That same, never failing alarm clock, the buzz of irritating flies, woke me up again. Why, we were to have leave, & up I got - full of the joys of living. Lofty and I got leave for seven days, Eddie for five. With our passes signed & safely put away, we are in the road in quick time. A small lorry pulled up, driven by two A.T.S. girls who had been out in Egypt about six months pulled up for us.
The journey across the desert to Alexandria is an experience, but it is a hellish hot ride in the back of a small open lorry with no protection from a cruel sun. Several times in these parched sandy wastes, we thought we saw water - great lakes in which trees reflected, finding as we drew nearer that there was nothing there. It was then that I realized what a bitter blow a mirage really is, to a soul, lost in the desert.
Half way from Cairo to Alex. is "Half Way House" - a great N.A.A.F.I. in the desert. We pulled up for refreshments, and we found, after such a ride that watery lemonade went down as smooth as expensive wine. The cool shade of the tent was like a cool breeze. Now one learns to appreciate little things when they become necessities.
The girls put os off at the Check Point and we continued our journey with some soldiers in another waggon. I had my first orange given to me by these fellows, some of whom had not seen England for some years. It was surprising to hear that these soldiers had not had an orange for some considerable time.
These soldiers put us off in the city, and we wandered to Mohammed Ali Square. We walked some distance in the general direction given to us by the civvy police whose English was very scrappy. We decided upon a tram, and when the conductor came to us, with a broad grin on his face he informed us that we were going away from the Square. He put us down withour charging any fare, his amusement seemed ample reward.
When within sight of this square, just imagine how we felt when stopped by R.A.F.S.P. corporal. Upon learning that the "chute" bag was Loftie's - "Sgt - you are under close arrest" were his words. When will we British servicemen learn that to win a war we must fight, and forget the ridiculous little rules that peacetime services desire. Eddie's clothes and mine were also in the bag and we all went to see the D.A.P.M in a service "Black Maria". After more than an hour's delay, he got permission from Cairo to continue his leave.
We got to the services club at last only to find that they had no accommodation left. We went to the "Victory Hotel" - a place recommended to us in the services canteen, and decided to stay there.
A wog man-servant attended to our wants, he was limited in English but quick of understanding. "Supper? - yes in here." referring to our room. We did well, eggs, chips and tomatoes, tea, bread and butter and followed with ice drinks. He got our bath ready, what a treat that hot bath was, we got rid of all that desert grime that caked us. Still feeling hungry we made further enquiries.
"Another supper? - yes." although he did look a little surprised. No wonder really - who but real *unclear* would eat two suppers of eggs on a hot evening.
We then went to bed, but my bed was one of those accidental collapsible ones that were never made to collapse. I was not very comfortable, but managed to get some little sleep in - occasionally waking up to drag myself out of the hole in the middle of the bed.
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