Don't worry, could be worse!

Life is full of surprises. The house we  bought to settle down, had unofficially served as a kind of playground and football goal for children from streets within a distance of 15 walking minutes.  As they did not tell us to buy, they decided to ignore the changed situation, respectively, make us understand we are not welcomed! Writing on our house wall one day (in Arabic): "For sale." The constant bang, bang, bang from fiercely kicked footballs is killing. Large flower pots behind a metal fencing to protect against these balls. Nice attempt. The teens are strong and not stupid. Flowers broken off or stolen, fencing bend in all directions, their "reply". We placed the flower pots on the terrace and bought cactus plants instead. Removed the twisted fencing and got stronger fencing with metal slaps fitted, painted by me . Some folks tell me they like it. Cactus plants growing well with lateral shoots, even needed supporting sticks, which the kids didn't like and therefore removed. All not good for flying footballs. But not a  problem for these clever kids. Now we have lateral shoots cut or knocked off, likewise thorns, most remaining cactus plants are straight, even tiny green sprouts removed, "clean shaved", looks actually a bit stupid. Yes, they were not lazy! In case football goals should ever be placed in the sky, the teens here are prepared, as they demonstrated on various occasions, kicking footballs over the roof and on to the terrace. Even got one on my head one day. -Anybody wants to buy stones? We get them in all sizes for free from hooligans. We are thankful if they not hit cats. It gets a bit expensive to take all injured to the vet. I try to explain that people who love animals, regard a cat or dog as a "family member" (quite common in Europe) would be quite upset to see how these lovely animals are treated here. Water and food pottery bowls for cats get smashed or stolen, now I use plastic empty ice cream boxes that I just need to replace from time to time. Very sad, cats coming to my house (their little restaurant) looking for some food and water, are not even safe in front of my house. They make an easy target for disturbed kids. For their protection I stay with them while they are eating (Some stones are thrown nevertheless, must be falling from heaven, as those children on site are "all innocent"). Respect appears to be one of those things these kids here have lost with the revolution. Big difference between the educated and those who keep their distance to education (what Germans call "Bil

dungsfern"). Nevertheless, like in every country one can (and we did) find wonderful people here, hamdullah! -  Children represent the future of a country. What we need here are social workers visiting families who don't understand their responsibility. Street workers checking on those children and young adults that roam the streets. Some times kids suggest I should hit one of them who throws stones or kicks a cat. I try to explain beating can never be a solution, it only makes more aggressive. We need love not hate if we want a better world.