Friday, November 28/2008

The BBC chanel is prone to sudden pixillation and disappearance, especially in the early morning and around dinner time. So as it disappears this morning we scan the other chanels for news. We're not much good at following the Italian or German news and the French chanels seem to be broadcasting advertising and children's programming. The two Tunisian chanels, which seldom have much content of consequence even when it isn't the Moslem holy day, are no use. One is, oddly enough, showing a Canadian program on ice climbing, dubbed in Arabic and featuring information on technique and desirable ice climbing locations from Quebec and Banff to Nipigon, Ontario. Written advice of the "wear a helmet" variety appears in a sidebar. One wonders what on earth the Tunisian watchers make of it.

At breafast a German lady uses her few words of English to say she regrets not being able to converse with us. But turns out she does speak some French so we have a brief discussion. Join the sunseekers outside where the sun is certainly hot but the wind is strong enough that it is only just a pleasure, although several determined Germans are in bathing suits.

Mark Abell, the British man we listened to on BBC yesterday is on again today, now no longer barricaded in his Mumbai hotel room but free to go home to his family. And how had he spent his time, apart from keeping in touch with his Blackberry? "I had one of the Ladies Number One Detective Agency books to read." As have we in our hotel room, though fortunately with no need to barricade.

Drinking a not bad Tunisian red wine - Grand vin de Mornag (2005). Much better than the red J bought at the bar. But J finds a small shard - it looks like glass but we think plastic - in the bottom of his glass.