This is why I've not post anything recently

As well we only have any sort of connect for around 2 hours each day.

I so fucking hate this place.

Karaoke Night In Kairo

The going away party for José.

AFP: Egypt raises fuel and diesel prices amid public anger

CAIRO (AFP) — Egypt's parliament on Monday voted in favour of a set of tax and duty increases including on fuel, diesel and cigarettes amid public anger at price hikes and the state of the economy.

According to the proposal presented by the ruling National Democratic Party, the price of diesel -- used by most public transport -- will rise by 46 percent to reach 1.10 Egyptian pounds (20 US cents) per litre.

Natural gas will go up by 58 percent for heavy industry from 36 piastres (six cents) to 57 piastres (10 cents).

Local cigarettes will increase by no more than 25 piastres while imported cigarettes will go up by 33 percent.

Petrol will go up by between 30 to 40 percent, except for the commonly used 80 octane petrol which will remain subsidised.

Tax breaks will be removed from private schools and educational institutions, while vehicle licence fees will also see a sharp rise especially for large capacity engines.

Around 120 opposition and independent MPs, including those representing the Muslim Brotherhood, voted against the proposal.

Parliament spent Monday discussing the proposal which is aimed at covering the 12.5-billion pound (2.3-billion dollar) cost of a rise in public sector salaries promised by President Hosni Mubarak.

Mubarak vowed last Wednesday to raise public sector salaries by 30 percent to combat rises in food prices.

Speaking to parliament, Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said the new measures were aimed at "taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor."

In recent months, Egypt has seen a number of strikes and demonstrations against low salaries and price rises that have seen the cost of cereals leap by nearly 50 percent over the past year.

The price of cooking oil rose by 45.2 percent, while foodstuffs generally rose by an average of 23.5 percent.

Egypt is also in the grip of a serious bread crisis brought on by a combination of the rising cost of wheat on world markets and sky-rocketing inflation.

The price of bread has increased fivefold in private bakeries, creating panic in state-run bakeries that the staple may run out.

A day of nationwide action called for April 6 saw riots erupt in the Nile Delta industrial city of Mahalla in which three people were killed after demonstrators pulled down posters of Mubarak.

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Dad has been made redundant

Over the years my Dad has kindly sent us 'care packages' of americana junk food that we couldn't find locally, but this isn't something he'll need to do while we're posted here in Cairo. We made a large effort today and hit all the shops in a 25 kilometer radius and we think we've found all the junk one could want, or not want, that is for sale here in Egypt. We even found pool noodles! We are extremely pleased about that as we've been looking for them for a very long time. And if you don't know what they are, well, you're just going to have to come and see for yourself. Now if you will excuse this short post, I don't feel so good and need to find the alka seltzer.