Summer Time 2020

Malek and Moses

Jessica

Riccardo

 "If you are going through hell, keep going." Churchill
The recommendation to carry on wearing face masks and social distancing is mainly ignored now. Looks like back to normal, streets congested with traffic and air pullution raising again, pity. Some folks from the neighborhood are looking for a home for their cat's babies. Too few people took their  cat to the vet to be spayed and neutered, some because they couldn't afford to pay for this operation, others were not sure whether it's right or just didn't want to spend the money. I hope one day we will have an animal protection centre here, financed through donations, to enables poor families to have their cat operated and thus reduce the number of unwanted babies. The money spend on killing homeless cats and dogs could also be better investigated in such a project. By the way, not all pets out on the street have always been homeless. Some people kick them out in order to save money, or simply don't want to care for their perhaps awkward four legged family member. Maybe they never regarded the animal as such, only as a toy or pretty item. Hakim and Odette, kittens dropped behind my barrier, are developing well. I take them indoors for the nights, amazing Diana likes and washes them, wants to adopt the sweet little ones? Not all cats like foreign kittens, in particular those who have babies themselves. Minoussa, the beautiful Burmese cat, doesn't like the other cats from our big community, nor the kittens. Is it because she lost her own babies? Haven't got a clue what happened to them. I noticed too late that she still had milk when she was brought to me. The shameless lier said she has been operated and vaccinated. Vets here cut a bit off an ear as proof the "family planning" has been forced onto the female cat. All my cats have been spayed and neutered except those too young and Minoussa, I keep a record and refrain from using this marking. A cat from across the road brings her two golden coloured babies to my "cats restaurant". One of them had an eye closed. Luckily I know how to help her, it's quite easy if I manage to catch the poor darling. Nature taught them that it may be safer to run away. My first two attempts failed and I got bitten, just a short pain, enough to let her go. The next time I managed to hold her by the neck, put Physiol drop into her eye, clean it and then a bit of Oxytetracycline (from the vet). I had to repeat this procedure twice more, watched by the cat mom who wasn't sure what I was up to, but she didn't attack me, regarded me as a friend. Looks like I have a good reputation among cats! By the way, there is a construction site right next door to my neighbor who felt disturbed by Minoussa calling, some other building works somewhere opposite - maybe we should inform our sensitive neighbor (with those selective hearing ears) that the hammering, chiselling, welding and grinding works are not carried out by our cat. Some positive news, a year ago my husband requested a reduction of street lights. Now there is one less (was absolutely surplus close to another one) and the blinding much too bright lights have been replaced by softer yellow light. We are grateful and so is nature!

Good and Bad Days

Odette greeting the new day

Social distancing on account of Corona

Hakim and Odette love to hugg.

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." James Baldwin
It is June and the sun gets up early. I love to be woken up with bright sunshine. Our fur angels come running and don't get tired of purring. They have so much love to give. The advantage of the face mask is one can hide wrinkles and if you have  bad teeth, that as well. Most shops and cafes are open again, lots of traffic, very few facial masks and not much social distancing, one could think Corona has disappeared. Wishful thinking. Supermarket Carrefour employs a member of their security guards to check their customers' temperature, nice gesture, don't think many folks here use a thermometer as a precaution measure. Yesterday my husband discovered a cardboard box with four tiny cat babies in front of our door. They are at an age which doesn't enable them to survive without their mother and her milk, so I was relieved to hear that the mother had actually also been taken to our door, she just walked away and quickly returned. All too often we found cat babies with their eyes still closed (blind for the first ten days approx.) and later on they died in spite of all my efforts. Anyhow, the only solution I could think of was the little "cave" for the water meter, an idea a stray cat mother had a while ago. So I put the cute baby cats there and their mother who turned out to be gentle and accepting this new accommodation. I gave her water and food which she enjoyed and we started a new friendship. The next day a lady inquired about the cat and her babies and told me that she brought them to my house because she already has two cats and didn't know how to cope. It was good of her to be honest and I appreciate that she wanted to protect the poor cat mummy and her sweet babies. Always happy to help but now I can only pray that there won't be any further new arrivals. I won't be able to pay for more (I have no charity organization to support me) and my cats are starting to fight, some prefer less company. -

We can now travel again to other towns using minibuses or buses with less passengers (4 instead of 8) and a 50% price increase. The journey to Kairouan was pleasant, more space for us in the minibus and a good driver. The return trip, also by minibus, was a totally different matter. At first there weren't any minibuses, after we paid 7 1/2 Dinar each, we heard there is one now and the driver got the tickets. Surprise, surprise, 8 passengers and a multi tasking driver! He knew a short cut that took us to his house, where he picked up a bowl of couscous and demonstrated that he can't just telephone while driving (nothing new here) but also enjoy his meal! Prior to that an elderly gentlemen who fell with his motorbike after coming in contact with the minibus, got up and declared he is okay (hope he really is). Someone on the bus joked the guy jumped like a cat and cats have 7 lives. I have seen too many killed by traffic to believe that. Our Burmese cat wants to get engaged, she keeps calling. Our very special neighbour who likes to educate us and even invented new laws (just for us) complains that she is too loud. Interesting, children screaming at ear-splitting level, hammering, welding sounds, motorbikes tuned to the highest sound level (the Nuernburgring racing stopped several years ago and appears to be revived in front of my house), all that doesn't bother him, only our cat, poor guy. He seems to have a very selective way of hearing. I love the song and video: The Sound of silence (Disturbed)

Cats a Present from Heavens

Melanie and Natasha

Ricardo, Mallek, Capucco

Hakim and Odette

"An appraiser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last." Churchill
A gorgeous yellow/white cat with long fur (Persian, here called "Turkish") lives across the road, at least it did until recently. Now I frequently see her sitting in front of the entrance door to that house, but the door remaines closed for her. If the inhabitants are trying to save money by putting her out on the street, they should at least have the decency to let the little treasure sleep in doors! I don't mind feeding her (she has become a regular visitor to my Cats' Table), but I do mind seeing her sadness, frustration, disappointment with her family. Fancy suddenly getting kicked out on the street, forced to sleep rough! I shall never be able to understand such cruel actions, my cats are my family members. Their well-being is of great importance to me. This morning I woke up with Tiger in my right arm and Sandy in my left arm.  How they managed to snuggle up like that I don't know, but it felt like a great start into the new day! Unfortunately I had to take 7 year old Sandy (in Tunisia considered an old lady, I would call her middle aged at the most, in Europe 20 years or more are not so uncommon) to the vet to get her teeth done, 3rd time for her. My sweet Habibti panicked when I tried to put her inside the transport box. "Vetocalm" from the vet's doesn't work on her. In Germany I used "Baldrianoel" (Valerian drops), but this is not available here, only in the shape of tablets, not helpful at all as I wanted to use only the smell to make her feel relaxed.  Sandy's brother Tiger worried that Sandy may scratch, tried to protect me. He is absolutely unbelievable, later on when Sandy returned with most of her teeth removed and moaning, he tried to comfort her. Cats and dogs have so much love and sympathy to give, we should learn from them and must stop ignorant folks senselessly abusing and killing them! A yellow/white cat (coloured  similar to Sandy) in front of my door doesn't just visit me to find food, she is even more interested in cuddling and allows me to clean her eyes! Pity I can't take her indoors. With several cats I am quite sure they had a home before, they are so gentle and beautiful. Sometimes folks ask me for a bit of "Salami" (sausage for cats and dogs, not humans). Whenever I can I donate a bit, happy they do keep a pet and hopefully care . I pray that one day Tunisia will introduce laws for the protection of animals, teachers and parents teach kids the right values, open their eyes to see and appreciate the beauty in animals, nature and Tunisia.

Talking about Fur Angels

"A cat looks down on man, a dog looks up to man, but a pig will look man right in the eye and see his equal." Churchill

Feeding cats in front of my door, I explain to a man from the neighborhood: "My cats finished Ramadan and now they want to eat." "Well," he replied, " your cats eat during the day and have their Ramadan during the night." More persons are leaving water outside and some food for cats and dogs in various places. Sometimes even in front of my door for my Cats' Table. Makes a change, frequently they just try to find a new home in my house for unwanted cats. Good to see folks are trying to save cats, but it would be better if guys would have more of them neutered, spayed in order to reduce their number and possible suffering. It breaks my heart to say No, but I have to be realistic, I neither have unlimited space available nor funds. For unknown reasons the bank doesn't offer Residents the same rate of exchange as they do for tourists. I would have thought the difference between the buying and selling rate offers enough profit. (Not sure how much the state takes). Berthold Brecht (approx. 90 years ago): "What is a bank robbery compared to establishing a bank." - I watch a little kitten entering a food shop and then running out again as if chased by the devil. Wonder what those inside the store did to him. Anyhow, the poor little darling doesn't seem to know where to find shelter, I feel forced to offer just that. His name is now Moses and he feels happy and protected (my husband is less amused). Black and white Odette with blue eyes, and grey Hakim are two cute little kittens I lately discovered underneath my Yucca palm tree. I created for them  a hammock and gave them food and water. They now share cat mummy milk (bought as powder to be mixed with water) together with our white kitten Capucco, brown streamed Moses and Jessica (with a bit of Persian). Jessica I discovered one morning in the hammock of Odette and Hakim. All little treasures are happy with their new vice mummy, only I don't know how to manage in future if I don't find other foster families for them. Could be worse, a gentle lady from the neighborhood took three black kittens of me. Even though I get all the cats living with us spayed and neutered, there is a none ending flow of cat babies as folks down here don't like to have their cat operated. Leaving the kittens in front of my door step gives them the feeling they have done their duty. Can anyone please donate an animal shelter farm for me? I view a little kitten searching for a place to hide, then jumping inside a down pipe. My attempt to pull it out by hand frightens the tiny one and it tries to climb further up inside the pipe. The hole in the pipe, created  by a disturbed youngster some time ago at a height of approx. 1/2 a meter, proves to be helpful. I pour a bit of water through the hole and the poor darling comes "flying" out. Cats tend to hang around garbage containers in search of a bit of food. When I leave water for them there in our neighborhood, it often gets removed without a reason, it is just malicious, ignorant  kids or adults who don't understand that cats protect us against rats, mice and cockroaches. Our Burmese cat Minusa doesn't seem to like cats, but she accepts my husband and me as her family (does she believe she belongs to the human race?) as members don't always look alike. Our cats test how many fit on my lap, with three already there the fourth decided there is still space on top. I have to make sure little Capucco doesn't get squashed. Then Janina copies one of Lilly's idea and wrapped herself around my neck. No space wasted. Our gorgeous angels are so creative and they learn from each other by watching. I can't imagine living without their love and loyalty. A true gift from heaven!

PostScript Curfew, Corona and Cats

"Life is the sum of all your choices". Albert Camus

Officially there haven't been any more Corona cases nor death for four days, this is presumed to be good news, but one must bear in mind that with limited testing one gets limited results. Anyhow, the price for facemasks has gone down from three Dinar to 1/2 a Dinar and there appears to be no shortage. More than two hundred shops have been forced to close because of inflated prices. Generally I am under the impression that prices are no longer raising like they used to before Corona, but rental charges are supposed to in spite of high unemployment. In some areas, mainly in the south, there is a shortage of water, not very helpful with raising temperatures plus the recommendation to frequently wash one's hands. Curfew hours have been reduced to from 5 a.m.  - 11 p.m. for quite a few of us this won't make much difference, their personal curfew starts when they feel tired (I call it according to local customs category). Most shops are reopened, more folks, including several children, are wearing facemasks. It is forbidden to swim in the sea because of the pandemic. I had to see a medical specialist and was surprised that only 2 patients at a time were allowed into the big waiting room, which led to various patients waiting on the narrow corridor without keeping the recommended distance. Certain injections one gets from the pharmacist who usually charges one Dinar for this service. The prescription I received included 2 such injections. On account of Corona the system changed, a pharmacist may come to your house and charges 10 Dinar, no injection at the pharmacist's. Shocking news: stray dogs are getting shoot in certain parts of the country, they may not even all be homeless, nor do they need to look neglected or sick. Ignorant people without a conscience throw their dog or cat out on the street when they consider their pet to be no longer cute, awkward, too expensive or because of fake news believe such a measure would protect them against Corona. In UK experts are trying to train dogs to smell the Corona virus, it looks promising. Time to appreciate the friendship, loyalty and service we receive from our animals, they don't deserve our cruelty! In Europe various charity organisations offer cheap or free meals for poor folks and a few years ago I discovered in Germany in addition various places where one can donate animal food for person who keep a dog, cat or bird and are forced to live on low income. This would also be a good idea for Tunisia, (one would have to ensure the donations are not misused for resales) perhaps with the support of animal protection organisations (NGOs). I noticed quite a few tourists are interested in helping animals here, some I met at my vet's. By the way, Tunisia was the first country to make slavery illegal, why not become the first (?) African country to introduce laws for the protection of animals. If you teach your children empathy, values that include respect and sympathy for animals, they will grow up as better citizens.

Retirement and Death in Tunisia

"Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you." Jean Paul Satre

Approx. six years ago an elderly German lady addressed me in a supermarket. We stayed in  contact. Now she passed away and this is her story. Following the death of her husband and holidays in Tunisia which she enjoyed, she decided to spent her retirement here. The Mediterranean climate is supposed to be healthy and can reduce the effects of  various health problems, e.g.  rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis. The lady was quite courageous, she didn't speak Arabic, French or English only German and Russian. Thus she was very much forced to rely on local help. Luckily one can find German folks (mainly on holiday) and also guys  who more or less speak German, not all are unfortunately trustworthy. People from Europe are frequently considered to be rich (often believed to be without a reason, undeserved) and hopefully stupid, happy to throw money out of the window.  Thus some requests are rather astonishing, like the guy she employed as translator (well paid) who thought she might finance his son's wedding, something in the line of 15.000 Dinar. Anyhow, my acquaintance encountered various thieves, male and female, burglars, tricky landlords, one man landed in prison. You may think amazing, sounds like she lived in little Chicago. Actually I noticed that these folks who have difficulties to differentiate between mine and yours often know each other or may even belong to the same clan. I sometimes joke: Their forefathers were pirates, what do you expect? Nevertheless the late lady never regretted (at least never for long)  her emigration to Tunisia. "I have my daily sunshine and I could never afford such a high level of living standard as I enjoy here. I am fine, thanks." Madam made the villas she rented look like palaces, which caused a lot of envying, but she spend very little, and I mean little, money on herself. I personally think she should have spent less on the interior and got herself a good private health insurance. It might have prolonged her life and reduced her suffering in the end. The private clinic being too expensive for her means she had been taken to the university hospital in Sousse where a stroke was diagnosed. The standard there was rather modest and visiting hours rigid, even though patients' evening meal has to be provided by visitors. So she just wanted to get out of that hospital and discharged herself before I had a chance to visit her the 2.  time. A few days later she was forced to return with the second stroke. Again she didn't stay long and could have done with intensive care followed by a cure. As it turned out she didn't have much longer to live. I saw  her two days before she passed away. She couldn't speak, had to be fed and was just lying in bed. Nasiha, a good, honest woman, who helped her a lot during her long months of sickness, put up with her moods (people suffering from diabetes can be quite difficult), did her best. While my acquaintance had always said that she wants to be burried on the cemetery for Europeans in Khalaa Sghira and has given the required sum for the funeral to Moncef in order to make safe that her children (in Germany) won't have to pay even a cent, her will has been ignored. According to my information it was the landlord who had to arrange her funeral and it was not where she wanted to rest. Her children sent some money. She had written her last will and left it either with the court or administration (Beladia), a copy with Moncef (?) and an ex- cleaner with whom she had fallen out in the past and didn't trust, so she told me over and over again. Very strange, wonder what happened with her last will. Wouldn't  be surprised if this also has been ignored. I was supposed to inherite a piece of furniture, I would prefer her still being alive and anyhow I am dead sure that the gift she designed for me has been stolen a long time ago. When the lady passed away authorities investigated in order to establish that it was a natural cause and they contacted the German embassy and her children to get their agreement for a funeral in Tunisia or Germany if desired. Authorities here want to be very correct, but I would have expected that the last will counts reference where one wants to be burried and if this has already been stipulated the children won't be asked. The procedure took some time and her daughter had problems making up her mind. This and possibly the Corona restrictions resulted in 51 days in a coolant room (a very modest charge of 10 Dinar per day) before the lady's body could be laid down for her final rest. I have yet to find out where this is so that I can visit her grave. Poor girl, she experienced a lot of ups and downs. About Nasiha she said that she had done more for her than her own children would have done! I am glad she also found good people here and this helped her to continue thinking positive. May the bad people guided by their greed receive one day the punishment they deserve.

Curfew, Corona and Cats

"He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with man. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." Emmanuel Kant 1724 Philosopher, Prussia (Germany)
On account of Ramadan we are allowed to be outside from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. but of course not in order to visit friends or family members, only for a reason like buying food or medication,  seeing a doctor, going to the bank or to work where admitted. Police check in the capital and on main streets, several cars have been stopped, yet I viewed a motorcycle with two adults and two kids; one approx. 6 year old boy with his friend sitting on the back, riding a motorcycle (he does this a lot, usually on his own). Now in a taxi two persons are allowed and one child (previously only one person). Domestic violence is on the increase. It is of course not easy to stay most of the day indoors with those family members who aren't accustomed to this, men who used to go out to work or sit in a cafe, kids who would be at school or roam the streets. During the first few days of the curfew it was pleasantly quite here most of the day, but now folks discovered that when there is no police or military to check you don't have to obey orders! The crossroad serves as a "football field", adults standing or sitting outside together, kids doing their usual yelling and running like lunatics (disturbed and neglected children) or sitting next to each other on the pavement. Social distance? Zero! If you say something, they just laugh. Yes, the ignorant know better! Curfew starts when they are tired, approx. after midnight. At three o'clock in the morning we get woken up by the drummer in order not to miss the last meal before the sun rises and the fastening begins. We hear wild geese flying over our house. Our official Corona infection and death cases are still low compared to several other countries, but there again not many have been tested. Too many don't take the pandemic seriously and the ignorant don't teach their children to respect authorities, not even when it is in their own interest. With restaurants and cafes closed, as well as most hotels, hardly any tourists, cats have difficulties finding food. Some folks leave leftovers from their meals outside for them, this is very helpful, but one should ensure tidying up afterwards. Bowls or ice cream boxes that I use are often stolen (take away food for the dog?), sometimes those for water removed, the water thrown away by people who don't like cats, or by bored kids. Someone knocking at the door, a young man and a girl with a beautiful Burmese cat outside. She used to be the most expensive cat in the world. Once upon a time only the royal family in Burma was  allowed to keep her. The guy falsely declared this cat to be Turkish (usually folks here use this name for Persian cats, because Turks introduced them to Tunisia).  The Burmese cat has lately become very popular in this country. I sometimes joke, if you are not Noble, at least your pet should be.... Anyhow, he wanted to sell her for 40 Dinar. We weren't going to take another cat and never bought one. Following a short conversation we feared " Minusha" would be put out on the street if we don't take her and she obviously wasn't accustomed to live like that. We finally paid 30 Dinar and worried if she would integrate well, our other Burmese beauty did so. Afterwards I was shocked to discovered that Minusha must have had babies lately and wondered what had happened to her little ones. Sold? Died or willfully killed? Everything is possible here and if we had a chance to ask the reply wouldn't necessarily be truthful. Anyhow, the gorgeous one had a look around and wasn't happy to discover so many cats, but she was prepared to accept my husband and me. Our fur angels viewed the newcomer without a comment while madam advised all not to mess around with her, she likes to keep a social distance! That was last night. In the morning I couldn't discover Minusha anywhere and called her nanme in vain. Fearing she might have jumped off the roof, I went outside and when I called her this time there was a reply coming from out awning. So I got out our big ladder and took her down. Fortunately the little lady is gentle and didn't scratch me. We decided to give her special attention and help her as far as possible to integrate and accept her new home. It is getting quite hot now. Cats and dogs need to drink. Whichever item I use to leave water for them outside, I am no longer surprised to see it disappeared some time later. (In front of my house it is better now.) At least during the Holly month of Ramadan this shouldn't happen? Wishful thinking! Looks like some take their instructions from the devil, trying to ensure their ticket to hell. Yes, it makes me very sad and angry at the same time. Kids, youngsters or adults wanting cats or dogs to die of thirst. The same folks who begrudge them a bit of food. So sickening, such a bad character. I whish them to encounter equally cold stone hearts when they need help. Thank heavens not all are like that here. Warm hearted animal protecting folks do exist and some tell me they believe I do a good and important job.