Swords to Ploughshares (Jesaya 2,4)

 "Act the way you would like to be and soon you'll be the way you act." "This world is full of conflicts and things that can not be reconciled. But there are moments when we can..... reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that is what I mean by " Halleluyah"( song) " Leonard Cohen.  " Grey hair is a sign of age, not wisdom. " " The cheapest way to improve your looks is to wear a smile. " " Law is a cobweb which catches small animals but not big ones. "   " A child who asks questions does not become a fool. " Ubuntu African Proverbs    Leaving a supermarket, we got approached by a middle-aged man, who wanted to show us something scribbled on a piece of paper, plus his bad gum and the gabs in his mouth. Was he asking for toothpaste and a toothbrush? The advantage of removable false teeth to crown sprang to my mind, should one need or want to beg. Anyhow, we already have several cats that require dental treatments. As for myself, the last time I went for a  professional teeth-cleaning, the lady surprised me by doubling her previous charge. Unpleasantly surprised I asked her whether she's serious. Guess some folks would declare they have no intention to buy her clinic but just wanted to pay for the treatment. Our street continues to be very loud, approximately 10 year olds on a motorbike, circling, accelerating, creating infernal sounds, innocent and uneducated ki

ds cheering, not aware it's adding to the destruction of their future. Soon school will start, but it won't make much difference, the night is not considered to be for sleeping, facilitated by bright street lights. Luckily children rarely snore, so sleeping pupils won't disturb much the teaching effords in the mornings. The special food for cats with kidney problems is rather expensive, but Malek is not impressed, doesn't feel like eating, while our other feral kids find the smell very tempting and if we'd let them, it would be all gone in no time. My poor little darling can't exist just on love (continues to cuddle) and air. It's worrying.  I feel compelled to force some of his prescribed food into his little mouth. As my sweetie loves me, he more or less accepts this and makes no attempt to bite me, but he must be wondering why I treat him so bad lately and in addition give him medicines that he never ordered, poor gentle Habibi. They say Tunisia is a poor country, nevertheless there are fireworks nearly every night (usually bought for wedding celebrations) and the streets are congested with mainly new expensive cars. Even though we have many registered taxis, there are times when it appears to be impossible to find one that is available. The drivers remove the "Taxi" sign when ending their working hours, often around lunch time. "Mummy" is strict and waiting so they must be punctual. Perhaps my comments are unfair, their shift has simply ended, but why aren't there more taxis now starting the other shift hours? - "Swords to ploughshares", an old demand of German peace organisations (forgotten nowadays???), actually a quote from the Old Testament, shared by Christian, Islamic and Jewish religions. Isn't it strange? The concept is that military weapons and technologies are converted for peaceful civilian applications. Seems our modern, civilized society has "better" solutions:

more and more weapons for which unlimited amounts of money is available, advanced technologies for killings on a greater scale, international human rights and conventions just a suggestion, violations kind of normal, everything can be justified with a few magic words like terrorist, self-defence.... I read Israel is recruiting asylum seekers from Africa for the Gaza war, in return they are offered residential status. Mercenary Israelian style in view of more more of the country's citizens demanding an end of the war. Whatever you do, never sell your soul. 

Postscript Anyway and Anyhow

 "A bird who wakes up early just to sing, besides the river bank, will soon discover that crocodiles do not admire the sound."  "The relatives of a poor man are mostly known during his funeral."  "A blind man and a deaf woman are the happiest couple ever." "The history of African Ancestors is written in blood and cannot be unwritten by lies in ink." "Money can't talk, yet it can make lies look like the truth."   Ubuntu African Proverbs.       Sweet Kaja was recently close to death. She was breathing rapidly, a worrying sign I only know too well. Our veterinarian said she is in such a poor state of health that he can't guarantee she will survive. We both agreed not to give up Kaja, even when chances are so slim. So for four days I took our little treasure daily to the veterinarian, every morning my first worry, is she still alive? Happy about every little progress. Now she's perfectly fine and seems to understand and appreciate my engagement for her. She wants to cuddle with me more than ever. My money was well spent! My biggest treasure and joy are our feral children, but they also bring sadness and tears. Quite unexpectedly our lovely, lively, all black honey, Coco passed away one morning, it happened quickly before I had a chance to take her to the vet. Our sweet, gentle tomcat, Malek, my very special habibi, has kidney problems. His values are worrying. He stopped eating for 2 days, so I took him for a check up, hoping and praying for his recovery. The result of the blood test came as a real shock. As a human he would need dialysis, but not surprisingly something like this does not exit here for pets. Apart from special food, rather expensive croquettes (glad they are at least available), my little darling has to put up with various injections and I need to give him twice a day an infusion under the skin (not into a vein or into muscle), at present without time limit, and he receives antibiotics. My fear Malek would hate me for this "tuture" were unjustified. He cuddles with me. But another worry, he doesn't eat much, hopefully this will improve. A couple of days ago, when my husband went to the toilet early in the morning, Malek ran into the bedroom and started to cuddle with me. What a great way to wake up! He is so adorable, even while in a poor state of health. And he understands my efforts to save him. The summer this year is really tough and with a high amount of moisture in the air it is worse, already at 5 a. m. I feel like I am melting. Various cats are sneezing, in view of this I wonder what winter will bring. - When Mr. Putin recently visited Mongolia, some folks in Europe and US aked why didn't he get arrested there (he was invited) , after all the ICC issued an international arrest warrant last year...... Other citizens wonder how much longer will it take ICC to issue an international arrest warrant for PM Netanyahu, his defence minister, Y. Galant, and leaders of Hamas. The International Criminal Court prosecuter, Karim Khan, urges judges to quickly do so, the court's juristriction is after all well established. Strange, countries like US, Germany, UK (the previous government, unlike the present one, Hamdullah, Labour Party) questioned and delayed it - but not reference Mr. Putin. "All are equal, but some are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm). Thousands march in London and other places to demand a cease - fire in Gaza and suspension of all arms sales to Israel. Demanding the end of a war and at the same time sell arms to one of the conflict parties, isn't it like pooring fluel into the fire? Haven't we seen enough of  "self-defence"? While the weapon industry gets richer, people get poorer. -  World literature day, let me talk about James Baldwin, born 100 years ago in Harlem, sadly passed away much too early, already in 1987, a great writer and activist for human rights. I was fortunate to discover him as a writer, a child looking for an English book. I think it was "Go and tell it on the Mountain." I was fascinated and decided to save as much money as possible, (e. g. walk 5 km to grammar school and thus not have to pay the bus  fare)  for more paperbacks from him. Eventually I discovered that this brilliant poet not only writes novels (his first one at the age of 26) but also short stories and plays, main subject black lifes, humanity and rasism. James Baldwin spend several years in Paris, where he enjoyed more freedom and was seen as an American, yet in America "as a nigger". He became one of my favourite writers. James Baldwin said: "People will always hate what they can't understand and they hate so much because they understand so little." Doesn't this explain a lot about the new, brave world we are living in? More and more weapons and destruction instead of diplomacy and honest negotiations. 

Anyway and Anyhow

 "You don't teach the path to a forest to an old gorilla." Ubuntu African Proverb.  "A stranger you give a plate of soup will appreciate more than a brother you give a whole pot of soup with elephant meat." Onyekachin Moore.  "Power is when you have every justification to kill someone, and then you don't." If you saw a dog to be crushed under a car, wouldn't you help him.? "  Oskar Schindler.   " Perhaps it would be the best if the government would elect for itself another people."  Bertholt Brecht.                                    Our sweet tomcat, Carlo, behaves simular to human kids. Whenever his vice-daddy tells him off (usually for forgetting to pull in his claws, unfortunately very common among our feral children), he comes running to his vice-mummy. Tiger is our senior, now 11 years and 4 months old. Having spend every night and several hours during the day in our bedroom, he lately decided to move out and make more use of the rest of the house, mainly the terrace on the roof or downstairs. I miss him cuddling with me under my blanket, in particular since the death of my gorgeous Sandy who used to spoil me with purring me to sleep. All cats are definitely not the same. Our all- black kitten, Coco, loves to cuddle with all adult cats and tries to suck milk from males and females alike, even though her actual mother, Fleur, is still around. Anyhow, Coco is the only one of our 5 kittens who likes to lay on my lap, the others prefer to be with their mothers. Amazing how well our lovely blind boy, Loulou, and pretty blind kitten, Snowflake, manage to get along in our house. My worries were not justified. From time to time, though, Snowflake calls me from the top of the staircase to take her safely downstairs. Originally I had planned to buy a house in an area where mainly academic folks live, but we landed in a mixed place, where the lesser educated are prevailing, this explains several of my disappointments with this quarter of town, expressed on my blog. Why not move? Well, our main compensation are those gorgeous cats around here (inside our house meanwhile and visitors to my Cats' Table). Anyhow, neighbors across the road decided several days ago to put a group of plastic chairs in front of their house in the evenings and regularly hold rather loud meetings of adults and kids, until midnight or even later. It gets so loud that we are forced to close our windows, not ideal during tropic nights. Now we understand why long corridors are so common here. Our house was unfortunately not constructed like that. Though my husband advised me that it would get me nowhere, I thought that one must be able to speak politely with neighbors and ask them to be more considerate please. The reaction I received frankly shocked me. Looks like I tried to hold a civilized conversation with folks who lack basic manners. In Europe one would call the police (in France the baliff) on account of " disturbance of the peace".  The unemployed around here can afford to sleep until lunchtime, therefore require no Siesta and have no problem to stay up all night, including their very young kids, and be "a bit loud" to say the least. Those who believe that no one deserves respect will give you "a mouth full" if you address them. That is why citizens often prefer not to react, just ignore the hooligans. But just looking away won't change anything. Shouldn't we advance more? Educate the ignorant., easier said than done. In Europe they often start with the children. Those who attend Kindergarten are better prepared for school, providing the kids are taught basic manners, apart from fair playing, enjoying books, etc. Kindergarten here are too expensive for many and the standards aren't always perfect. Some parents told me their children  were unhappy, even got beaten. Pre- school kids are at an age when they can and often are eager to learn a lot, if given an opportunity to do so. I once taught a 4 year old girl  and 5 year old boy English as the family intended to move to US. It was great fun. The little girl told me English people eat excrements. When I asked what made her think that, she replied: Well, cake ("Kake" is the German slang word for excrements). And fast food, if you read the first word as a  German one, means almost food. In some cases not so far removed from the truth. Sadly the new generation tends to prefer it to home cooking, so I am told. May be that explains why the new generation grows taller, yet many are rather skinny, legs "stork like". In North Korea people are shorter nowadays than they used to be. Experts say it's the result of poor quality food and the (meanwhile?) past  starvation period. Unicef declared that in Gaza 90 % of Palestinian children are undernourished. At least they are getting vaccinated wef. 1st of September. Hopefully a cease-fire is possible for this, so all concerned won't be endangered. Heaven help us all. 

Successful Prayers

"The wall cannot seperate the olive tree from its roots." Raja Shedadek.  "My homeland is not a suitcase, and I am not a travellor." Ghassan Knafani.  "We are all born with the greatest treasures we'll ever have in life. One of those treasures is your mind, the other your heart." Susan Adulhawa.  "You cannot continue to victinize someone else just because you yourself where a victum once - there has to be a limit." Edward Said. "We Palestinians have no future, only a past."  Raja Shehadeh.  "One can rely on evil persons, they at least won't change."  William Faulkner                                                                                No rain for months and than after I wrote that we are praying for rain, it rained the next day in Gafsa, more rain a couple of days later in 4 governments. Rain in Sousse a few days afterwards, though not yet as much as we need. There is supposed to be more to come soon. But anyhow, it's encouraging, so let us pray for peace, punishments for all war criminals, and at long last a two state solution. This senseless suffering must end. Seems to me we are living in a stupid century. There appear to be continued attacks in Gaza on Palestinian schools. It makes me wonder whether Netanyahu deep down hated his school days. After all it is a well known fact that revenge is often taken on innocent persons. - Sadly an estimated 46 % of Tunisians think about leaving their country, the majority with an university education. Brain drain, sounds worrying. Makes it difficult to achieve improvements that would make Tunisia more attractive to stay and create a great country, which I strongly believe is possible, eventually. Some folks tell me first of all we need to change our mentality, get citizens to appreciate and protect nature, animals and the environment. Teach kids the right values, respect, keep their surroundings clean, show responsibility, learn the beauty of books and not just play football every spare minute. Cheap diesel enables youngsters to ride their motorbikes, "let off steam, just for fun", but it comes at a heavy price, considering the pretty obvious pollution (black stinking clouds, smell of something burning, exteme noice at ear-slitting level). Scientists worked out that rising sea levels present a threat to Tunisia losing Kerkennak, Kalaat el-Andalous and other costal areas e. g. Karthago. I read that during a period of over 9 years Tunisians paid 447 Million Dinars to get visas for  European countries. Often lost money, as money spend on visas that finally get rejected is not refunded and Tunisians receive the highest rejections, in particular in Italy. This may well have something to do with "some bad apples", in other words terrorists, whose evil deeds make quite a few Europeans suspicious of North Africans, Arabs and Moslems in general ( recent case in Solingen, still under investgation, suspect arrived 2 years ago from Syria, either mentally sick or a terrorist). Germany had promised asylum to Afghanistan persons and their families threatened by the Taliban with death as they are regarded as traitors, in particular if they worked for foreign armies like e. g. German, American or British. By German laws you normally can't be sent back to a country that intends to kill you, how Germany can now withdraw their visas I don't understand. Frau Faeser, the minister of the interior, declared she is thinking of offering financial aid to those that will be deported, excuse me, but I wonder whether under the given circumstances this money the families would have to finally spend to cover the funeral costs. I believe that human rights should be valued in supposed to be civilized Democratic countries, to take priority over the possibilities of losing votes. Besides, attacks on refugees, 2500 in Germany last year, show that politicians don't fulfill their duties sufficiently to educate the ignorants. What is German culture? Coffee, potatoes? They come from South America, beer? Was invented in Egypt, numbers, letters? Originate from the Orient. The interior of churches often remind me of Mosques, the clothes (dresses) of nuns, monks, priests and other clergyman man, including the pope, doesn't it look oriental? Scientists learned from those of other parts of the world. So who should feel superior? It came to light that one of the richest families in U. K., Indians, exploited their country men. They had to work 18 hrs. a week, were not allowed to go out, had their passports taken away. Something simular happened in Germany, concerning Chinese restaurants, Germans in Spain "helping" Germans to buy a house. Criminals often find it easier to trick in another country their own country men/women. I personally wouldn't expect a person who looks simular to me, speaks the same language, etc. to be necessary my friend - just because we meet in another country. I heard that a Tunisian living in Italy offered help to a Tunisian lady who came with a visa and seemingly a job for one year. After a month she was adviced to look for a new job and the aforementioned Tunisian turned up " to assist". He got her a room in a hotel, free food and a job in a restaurant. Sounds great - but it's not the end of the story. He tricked her into handing him her passport and accepting her wages being paid into his bank account, "after all there are expenses to cover", and she now receives a tiny pocket money. That's modern slavery (she may well be not his only victim)! In such a situation one is well adviced to at least seek support from a local NGO organisation. 

Praying for Rain, Lord have Mercy.

 "He is happinest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. " " Don't look forward to the day you stop suffering, because when it comes you know you are dead. " " I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. "  Tennessee Williams.  "Happy he who learns to bear what he cannot change." Friedrich Schiller.  "Seeing a snake in your house is not a problem. It becomes a problem when it disappears."   "Blood brothers kill faster than enemies."  Ubuntu African Proverbs.              It seems to be raining everywhere in the world except in North Africa. Some folks are starting to wonder whether Allah wants to punish us for being sinners, our manners are not the way they should be, too much of tricks "to get by", too much neglecting of the environment, too much chasing after money. The other day one of my cats landed on my awning early in the morning. I got a ladder to get her down. A young man saw me and spontaneously offer his help. This is what I like here so much, when folks see you needing help they are quickly prepared to act, often without asking anything in return. You can find great guys with good education, thank heavens. But several have seen better days. On the other hand there are those of the new generation who like to get paid for every helping hand they may offer. My three feral mothers, Fleur, Jane and Madonna, are prepared to share their milk among the babies, helping out their colleagues in stress. Nonetheless 3 tiny ones died lately, the usual problem with the week immune system. I am happy, though, there is such a solidarity among my beautiful children. Madonna's nipples are pretty sore, sometimes she screams. Unfortunately there is nothing on the market to relief her. Some say use olive oil, but our veterinarian doesn't recommend this. Poor little darling, she does her best. I always loved sunshine but there used to be rain as well. The going is getting tough. No rain in sight and too much of the ground is sealed off. I remember lots of trees, where are they gone?  Hardly any shade, heaven help us all. Our cats are lying flat on the ground, sleeping and dreaming of better days. Everything seems to be an effort. Wonder how people manage to live through a war, no shelter, struggling to get food and water, wounded, hospitals and schools, houses of warships destroyed, a living hell. How can people do this to each other? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth - leaving half the world blind and toothless. Does this make anything better? Is distruction and killing of innocent persons a form of "justice", as politicians are quickly ready to call it? Weapons, more and more weapons, unlimited amounts of money for weapons, the new language of diplomacy........ Is there a God who rewards war criminals with paradise? Reminds me of those priests and padres trying to christianise natives in South America (going back in history), promising them paradise after death. So the native inhabitants inquired whether they would then meet again their colonizers in paradise. When this was confirmed they declared that they would under those conditions prefer hell to such a "paradise." The famous German writer, Wolfgang Borchert, who passed away only 26 years old (1921 - 1947), left very impressive anti-war literature, those in power should should read before demanding revenge and calling it "the right to self-defence." Wolfgang Borchert speaks of 2 human beings that hit each other with their hands, only 2 years old. As they got older they use sticks and throw stones (sounds familiar), when they were 22 they shoot at each other with rifles (thank heavens that guns are difficult to obtain here - unlike America). As they get older the weapons become even more dangerous, thowing bombs at each other. When they are 62 they proove that wisdom doesn't came with age/possibly grey hair, they use bactaria. When they are 82 they die, death puts an end to their "achievements" in life. Was it worth it? They are buried side by side. "When a hundred years later a worm eat its way through the 2 graves, it never noticed that 2 different people had been burnt there. It was the same soil. All the same soil." 

Postscript For Better for Worse, bound to make Mistakes

 "You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it."  "If  I am no longer disturbed mysef, I will deal less with disturbed people, but I don't regret having concerned myself with them because I think most of us are disturbed." Tenessee Wiliams "If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sins, but the one who causes the darkness."  Victor Hugo.  "The voice of the majority is no proof of justive." Friederich Schiller.                                                                  For approx. 2 years sugar has disppeared from shop shelves, apart from occasionally arriving for a short spell. On the black market, though, sugar is usually available at highly inflated prices. The heat is almost unbearable and still no rain. We continue to have the tapped water supply stopped, round about at 6 p. m. until the next morning until approx. 6 a. m., but this doesn't stop the "usual suspects" from watering streets. For a while Sousse was fairly clean, but now unfortunately, generally speaking, rubbish dumping seems to be "fashionable".  What you don't need, drop where ever you are..... Very sad. For unknown reasons youngsters when meeting in the evening, like to sit on steps in front of houses (not those where they actually live) , though benches near a mosque are within 6 minutes walkes and the beach is only 25 minutes away. Like mosquitoes (excuse my comparison) these kids and youngsters are attracted by the bright street light. Tolerance they thank by dumping their litter and noisy conversations at night. Not sure I always want to know what they have been chewing the previous night. In addition folks in the neighborhood continue knocking down and repairing, upgrading their houses, seem to dream of skyscrapers or little palaces. Wish they would instead think of planting trees to reduce the heat. After all we are all, humans and animals, suffering from these heat wave. Several of  those with a bad immune system and lack of money for medical advice and treatment passed away. I have been myself in a poor state of health, feeling very weak and tired, finding it difficult to eat, food suddenly tasted horrible. Slowly getting a bit better. In addition I lost dear feral friends. On the way to the veterinarian with my sweet Kaja, in a poor state of health, (luckily he managed to save her, she was close to death)  a woman suggested I should take her cat together with 4 kittens, as "she can't cope", even though she's approx. 25 years younger than me and since I have already 30 cats another 5 shouldn't be a problem for me. Is this oriental logic? Apart from extra food, space, plus toilets, my ferals not welcoming further additions,  what about more expenditures for sterilization (approx. 500 Dinar), other medications, check ups and treatments, e. g. dental quickly another 500 Dinar? I may add I am not receiving any donations and I am not getting younger! I wonder whether such folks would still try to persuade me one day, while on my death bed, to take their cats since they can't manage....... Strange new world. I feel folks have become more superficial and selfish. One can learn empathy, very young children can already and one can also lose it. Seems to me this is what is presently happening among politicians in Germany. I was shocked to learn they seriously planning to deny asylum to Afghanistans who worked for the German army and are now threatened to be murdered by the Taliban "as traitors". What has become of Germany? It is depressing, also the big sensorship concerning Palestians. A few years ago I would have called that development impossible. 

For Better, for Worse, Bound to make Mistakes.

 "Ignorant man ask questions that wise man answered 1000 years ago." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  "Before slavery Africa had a culture. We had medicine and our cure for malaria. Slavery brought diseases that we were not used to. Slavery brought industry and people were criticizing industry way back as 2000 years ago, that was to pollute the air, sea. Industry is not the way, we must deal with nature. ". Femi Kuti.  " What you seriously mean you better say jokingly. "  Wilhelm Busch.   " The noice of a frog doesn't stop an elephant from drinking water. "  Ubuntu African Proverb.                                                        One advantage of really hot sun burning down is hardly any kids on the street, crazy about playing football, at least not until later in the day. But I miss several elderly regular visitors to my Cats' Table, they used to arrive from all directions, some limping, some walking slowly - like Joe Biden lately. Wonder whether the poor darlings are still alive. No rain for months and pretty high temperatures, no winds apart from a little warm wind. At least we live not so far from the beech. Our cats are laying flat on the floor. Luckily they don't have to hunt for their food. In spite of the high temperatures our tapped water has latedly been turned off from approx. 5  or 6 a. m. until 6 p. m.  This means that those who go out early to get to work and return in the evening can't take a shower. But it is okay for long sleeping and jobless folks. Not sure whether the water is shut off because of repair works or because we are seriously getting short of our resource, probably both. Unfortunately this doesn't stop water wastage by several private households (watering the street), I know various such houses. When we saw a woman using a hose, we asked her how can she do this. She replied: "Not my house, I have been ordered to do this."

Years ago there were plenty of trees in e. g. Sousse and Kairouan. Nowadays not much shadow remains and this may well be taken by cars. Parking them on pavements is the usual standard. Where there are trees planted in such way that they form a roof, you can usually also find benches which, though, seem to be always occupied by men and youngsters. I would suggest to add benches reserved for females and perhaps elderly couples, possibly painted pink to make it obvious. As European tourists are often old age pensioners, who don't necessarily wish to stay on the hotel compound all the time, exploring the town and places worth seeing, they may well appreciate such benches. By the way, this thoughtless rubbish dumping doesn't make any town or village attractive. After the revolution many youngsters seem to respect nobody, so they will snatch elderly people's taxi, if they can, after all they are young, fit and have no time to waste. When folks try to be served first, as soon as they arrive, I frequently ask: "I see you are in a hurry. Are you wanted by the police?"  The other day I read that presently 538 folks are in jail and approx. 10,000  on the run because they have used bouncing checks. Well, they say that many  true words are spoken in jest...... It remains me of a cartoon I saw a while ago. A man with a big chain and a heavy iron ball on his leg, sitting in prison saying: "I am the Johnson that everybody tries to keep up with."  Guess I am lucky, my parents taught me to be modest, makes life easier. Doctors advice to drink a lot of water, in partcular when it's hot. Thinking of Palestinians starving and very little water available, how do they cope? Starving mothers have no, or hardly any mother milk for their babies. This is so cruel. I watch my feral mothers, they find it stressful to feed their little ones when the temperatures are so high. The still very young kittens taking a walk on the ground floor terrace, sometimes call:  "Mummy, where are you, I feel lost." Seems I worry more than Mummy does. So it is mainly me searching for them. Wonder how kids in Gaza manage when they loose their family or some family members, when there are no "save zones". Words of the great Leonard Cohen (story of Isaac, written several years ago) :  "You who built these altars now, to sacrifice these children, you must no do it anymore. A scheme is not a vision...." On German TV there is an organization suggesting to help children in Ukraine and donate 10 Euro. Good idea, but why forget Gaza where the situation is  absolute catastrophic? Kids eyes there have seen what no child should never be subjected to, many are traumatised. They need all the help in the world. I hope and pray that the horror ends soon. Hate and revenge are not good advisors. Tunisia, though certainly not a rich country, has send a ship with food, medications and expensive technical equipment for medical treatments. Following the ruling of the ICC, I wonder whether that court will remain a paper tiger or instruct the member countries to take appropriate steps. Concerning Wladimir Putin, they were quick to react.  "All are equal and some are more equal than others."  (George Orwell, Animal Farm.) 

Postscript Summer Time and it Ain't Always Easy

German animal cemetry 
 "No problem can withstand the assault of substained thinking." "Appreciation is a wonderful thing, it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." Voltaire    "It is possible to love a human being if you don't know them too well." Charles Bukowski.  "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." Albert Einstein.  "Milk and honey have different colours, but they share the same house peacefully."  " A wise man fills his brain before emptying his mouth."  Ubuntu African Proverbs.                                    The heat is getting a bit much and no rain for months, difficult in particular for those with a poor immune system, several sudden deaths. I miss various regular visitors to my " Cats' Table. "  In addition there  are usually among the teens and adults 4 quite young lively kittens, but sadly this morning only one arrived. So I was happy to discover another one 3 hours later. This Calcivirus is " killing me". It starts off with attacking cats' teeth, not always immediately noticeable, then the gum, tongue and eventually gets into the blood and may effect the liver and kidneys as well. A bad smell from the mouth comes as first warning. When I try to clean with Betadine (mixed with water, the green coloured bottle is actually better suited for inside the mouth), then my cats appear to think I intend to do something bad for them, while I hope they "won't kill me". Next step some blue stuff the vet prescribed (Methylene blue solution 2%). But this doesn't mean that the poor little darlings can be spared a visit to the dentist. Not being exactly fit myself, I did not always discover the symptoms in good time. Having a big feral family doesn't make matters easier. Unfortunately I haven't got the means to get my sweeties vaccinated, it would have prevented a lot of pain and tears, we mourn the loss of 3 adult and one teen treasures. Heaven help us all. The other day a man addressed my husband in front of a pharmacy and suggested that he pays for the medication that his wife needs for her too high blood pressure. My husband replied: "What makes think that I can? Besides, I don't even know you." I adviced my man to inquire the next time whether the guy would like to buy in return my regular pills, amounting to presently 200 Dinars........ We have helped so many, we are exhausted. Every morning my first worry is whether all of our feral family members are okay. Unfortunately our noice restriction laws are pretty slack. There seems to be constandly some hammering, knocking down, rebuilding or restoring works, drilling, grinding, chiseling etc., sounds like a construction training site, 7 days a week, even until late at night, then often followed by extreme loud music from some sort of outdoor celebration plus fireworks, in spite of the heat. Some cats (and surely other animals too) panic, poor souls. The last three fireworks landed right next to our house wall, sounded like directly inside. A kingdom for a quiet neighborhood! Years ago folks were happy to possess a bike, nowadays many youngsters proudly ride a motorcycle, creating big stinking clouds, not worrying about polluting the air. Wondering how they finance this, I have been told those motorbikes are often stolen in Eastern Europe, e. g. in Romania, and then sold to North Africa. Tunisia intends to introduce extensive laws against polluting. The offenders can apart from fines also be sent to prison. Sounds promising. Ignorant folks only change their bad habits if forced to do so. But of course fines etc. only work when those concerned see that they are being monitored and ignoring can be expensive.  Many Tunisians feel they are bit like Europe. One idea I wish they would adopt is a cemetry for animals. A piece of land not suitable for growing fruits and vegetables could be used, surrounded by a wall and a warden employed to ensure that stupid people don't arrive and get up to no good. Folks who mourn the death of their beloved pet would be happy to burry their animal in such a place and pay for it. The Ilford Animal Cemetry in London was founded in 1920,  more than 3000 burials of family pets and military animals (e. g. search and rescue dogs, several with bravery medals). In other European countries you can also find cemetries for pets, why not here? Not mentioned in the Quran? Neither are TV, mobile phones, Internet, etc. - The situation in Gaza is beyond description, a living hell. When Putin attacked a children's hospital in Ukraine, there was a big outcry in Europe. I was amazed that so much empathy existed nowadays. Why then is there hardly any for Gaza and the Westbank? Destructions of hospitals and schools, Safe Zones, Mosques and churches, nothing special? The massive killing and suffering of civilians, including medical staff, journalists acceptable? Lord have mercy, we are loosing our humanity. 

German animal cemetery. 

Sweet Tareqa passed over the rainbow. 

Jeremy and James. 

 Nicola, sleeping beauty. 

Life goes on, Jane's babies.

Madonna's babies

An animal grave in London, Animal Cemetry, founded more than 100 years ago. 

Summer Time and it ain't always Easy

 "The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone."  "The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is the way they become."  "Let everybody sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean." "Wisdom is only found in truth." "Doubt grows with knowledge."  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.                   To begin with it seemed that lovely Jane only gave birth to two babies, but she just had a break and next day surprised us with altogether three lively ones (an additional one had died). I first feared that only one remains, and it would have no sister or brother to cuddle with. The new borns simply love to cuddle with each other! So cute. Jane is amazing. Until shortly before her babies arrived she climbed up walls like an athletic, now she is a devoted mum. But nothing like Madonna, she hardly ever gets up and doesn't seem to want to leave her lovely babies even for a few minutes. We now have mothers with their new borns in a basket, in a padded draw (underneath a sink) and in the wooden cave like box of the big " climbing and claw grooming tree". Due to my poor health lately I had missed taken these three females to the vet to get them spayed and neutered in good time. Fleur's kittens are lucky, they are now 5 weeks old (at an age when local folks usually have already long  separated the babies from the paws of their loving mother), and their mummy still looks well after them, provides them with her milk. Did our " feral daughters" read Karl Marx? Anyway they follow his advise : "Trust is good, control is better." Whenever I check how the little ones are, the respective mother quickly arrives and watches me closely. Fleur's lovely all black and the Siamese baby enjoy cuddling with our gentle blind boy, Loulou. Hamdullah so far all the little families are fine. Joe Biden accused Donald Trump of having the moral of a street cat. Joe Biden doesn't seem to know much about street cats. In my experience they are generally well behaved, they show respect, are great mothers. Several brought their kittens to my Cats' Table, so that they know where to find food and water. On other occasions they carry their piece of cats ' sausage to their babies. In my experience strays, cats and dogs, are here non-aggressive and always grateful for a bit of food and water. I would even go as far to say their manners are much better than that of the local hooligans on our street, who believe the street belongs to them, no matter what, and unfortunately are in the habit of screaming while playing football, as if bitten by scorpions. In addition we had a wedding celebration on our street, lasting 5 days, right around our house. All very nice and impressive, if it wouldn't be for the music at a deafening level, up to 2 a. m. in the morning. Not to forget the usual fire works, in spite of the high temperature. Luckily all went well and they didn't start an unwanted fire, unlike that on a Greek island (fire works from a yacht, even though forbidden) . Nothing more enjoyable than the sound of silence....... pity folks here don't see it that way. - Thank heaven for the election result in France and Great Britain. Citizen aren't so stupid after all. The new prime minister of UK as first measure cancelled the shameful contract with Ruanda, which was designed to rid UK of  asylum seekers and other refugees, depose them to Ruanda, a country that they may well have no connection with whatsoever. For this service Ruanda received 300 million dollar, seemingly attractive to a poor country. (They meanwhile hinted that they won't reimburse what was paid under the deportation deal.) Strange idea of a (Hamdullah meanwhile ex-)  prime minister, Mr. Sunak, who quite obviously himself has foreign roots. Anyhow, human rights activists tried to stop the practicually cancelling of rights to gain asylum. By the way, immigrants can be quite profiable to a country. Proof is there, e. g. those who fled Germany because of the terrible Nazi period, several advanced the US economy and enabled their new country to fly to the moon. New ideas and different experiences enrich a country. Nonetheless some German politicians thought they could perhaps learn from Mr. Sunak and maybe even send refugees back to Afghanistan. Those who have to fear for their life and that of their family under the Taliban, on account of their previous jobs, e. g. working for the German forces, had been given verbal confirmation of asylum in Germany. So they sold their possessions /properties and packed their suitcases. Then there was a sudden change in German policy, all already

Cat mum taking her kitten to my Cats 'Table ". 

Baby sitter Loulou with Fleur' s babies. 

Jeremy watching from the top. 

After the celebration

Sweet Bonita looking impressive. 

approved applicants were interviewed and all of the sudden declared a security risk. No further explanation and no visas. What has become of Germany? So shameful, several civil servants declared off the record that human rights have lost their value. Germany seems to be no longer interested in helping those who need protection with the exception of Ukraine and Israel. But even Jews who criticize Israeli politics are no longer welcome in Germany. Isn't it a democratic right any longer?- It is getting hotter, we may even have 50 degrees centegrate tomorrow. During summer banks are only open half day, I presume the employees have a better ventilation system in their houses. 

Postscript Overwhelmed, have Mercy.

One of Fleur's fiancees

Our late Minousa

Bonita

Rosy (passed over the rainbow). 

Loulou

Mausy

Snowflake (used to visit my Cats' Table), possibly hit by a vehicle). 

 "The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom." "Love truth, but pardon error." "He must be very ignorant, for he answers every question he is asked."  "The comfort of the rich depends on the abundant supply of the poor." "Liberty of thought is the life of the soul."  "No problem can withstand the assault of  substantial thinking." Jean Voltaire.                                                                                                    The start of summer brought me a lot of sorrow. Sweet, gentle Rosy had lost a lot of weight. She loved her bit of cats' sausage in the morning, then suddenly became less keen. When I got up at 5 a. m. to go to the toilet, she greeted me and seemed to be fine. Half an hour later I sadly discovered that my little darling had quietly passed away in the meantime. When I walked outside to feed the visitors to my Cats' Table, I found one of them, a cute kitten, laying dead in front of my door. Next day our pretty Siamese feral, Minousa, who also lost a lot of weight lately, unexpectedly and peacefully went over the rainbow. But this wasn't the end of it, the next day my husband discovered lovely Melanie having cramps. We decided to take her to our veterinarian, quickly arranged straight away an appointment. I placed her in one of our transport boxes, but it was already too late, within minutes she followed our other two treasures "over the rainbow" . All three were between 5 and six years old. Melanie arrived as a kitten. Minousa a young man was trying to sell, an action I don't want to support, but she was clinging to me, so I couldn't help it and had to accept her wish, but offered and finally paid only 30 Dinar (a small sum for a cat that once was as the most expensive breed in the world), not sure whether he was the owner or had actually stollen her. Anyhow, it was obvious she didn't want to stay with him. Soon after she became "daddy's girl", loved by both of us. Minousa appeared to prefer the company of humans to that of cats. Rosy was a regular, well behaved visitor to my Cats' Table and friend of Fleur's. When I discovered both feral ladies being highly pregnant, I decided (contrary to the usual local custom) to take them inside, in order to make their short life a bit easier. A step I never regretted, inspite of my husband's grumbling. When Fleur's only surviving baby, Lady Gaga, became a teenager, the mother went outside and stayed a few days on the street, until she decided to enjoy "Hotel Mama" again. Anyway, during those aforementioned outdoor days Fleur got engaged to a Siamese tomcat from the neighborhood and on 28th of May gave birth to a lovely baby resembling daddy, plus a black beauty (not sure which fiancee that time), and 2 more dark coloured babies that died shortly afterwards. As usual one looked simular to mummy. Misfortune didn't end there. I suffered from constipation, rather painful. The examination revealed that I haven't been drinking enough and my body was full of gas. Though I am making a special effort to drink lots of water, regular cramps day and night remain, actually for nearly 3 months now. In addition my left foot suddenly got swollen, pain seemed to originate from the heel. I had great difficulty to walk more than just a few steps. The final diagnosis was pulled ligaments. Luckily no surgery required, only ankle support with ergonomic silicone pads, a great relieve. Anyhow, I musn't grumble. Folks in other parts of the world are much worse off. Latest reports from "Save the children fund" and other UN organizations reveal that 40 % of all killed in Gaza are children, 10 children loose every day 1 or 2 legs. 20,000 children are unaccounted for. Identification of of corpses, in mass graves and others is often no longer possible due to various injuries, in addition family members may well be dead as well. Sadly thousands of kids have been taken to prison by the Israeli government. A little while ago there was a shocking documentary on German TV, Monitor, about a secret prison camp in the Negev dessert, used to imprison and torture Palestinians. Israelian human rights activists brought this to light. Luckily dedicated folks who engage themselves with the defence of human rights exist in many countries, it is not a question of religion. They give us hope for a better society, eventually. A change must come. Hate and revenge are so destructive and can never be a solution. When I was a university student Canadian Leonard Cohen, the great singer, songwriter and poet, was very popular among students. I still love his songs, many have a religious background, e. g. "The story of Isaac", it is about the senseless killing of children. Many years ago Leonard Cohen said that it must stop. Actually all his songs are worth listening to. They are so brillant and their messages remain important for our present so called modern times. Lord have mercy.