You'd think I'd have something interesting to say about Egypt by now. But all I've really seen so far is the back of a car and the inside of an office. They drive like absolute maniacs. Lane discipline is unheard of. Undertake, overtake, it's all the same. I tried driving round the block but kept jabbing my hand into the door when changing gear.

I've got some sunburn; some mosquito bites and it's so hot it feels like walking on the surface of the sun. Got a taxi to the supermarket that was 500 yards away at lunch time (didn't know that when I got in taxi at first admittedly) as the person I was going with said it was way to hot to walk. I agree.

Oh, and they call me Mr. John. When I arrived at the airport there was a driver with a big sign saying "Mr. John" - a title that I think I'm going to start using a little more. I've worked with a lot of Arabic speakers before and been called this a few times before but it was only yesterday that I worked out why - they read from right-to-left.

Oh, and the "villa with a pool" chat was not just a ruse. I live in a villa that has a pool and by all accounts is huge. Haven't even been on all the floors yet. And there's a spare room at the moment!