Day 20...in which I get a Sudanese visa and lose £100,000...
Ack! And just when I was hitting my stride with my plan to bore you with details of life in London I get a phone call. It goes a little something like this,
"Allo?"
"May I speak to Kelsey please?"
"This is she."
"Oh, it didn't sound like you."
"That's because I'm practicing my British accent. How do you think it's going."
"Hmmm, great..." (sounds unconvinced) "We have your visa. Can you leave tomorrow night?"
At which point I experienced about fifteen emotions at once. I was thrilled, and a bit unsettled, and excited, and disappointed - because however much I enjoy complaining about London I really have a soft spot in my heart for it and I doubt very much it will be quickly replaced by Khartoum. You see, it simply doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? Khartoum, Khartoum. (My only consolation is that I have a party invite in Khartoum on Thursday night and it looks like I will be able to attend. Small consolation.)
And, again, the phone rings. News travels fast.
"Allo?"
"You owe me £100,000."
"Oh shoot! I do, don't I?" I say forgetting all about practicing my British accent and remembering the somewhat foolish bet I had made with a friend with whom I am in the habit of making £100,000 bets. I'd bet that my visa would come in a week ago and he'd put money on today.
"It's like I'm a prophet."
"Do you take installments?" I ask. "Or can we go double-or-nothing on the other bet." (We have another bet in which I maintain that the U.S. will win the 2010 World Cup.)
"Sure," he says. "But I'm charging interest. (He being nothing if not generous) Or, you can also begin paying in Creme Eggs."
So, today I now have a bit of packing and arranging to do. Must clean out Tesco's stock of Cadbury Creme Eggs, and do some laundry. Things which even I find too dull to write about so I'll spare you. And will write again very soon from Sudan!
"Allo?"
"May I speak to Kelsey please?"
"This is she."
"Oh, it didn't sound like you."
"That's because I'm practicing my British accent. How do you think it's going."
"Hmmm, great..." (sounds unconvinced) "We have your visa. Can you leave tomorrow night?"
At which point I experienced about fifteen emotions at once. I was thrilled, and a bit unsettled, and excited, and disappointed - because however much I enjoy complaining about London I really have a soft spot in my heart for it and I doubt very much it will be quickly replaced by Khartoum. You see, it simply doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? Khartoum, Khartoum. (My only consolation is that I have a party invite in Khartoum on Thursday night and it looks like I will be able to attend. Small consolation.)
And, again, the phone rings. News travels fast.
"Allo?"
"You owe me £100,000."
"Oh shoot! I do, don't I?" I say forgetting all about practicing my British accent and remembering the somewhat foolish bet I had made with a friend with whom I am in the habit of making £100,000 bets. I'd bet that my visa would come in a week ago and he'd put money on today.
"It's like I'm a prophet."
"Do you take installments?" I ask. "Or can we go double-or-nothing on the other bet." (We have another bet in which I maintain that the U.S. will win the 2010 World Cup.)
"Sure," he says. "But I'm charging interest. (He being nothing if not generous) Or, you can also begin paying in Creme Eggs."
So, today I now have a bit of packing and arranging to do. Must clean out Tesco's stock of Cadbury Creme Eggs, and do some laundry. Things which even I find too dull to write about so I'll spare you. And will write again very soon from Sudan!
Comments
My brother lost a bet with me when he was 6 and I was 9 for "infinity pounds" so anything he ever owns he owes. But he's not brilliant at paying. You are just the sort of gambler I'd like to make some bets with, so please think of me when you next have a "I'm sure of it" thought.
p.s. hope that Khartoum is even better than you'd thought possible...
Tom
You can start paying me in Kinder eggs the next time you're in Germany!
Much love.
Noelle
Um... USA winning the world cup? Thats funny.
I'll wave from Kitgum.