Today was the last day at the Al-Hussain hospital and I sensed sadness in the staff.  They didn’t express it, Iraqis rarely discuss and talk about emotions but you can sometimes see it, as Iraqis can get very emotional. We had a rush of patients needing attention, young and old, all having small papers from contacts who referrred these patients to us.  Some came with their scans from previous consultations, all wanting positive and curative results.   Thank God we had no disgruntled or upset patients today – we also performed several operations and they all went well.

After surgery we had our usual sit-down over soft drinks and cakes and chatted about life in Iraq, politics, family life and how the things are in the UK.  I felt at home and was saddened to leave them.  I gave them all big kisses and hugs and told them to keep in touch.

Dr Ali and I left the hospital and he took me to a newly opened restaurant which served the usual Iraqi foods as well as the Western ones.  I asked for fried chicken which i now regret as I am having bouts of heart burn and reflux………then we went to Dr Ali’s house for the mid-day siesta, which is usually 30 mins for me, then a hot tea….and Dr Ali went to his private clinic and I went to the Al-Abbas Shrine.  Stayed there for the rest of the evening, my family came up from Najaf and we had dinner in the shrine, as they have a restaurant for visiting pilgrims, providing food free of charge, 365 days a year…
We left karbala at 10.45pm and got back to Najaf at 11.40pm.