My colleague Ghada Abd El-Kader got lucky -- again. Ah well, dearies, I mustn't begrudge her really, though I'm a little sick of her getting to attend press conferences like the one held at the British Embassy in Garden City, on the occasion of the "Nazra" festival, organised by the British Council and sponsored by BP Egypt. The event explores the lives of Muslims in Britain and the rest of Europe, and I should have a chance to catch up, since it runs to 12 February 2006. Never will I attend the opening ceremony, though. And it makes me all the more jealous, sweeties, that speakers like British Ambassador to Egypt Sir Derek Plumbly, the world famous pop star Sami Youssef and the very gifted Peter Sanders, one of the leading photographers of the Islamic world, were all present. Sanders was a dear friend long before his works appeared in Time Magazine, Al-Majalla, the Sunday Times and the Observer, dears. And so was Abdel-Rahman Helbawi, the managing director of Dome Tours International, a company specialising in Muslim- oriented travel. As for Fareena Alam, honeybunnies, the managing editor of the British current affairs Q News, she is a regular freelance analyst of Islam and Muslim affairs for the British media; I have followed her work very closely. This was my chance to meet her personally, I'll have you know, Abd El-Kader. And I did not. All of which is not to mention the London-based journalist, veteran of both The Guardian and the New Statesman, Samia Rahman, and my cutsie little friend, president of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies since 2004, dears, Waqqas Khan. Abd El-Kader tells me that Plumbly was the one to explain the point of the festival -- to reflect the views of a variety of British Muslims involved in different arenas, including music, art, media, politics and business. "It will also discuss the achievements of and challenges facing Muslims in Britain." The drop-dead- gorgeous Youssef then apparently expanded on that. "Nazra", which means view, is an opportunity to recount all the untold success stories of Muslims, whether the subject is politics or art. "Islam is beautiful," he said, "and I sing not just for Islam but for humanity at large; Islam addresses all humans." Abd El-Kader got the opportunity to listen to Youssef singing live at the British Council in Agouza, following the press conference. There, she told me, a whole host of public figures -- cherished friends, all -- enjoyed the young sound of that incomparable religion, my sweets. The only redeeming thought is that Youssef's next concert will take place on 12 February at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. photos: Ghada Abdel-Kader How utterly heart- melting, dears, that Egypt should hog the lion's share of prizes at the Muscat International Film Festival. Organised by the Omani Cinema Association under the auspices of the Omani Ministry of Culture and Heritage, dearies, the festival is an increasingly important event. But let me not neglect to mention the winning features, nor my filmmaker friends responsible for them: Malek we Ketaba (Head and Tails), winner of the silver dagger and directed by Kamla Abu Zekri, Baheb Al-Cima (I Love Cinema), directed by Osama Fawzi, which won the bronze dagger and the Best Arabic Movie Award from the Critics Committee headed by my dear friend Ali Abu Shadi. Now, it was the plump belle Laila Elwi winning best Arab actress award for Baheb Al-Cima that delighted me the most. I'm sure everyone else, including my newfound friend actor and director Abdel-Karim Gawad, who headed the jury, will understand why. Al-Ahram Al-Masaai, dears, the daily evening newspaper, celebrated its 16th anniversary in the presence of, among others, People's Assembly Speaker Fathi Sorour, NDP Secretary-General Safwat El - Sherif, Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi, Minister for Electricity Hassan Younes, Al-Ahram Chairman of the Board Salah El-Ghamri, Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya, Al-Masaai Editor-in-Chief Mursi Atallah, veteran comedian Adel Imam and lovely actress Poussi. Heaven on earth for a poor-world weary fortune- teller with a penchant for missing old friends. And singers Hani Shaker and Khaled Selim made a delightful job entertaining the guests. photos: Ayman Barayez At the Four Season's Nile Plaza Hotel, my very energetic friend King Abdul- Aziz University media professor and director of the Ghazi Cultural Salon Ghazi Awadallah honoured Arabic Labour Organisation head Ibrahim Khouidar, Yemeni Ambassador to Cairo Abdel-Walli El-Shimari, actress Nabila Ebeid, Al-Osbou Editor-in-Chief Mustafa Bakri, and actress Hanan Youssef -- dear, gifted soul mates and kindred spirits, all. With Valentine's at the doorstep, loviedovies, the International Centre for Continuos Improvement (ICCI) offers you a seminar that will tell you everything you want to know about love. To take place at the Cairo Sheraton on 11 February, it answers all these questions, and more: what is the meaning of love? How do you find out if it's real love? How to choose Mr Right? How about logging onto www.icci-egypt.com for more? Members of the International Club One, a social organisation, dears, whose aim is to reinforce relations among the different cultures that co-exist in Egypt, made a tour at Cairo International Airport. It was aimed at demonstrating the wonderful improvements recently implemented in the arrival halls. Held under the auspices of Civil Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq, it was organised by my very able friend, Yousriya Ragab, media counsellor of the minister, and featured the beautiful wives of foreign ambassadors in Cairo, Egyptian ministers, senior state officials and media figures -- including the founder of the club Hoda Maher and deputy editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Aicha Abdel-Ghaffar. The only problem was, I just couldn't get the thought off my head: Abd El-Kader got the conference and the Sami Youssef concert, and I got the tour. Joyful news, my sugar bunnies, for connoisseurs of precious time pieces and jewellery. The world renowned French watch- maker Philipe Charriol has opened a new boutique right here in Citystars Mall, Nasr City. Crowned by the presence of gorgeous actress Laila Elwi, pop singer Hisham Abbas and budding comedian Hani Ramzi, the opening confirmed my faith in the outstanding abilities of Ayman Faltaqous, owner of Felopateer Palace Company, and the sole agent of Charriol in Egypt. Congratulations, lovelies: Magda Barsoum, that enchantress who happens to work in the media, has been named a counsellor to the Intellectual Property Union president in the fields of local, international and media relations. Under the auspices of head of the Fine Arts Sector and director of the General Organisation for Cultural Palaces (GOCC), my very old friend Ahmed Nawwar, dears, the Children's Biennale (Fantasy Two 2006) was held for the second year in a row at Afla Gardens, Al-Qanater Al-Khairia. This year, 250 children aged 6-15 participated from across the country, dears, as well as Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Jordan. And the commissar, graphic artist Hamdi Abul-Maati told me in confidence that adult artists were positively green with envy.
