welcome to palestine

A very long lie-in this morning, which is unusual for me. I suppose I must have been a little sleep deprived. That can creep up on you and cloud your judgement if the REM deficit is not restored quickly.

I popped over to see my mum this afternoon for a brief, if pleasant chat, but I needed to get home for 5 o'clock sharp, at which time I was expecting a call from my wife, currently embedded deep in the West Bank with her coterie of students and other general admirers trailing in her awesomely meaningful wake. Also wishing to come on the line would be her Palestinian firm friend and ally --. Right on cue the call came through. My wife went to a Palestinian wedding last night (she pronounced it "the best wedding celebration I've ever been to") and was currently being entertained, students in tow, by his family. Sounds like the high life, Arab style. After a brief chat -- duly came on the line and opened up with heavy artillery his barrage of requests, statements, egad-I swear at one point in the proceedings he was on the point of DEMANDING, specifically that I come over with my wife and stay as his guests in his house. Soon. Preferably immediately. Certainly without delay. In fact he was trying to get us to come over and spend THIS coming Christmas with him for Chrissakes, which might actually be quite interesting if I had no external responsibilities, but it certainly couldn't work this time.

Now. Fortunately in my trade, or specialty if you will, I am well experienced in taking the heat from someone trying to impose their will over mine. And I'm equally well versed in dealing with it calmly and courteously. So I was able to fend
him off perfectly easily.

But WOW! The pressure!. I guess it must be a cultural thing, though let's face it, people are people the world over, and they're all complicated bastards under the skin.

Bottom line, -- is a really nice guy, and has indeed been of great assistance to my wife in finessing the many diverse projects she juggles with out there in that grim, world-forsaken land. Good on you, mate. And stay safe, darling. I miss you.