Light up the sky with Standard Fireworks!

If you're English, and over about 50, then you should be able to sing the title of this post! Go on, no-one's listening. When we were little, in the 50's, or in 'the olden days' we loved Guy Fawkes night (November 5th). Some people had bonfires in their back lanes, and scorched all the yard doors! We were never allowed anything dangerous like that, we had to wait for dad coming home from work to set off the fireworks (crackers) in the back yard. Of course we had sparklers for in the house, and Mam and our Susan would strike the 'London Lights'.What an exciting time!

Later on, when we were older, the local chapel had a big bonfire, behind it on the spare ground.Where some of the 'Chapel Ladies' would serve hot dogs, and orange squash and cups of 'Chapel tea'. Freda and I had our first proper date at such a bonfire, at Lamesley Church.

Back to the crackers though, I'm easily distracted, sorry. Do you remember your Dad setting off the crackers on bonfire night? The ones which often didn't work, were the Catherine Wheels, such a disappointment. I think such occurrences led to the expression 'a damp squib' meaning that something didn't turn out as spectacular as it had been expected to.

Well, 'Guys and Gals', that's exactly what has happened here in Luxor today! So many clever b*****s have been prophesying doom and gloom here for the anniversary of the revolution, and they have been badly disappointed. Yippee!

I had heard from my neighbours that there were to be two meetings this morning in Abu El Haggag Square. One was to be the Association of Tour Guides, and the other; some group which supports the Military Government. As we had had a phone call from the BBC, with a request to ring back again today, we thought that we should really try and get some info for them beforehand. Off we went, Ed and Fred, reprising our  crucial 2011 role as roving reporters for the world's news! (Well, BBC Radio Newcastle, actually)

On approaching the Square, we could see quite a few men gathered:

(I felt very sorry for the one-legged bird in front of me! I thought, "She'd be easy meat for a passing opportunist mugger!" but then, I decided that she would really be quite safe, I mean; who would rob a woman with only half a knicker? Boom boom!!!! (Colloquialism: half a knicker= half a quid, or 50 pence in 'new' money.) That was repeated from a 'Royal Command Performance' of about 1962, where it was told by the son of Mister Max Bygraves.)

However, when we actually got among them, the men were all standing in a circle! In the middle of the circle, there were one or two handing out leaflets and another man shouting out slogans, to be answered with chanting by the gathered throng, by the time we were a hundred yards away we couldn't hear them. I would estimate that there were about, possibly, at a rough guess, 200 there. All their banners etc.were in Arabic, of course, so we had no idea whom they were. Except that they were definitely not the Tour Guides. As we turned to walk on, there appeared in front of us; two management staff from the Winter Palace Hotel. One, we have known for absolutely ages, since he was at the Etap, in fact. "So who are these?" I asked. He looked over my shoulder at their placards, "Oh, the 6th of February."

I've looked for info on them, but as far as I can see; there isn't an official grouping of that name. So we're non the wiser! April 6th, yes and October 6th as well, but for February 6th, it's just a date where several opposition groups were meeting and hoping to form a 'Reform Commitee' to get shot of President Mubarak.

We jumped a bus and made our way up to Medina Street, where there were reported attacks on the Police Headquarters there last year, and was one of the places where the security forces set of tear gas. There were a lot of road barriers standing against the kerb, as if they might close the road off altogether. This wouldn't be anything new, as the road is always closed here when there are elections going on. While we were so near, it would have been so impolite to not call and see the Lovely Christine, at Tutti Frutti Cafe, so we did! But just for an hour or so. While we were there; Radio Newcastle phoned, so I said that we would be home for 2:30 and could the man ring me then. It was arranged!

Shortly before we left Tutti Frutti, someone arrived and told us of a gathering of women and children he had seen on the Corniche, about 300 or so! (Edit: three DOZEN or so! Sorry, but my hearing must be getting worse!) From what he said, it seemed that this gathering could have been either at the Luxor Supreme Council Offices (quite likely) or the new park nearer to Karnak (where they might have been with their kids anyway, as today was a national holiday and the schools were all closed). We plumped for the offices of the Council and Governor! When we got there, there was indeed a group of women, some with small children. I didn't feel able to photograph them, but as we walked through them I was able to count them exactly. In the main group there were 22, and scattered around (some sitting on the kerb across the road and some at the entrance to the Savoy market) were another 8, making a grand total of  30. I don't think that they were anything to do with theanniversery though, more likely some local grouse.

We got home in plenty of time for the BBC to ring. John asked me a few questions about what had changed in Luxor over the past year, and that was about it! Another 'damp squib'! He said that the interview would be broadcast at between 4 and 5:30 this afternoon, so we rang the kids and told them, and then went off to the Etap to see the new intake arriving. Six Travco (Thomson Holidays) coaches just about full, one Blue Sky (Thomas Cook) and loads of mini-buses and cars came past from the airport, so it's nice to know that we haven't been abandoned altogether.

We left there after it was dark, and we thought that all of the Newbies had come into town.(Except for the Thompson flight which was delayed until after 10pm, that is.) We strolled back along the Corniche, past Freda's Temple (all it up and beautiful) and around the corner up to Abu El Haggag Square again.

This time there were two groups of around 20 or thirty people, men and women, but there seemed to be nothing 'going on'! I got a quick snap, which is very poor.(I don't know what to do about those dots which keep appearing when I take pics in the dark!!! I think I'll try some spectacles cleaning stuff I got from my glasses manufacturer friend. Here it is anyway:

You cannot stand about for long, where I took the pic from, as the kids whose parents rent those electric bike things for them are coming at you from all angles!

So; all in all, a pretty disappointing day for the world's press, as far as Luxor was concerned, anyway. The most exciting thing, as far as I was concerned, was the cherry flavoured cigarette I had from Tutti Frutti Christine!

Well I never! It's tomorrow already, goodnight and God bless.