Many people ask " what is a typical day like?", in Egypt there isn't any such thing!
Every single day is completely different, it's entirely possible to wake up to no running
water or perhaps a power cut, at least once a week. Morning routine is a challenge in
adapting to what is available.
As for many here, my clinical work is usually in the afternoons and evenings. Mornings are
for e mails, writing up case histories, formulating products alongside a breakfast of tasty fruit in season, Mango at the moment. Delicious.
In an afternoon, I take a car to ace-egypt, a UK charity Animal Hospital. Ace is outside of Luxor town; across the railway line and through the narrow back streets of tiny villages and higgly-piggley houses. After a mile or two, a crossroads, often full of motorbikes and riders taking their bike tests, suddenly the road opens into fields of swaying crops, Sugar cane, Maize, Sesame & Alfalfa. A quick right turn and we are on the driveway to ace, alongside a canal full of Reeds and wild birds including Warblers, Bitterns and the odd Bee Eater flashing green brilliance in the glorious sunshine.
In a beautiful and peaceful setting, Animals arrive some needing treatment by vets, some stay for full time veterinary care and many arrive for a much needed cooling and cleansing shower in the purpose built Animal wash.
Although Ace houses any Animal, working Horses & Donkeys are in the majority. Injuries vary from broken bones, malnourishment, skin wounds, burns from being caught in fires or set fire to. Animals are sometimes targeted in disputes suffering horrific injuries. All working are on busy roads & narrow streets with some cars and lorries, road accidents are common. Many Animals do not survive but those that do require long term support before they can return to work if at all able.
Kim and I meet for a catch up about the Animals in her office. more on this tomorrow......