We've wrested some nice specimens from the edge of the desert, in full view of Meretseger and the Valley of the Kings. Unlike the Egyptians, who are constantly digging and tunnelling under their homes and workplaces, we didn't have to do any spadework, the precious artefacts were just lying around, some had even been sorted and catalogued! No actual ages were given or guessed at, but I'm sure that they are all genuine.
The seller wouldn't haggle over prices (obviously not Egyptian then!) and was well aware of the scarcity of some of the finds, and what they could fetch on the 'world market'. Take it or leave it was the order of the day!
Although (as you all know) times are tight; Freda just couldn't resist the temptation and went way over our proposed budget. I'm not even sure that I should be Blogging about this, remember "Loose lips sink ships"?
I think I'll change the subject, Dear Reader, and seek advice before I tell you any more! Mum's the word!
Money Well Spent?
How many of you remember all the fancy new traffic lights, which were erected all around Luxor a few years ago? I do, and I remember noticing them all start to lose a bulb here and there until none of them were working at all. Now they've come up with another fine idea; almost every second lamp post along the Corniche has sprouted one of these (or similar)!:
There are different signs, of course. This one is just outside of the Etap,and you can see just how professionally it has been erected; partly obscuring an advertising sign, for which someone is actually paying good money!
The sign itself has about twenty 'cycles' of flashes and movement, computer controlled, I should imagine.
I would also imagine that such fancy technology would not be cheap, but how long will they last before they inevitably start to break down?
I haven't a political bone in my body, as you all know, neither could I be viewed as an agitator of any description; but to see very large sums of money obviously wasted on such unnecessary rubbish as these when so many people here are on the verge of starvation, makes my blood boil! Has Derek Hatton moved here, or someone like him?
Money Well Spent...Number 2?
Have I told you before about the problems we've had with motorcycles parking in our little Alley, Dear Reader?
I thought not!
On the ground floor of our building, we have Dr GerisYacoub. Even though he's a prominent Coptic Christian, our Muslim neighbours regard him as a 'Saint'! Honestly, they cannot speak highly enough of him, his compassion, and also his treatment, of course. He charges 33le for a consultation, but if the patient doesn't have it; then he doesn't pay.This leads to his clinic being constantly busy whenever it's open, and what is the main personal transport for Egyptians? That's right; the Chinese motorcycle!
It's not usually a problem for us or our guests, or even for Adam's coffeeshop across the way. The main sufferer is poor old Mr Mohammed, who lives in the single storey mud-brick house at the bottom of the Alley. Occasionally, he's been almost a prisoner down there, with the street blocked altogether! He's been going on and on about getting 'something done' about this situation for about two years now.
I came out of our downstairs door the other day to behold this:
Not very artistic, I'll agree, but it seems to be effective! Typically, it doesn't quite balance. I've no idea why the uprights weren't at the end of the crosspiece, or even equidistant from the ends, except that it might have looked out of place in Luxor if it had been 'right'. The cut ends of the tubing had been left quite raggy, with several sharp bits which might have damaged the soft hands of the Egyptian men, so I took my file downstairs and cleaned them up, much to the amazement of the neighbours! "Ah, Meester Adward, the engineer hahaha!" Honestly, I could kill them all at times!
It turned out that it was Ahmed (Adam's brother) who had arranged to have it done. He fully expected us all to chip in to cover the cost, and I was pleasantly surprised when he told me that the total had been 100le. Even Freda didn't mind coughing up our 20le to get rid of the menaces. Now all we need is to persuade Mr Edward (Dr Al Malach's assistant) to shift his old push-bike from inside the entrance, and we'll be as happy as Larry. (Who knows who 'Larry' was?)
I guess you could try this for 'happy as Larry'
ReplyDeleteLarry Foley (1847 - 1917). Foley was a successful pugilist (boxer) who never lost a fight. He retired at 32 and collected a purse of £1,000 for his final fight. So, we can expect that he was known to be happy with his lot in the 1870s - just when the phrase is first cited.
larry Foley was an Australian I think, they got some funny phrases out there
The only Larry I know is Larry the Lamb - as to whether he was happy or not though, I don't have a clue!! lol
ReplyDelete