PostScript Summer Time

Two men talking. First man: What are seat belts good for? Second man: To keep the police happy. That is why we put them on when we approach a police control point (for a minute or two). First man: But why do drivers and passengers wear the seat belt for the whole trip in central Europe? Second man: It appears they have too many policemen, checking this gives them something to do! - Like most items the ticket for a journey from e.g. Sousse to Tunis by minibus has increased (10%), now it's 10,920 Dinar, but this is nothing compared to the taxi fare from Moncef Bay (minibus station in Tunis) to Les Berges du Lac, Rue du Lac Windermere,  an area with several Embassies. The driver demanded 15 Dinar, he must do this journey fairly often as he got there in no time via motorway. When we complained that is far too much, usually 5 - 6 Dinar, he replied: "You went to the toilet" (before we started, he waited, it took me only three minutes, the most expensive visit to a toilet). We realised too late he had the meter switched off, this hasn't happen to us for a long time so we didn't expect it. Bearing in mind that success encourages to continue, I believe in not keeping quite and letting him get away with it for didactic reasons. By the way all other taxi drivers we encountered were perfectly honest. Four years ago a man approached us with a 1 Euro coin in his hand: " How much is this? Please exchange it for me." Being on guard for tricks to steal money, we declined the request. It didn't remain the only time that we were addressed in such a manner. The other day in Sousse a poor tourist wanting to be helpful had his purse stolen when he took it out. One can only hope he didn't use his purse like a wallet. When two young men on a motorbike snatched my handbag off my shoulder three years ago, I lost my mobile phone, my passport, keys and a small sum of money. In Germany thieves often have at least the decency to throw items that don't interest them in a letterbox. Unfortunately there is no such custom here. (This is not just because not many letterboxes are available.) As I love animals and cats in particular it struck me as funny that before returning from Tunis I discovered a lovely white cat sitting in front of the ladies toilets and after I locked the toilet door behind me, this cat followed me through the gap at the bottom of the door. We went to Carthage (world heritage) and discovered in the archaeological area a cat mother with 6 kittens and we're happy to see that the people working there gave them water and a bit of food. One should never take this for granted. Tunisa is a good country and as someone famous once put it, "Democracy means equal rights for thinking folks and twits (Denker und Deppen)."

Summer Time

Everybody makes occasionally mistakes, but only real men admit these. (Words of a Czech song).  The same applies to women of course. Here, though, it seems to be common believe that strong folks never make a mistake or at least should always deny this. Put the blame on someone else.... Further, it is normal for a tradesman not to arrive at the time he himself picked, usually it is several hours later or even on another day. If he phones to inform you accordingly, consider yourself lucky. Labour is much cheaper here than in Europe, but you only get what you pay for, better not to compare (with a few exceptions). People quickly feel insulted even by only well mend suggestions.
Now that nights are rather warm and days pretty hot, there is less football playing during the day, but at what is considered "sleeping time for kids" in most parts of Europe, is when lots of children suddenly appear, very active, "full of beans". On account of what I would call extreme long holidays, they can sleep until lunch time and anyhow apart from playing football they don't seem to know much how to spend all that time on their hands. Pity books are out of fashion. Scientists discovered that it's better for the brain development to write by hand rather than mobile phone or notebook, as it would require more brain activity. - The beaches in Tunisia are by nature of a high quality, very fine sand and where tourists are likely to turn up they are usually kept clean. Even though the administration tries to put a stop to this stupid rubbish dumping (one can be fined), more is required. Start with the kids, once they understand that the environment needs to be protected (their future) they could even tell ignorant adults to do so. The plastic bottle collectors (many) do a good job. For one kilo they are paid approx. 600 Miliem, not much but for some the only income. I was shocked to learn that the beaches are endangered by raising sea water level and pollution. Urgent action is required before it's too late, after all these beautiful beaches are not just a tourists' attraction, Tunisians love them too and who would like to see Carthage or Hammamet disappear into the sea? Let us protect the World Heritage, amazing sites in Tunisia and the future of this mainly beautiful country. Not to forget the poor, the government promised special support for those in need in particular in the south, an area neglected by various governments. Tunisia has much more to offer than most tourists are aware of.

Postscript More about my Little Darlings

Two men walking home late at night after several drinks. First man: "I wish I were a mouse, I wish I were a mouse...." Second man: "What are you on about?" First man: "My wife is afraid of mice." -
Now is the time I fear so much, tiny lovely baby kittens appear, many get run over by cars, several are put out on the street often separated from their mother (who may or may not be killed by accident or wilfully). Well meaning folks all too frequently leave the tiny ones at my door step. Unfortunately I haven't got a sanctuary, a garden, only two terraces and cats that feel already that my "family" is getting too big. Besides, I still need to be able to cope, physically and financially. As I don't let my little treasures out on the street to leave their excrement somewhere there, I have my daily toilet cleaning work and to buy quite a bit of sand for the toilets. Anyhow, it remains depressing for me being unable to help all cats in need. Having decided that no more additions are possible, my new arrivals are: lovely white (with a bit of black, looking quite cheeky like the cat from a well known cartoon here) Leilah, sweet black and brown Natasha, pretty black and white Natalie, precious brown and black streamed Rachida (one eye missing that is why I at first thought she's one of mine already and just ran out). The very latest, not very well orphan Daniel, lovely white cat with blue eyes, the only survival of his family, as a charming well educated lady from the neighborhood told me. She feared that should he die as well it would depress her young boy who would love to save all cats, just like me. Schlawiner sometimes sleeps on top of my letterbox I discovered or my awnings, cheeky lad, as long as he doesn't climb on top of my roof and create a lot of unrest there. Because of him I had almost all my lady cats neutered. Some are too young and as Diana is suffering from a chronic cold I have a problem. Giving her the anaesthesia could turn out to be fatal. It is now really hot here I was hoping there would be no more sneezing, running noses... Since cats have no handkerchief they clean their faces and noses with their tongue, not at all ideal and I am not always there to use tissue instead (they hate this). In some cases the cold has become chronic unfortunately. I can't afford vaccine for my big family, so sad. My vet afford a good price in view of their number but it is still too much.