Cairo LP

Back blip

Given our recent purchase of a 2nd hand record player, it was the record player in the side window that made us look twice at this little shop. It was jam-packed with all sorts of 2nd hand music machines and other bits and bobs that were either for sale or being repaired. As our eyes adjusted to the dark we could see that it wasn't just a shop, but someone's home. Next to the rudimentary tool set hanging up by the desk, there was a wash-hand basin and toilet roll hanging proudly in its holder next to the mirror, and under the desk on the floor was the kettle, coffee and basic foodstuffs, sitting happily next to a box of dusty, crusty LPs. It was the box of LPs that had tempted us inside the door, asking the young Egyptian lad if he had anything by Oum Kaltoum. My pronounciation was obviously sorely lacking and so with no Arabic from me and no English from him, my blip of a week or so ago of the Oum Kaltoum statue came to the rescue. That did it and he scurried into a back room where we could hear him rummaging around for the next 15 minutes. After quite a few 'hellos?' and attempted escapes from us, he re-appeared and handed us a dusty, crusty LP of.........Parisien Comedy Opera! Perhaps we should have bought it just for the memory!