Happy New Year from Louaize

[wayfaringwordhack]

The New Year saw us waking up in our very own flat.*  We moved in a bit later than planned but much faster than we were able to do so in Egypt.  We have landed in Louaize, a "village/suburb" on the outskirts of Beirut.  The great thing is that G (our** Lebanese cousin) lives right down*** the street from us, and her sister, parents, and brother are within a stone's throw, too.  Our American friends from Egypt, it turns out, are a 20 minute walk uphill, or a 5 minute drive.  That still remains ever-so-much better than the friend situation in France.

J has just left for his first night of work, and I need to do a bit more cleaning on the flat, hence the icon on this post.  However, aside from making beds with newly-bought and newly-laundered sheets, I don't think I'll do much tonight.  We did a lot today, and the place almost looks like home.  It would feel more like home if we had hot water, but the hot water pump is broken and we can't get another until Monday at the earliest.  Either I will heat water on the gas stove**** to wash my hair and sponge bathe until then, or I will go to G's place to shower.  It is not freezing here, but a cold shower is NOT in my future. :P

How is your New Year shaping up?

____________________________



* I wanted to share pics of the view, but that is beyond me at this moment. :P
** I am claiming G as my own even though she is J's cousin by marriage to HIS cousin...
*** Literally downhill, since Louaize sits on a hill, culminating at about 850m above sea-level.  We can see both the sea and snowy peaks from the north side of our flat.
**** We have daily power cuts so electric kettles are not as good of an investment as a good ol' whistling stove-top kettle.

Comments

[asakiyume]

From what you say about the stove-top kettle, I'm guessing your stove runs on gas, yes?

So, so glad for the friend situation and for new sheets! Here's to a water pump in your very near future.

And a hill view! Excellent--and good for a cardiovascular workout, climbing up to it!

New year is v. similar to old year so far. Ended old year dropping off supplies to son w/covid (now recovered), started new year dropping off supplies for a young friend (girl I used to tutor) w/covid. But it'll get better! And actually I enjoy buying food for other people, figuring out what would be a good treat for them. My friend can't taste anything right now, so I tried to get her things that just would *feel* good, like hot soup or cool ice cream.

[wayfaringwordhack]

Gas, yes. :D The oven is both gas and electric, so that is handy, too. It is strange no longer having a wood-burning stove, though. We no longer have a fire to throw our used tissues and scrap paper into. :P

Also good for the cardiovascular health is living on the 3rd (US 4th) floor in a duplex in a building that has no working elevator. Actually it might work 2 hrs a day, if electricity from the state company gets turned on and reaches here. Only you don't know when that will be. :P

I hope all the rest of your new year is as covid-free as can be!!!! And you are the BEST friend, looking out for people the way you do; so considerate. *hugs*

[tolcath]

Love your footnotes. What do the offspring think so far? What an amazing view!

[wayfaringwordhack]

They are liking it, but they think we do too much cleaning and not enough getting out. Poor things have been cooped up since we got here with only short walks in the neighborhood. J and I have both been out to buy groceries and necessities for the flat, but they have had to stay behind. :-/

[tolcath]

Hopefully they will be able to get out with you in time! :)

[pjthompson]

Happy New Year! I haven't been hanging around here much lately, so i missed the exciting news. Congratulations on landing "safe" and sound. Despite its on again/off again troubles, Beirut is one of the places I've wanted to visit. Have a rich experience there, my friend.