Postscript Times are A Changing

 "The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of convidence." Charles Bukowski.  "I don't trust anybody any more, not even myself." Joseph Stalin.  "Loyalty to countries always.  Loyalty to governments only when they deserve it." George Washington.  "When you destroy someone's life with lies, take it as a loan, it will come back to you with interest."  Mercy Guinita.                          Last week kids from the neighborhood brought me in the evening an adult black and white cat, lying on a flattened cardboard box and totally soaked in water. They said the cat got hit by a speeding car and couldn't walk due to a broken leg. The children thought the feral may be one of my cats (tried to cross the road towards my house) and if not, asking me for help would be the best choice around here when taking the cat to a vet is out of question, without money (parents wouldn't or couldn't pay) and after working hours. Well, the cat wasn't one of mine, but he may have occasionally visited my Cat's Table. I couldn't detect any injuries, perhaps under shock or with bad luck internal injuries. First of all I tried to dry the poor darling as far as he would let me, then I took him to one of my small outdoor shelters and gave him half of a pain killing pill for animals (bought from my vet). He was non-aggressive just warning not to mess with him, even though he's sick. My husband and I decided to take him to the vet the next morning for a check up. It turned out that luckily nothing was broken, but unfortunately injured spine a possibility. An x-ray could clarify this (too expensive for me at present), but with a bit of luck his condition is just the result of the tomcat's traumatic experience, or a nerve effected. I got a prescription for 15 days medication and we hope for the best. At the vet's the poor darling actually couldn't walk, he was just crawling fast on the floor. A very sad sight. He received injections on 3 consecutive days. Not knowing the little treasure's name I decided to call him Malcolm X. (The famous Malcolm used the X because he didn't know his actual surname since his ancestors had the misfortune to be kidnapped from somewhere in Africa and sold as slaves. These were given the surname of their slave holders.). Kids playing football in front of my house. One young lad lying on the street holding his tummy, obviously in pain, probably hit by a ball. The other children ignoring him. So I told them that they are not good friends of their playmate. (I have seen simular scenarios before.) The addressed looked shocked, why did I say that? I explained that real friends would stop playing and ask: "Are you okay? Do you need help?" One boy repeated my words and offered him a hand to get up. This he managed to do and then told me : "I am fine, I am strong, I am Tunisian." Good to know. - A woman from Kairouan informed us that couples have been seen kissing underneath the meanwhile big tree I planted a few years ago. She suggested felling the tree in order to avoid such unruly behaviour. I was actually shocked. Trees are important to reduce air pollution and in addition they reduce the temperature in towns, a significance matter in view of climate change and rising temperatures. I remember a time when towns like Kairouan and Sousse had quite a lot more trees. Wonder why they disappeared..... Among others, German and French people love their trees, they know their values and planting is promoted. In Paris e. g. additional woods are getting planted. Scientists worked out that plenty of trees reduce the temperature in town by 4 degree centigrade. Anyhow, we still have some wonderful trees here, planted in way that they built green roofs. Usually one can find benches underneath, offering a rest in the shade. My husband mentioned the good old days, when a 20 kg sack of croquettes would last for 6 weeks (now only 14 days at the umost), of course we had less cats then and less expenditures all together, in particular for medication and veterinarian treatments. This mend from time to time we could afford a holiday, visit a restaurant, a café. He feels our standard of living used to be higher. But on the other hand we now have the most beautful fural children in the world, even though beauty was never a criteria for adoption. By the way, tomcat Malcolm X no longer tells me to keep a distance, he actually allows me to cuddle with him. I feel rewarded. - Certain items are still difficult to obtain, or just more or less on the black market, like sugar, milk, rice, flour, even tea, coffee (a bit better, though at a higher price). Butter I haven't seen for maybe 2 years. I loved Arabic butter but enjoyed it with a bad conscience as the days of innocence are gone. As a child and for a while as an adult, I wasn't aware that only a cow with a calf would produce milk - not for us but for her baby calf. We "steal" the milk that adult humans actually don't need according to the evolution and in addition cows are forced to produce a maximum amount of milk (breeding and special food). Unfortunately I love dairy products like cheese and Joghurt. Otherwise I am vegetarian, (can't demand this from my cats) I love animals too much to eat them. - Recently another great man died, Alfred Grosser, writer, sociologist and politian. As a German jew he fled from the Nazis to France, gained French nationality and wrote several important books about the Nazis. He criticized what France did in Algeria as well as the treatment of Palestinians by Israel. Alfred Grosser, a human rights promoter, achieved a better understanding between German and French peoples. Don't we all bleed when injured? Humans and animals alike feel pain and suffer when hurt. A man asked, how can those who do the killing in a war sleep at night? Well, it's easier from a distance or when the enemy has been dehumanized. During the last world war a helicopter was shot down in a village in Germany. Residents rushed to the scene, wanting to know what the enemy looked like. Perhaps 2 horns on his head, looking like the devil? They were shocked to see instead a handsome young man. The famous Frantz Fanon worked during the French occupation in Algeria as a psychiatrist. He said that a man came to him, asking for help so he can lead a normal family life and not have nightmare in spite of torturing people during the day. Africa is a big continent with many resources. On acient maps Europe looks bigger. That is revealing, how European saw it at the time. With more solidarity in Africa we can achieve a lot. The African Union is a great organisation to promote this. I am happy to see Tunisia is a member. 

Times are A Changing

The water on the street is not rain water, but the result of residents using a hose to "clean" the street. 

 "Always forgive your enemies, nothing ennoys them as much."  "The truth is rarely pure and never simple."  "I am not young enough to know everything." Oscar Wilde.                     We enjoy lots of sunshine, feels like spring or even summer during the day and winter in the afternoon and at night. Still too little rain and at first from time to time, meanwhile daily, the household water gets shut off (at varied times, getting earlier and earlier and usually then lasting until the next morning.) Now at 1.30 p. m. already no water from the tap. Though ennoying in a way and it's surely not ideal to improve hygiene in the country, it is probably necessary since the water resource level is extremely low and ignorants love to use water hoses and seems to aim to create "swimming pools" on their street. I have seen it in many places. Occasionally I asked: "Is the beech too far for you?" Prices are rising yet again. Not easy to pay more for so many items., e. g. the 600 gram saucage I buy for my cats was sold for 2 Dinar a few years ago and now I have to pay 3,500 Dinar (price reduced after protest that 3,800 is simply too much), tinned kitten food I bought not so long ago for 5 Dinar is now sold for 7 Dinar. Unfortunately I need much as I don't want my little treasures to start a revolution. They love their croquettes (now of course also more expensive), in adition they are accustomed to have a bit of sausage in the morning as well, so do also the visitors to my Cats ' Table. My beautiful "children" thank me with lots of cuddles, purring and love. Sometimes cats talk while eating, sounds like "this is delicious." They are so sweet, couldn't live without them. Kittens are unfortunately often not strong when it comes to fighten off colds, flue and viruses. One day they may seem pretty fit and the next day suddenly pass away. Their immune system appears to be much weaker here than in Europe. In addition it is not very helpful if they are dragged away from their mother' loving paws at an too early age, a strange "custom" here among the lesser educated. I need  (but don't always feel very fit) to check daily the little ears, eyes (e. g. pus) noses, teeth and gums for parasites, possible signs of a virus, comb the lovely fur with a special flea comb. I learned a lot from my vet about how to treat minor problems. No time to get bored. Life would be easier if I had enough money to get my little ones vaccinated. At least most of the medicine they need is available here, with a bit of luck produced in the country. Imported items are not always available ("maktur"), some seem to get too expensive for the local market. Looking back, there is more available and often of better quality than before the revolution, but you can't always find what you want. 

I remember a time when one wouldn't view folks telephoning while driving because mobile phones didn't exist, when people were happy to ride a bike, no kids on a motorcycle polluting the air  just for fun. A smell as if there is a fire somewhere in the neighborhood. This can mean a barbecue, someone burning waste of any kind or simply motorbikes using cheap stinking diesel. Noone appears to worry about the harmful exhaust gas. Our hobby "standmen", youngsters riding their motorcycles with the front wheel in up in the air, continue their acts, one occasionally with a boy aged approx 12 years of age, sitting behind him., another one kneeling with one leg on the seat. They also like to ride in wavy lines, like someone drunk would. All of this on a street with traffic and usually kids playing football, our multiple purpose road. Nobody seems to take any interest and tries to stop this before a serious accident happens.