End of Summer and other Events

 "A bird who wakes up early just to sing besides the river bank, will soon discover that crocodiles do not admire the sound." Ubuntu proverb  "There is enough in this world for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed." Frank Buchmann.                                                                                      Beginning of November still lots of sunshine, but nights are starting to get cold, soon it will be damp and cold, sneezing season. Not much fun for cats and all who are forced to sleep rough. I will be endlessly cleaning noses and eyes with Physiol drops, etc. My little treasures hate it. Winter hasn't started, yet but I am already looking forward to its end. A house build Arabian style with a yard/terrace in the middle is great in summer, partly also in spring and autumn, if it doesn't rain too much. In winter it's less pleasant, more difficult to keep warm. Most houses have long corridors, which means the noise and exhaust gas from the street has less impact. Scientists say the climate will change to even hotter summers and colder winters, and insufficient water supply. In Sousse (and other places) large amounts of water gets wasted every day. Cleaning the house floor appears to include "cleaning the street" as well for 100 m or more. What you see, all that water on the street, is not the result of burst water pipes, but unfortunately "normal practice" here. Yet in the south and other areas there is not always water available, not even bottled water. It comes and goes.  In Europe this year's heat wave caused the death of at least 15,000 people. Draughts in Africa doubtlessly led to a much higher figure. Much education is required to make folks understand the need to protect the environment and thus also our health and country. A neighbour tried to tell me that we have a lot of problems with cats here, not meaning their hardship but that he considers them a nuisance. I replied the kids are a much bigger problem, no manners, no respect, doing a lot of damages to house walls, my fencing, etc., throwing stones and constantly yelling as if bitten by a tarantula. I actually was a fairly relaxed person until we moved to this part of Sousse. Now I am nervous, keep bitting my teeth and suffer from high blood pressure. Some folks advise me to move to a quiet place, what is keeping us here? Well it is the gorgeous cats and their suffering. By the way, another neighbor told us that the cats are more relaxed and content nowadays on account of me feeding them. Several said they believe a place in paradise is reserved for us.... I hope and pray that those who abuse animals will be punished. - A man employed by STEG (electricity suppliers) briefly knocked on the door and started to walk away. A neighbor told him that we are in the house, could he knock again or perhaps at our window (because of the hooligans here there is no bell), he replied: "No haven't got the time." Not the first time we receive such "service." In view of so many unemployed, why can't STEG find better employees who understand that they are paid with the money received from customers? Or doesn't it matter since STEG got a monopoly for gas and electricity supply? - With raising petrol prices there were plans to increase the taxi prices, one dinar on the meter already on arrival. This would mean the luxury of kids travelling to and from school getting quite a bit more expensive, perhaps less taxis stopping right in front of our door (passenger then walking off in all directions.....) and possibly easier to find a vacant taxi. But making taxis more expensive would not be a popular decision and to be fair, the bus service leaves much to be desired.