House of Cards

*******

What say the Hieroglyphs?

***

So, here am I, back in blighty, it's cold, wet, windy & am walking

***

My car appears

Hurrah

Now, I am free to visit my Mum, get to Uni & sort out a home

Monday morning it's not good

Tuesday, Wednesday even worse

Thursday comes and goes

Friday am tired out

Have place to live, chosen my options, Photography, Journalism & Drawing

Exciting

***

Trying not to weep when Egypt enters my heart & mind

Shut my ears to the sounds of the Donkeys

Close my eyes to the memories of the Nile

***

Week two

Moved in and then out of my new home, it has no heating or hot water.

The University approved accomodation list tells lies!

Travelling daily a bad dream.

***

Find new accomodation

not where I want, high rent, no parking but all I can get.

***

Lectures away and running with 'em, I can draw!

This is fun

***

More tenants have moved in,

4 for one bathroom not great is it?

Late for morning lecture, bin lorry blocking the road,

Creative writing at 10am? Early ... Get there at 20 past

find out it's been changed to 9am

my core subject at 9am

***

It's not looking good for me

***

Something wrong with my Grant

With a part time job, it should be plenty

Something wrong at the bank too

I seem to be into my overdraft

***

Quelle Horreur

Hmm, something was wrong with my grant, last year, they say

"you had more than you ought"

This year it's fine, they say.

But it isn't, I needed that full amount.

Here comes the icing on the gateau

got my mobile phone use all wrong

a bill arrives ....

OMG

"debited from your account £350"

***

It doesn't include September

***

Hmm

***

Consult my friend the Pharaoh

spill the developments

try not to spoil the weekend

Want to cry and scream

Well, he eventually says

it's obvious isn't it

the writings on the wall

in hieroglyphs

YOU FLY TO EGYPT

see .... a bird and a pyramid

***

This year isn't going to work out sweet pea

"what about a gap year?"

A gap year .......

A gap year?

Oooh

***

Week Three

Car has MOT and a new tyre, grrr

Talking to The Departments

Filling in forms

Selling my car

Filling in forms

moving my stuff

going to lectures

filling in forms

Looking for a cheap flight

telling my Mum

filling in forms

telling my friends

Another two people move into the house

Great 6 of us in one bathroom

***

Sob to my landlord

Lovely guy, refund ok Kryssie

Filling in forms

***

Emptying my storage unit

It's 8x8, floor to ceiling

50 years pared into boxes

all must go.

NOW

***

Week 4

Last lectures to say Farewells

Filling in forms ends

Looking for flights

Still emptying that storage container

Car not sold

Almost broke.

A right of passage in do not panic

***

Kindness pours in, dear friends help with my ticket fund,

my Mum too, bless her

***

Maybe the car is sold, last boxes out of container.

***

Friday night

Find a flight.

I leave Wednesday, Hallow'een, ha ha ha.

Am going to fly over The Pyramids on Hallow'een

It's not a dream I ever had but it's happening now!

I wonder for a moment if I have been knocked into a coma

& am in reality dreaming away in a hospital bed somewhere

Life has become so surreal

***

See Mum, we don't really know what to say,

it's difficult

but she hugs me and wishes me well

as leave, briefly I turn to see her

suddenly she seems old & frail

hot tears fill my eyes

am choking

***

Don't need her to see how scared I might be

:0

deep deep breaths in the car

and then i weep for us

***

A crazy thought that I am completely crazy, pops into my head

I delete it

Drive

***

The car goes to a lovely new driver,

Last minute chaos ........

my friend buys me a camera and arrives last minute

to discover she's been given an empty box

***

Can't get to see friends

No car

***

Flying early in the morning

Last minute calls, warm wishes choking me again

Too much luggage, re-pack

***

Don't sleep

***

Get dropped off at the wrong terminal

***

Head whirling

***

Last ciggie

***

Deep breath

***

Checked in

ranted at throughout departure process

put that down, take off your shoes, open your bag,

if you can't get it in one bag ....

***

Singing in my head

I'm going to Egypt and you're stuck here ranting

***

Duty free

***

Newspaper

***

Any minute now, a genie will appear saying

oops actually it's all a joke

you are about to wake up

***

or maybe i'll get arrested for getting a life

***

OMG

We are taking off, I am going to live in Egypt.

I am really going to live in Egypt.

:))

***

What will I do when I get there?

I hadn't thought about that but it doesn't feel like it matters

I am here

in the air

and not there

anymore

I am on my way

HOME

to Egypt

*******