weather. Strong winds and heavy rain. Seems really that most of it passed us by. I know a lot of people died but difficult to grasp the whole picture. Any loss of life is sad.
standard required. Soft, hard, thin, thick etc. All seemed easy when he explains it but me I had no real idea. We then went to his chemical factory. He makes the leather softening creams we put on shoes etc. All in all a good day out. The photos show the rough leather being brought in to his yard by donkey cart and of ht chemical factory renovation.
Wanna left in the early hours of Wednesday morning so Tuesday evening we went for dinner to the Bar B Q tonight. We had been before with Nazia my Land Lady. But but this just the two of us. Romantic evening!! Not really we got there only to find a bunch of the Chinese Contractors team also having a meal. Said our hellos and left them to it. But it was interesting of all the places in Karachi they chooses where we were. Must be a good sign. But we had been to a Chinese restaurant the 
night before. Not so good. Apparently Chinese food is becoming very popular in Karachi but what we had was a 'sort of' Chinese food. Much prefer Wanna's stir frys.
that or Coke. No competition really. The best part we we walked from and back to our apartment. Only about 500-600 meters but enough to enjoy and so much better that being delivered everywhere in a car. We felt the hot humid air from the sea and smelled the various fragrances from the local cooking. Also managed to avoid several 'blind' drivers who were trying to avoid the same pot holes as us!!! Well they should have seen us!
We decide to have a Sunday venturing out of Karachi. The Lonely Planet Guide is good for ideas but we decided to visit Balochistan the next province about 30 kilometers west of Karachi. Why ? Well the Lonely Plant for one says no one goes there!!!! Good enough reason for me to go. Its a tough place. 
It has a harsh and very dry terrain and the clearly from the history and having to live in such conditions makes people are fiercely independent. We decided to go with our driver and visit the ship grave yards of Gaddani. Famous for the ships that are run up the beaches and then scrapped piece by piece by cheap labour. It is out of bounds to foreigners. But we decided to try anyway. Sure enough it was out of bounds. The police guarding the road were good they rang back to Karachi to see if we could pass. We were told very helpfully, please next time you come bring a policeman from Karachi along for the next trip and it should be OK. It is apparently an environmental disaster area. (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3674428/ )
some cotton to cover the seats in the lounge. Wanna is convinced they need covers due to all the dust in the air. So we had a good walk round and found what we wanted. Had a Pizza then home. No power. Usual 2 hour power cut which fortunately I normally miss as I’m at work where we’ve got a generator!
07.00am next morning I look outside the Condo. There he is cleaning the car. So I decided if he's here and I'm up I'll go to work. "Qassir what are you doing here so early?" "Well Boss I worked for other foreigners before and when they drink in the evenings they say things that the next morning they forget. I did not want to turn up at 09.00 and find you also had forgotten the instruction and complain to me that I was not there by 08.00 as normal". No answer to that one so off to work at 08.00am as usual.