Carry On Regardless...

That dear reader is my new maxim! It is a very necessary one living here in the Big C. Reliability and Dependability are aliens on this planet that is the 'here and now'.

Cabs..yes, those wonderful black and white numbers which should have died with the Dodo are whizzing around here competing with the 'metered' white new creations which somehow manage to stay white in this heat and dust.  The drivers of the ole boys are like their vehicles, leathery, dark and somehow quite mishapen. The White Cab drivers are slightly more polished and well groomed, but not necessarily any more competent. I know this from randomly hopping into one or the other after my initial s'chool run' driver let me down. There is no forwarning when this happens. One just has to take the intiative and carry on regardless...As it happened, he had not woken up that morning, having observed Ramadan for well over three weeks and existing on two/three hours of sleep a night. I forgave him, but decided to take a chance with my random taxi boys instead. I had various levels of luck with them being able to read the school address in Arabic, or asking four or five pals along the way where this school was that I taught at. No 'knowledge' test  had been conducted for them. After a week of this daily stress even before my teaching day had begun, I called a taxi 'dealer' recommended by a colleague at school. A certain Mohammed Ali. I have no idea whether he floats like a butterfly or stings like a bee, but I wanted to see if a certain level of realiability could apply to anyone connected with taxis in this enthralling city! Well...it started off promisingly. Then, one morning, no show! So, I called Mr Ali. He actually answered and said that morning's driver had gone to the wrong address. OK..one must go with the benefit of doubt. However, after twenty more minutes of no show..it was time to hop into another random taxi! This one got me to school in the horrendous first day traffic of young Egyptians going back to school! All these hopes of their country in fabulous green ginham shirts and colourful polo tops, all loitering, waiting for their school pick up buses or hurrying into parents' cars in already clogged up main streets...Meanwhile, I manage to contact Mr Ali who apologises. His driver would be ready and on time tomorrow. And..he was! I have even seen some of them twice. Mr Ali has a policy of his clients not getting too attached to a single driver lest they set up a private deal without him!! One has to be dependent on him. If that produces a iota of reliability, that is fine by me! So, thank you Mostafa, Abdul and Hassan...and anymore I'm likely to meet in the daily morning adventure that is the school run!

Shipping...a very sore point indeed. A subject that has given me migraine attacks! It was daylight robbery getting our big shipment with most of our goods, but infinately worse treatment  was to follow for 11 boxes! One was commanded to pay as much in Taxes/Duties/Bond fees (?)..all spelling 'ripping you off big time' for 11 boxes as one was for an entire house shipment. Law, Logic, Reason...more alien candidates for this planet. And there was no simple delivery system..'here is my address, deliver it please, I have paid for it' means nothing. Over three days, there was the game of the Goddot shipment! Was I ever going to see it? Eventually, boxes were delivered to the school, proverbial arm and leg fee paid and wonderful handy man from school brought it all over. Said handyman was also going to come to 'Trump Towers', our abode to do some odd jobs yesterday; but alas did not show up. He was ill. I would still be waiting for Ramzi Goddot if I had not called him. There is no procedure of forwarning.  I know he is a good man and I must trust his way is not my way. And Hobson is my new best friend!

As with all things, there are the odd exceptions to the Rule! Our dear Landlord follows up with calls and checks things have been done. He clearly has been influenced by his travels! Apparently, the 'perverse' mattress will be replaced very soon..maybe even this very week...Inshallah...

There is also an organisation called Otlob which must have been established by an Egyptian Swiss. Otlob means 'order' and is an internet food order site. We have used it very successfuly four times now and everytimethe reliability rate has been outstanding! One places an order and an e mail is received. If the order is going to be longer than 45 mins to deliver, one receives a phone call and is given the option of cancelling the order..which is followed up with an email acknowledgement. The quality of the food has been far superior to any 'take out' in the UK and the prices very reasonable.

With Otlob, the Egyptians do it better! OTLOB for President!