As Days Go by

A farmer with a big strawberry field put up a notice: "If you want strawberries, pick them yourself here, pay for those in the bucket, those you eat on the field are for free." A man arrived, took a bucket and returned from the field about an hour later with an empty bucket. So the farmer asked him why he doesn't want to buy any of his delicious strawberries. The man replied: "Yes, they are really delicious. I've been eating all I wanted." Farmer: "But what about your family, don't you think they might want some?" Reply: "Oh well, they'll come tomorrow." - The value-added tax has gone up by 200 - 300 %. the purchasing power has dropped by 25 %. If you spend most of your money on food, electricity, gas, rent, you really feel the increase on every item (between 10 - 50%) also on old stock, often still showing the previous price. Amazing how the poor make ends meet, on the other hand there are still those with plenty of money, nice houses, big cars, etc. I don't envy them, there is already a lot of that around here, even some for us, which may be the reason why we continue to have stones thrown at our house (yes, also during the holly month of Ramadan), and at cats - do they begrudge them their cats' food, or is it just what ignorant, bored and disturbed persons (of various ages) do? Yesterday I found one of my  regular guests at the cats' table lying dead on the middle of the road, bleeding from the mouth and one ear. Can't establish the cause, hit by a car, beaten by a boy, attacked by a dog? All is possible. She was a lovely yellow/white calm cat, approx. 1 year old. A kitten was hit by a car the other day, another one that an old man brought to me, skinny, eyes "sealed", lice (managed to eliminate them with "Frontline" spray), only survived a fortnight. Cats on the whole don't get old here, kittens are particular endangered (cars, children, adults, weak immune system). I found one dying kitten in front of my entrance door, hit by a car, another little one with a head injury from a stone which a stupid little boy with ignorant parents threw, kids told me the cat is dead, but I noticed it is was still breathing and I am happy to say under my care is now well and lively. One minor progress, children watching me feeding street cats asking me for cats' salami to feed these cats too. On the Internet a video of a dog who picked up food and carried it some distance to her puppies. Viewers click "like" . There is a house across the road with a garden, cats love the garden, the owners are not happy with this: "I found salami here. Attracts flies." It can't be much as it must be what the cat mummy  picked up from me, carried in her mouth across the road to feed her little ones. I am always worried watching cats crossing the road, but unfortunately I haven't got a garden. Further, I must accept that I can't save the whole world, neither all animals nor all who are poor. So much could be done if all tax payers (in particular the very rich) and all in power would be honest. Unfortunately we have too much greed, corruption, ignorance. -Like children, cats also learn by watching. When my 2 black cat ladies, Lilly and Felicitas, want to enter the sitting room, they knock at the door by hitting the key fob, Amelie and Alien started to do the same, likewise Honey walks around the house to my sitting room window and calls me when she wants to enter the house, Gloria (absolutely beautiful, great character and fantastic mum) does the same now. Parents give toys to their kids, what do cats do to provide their little ones with something to play with? They offer their tail, wag it, let the kittens catch it, they enjoy this game. Some times they  also play hide and seek with me (frequently underneath parked cars), often the mother helps me with "our" babies, another game: catch- me -if -you- can, stopping briefly to give me a better chance,  fair players, after all I can't run as fast on only 2 legs. Another advantage for 4 legs:  ball games, football as well as hand/paw balls. Pity, most of these football crazy kids aren't aware of this. Cats could be their really good companions. For training cats some times bring a live mouse to their kittens, to teach them how to catch one. I never watched this here, but in Europe I once had a tomcat, Filou, who brought me a live mouse upstairs to my first floor flat. He wanted to teach me how to catch a mouse. You know what, it worked, I managed to catch the poor frightened field mouse, pretended to eat it and secretly set it free outside in nature. This cat also knew how to open doors, including my fridge - he did it lying on his back -and took out what was mend for him anyway. From time to time Filou would punish me for "wrong behaviour", like not allowing me to stroke him when I get home  late, or emptying my book shelve because I went on a short holiday, leaving my brother to take care of him. Every cat is different with her/his own personality. I feel the loss every time one dies. Three hours ago sweet Luthuli, a black kitten of Gloria, ran out onto the street. At that moment a big delivery van arrived, before I had a chance to react, Luthuli got under one of the big wheels, a horrible sight, bloody head, bloody body twisting, rapid movements in all directions, some brain and lots of blood on the street. Eight hours before I played with the little darling. I feel like crying, his life had hardly started, such a horrible death. My nightmare here, I've seen so many die. - If you take the trouble to give names to cats, you'll find they will quickly all know their names, some even answer when I call them. I once had a cat, Mucker, whenever he was told off, would come, look you straight in the eyes and answer you back. Animals are not supposed to be able to do this. It seems to be strange to me that folks for a very long time believed animals can't think. Well, as a matter of fact, don't quite a few guys frequently act as if they can't? We have plenty of sunshine, the sea, beeches with very fine white sand, historic sites worth visiting, but not enough jobs, money, support for the poor, education for the ignorant, need laws to protect animals and people able and willing to ensure that folks abide by laws and good regulations (like those to protect the environment and people's health). The other day I viewed a fire in front of two garages, next to houses, in a residential area. Some persons where burning large pieces of wood, plastic and other rubbish. Not normal, a bit like the "wild west", also those kids riding motorbikes, usually without a number plate. In case of a fatal accident (lately a man from the neighbourhood died, the boys on the heavy motorbike were only 15 and 16 years old), will it be again: oh, they are still children, nothing one can do..... So sad, sounds like nothing can/will be changed. Let us not give up and hope for better days.

Saladin - Obituary

This is the story of Saladin, a gorgeous Persian tomcat. I am told Turkish folks brought them to Tunisia and that is why the people here call them "Turkish". Anyhow, approx. 2 years ago I found a lovely little Persian kitten in front of my entrance door. I could hardly trust my eyes, who would leave such a little bundle of joy just like that? I took him inside, gave him a bit of milk (1/3 milk, 2/3 mineral water, as advised by the vet) and cat food from the supermarket. Saladin grew up, a lively, gentle fur angel. He loved eating, whenever I prepared my little treasures' food, he seemed to think that I take too long and would jump up onto the sideboard to help himself. Trying to enter the kitchen without him following me seemed to be impossible, he was so fast and very sportive. One day kids informed me that I  have a cat sitting on my awning. To my surprise it turned out to be Saladin. With the aid of a long ladder I managed to take him down. Saladin must have jumped off the roof terrace. He did this also on another occasion. When Saladin suffered from diarrhoea, the vet advised me to stop his food for 24 hrs. This was hell for him and me, he cried for his food and looked at me with his lovely big eyes, not understanding what was going on. I had to lock him in the bathroom until all other cats had finished their meal. When I let him out, he checked all food bowls. No food anywhere within reach. So he finally decided  to jump off the roof terrace and onto my door awning. I happened to be outside and again kids discovered him first. Same procedure as before, felt so sorry for my little treasure, tried to reassure him that I still love him very much and reduced his short "Ramadan" to 20 hrs. I cooked chicken with rice and fine chopped carrots for Saladin and he really enjoyed his meal. For a while he was okay then his diarrhoea returned and he caught a cold. Running noses and conjunctivitis are a common problem here for cats (in particular during those periods with cold and wet days and/or nights). When he stopped eating, the vet explained that cats only eat what they can smell, with a blocked nose this isn't possible. Meanwhile I have my own little pharmacy for cats at home, which is just as well, as these little darlings don't like travelling in a transport box and several taxis don't like having them in the car (for "hygienic reasons" , utterly bullshit in view of a plastic transport box). With his prescribed medication (Marbocyl, in addition Kortison) and inhalation he got better. The vet informed me that a variation of food often causes diarrhoea. This was new to me, never experienced that with cats in Europe. For quite some time we believed that Saladin is dump.He moved his mouth as if he wanted to speak, but there was no sound. We heard his voice for the first time at the vet's, it took months. I did my best, but diarrhoea kept recurring. Saladin lost weight which didn't show straight away due to his lovely long fur. We bought an expensive special diet (croquets) from the vet. Strange, all the cats thought it's delicious, but Saladin didn't particular. I had to feed him separately, only occasionally offered a bit to a couple of other cats, in order to make these croquets more interesting to my little fur angel. It worked, thank heaven. Saladin was a good actor, apart from pretending to be dump, he sometimes pretended to eat, but spit his croquets out again, without me noticing at first. When the vet took blood from him to have it tested, she had to take it from a neck vein, as he got so skinny. Poor soul. The result of the blood test came as a real shock, only half as many erythrocytes as normal. The vet warned us that Saladin won't have much longer to live. For a couple of days my lovely gentle treasure (friendly with everyone and all the cats) seemed to get better. Wishful thinking. Saladin used to follow me around, seemed to be always at my side, the first one to greet me in the morning, purring. a gift from heaven. But only for 2 years. Some time between 23.oo hrs and 4 a.m. my beloved one passed away, Friday 04.05.18 or Saturday 05.05.18. I miss him so much, often, when he looked at me with his lovely big eyes, I wondered what he is thinking. He deserves to be in Paradise.

Spring Time

A commercial agent visited a poor farmer as he intended to sell him a milking machine. The poor farmer advised him that he's got only one cow and the bank won't give him a loan. So the commercial agent told him: "Not a problem, just give me your cow for payment" (Or did he say as first instalment?). - Thank heaven the days are getting warmer, but when it's cloudy the temperature drops considerably. As in previous years I either find kittens in a box in front of my entrance door or kids/teens or adults want to hand me 1 or 2 directly. I found in a book the advise, if you have too many kittens/cats, and no one to take them, leave them near a hotel, tourists will feed them. Looks like the advise here is, leave them with me or at my door step. Something has changed though, I managed this year to find new families for lovely little fur angels, so far for 6 (always 1 at a time) and in 1 case my shelter was only required temporarily as 1 little darling was already dearly missed by her family. (I don't like the expression "owner" and I refuse to see animals as objects.) - The other day I was surrounded by a group of young hooligans (or should I say disturbed kids  from the surrounding area?) demanding baby cats and sweets. This I refused for obvious reasons, helpless kittens should never be handed to children as toys, even worse to these here, no manners, no respect, no empathy. In addition I do not know what for I should reward them with sweets. When we first moved here, one lady warned us not to give any presents to these kids here, they would demand them daily, knocking on your door, without shame. I must admit I did not always follow her advise. Anyhow, they followed me to the garbage container place and back to my house, yelling together at ear-splitting level, I felt threatened. After I got inside my house, they banged at the door. As I rejected their demands they decided to take revenge and bend part of the iron strip that our locksmith had welded onto the net-iron sheeting (partly bend as well) outside, designed to protect our house and plants against  footballs and hooligans. By the way, if you think envy and revenge are perhaps typical shortcomings of many Arabic characters, you are mistaken. What about Donald Trump, his envy of B. Obama's achievements (e.g. "Obama-Care") and popularity, and Trump's constant firing of men he employed himself for high posts (ejector seat for those who dare to use their own brain), isn't this taking revenge? For all I know Trump is not an Arab, his family originates from Bavaria. -  An excavator briefly parked in this road, was discovered by a young boy, approx. 5 years old, he seemed to believe that this is a new toy his parents bought for him so that he can do bigger damages. A tradesman saw the little boy climbing up to the seat and he had to tell the kid 5 times to get off the vehicle, to him there appeared to be no reason to do that, what's on the street the children regard as their property and don't some car owners regret parking outside. Luckily the excavator was removed not long later. - The other day a young lady asked whether she can come inside to chose a cat. I informed her that I want to keep all the cats that I've been living with for a while  (up to 5 years), they are a kind of family for us. Sometimes I receive a request for a grey cat or a white cat, maybe I should create a catalogue ...... What do these people think, that I breed cats? One woman wanted one already vaccinated (approx. 90Dinar). I am not a charity organisation, I am only me, with limited means. In Germany I once got a cat from an animal protection organisation, fully checked, teeth done, vaccinated, great - but I had to pay for all this. To be fair, there are also different families in the neighbourhood, excellent manners, well behaving kids, the difference is amazing. They are like a ray of sunshine. Good to know them too. - Tony, a black and white tomcat, with a bigger head then usual, has a very special way of lifting his head and looking me straight in the eyes. He hasn't got a home and is a regular visitor to my cats' table. One day I noticed that he is loosing weight,  doesn't eat, just puts his nose near his food in an attempt to smell it, suffering from a cold this isn't possible. As cats only eat what they can smell (a protection by nature which can backfire though, as a blocked nose can lead to starvation in spite of available food); high time to clean his nose and add a cough remedy to his drinking water. It turned out he trusts me and just allows me to clean his nose and ears as often as necessary (cats hate this procedure). He is much better now and likes to hang around near my house. So  does a newcomer, a white cat, looking a bit neglected - a sign of sickness - and she had fleas (gave her a remedy). I wonder whether she had a home before and lost it when she got sick. The folks around here like white cats and she looks pretty with her long white hair, black cats are not so popular, uneducated people believe they bring bad luck. Wouldn't like to live without my 2 fantastic black lady cats, they are adorable. Whenever I am in the sitting room and they want to join me, they knock at the door, my lovely Lilly and Felicitas. Now Allien is copying them, but I won't let him come in as he likes to chew cables. When I have to distribute medication to my little darlings, I usually pulverise the pills and mix this under soft cheese. It can also help to pretend other cats are receiving the identical product and are enjoying it. The same kind of trick works with kids sometimes. - On the 16th of May Ramadan starts, this means neither food nor drink of any kind from sun rise until the sun goes down, if you are religious, no smoking in public or even taxi, unless you are a tourist. Communal election this month, most citizens say they won't vote, too disappointed with the administration ("Belladia"). The author Safwan M. Masri said in an interview on TV, France 24 that Tunisia is divided, there are those who want to live like Europeans and on the other hand those who would like to set the clock back, have woman dressed in black, Burka and head scarf. Safwan M. Masri just published a book: Tunisia an Arab Anomaly. (Haven't read it, can't judge). I am optimistic and pray for intelligent, decent, tolerant politicians who love and forward this country and successfully fight corruption.