2nd October, 1943: Alexandria on a budget

Breakfast again at a reasonable hour, about ten o'clock, the menu goes without saying. Outside, talking to some wogs who clean our shoes - I am astonished when one speaks fair Welsh - not very intelligible but it was definitely Welsh. He had been a sailor who'd docked many times at Cardiff - must have been on a collier. 

Again we gaze into shop windows, but Joe's comes across "bed and breakfast". Our meals during the day eat deep into the little money we have remaining to our names. Literally, one first look at shop windows with no intention of spending any money on essential things. All the time one was afraid of the devil - now called the squander bug - might tempt us to spend our money in some rash moment. We blame the shops, and bunch again at the Y.M.C.A. But the thought of tips were past thoughts this time. 

That afternoon, we roamed idly around, occasionally eating ice cream and drinking ice drinks to keep cool. This was not easy, the heat was intense, and our money was rather low. It meant waiting until we were really hot before we felt the occasion justified buying drinks that cost about a shilling.

After tea, which we had at the Y.M.C.A., we went to an E.N.S.A. concert. This would be a real change if only to see real people on the stage again, people who were British. Many acts made about London, and Blackpool R.A.F. made great entertainment. It was difficult to realise that evening that we were in Egypt. Only the heat and the high pitched note of the mosquito which sometimes came near, reminded us of the fact. 

When we returned to the hotel, we had our usual meal - by this time I was almost sick of eggs, but it was all they had to offer. For a change, I asked for a supper without eggs, hoping they might dish up something else. Instead I had chips and tomatoes, and to make up for the eggs, I had about two extra chips. After a pleasant evening, we retired, pleasant thoughts tumbling thro' our minds.