Tuesday, 2 August 2005

Most Expensive Ever

Having rushed back to Islamabad for an interview with General Mushareff we spend a day shooting another story about Hawala - which is an international money transfer system with no paper trail. That done the next day we sit around the pool waiting and buy some DVD’s. With no clear date from his people we are told to head back home.

Being a Monday I have limited choices but after 36 hours get back to Delhi which is only a few hundred miles away. Back in the office we get a call late Thursday saying Mushareff interview is on Tuesday …. I don’t get my visa until Monday morning - they could have issued it on the Friday I am sure, so have to rush to the airport and arrive in Islamabad at about 9.30pm.

I call the desk to say I have arrived only to be told that M has gone to Saudi for the King’s funeral. He died that morning.

In a taxi on the way to the hotel I get a call from Richard - we are not to stay but go home. Ahhhhhhh. Next flight is Wednesday too. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

The upside is clear, Chaide has managed to get hold of the last two packets of Shreddies in South Asia!!

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They must be the most expensive Shreddies ever bought. Flights to Pakistan and back - with hotel for two nights and excess bagage we must be talking about £1500 give or take!!