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Welcome to Letter from Luxor |
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This site has been created in the memory of my brother, Kenneth.
For many years, Ken lived close to Luxor in the small village of El Awabed. A beautiful, rural setting in the heart of traditional farmland.
Egypt was not only Ken's home, but his consuming passion. He adored the country, its people and its history. And the local people repaid the compliment ~ Ken was a popular and respected local figure.
As well as a passion for Egypt, Ken loved the written word. He was an avid reader and an accomplished writer. And although he was never published, his work included stage plays, radio plays and countless short stories. He was also one of the worlds great letter writers, and he and I corresponded regularly; hence the name of this website.
Ken passed away in 2001 and now rests in the English Cemetery in Luxor. Much loved and greatly missed ~ he is forever in his beloved Egypt.
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Ken |
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Many of Ken's letters ran to several pages of close typed A4. He used a battered old typewriter ~ the sort that sits up and begs from its heavy iron frame ~ and often the text was faint and almost illegible, as typewriter ribbons are not a priority stock item for Luxor shopkeepers.
The written Items I have included in this site, all started life as letters (or parts of letters) to me.
If you have visited Luxor ~ or are thinking of visiting ~ these letters provide an insight to the area that you will not find in any travel guide.
If, like me, you are a 'people watcher', you will find these letters fascinating, as they are penned by a man who turned the pastime into an art-form.
If you have an interest in a way of life that is almost certainly different from your own ~
and a way of life viewed from a slightly amusing angle ~ you will enjoy Ken's letters.
If, however, you should recognize yourself in one of Ken's letters, then you are among the honoured few. Consider yourself extremely fortunate. |
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At this point, I should mention that these are real letters and refer to real people ~ many of whom are Ken's friends. I know that they are pleased for these letters to be published here, as they would like Ken's view of life to be shared with others. But out of respect to them ~ and to Ken's memory ~ I would ask that you do not distribute anything from this website. Please feel free to download any of Ken's writing for your own use and pleasure, but keep it to that.
There are sixteen titles included on the website and they range in length from two or three A4 pages to fifteen pages. You will be able to read any of the titles as web pages or download them individually or in book form as pdf's.
A good place to start is with "The Gift". This is only three pages long and is an amusing read ~ unless you are a lady from Raynes Park with a husband called Arthur. |
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And finally .....
I hope you enjoy reading Ken's letters. If you do, I would love to hear from you. You can email me by clicking on the button at the top of the page.
And if, after reading the letters, you find yourself in the Amoun Restaurant in Luxor, say "Hello" to any of the ex-pats and let them know you have read the letters of Abdel Radi (Ken's Egyptian name) and I feel sure you will be given a very warm welcome.
Thank you for visiting "Letter from Luxor".
Pete.
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