A visitor from afar arrived last night. I went to the airport to collect her. The airport and the way to the airport have evolved greatly over the years, such that they are virtually unrecognisable every time I pass through, at least the outside of the airport, but the inside is the same miserable beige stone with white tube light. So unpleasant. I have a real dread of my journey out later this month, as the international departures at Lahore airport is its own special bit of hell, and one I particularly loathe as I spent many, many hours waiting for delayed departures when I used to travel back often during my mother’s illness and then had to leave not knowing if I would see her again.
I finished another Ishiguro book, When we were orphans. Quite enjoyed it, and thought that the criticisms of it are a bit overblown, but it’s definitely no Never let me go and, objectively speaking, no Remains of the day either. It was immensely cinematic for a book that described nothing, I must say. And the ends were unsatisfying, both the breath-catching reveal and the epilogue.
Today, in the morning, we went for a few errands of which I successfully managed none of what I was after: cork table mats and a bath mat, but the visitor at least found the rubber slippers she was after (like me, she showers with her slippers on, so good rubber slippers are crucial. My rubber slippers, very expensive ones from America, are, sadly, not very good for showering as they are a bit heavy, have uppers made of a an artificial substance between rubber and leather, and worst of all, collect water in the soles due to their ergonomic and supportive shape. Personally I prefer the thin, light, cheap, rubber qainchi chaplis (I mean the kinds with rubber between the toes) that you can get for not-very-much in Pakistan and other poorer countries but seem impossible to find, except expensive branded ones, in Western countries.
In the afternoon she had to buy some clothes for work so we visited a shop or two, and I found a pair of leather sandals which I’m quite pleased with though will leave in Lahore as they are completely unsuitable for walking long distances in (as is often the case with shoes bought in Pakistan).
And then, at dinnertime, we all went to Barbeque Tonight.
Had a call with an aunt in Karachi who was very distraught. I’m wondering about going to her for a few days and nearly bought my ticket and then thought I should ask her first, but she hasn’t replied to my text or picked up the phone when I rang. I am confident the answer will be yes if she ever notices the text, but to be honest I don’t much want to go – not only will it be miserable and frustrating, I have a lot of work this week, with a convergence of multiple contracts.