In the evening I go to Jenny's, the lady from the British Council, to join her and other guests for Christmas Dinner. Her home is looking rather Christmassy with an enormous, decorated tree. There is music playing and bowls of nibbles suitably positioned around the room. I am first to arrive so I am invited into the kitchen while she finishes off the preparations. "Would I like a drink? Hot? Cold? There's juice, or …", I'm sure the "or" will be a treat whatever "gin, wine, beer." Marvellous! Before dinner? A G&T of course. I've been in this dry country for two months now; a G&T would be lovely.

The other guests arrive; pleasant people. One couple: she at the British Embassy and he doing a distance degree, with children in the International School. The other: she's at the Red Cross and he's doing something with wholesale coffee on the internet for several hours a day.

We enjoy small talk around small tables before going through to the dining room. What would have been very normal at home seems very strange here in Sudan: a dining table, chairs, individual place settings with plates, cutlery and separate glasses for water and wine. The "Delia" starter is delicious; Jenny has very successfully found a local cheese to substitute for haloumi.

And wine too. Wow! "Red or white?" Both are long lost friends; such choice. We have a super roast chicken, roast potatoes and later enjoy a delicate dessert and a board of six cheeses, none of which have I seen in Sudan. All in all, it is an extraordinary, but very pleasant evening.