Tunisia after the revolution: 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.