No countdown

Missing you terribly. I am hopeful I will feel better as time goes bybut at the moment I feel really unhappy and desolate.

I've missed a number of days out but will catch up when I can. Had henna today and a very enjoyable walk around Rawalpindi.  I have been to Kashmir but more about that later.

Another fab day. A visit to A's sister then a trip to Rawal Dam (Rawal Lake) and a boat ride. As the only swimmer amongst us I felt duty bound to laugh at the others. Chai followed and my only regret was that the tables with rugs on them and sausage shaped pillows were cleared away due to the weather. Had a little troll around Banni in the evening to buy naan freshly cooked on the tandoor and chicken on the brazier. Tried Kashmiri bread (Kashmiri Kulcha) - very short. Jelabi was also purchased and tasted so much nicer than that I can get at home. I can't describe how wonderful this holiday has been. It really is an interesting place to be. I have some good photos of all the family and they are so comfortable to be with.
I have worked out what the horn honking means - I am here - Non of it is done with any idea of road rage. Overtaking and undertaking is all acceptable.
I have established that A's mom will keep the gas on so that she doesn't have to use a new match though I am sure that the gas costs more.
A's brother, like A is going to make someone a wonderful husband.
They truly are a remarkable family with such an ability to laugh and enjoy their lives.
I feel the need to pinch myself as the phrase too good to be true pops into my head.

Wow had a super day. Slept in late (still British time). At about 3 we went out. From Rawalpindi down Forest Office Rd, through Banni Chowk to Islamabad. Rawalpindi and Islamabad are twin cities. Islamabad being the capital city. There we went to see the Faisal Mosque, named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Marble was cool on the feet. Purchased a couple of school books and some post cards. A used to go to visit this mosque when he was at college. It was closed for prayer.
Next we went to the Margallah Hills. It links two provinces. It was rather like the Waseley Hills in that you have to pay to park and there was somewhere to have a snack and a drink. Tried pan - a sweet concoction wrapped in a leaf and had my photo taken by a complete stranger. A insisted that he was on it also. We had a lovely cup of tea before seeing the panorama of Islamabad. Lovely view of the mosque and the mountains. There were monkies, peacocks and a sign suggested that there were also leopards. There were many photo opportunities. Some lovely ones of A and his brother. There was an open air mosque and call to prayer was heard here also. Many police checks into and out of Islamabad.
The Pakistan Monument  was, I think, my favourite. It was lovely viewed at night and the hand prints of some of the workers was a nice addition. 
A is as always wonderful. Attentive, thoughtful a real rarity. He has made the normally most mundane into wonderful. Why am I surprised he does it all the time. He listened to my living in a hut ideas again. I really couldn't be happier. It is not the sort that you feel for an hour or two but the sort you get when you are content with what life has given you.

Hello only me. A has gone to get his passport. I am here waiting for visitors. I'm not sure the impression I am having on A's family is a good one. It feels a little awkward with out him here and he still hasn't gone yet. The flight over was uneventful. The electricity goes off for an hour at a time throughout the day. It is noisy outside people chatting, cars, horns etc and the birds are really giving it some. The call to prayer happens 5 times a day in the mosque opposite the house and the echoes from other mosques in the vicinity compete with it. In the style of dad I have jumbled together vaguely connected points in this post just to show you the tradition is not dead. As I arrived there was a shower of rose petals from the balcony onto us both. A had died his hair and most of his head too. He was sooooo nervous. Bed very comfortable and a good size. Having plenty of liquids. I have settled in straight away in terms of using the loo though some instruction was needed - and to think I've been pooing from a very early age but not quite expert enough. No Mosquitos as yet. Bath in what can be described a very large washing up bowl. A heated the water. 

8:00pm
As I have said to you - you are like an old shoe. By that I don't mean brown, leathery and falling apart though of course that is also true. What I mean is the you are easy to fit, comfortable and much loved. I have enjoyed a whole heap of salmon sandwiches since being with you again.

Less than 1 day

4:49pm Not long now. Still relaxing and much cooler than it was. I need the loo. I have drunk so much.
I love you