Phil drove us to the airport, it was a bit, stop start but
we arrived in plenty of time. Unfortunately after checking in I got a text from
Phil to say that it had taken him 40 minutes in the road works just to get to
the motorway. Anyway, the Easyjet flight was on time and we arrived in Sharm el
Sheikh at 6 pm local time. It was just
a shame that it was already dark. A
short transfer and we soon got dropped off at our hotel, The Jolie Royal
Peninsular Hotel, http://www.maritim.com/en/hotels/egypt/royal-peninsula-hotel-resort-sharm-el-sheikh/hotel-overview#hotel_content.
Our hotel hadn’t got very good reviews on Trip Advisor so I
didn’t have any high expectations but I have to say that I was very pleasantly
surprised. My room was massive; it had a
great queen bed with white good quality Egyptian sheets which are my absolute
favourite. I had a massive bathroom, a
fridge, a kettle and a good sized television with lots of English
channels. Sue had Ian said their room
wasn’t as nice as the room they had the last time they stayed so they paid to
upgrade. They were still in the same
block as me but just round the corner.
The resort was quite big and very spaced out but our block
was near to the restaurant and bar. The
grounds were green and very well maintained.
It was a good ten minute walk to reception which was okay; I did this
trip many times, as it was only place where you could get the free wi-fi. The pool was massive with lots of free sun
beds to choose from. We were all
inclusive; the staff were really friendly but I do think that was because we
tipped quite generously. Overall I
thought are hotel was good, not five stars but maybe four stars, of course I
have never been to Egypt before so I have nothing to compare it with.
The main slate on Trip Advisor was about the food but
actually I thought it was some of best AI food that I have had. I think this was because the food was
prepared on site which I think makes a huge difference. Okay, some of the dishes were bland and not
very hot, but overall there was a selection with lots of good quality meat
cooked on the BBQ outside. That said,
and I have to be honest, I had the shits all week with some days worse than others. Whether this can be attributed to the food
alone I don’t know, it could have been ice in the drinks, tap water for
cleaning teeth and in the kettle, maybe a change of climate or just too much
sun. From what I have heard and read,
this is one of the down sides of visiting Egypt.
One day we took a taxi and went to visit Naama Bay, just 10
minutes from our hotel. It was a bit of
a dump and walking down the main strip was a complete nightmare. Lots of shops and stalls but we were hassled
endlessly, so much so, that we didn’t buy anything. Sue did buy some tobacco for her son but when
she opened it, the packaging was rather dog-eared and the tobacco felt very
hard. We had a beer at a nice roof top
terrace bar and then we went back to the hotel.
Sue and Ian did their best to include me (big thank you to
both) but I have to say that I missed Phil, actually more than I thought I
would. Phil normally sorts out the
luggage, he works out the safe and air conditioning, he also deals with all the
money and tipping. It felt like a part
of me was missing. I think he missed me
as well, he was finding his course hard and one day I picked up an email saying
that he was thinking of jacking it all in and flying out to join me. I was half hoping that he would but I knew
that Phil wasn’t a quitter so I was happy to pick up another email a couple of
days later to say that things were going much better.
It was a short shuttle ride to the private beach which was
lovely. You could only get in the water
via steps on a jetty because of the coral but that wasn’t a problem. The waiters were friendly and helpful and the
food at the bar was very good. We had
some nice days there. Sue and Ian went
to Soho Square to have a meal but I decided to opt out. I spent time by the pool but I admit also to
spending a lot of time in my room watching movies. Some of this was by choice but some times I
just had to be near a toilet!
I am not sure if I would go back to Egypt. I think it’s
great that the sunshine is guaranteed but the Pharaoph's revenge is not a good experience. I have never
been than comfortable in Muslim countries and from what I could see it wasn’t
much to see outside of the hotel complex.
Okay I didn’t venture out much but when I could there was just a load of
old buildings that I couldn’t work out whether they were has beens or going to
be’s. Certainly not a very pretty landscape. I am sure the Pyramids are a sight to see and
there are many artefacts along the Nile but that’s not really my bag.
We got picked up from the hotel just before 5 pm on Thursday
and were all checked in for our flight by 6 pm.
Sharm airport was mad, we had a slice of pizza and a glass of red wine
for a rip off price and then it was time to board. The down side of flying to Egypt is the
flight time, some 5 and half hours which seemed to drag. I was quite lucky because I had a spare seat
next to me which gave me extra room and the opportunity to sleep, which I did
for 2 whole hours. We arrived back in
Luton at 5 past midnight; the pre-ordered taxi picked us up with no problems
and I was back at the flat for quarter past one. Of course in Egyptian time this was quarter
past two.
Not surprisingly Phil was fast asleep in bed; it was quite
comforting to hear his snoring from the bedroom. Yep I had a lovely time in the
sunshine but I was glad to be home. I
think in some ways the time apart did us some good; Phil and I have known each
for over 30 years and have been living together for 15 years. I think you do
take each for granted sometimes and can get complacent. Ten days apart has taught us that we do need
each other, not in a lovey dovey way but it’s a bit like the feeling you get
when you sink in to your favourite chair or sofa, it’s safe, comfy and
familiar. I don’t to liken by husband to
a piece of old furniture but hopefully you all get my drift.
Phil was a very good boy whilst I was gone, he had done all
his washing and ironing so I came back to an empty wash basket. We have a very cheap crap washing machine so
I had to laugh when he told me the cycle that he used took 2 and half hours. I
had already left it on the speedy setting by the way. Our tumble dryer on the other hand is very
efficient and Phil put his washing in for way too long so it was over dry when
it came out which made is difficult for him to iron. He had also cleaned the toilet and washed the
towels. I also had a chuckle to see that
the fridge was almost completely empty, obviously he hadn’t gotten round to
doing a food shop. I had left Phil 5 ready meals and lots of snacks; he said he
had 3 takeaways so I am guessing that he didn’t do any cooking. Yes I think it can be safely said that my
husband did miss me, if only for my domestic skills, lol.
Phil went to Cranfield
on Friday giving me the whole day to sort myself out. Lack of sleep and a different time zone left
me feeling a bit zoned out but I slowly got throw my jobs. Unpacking and then 6 loads of washing
followed by drying and a huge pile of ironing.
I changed my bed and then went to Asda to do a huge food drop. I went to DW for a work out but felt too
knackered so just had a shower. I did visit the gym a few times whilst on
holiday and with my dodgy tummy I did think I would have lost weight but nah, I
weigh the same. Diet starts tomorrow.
It felt good to fill my fridge and the cupboards again. I made a corn beef hash which was Phil’s
choice of homecoming meal and I was surprised and pleased when he got home
early. He said that he was going to take
a night off from study, so we ate supper and then settled in to watch all of
the recordings that he hadn’t watched whilst I was gone. Not the soaps of course, I already caught up
with these whilst doing the ironing.
Phil and I have recently started watching Goggle Box and on Friday night
we watched the Celebrity Goggle Box.
This couple, Steph and Dom Parker are my favourites.
Yesterday Phil wanted the flat to himself so he could study
so I took myself out just after 8 am. First up a quick trip to Asda and then
Primark and then the gym. I had a good
workout and it didn’t hurt which surprised me.
I did go home to make us a quick lunch, quiche, salad and new potatoes
and then it was straight back out to visit Harriet and Billy. There new sofas arrived during the week and
they look very nice. They didn’t pick
the cheapest but you tell the quality and they were very comfortable. A comfy sofa/chair is a must in life!
Their house is coming along and they are
gradually adding bits of furniture, the house just needs a bit more colour and
some soft furnishings. I have agreed to meet Harriet after work on Thursday and
we are going to look for curtains. They
do have a few jobs for Phil to do but I have told them these will have to wait
until Phil finishes his exam in a couple of week’s time.
I picked up some bits and pieces in Newport and got home for
3 pm as I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go. Phil was still studying but luckily I had a
few phone calls to make and then my sister called so this killed some
time. Last night was a Ploughman’s for
tea followed by catching up with X-Factor.
My time zone is all out and I got up at half four this morning. Having been up for a couple of hours, feel
tired now and am tempted to go to bed but I am afraid of waking up Phil. I will probably catch up with paperwork and
then get ready to drive to Melton to see Phil’s mum. I think she has missed my weekly visits. She is making me roast lamb with all the
trimmings, my absolute favourite. Good
job the diet is staring tomorrow.
