another sleepy Sunday afternoon (or actually Friday).  The roof of Pizza Hut here in Giza has this breath taking iconic view.  There were 7 of us sitting, munching enjoying the close proximity of ancient history.  It felt like a special moment in time away from the crowds, the hawkers trying to sell us plastic souvenirs, away from tour guides anxious to keep us in tow and give us a long protracted history of Cairo and the pharaohs.  It was good to sit and absorb, appreciate this view away from the continued political turbulence and turmoil of Egypt, Just a quiet moment - well inbetween the frantic pizza munching!  Jane

Normal life

The busy Christmas and New Year periods have finally ended - the Coptic Christmas was 7th January with epiphany ending 12 days later. We then had the new constitution referendum which lasted 2 days. There were the usual protests and disruption that are becoming the norm and which we were able to follow on the TV and internet It was interesting to follow how the referendum was being reported locally and how it was then copied by the BBC: 'Voting has resumed in Egypt in a two-day referendum on a new constitution... With security tight Tuesday's voting was reported to be broadly peaceful. However, nine people died in clashes.' The BBC later removed the phrase 'broadly peaceful'. Unfortunately the 'peaceful' Tuesday was then followed with 5 times as many deaths on the second day of the referendum.
When circumstances dictate we continue to amuse ourselves with a jigsaw puzzle and a BBC podcast, the sizes seem to be increasing with the size of the protests. We recently finished a 1,000 piece puzzle and we've just started a 3,000 piece puzzle, let's hope the next one will only have 500 pieces.

Birthdays

Over the last few years we have experienced our birthdays in many different places and situations.  After arriving in Cairo about 2 years ago we have finally managed to go to the Cairo Opera House.  We knew that the Cairo Symphony Orchestra played every Saturday evening but we didn't know what they were playing!  So Jane's birthday treat was a meal in a restaurant on the banks of the River Nile followed by a concert.  We thoroughly enjoyed the concert - it was a shame that the Opera House was only 10% full.  Listening to Ravel, especially the Menuet, made one forget about all the difficulties of living in Cairo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9qxygpFTos
Pete's birthday treat was going to the British Community Association clubhouse where he enjoyed Cumberland sausage, chips and baked beans (and Coleman's mustard) and then Everton vs Liverpool on satellite TV. Jane enjoyed the meal but decided to read instead of watching the game, which was an exciting 3-3 draw.
Because our birthdays are so close together (Jane is 12 days older than Pete) we also had a fish 'n' chip lunch with a few friends.

Curfew Jigsaws

We have found that the good old jigsaw is a great way to amuse oneself during the curfews and also a useful way to unwind after teaching.  It also means that we can listen to a BBC radio programme instead of the wall to wall news or third rate sitcoms and films on the local TV channels. There are rumours that the final Friday curfew will be lifted soon so once again we will be able to freely travel around.  But we will continue puzzling because we brought back some jigsaws from the UK and we have also borrowed some.  So far we've finished four 1,000 piece puzzles and a couple of 500 piece ones; and we have three more 1,000 piece puzzles (one without a box or picture) to complete as we warm up for the one with 3,000 pieces.  We've only had one disappoint so far which was a middle piece missing from a puzzle we bought at a charity shop in the UK - perhaps we could get a job making their puzzles before they sell them.  It has also highlighted our different personalities: Jane likes to randomly pick up a piece and see if she can fit it somewhere whereas Peter likes to sort the pieces into colours or shapes and then fit them!

The sounds of Somerset

Walking down the streets of Cairo has recently reminded us of our home in Somerset.  The familiar 'country' smells and the gentle sound of sheep bleating and cows mooing - that's where the similarities end.
The country smells and sounds were because people are buying sheep and cattle for the Eid al-Adha (Feast of the sacrifice) so it was not a great shock to find a lonely bull calf at the bottom of the our basement steps - not sure it would have passed a RSPCA inspection.  Our landlord invited us to the morning sacrifice at 7.30 which didn't seem that early because we had been awake since 5.30 listening to the special 'call to prayer'.  It was not our preferred way to start the day, especially before breakfast, but we were able to spend time with the landlord and his family.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha

The buzz ,rattle and hum of Cairo

It's good to be back in the buzz, rattle and hum of busy Cairo.  It's a vibrant, lively city that somehow beckons you back each time you leave.  But a lot has changed in the short time that we were away; many lives lost  and families and communities changed forever by the vast human carnage and sectarian violence.  Its a lot to take in for Peter and I coming from a sleepy southwesterly  UK backwater.
So we have thrown ourselves into our routines, teaching English and other assorted jobs in various locations.  We are pleased that the deaf school library seems to have been cleaned and tidied since our break.  The new English reading books that two weeks ago we squashed into our already over flowing suitcases are now cataloged and gleaming on the library shelves.  There seems to be a general principle here; that if you take an interest in people or even in previously cared for but now neglected libraries - then there is a response.
We are pleased that since our return God continues to bring people our way.  Each is a special unique individual whom we are privileged to know.  Jane

The peace of Old Cairo

In these sad turbulent times when Cairo is grieving for her many lost sons and daughters, I wanted to seek out a picture from happier more peaceful times before the recent carnage; when life appeared to be more simple, although I not sure it ever really was as such .
 We hope that she (Cairo) will renew and heal the massive deep scar that is on her belly.  Every life lost is precious and grieved for by somebody.  Families from all faiths have been torn  apart by the terrible happenings and we grieve and care intensely about such a great and unnecessary loss of life.  There are going to be many,many long years ahead of healing and reparation, but the the situation is still so raw, and life so fragile.
Our news is that we are now already here in the UK  on a previously planned holiday so are safe and well.  We watch and pray from afar for those people in Egypt who we are privileged to call our friends.  Jane

Unpredictability

I was going to start this blog post yesterday but the internet connection was intermittent.  I wanted to write about the unpredictability of living in Cairo - especially our shower.  We recently wrote about the random electricity supply which has improved recently but the warmth of our shower remains unpredictable.  One has to be prepared to be scolded or frozen (a slight exaggeration because the cold water is slightly warm which is very refreshing when the daytime temperatures are high).  It's either the irregular water pressure or the erratic gas supply that causes the variations in shower temperatures.  It adds a little bit of excitement to the start of the day but either way I am always thankful that we have water and that most of the time it is hot. There are many other things that are unpredictable in Cairo especially during Ramadan - oh! I nearly forgot - the political situation is also a little bit unpredictable! P