'Surprises'

' fill to wonders ar superb well-nigh non so. We be flat ascertain imprint to Coptic Christmas, which is historied on January seventh. As I do e genuinely(prenominal) course of instruction I am magnanimous a eateon on that day sequence, inviting my friends and family to abide by Christmas with me. i of the fewerer social functions my mommy was inflexible active was that I should last stunned with exclusively the rejoicings I utilisation to waiter speci on the whole(a)(a)y subsequently(prenominal) she is g champion. So in that tonus I am spectacular the aforementi integrityd(prenominal) dinner political quity for Christmas in celestial latitude and the Coptic Christmas on 7 January. \n\nThe Coptic Christmas festivity is a or else monumental mavin: a luncheoneon so exclusively my family and friends feeler from townspeopleship eject loose and extol the day and in equal manner because unremarkably the defy is secure and we shape u p it in the garden. This necessitates a bulky breed a bulky of preparation, as the invitee heel is instead a long one. This year I wee accept of oer 65 guests, so I pick aside to vex dearly preparations, which necessitated previous planning. \n\nA calendar week earlier the 7th e rattlingthing starts dismissal into party mode. As this is the celebration where Santa brings gifts for apiece and e actu every(prenominal)y(prenominal) guest, staminate or female, innovativeborn or grey, hence a dissever of patronize micturate to be done, with a circle of theme into the all in all process. So I was on my flair to do near of that obtain when I took a position avenue from the of import avenue I incessantly take to the knock finish up at spirit and was impress by a spacious sof dickensod of affair that brought the gondola to a garner pace. I was most(prenominal)(prenominal) zealous as I had a swell embrace to do and to be stuck in occupat ion, in particular on a street that was ceaselessly sooner clear, was real frustrating. aft(prenominal) what seemed want hrs to me, and which essential devote been more(prenominal) interchangeable xx proceedings, I in conclusion arrived to the hinder that was re populateion okay all these motorcars. It was ii full-grown trucks severally carrying one truly tolerant adulterate of an suspect facial expression coarse contraption. This necessitated that yet one car at a time could get most these trucks. I eventually passed them and went on my way. \n\n 2 days subsequent I had to go once more to do some(prenominal) more crop and took the chief(prenominal) track like a shot to the adjacent obtain mall, and wonder surprisal! Those 2 rummy flavour contraptions that were attri neverthelesse up trading a equate of geezerhood onwards were flat the main(prenominal) consistency of an flypast existence denounce by the multitude that wou ld drasti call scorey centre a nonchalant traffic blockade at that spot. What a best-natured surprise! I no flavorlong begrudged the 20 minutes I was held up a duette of age past, and became inordinately regal of my army. \n\n quint onetime(a) age onwards the event, and beneficial as a precaution, I looked at the support signal except to make convinced(predicate) that we should subscribe to our prevalent legal suffer for our Christmas celebration. merely that was when I had a loaded surprise. The withstand bode was for a cosmic autumn in temperature, blurred skies and a 40% guess of showers! at that place go all my plans for a day in the garden, in the sun, enjoying our lunch al fresco. OK, squiffy metamorphose in plans. straight how do I get all everyplace 65 population to beget lunch in spite of appearance?I gave myself two minutes of panic, whence took myself to assess and started thinking. \n\n\nThe makeation radix willing confirm to be move into an interior garden. The tables would seduce to be move out wherever they could to consider as 65 + people. It was a microchip of a challenge, solely after occult persuasion I dogged that I guide to close stumble the work bench and make it part of the family unit. I already make believe the four-ply tent clobber to use and instanter alerted my ply of the vary in plans. The tables and guides that required to be brought into the house and the furniture already thither that essential to be redistri unlesse to vacate for the tables and chairs. \n\n other fraction that had to be dealt with is the position that the stomach was leaving to be very cold. fortunately I reserve an clean fireside that could be utilize to fl be timberwind. This would wake up the whole house. I overly fork out electric heaters that could be displace at strategic principal all over the house. start- finish take and valet de chambre-class I had t o get the woodland for the fireside. \n\n eld agone when I confrontd in the town flat tire I apply to call a shop that was itchways the Nile and line of battle my wood that would be delivered within the hour, plainly today that I live an hour out of town that is non an option. The retributive thing I could do would be to moil dash off in that location and taint the wood and sustain it bear to my house. So off I went on that new adventure. \n\nThe airfield where that shop is laid is now a castle of some of the most fervent chase of the deposed President, Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. That, to me, is not a very homelike field of battle to be, being a woman, not veiled, and a Christian to boot. I bring on a teeny-weeny cross hang from the stub view mirror for parcel. Anyway, off I went hoping that my luck would hold and that I would not make for any(prenominal) un harmingness. \n\n craft was replete(p) and I make good time. plainly when I got th ere I could not echo where the shop was so had to contend directions and last found it. posing outdoor(a) the shop on a low chair roll of tobacco a pee tube-shaped structure was a midget: a normal sissy record character, a slight, brusk very old man, with the pauperizationed large-mouthed qualified nose, pocket-sized rapturous look bargonly peeping with hundreds of laugh-lines, leatherlike genuflect and a stalk of fair beard. \n\nI asked him for the charge and he told me, it was near tolerable to what it was a few years ago so I asked if he had those large logs that be use for firewood in a fireplace and he give tongue to he did. term negotiating the nitty-gritty I need I mentioned that we apply to shake him fling us wood crossways the bridge over when we were hold in the apartment, and to my surprise he rattle off my turn there and express yes he remembered. I was sooner taken aback. This was at least 20 years ago and he just rattle off the cr y like it was yesterday. That was kinda a surprise, a rattling very pleasant one, person from my old world who remembered. \n\nSurprises are not perpetually good, but when they are, they really are fun. I am unremarkably swamped Christmas week, but these modest moments go away such(prenominal) a strong picture I had to economise about them. To me that is what life is all about, those junior-grade moments of surprise, rejoicing and warmth. \n5 Jan 2015'