I have been to this annual corporate event for several years now and always enjoy it. Not least, I love the British Museum and the private viewing tends to be well worth the effort. This year was no exception.
As always, the guests at such functions tend to be somewhat self-selecting; the more interesting guests take an interest in the exhibition itself while the less interesting guests are “only here for the beer” – or in this case “only here for the champagne and posh nosh”. So it is quite easy to find the interesting people for a chat.
The only “issue” this year was the vast amount of information rather than eye candy in this particular show, perhaps not ideal for a “party with exhibition”. Please don’t quiz me about this fascinating exhibition without giving me a second chance to mug up.
It wasn’t our habit to take a short break this close to Christmas, so we must have been feeling a real need to get away from it all that autumn. We chose Egypt for that time of year, arranging a few days of cultural tourism in Cairo and then a week of R&R in Sahl Hasheesh, near Hurghada. What could possibly go wrong?
As our diplomatic guide explained it to us on arrival; “our president has said one or two things that have not gone down too well with some sections of our society. There might be some protests about this over the next few days.”
Occupancy was already down at the Mena House, where they took so kindly to our perseverance that we were upgraded to the Gustav V Adolf Suite on arrival.
Anyway, we enjoyed the benefits of the pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum with very few other tourists to interrupt our enjoyment, which made us feel big.
Occupancy in Sahi Hasheesh was, if anything, worse (from the resort’s point of view), although at least the atmosphere was less nervous.
Audley provided same in a jolly nice ring binder. My hand-written notes, barely decipherable and therefore perfectly safe in the public domain, are here:
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Have some Hossam Ramzy as mood music while you read this:
26 November 2012
Rose to play tennis – Daisy seemed much happier in daylight but Ged won 6-4 despite winning fewer points.
I recall fiddling around with a DAB radio (or was it the internet radio by then) to catch the end of the India v England test match that day. I think we could only get Test Match Sofa, which Janie rather liked, despite the persistent Wankhede puns.
Scrub up and breakfast. Daisy goes Egyptian, Ged tries a rather disappointing oatmeal porridge.
Go for scuba lesson at 12.00 in swimming pool which was fun. Meet Danielle (only other classmate) who turns out to be half of the mystery 1600 tennis duo.
Return to villa, share a light snack of chicken wings lunch , Then Daisy goes off to yoga class while Ged reads and sleeps.
Daisy returns for R&R and then down for dinner, which is a Thai feast after duck salad starter. Daisy announces Ged’s expertise on such matters. Strangely the shrimp soup comes without the customary coconut cream finish. When Ged comments on this the waiter explains that Ged is listed as coconut allergic – Daisy hoisted with own petard [from yesterday].
After many unnecessary apologies and offers a repeat dose, we convince the staff that we were at fault. The meal is excellent, including green curry properly finished with coconut cream!!
27 November 2012
Rose to play tennis in the morning – 5-5 a tight match and deservedly so.
Showered and took breakfast – Daisy chose scrambled egg and beef bacon, Ged tried waffles with maple syrup which were good when bacon was added to the mix.
Ged sat around pool for a while when workmen were in doing bath/shower, then spent the rest of the morning/lunch slot in the villa.
Went off at 1530 to cookery exhibition where we learnt how to do chicken kebabs and fish Tikka – nice tasters and met Livre who turned out to be the “missing special occasion” lady from last night. Belgian and round mild Tikka masala extremely hot.
Returned for R&R, scrubbed up, then down for dinner. Ged had prawn and scallop dish. Daisy went for steak frites. While choosing desert, Livre sent over some of her delicious chocolate birthday cakes so that was desert.
Comedic serving of a glass of port to go with it for Ged!
Watched end of dire Freddie Flintoff VCR.
28 November 2012
Rose early read a little before excellent game of tennis which Ged won 6-4 from 2-4 15-40 down.
Then shower and breakfast. Daisy got caught up in a pomegranate juice incident which might have turned very nasty but ended up with Ged getting pomegranate juice. Ged tried Egyptian breakfast today, Daisy poached eggs.
Went to aromatherapy massage class at 1130, where Livre literally upset her husband onto the stone floor and Ged was used as the model or guinea pig – pick your term.
Retired to villa after the lesson for sun, reading, swimming, snack of cashews and beer, R&R etc.
Watched a cheesy movie, One Day, purported to be better than that.
In between chunks of the movie had dinner. Ged had a duck dish and Daisy had osso bucco – deserts of ice cream and creme caramel respectively.
Very enjoyable day.
29 November 2012
Rose early again, read before tennis at eight, Ged won 6-3. Good game again.
Showered and then breakfast – pomegranate juice, muesli and cooked meats and cheese for Ged, poached eggs for Daisy – a grumpy Mahmood tried to get all aspects of the order wrong.
Spent day in pool villa enjoying reading and sun.
Pilates class at 1530 felt like quite hard work – big balls small balls think core… More to Ged’s taste than yoga.
Back to base for some R&R and prepared to go out to dinner.
Dinner in Indian (Zafran) restaurant. We share a lamb chop starter, followed by prawns in southern Indian style and slow cooked lamb ghost with coffee and pistachio ice cream to follow – all very nice.
Daisy fell asleep even before opening credits rolled through It’s Complicated.
30 November 2012
Rose early, played tennis – coach came out today to show off his painted lines and put us through our paces. Ged won 6-2 (7-4) today.
Breakfast – Daisy is settled on poached eggs, Ged tried ordering waffles with maple syrup and bacon today to the shoked look of Farouk but on Ged’s recommendation we think the team are now into that combo.
We made a special order of shawarma for lunch. Enjoy the terrace and pool, then went down to main pool restaurant and tried a shawarma (shared one chicken and one beef) with a beer. Then strolled jetty and beach before returning to villa for a while.
Then went to spa for Balinese massage (Ged) and facial with head and neck massage (Daisy) preceded by a steam.
Back to villa, neither of us very hungry but we watched It’s Complicated with a bottle of wine and then ordered a pasta Bolognese to share. R&R after movie and grab both fell asleep promptly.
1 December 2012
Rose early to play tennis for the last time here. Coach and other hopefuls turned up briefly but couldn’t diverted from a purpose and honourable 5-5 tie resulted.
Breakfast along similar lines to previous days the buffet has been abolished the last two days and some elements of order presumed!
Rumours of water being cut off will quickly quashed so we were able to retreat to a pool villa the whole day reading, swimming and relaxing.
Early evening started watching The Help then, just before dinner, Fathy and the evening service crew through insisted on making up a room while we waited on the Terrace for the romantic last night set up. More amused/irritated than impressed.
We got ready for dinner had a duck confit dish (Daisy) and lamb shank (Ged) preceded by Tandoori prawns and concluded with a Egyptian pastries (Daisy) and espresso ice cream (Ged).
Then watched end of the film.
On 1 December I also took the headline picture, which I submitted to King Cricket as a cricket book in an unusual place – this piece published in newar-record time, a mere 18 days later:
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Checking out
Here is my log for the third day:
Rise early for breakfast and departure to Hurghada. Event-free journey.
Orientation at Oberoi and arrived at our lovely villa in time for a snack lunch of calamari and kibbehs very nice.
We have a dish of biscuits etc. including some coconut macaroons was Ged doesn’t like. Daisy phones asks for future dishes to leave out coconut as Ged is allergic. Why?
We cannot book tennis court any earlier than 1900, so arranged late dinner in Saffron Indian restaurant.
Daisy does not enjoy floodlit tennis but we do both enjoy Indian meal of Bengal fish curry (nice perch) and chicken Tikka quite spicy but very tasty.
Light breakfast and a good news – Protest low-key in morning so no problem.
Have some more Hossam Ramzy music to accompany your read:
We see all the main highlights of museum and more – Tutankhamen moon and Akhenaten stuff highlights for us.
We were in a way very fortunate to be visiting the museum at this time. While there were evident signs of the afternoon/evening protests, our driver and guide were able to ferry us to and from the museum without any difficulty and the place was practically deserted, giving us untrammelled access to the wonders of that museum. Janie had been before and had been dreading the crowds a bit. She claims to have seen so much more on our visit as a result.
Comedy mislaying of Muhammad [our driver] (Ged’s fault). Delayed departure slightly but back nice and early for turkey/smoked beef toastie and some Casper/Jardan Du Nil white outside at Alfredos. Bit more atmosphere with a few people.
Time for R&R and amazing dinner at Moghul of Tandoori prawns, chicken Tikka in tomato gravy, yellow daal, pilao with peas and mushrooms and Nan – gift of kulfi and fond farewells to restaurant.
The context, summary and links for this short break are contained in the placeholder – click here or below:
Here is my log for the first day:
We rose at eight to realise that someone has built a huge stone monstrosity right in front of our window in the hotel.
Ged was going to complain, as he had paid for a pyramid view, until Daisy explained that the “big eyesore”, as Ged put it, was the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Simple breakfast and then off touring with her guide Mohammed who shows us that Great Pyramid (Khuru) the other big fella (Khafre)…
…and the baby one (Mankaura) “de-de-durrrrr”…
…plus the Khafre temple and also the Sphinx.
Back to hotel sharpish – nice tip cheered driver and guide up.
Got bearings and took a snack lunch of chicken foccaccia and beer at Alfredos by the pool. Hotel almost empty.
Had a good afternoon nap and took dinner at the Moghul restaurant – tried prawns in rich ginger and garlic and coconut gravy, Lamb Rogan Josh, black lentils, pulao Kashmiri style and carrot halwa to finish – so good, we booked again for tomorrow. Tried Ayam white and then switched to Zaman/Jardin Du Nil.
Rose at a civilised hour on Thursday – Ged [i.e. me] feeling a little worse for wear ahead of the journey.
Got through check-in and security at Heathrow terminal three in record time – our flight to Cairo is said to be half full and that middle of the day slot is quiet generally.
In the absence of business class, we sought a classy place to get some refreshment – especially as Egypt Air’s hospitality’s reputation is far from good.
We found Oriel & were nicely looked after there for a couple of hours. Daisy [Janie] had a couple of “glasses of” and a Caesar salad. Ged, feeling a bit ropey still, stuck with water, Diet Coke and eventually some smoked salmon and wine.
Event free flight – We did well to avoid the dreadful smelling food – apart from “Abu Fsai” in front of us and the big unit to our side.
Now’s the time to add some Egyptian music to enhance your reading experience – the great Hossam Ramzy:
We arrived on time, met by Ahmed who whizzed us through the Visa, immigration, baggage collection and customs processes.
Delighted to learn that we’ve been upgraded to a presidential suite on arrival – the King Gustav VI Adolf Suite.
After showering and sorting, took a late dinner of lentil soup followed by chicken kebab (Daisy) and lamb kofte (Ged) with local wine. Daisy like Zaman, Ged liked Jardin Du Nil. Read after trying Zaman first time round.
It was clear after just a few hours in Cairo that the place is “baksheesh central”, so Ged thought he should change some money after dinner at the Mena House’s 24 hours a day bank.
Strangely, the bank seem to be staffed solely by a security guard with very little English. He tried to explain that they had little English money until Ged emphasised with hand and cash waving that we sought small Egyptian money, not small English money.
At a painfully slow pace, our boy counted out our money, until, seemingly complete having counted it twice, he handed it downwards. A tip-toed lean across the counter revealed the actual cashier, who had been sleeping on the floor.
He rose slowly, bleary eyed. He asked in surly tones if we were absolutely sure we wanted all that small money and then counted it all again.
A little offering to the guard and cashier seem to cheer them both up.
