Postscript Learn or Allow History to Repeat Itself.

 "Every word has a meaning, every silence too." Jean Paul Satre. "Man is the only animal who causes pain to others with no other object than wanting to." "What people call fate is mostly their own stupility."  Schopenhauer.  "Live your life as though every act were to become an universal law."  Emanuel Kant.  "They are sons of bitches, but they are our sons of bitches."  Eisenhauer (about South American dictators).   "The Hitlers come and go, but the German folk remains."  Stalin.                                                                                  Perl, a Persian regular visitor to my Cats' Table, who had lost one eye, and 2 teeth lately,  has disappeared. I was under the impression that I successfully treated her (according to what I learned from vets) and she enjoyed her food, but I haven't seen her for 4 or 5 days now, a bad sign. From time to time Jimmy suddenly shouts. Is he missing something or someone from his previous life? Hard to say. When I call him, he stops and when I cuddle him, he appears to be perfectly happy, no problems with the rest of my feral family, thus most probably not a sign of pain, but rather temporarily nerves effected, resulting from his road accident. Integrating an adult adoption isn't always that easy. Sweety, our baby kitten, likes to jump on my back. She's so cute and loves to sleep among the other cats. Madonna (grey) looks as if she were her mother, but she's not. Cats usually have one kitten looking like a copy of mummy and the others like their daddies. When on heat, these feral ladies tend to get "engaged" to several tomcats. If you want your females and males to remain relaxed, you must get them spayed and neutered. It also stops the markings of " their area" with urin. Some tomcats outside from time to time mark my house as their property. Guess when we leave one day the land of the living, they will announce their claim (actually not contrary to my last will). Early in the morning I had a pleasant surprise, lovely Perl returned and is looking well. The world is full of surprises, the formally most expensive cat in the world (Siamese) is also visiting my Cats ' Table. Does it make me proud? No, just sad. Tunisia is - to the best of my knowledge - the only country in the world where several of these gorgeous little treasures have to sleep rough, what a contrast to their former life in the past, in a palace in Birma, living among the royal family and no one else in the country was allowed to have this breed .   -  Putin,who once described Trump as unpredictable, declared that Trump "will set the EU right". Change Europe to a different standard ( he had already called the EU an atrocity) ? We unfortunately experience lately a lot of changes, not exactly improving our world, putting it mildly, the far right is on the rise. Never again,..... Is it all forgotten? Still, there are many demonstrations against them, this gives me a bit of hope. But when you think it can't get worse, it sure does. Hitler had tried out how far he can go. Chamberlain believed his appeasement politic could prevent Hitler starting a war. It didn't work, some call it naive, they say appeasement is like making friends with a crocodile, hoping to be eaten last. Trump appears to be testing now how far he can go "as the most powerful man in the world". I recall him saying, should he become president again, he will a dictator from day one and should he not be re-elected, then there won't be another election. His threat to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland (to exploit its treasures, presently often protected by environmental laws and regulations), set to start a trade war with Canada, Mexico, China and Europe, stopping USAID worldwide aid programs (created by J. F. Kennedy) shocked the world. Ten thousand work for this organisation, Trump wants to reduce the staff to 300, saying the employees are " a bunch of radicals and lunitics." He fights not for the poor, but against them, by the look of it. Several evangelical folks in America believe that if you are poor, it's your own fault and it means God doesn't like you. What will be next? Having already offered Canada to become another state of America (no import taxes, Canada can be "great like the US") , perhaps offer Europe the status of a colony (after all his grandfather emigrated from Germany and Germany refused to take the Trumps back, years later)? Trump believes in revenge, I better don't give him ideas. His plan to publish the names of FBI and other department officials who investigated his possible violations of US laws and that of his supportors (i. e. the attack on and in the White House), has been stopped by a judge, now he wants to even dismiss these FBI officials, who were just doing their job.  Don't arbitration laws, designed to protect employees, exist there, no development since the period of the Wild West? Donald Trump made his money as a property developer  and surrounded himself with "Yes-men" and folks who worked in the same trade, including his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who had already "a look around Gaza." Nice waterfront beach, when cleared of the rubble, suitable to become a Rivera (with Trump hotels?) for the rich from various countries, maybe even some Palestinians. The world a playground for billionaires, Trump's vision? According to Trump not only Netanyahu and his far right government, no, All love his idea. And the Palestinians can live happily in Jordan, Egypt and other Arabic counties in lovely houses....why should they want to stay where there are most houses destroyed, including hospitals, schools, Mosques, churches (one dating back to the Middle Ages) streets, gardens, infrastructure? Arabic countries should naturally meet the costs for Trump's New Order, really ? Does Trump know who did the destructions? Does he know Palestinian history, that Palestinians had beautiful houses, lovely gardens, fields with fruits and vegetables, life stock, etc., and that they love their country? Trump suggests that once Netanyahu "has finished his job in Gaza" and the Palestinians are transferred to other countries, it should be handed over to the US "to clean and make beautiful", for his idea of redevelopment and real estate investors. Are International laws non-binding? Is there no red line that must not be overstepped? A paper tiger (the international community?) no one takes seriously. Trump doesn't run out of ideas, now: US Sanctions against the ICC in Den Haag, revenge for investigations (war crimes and crimes against humanity) against US citizens or Israeli. One journalist in a TV discussion: "Thank God, we aren't living in USA." 

Rashida and Sweetie

Amelie and Jeremy 

Kaja and Madona 

"Feral flower" Justine 

Fleur (Tausendschoen) 

Nikola

Ricardo

Learn or Allow History Repeat Itself.

 "You can't just blame things on evil. Everyone's a human, so when people say that somebody's behaving inhuman, it's not. It is very human it's just not the nice side of it."  Eric A. Johnson.   "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong."  H. L. Mencken.   "There are good reasons to be tired of the Holocaust. And one of the reasons is because it's so bleak . It is an atrocity and with an atrocity you don't have the balance that comes out of tragedy.  In tragety, what you learn equals, or someone balances the prize that you pay. "   " Sometimes you shout at the world to change the world, and sometimes you shout at the world to make sure it doesn't change you. "       Enric A. Johnson.    " Pessimism goes. Optimism stays. " Michael Berenbaum                           Black feral beauty Jimmy calling. Does he want to order food or water? No, he's just complaining that Chiquita is sitting in his basket. Good to see our recently adopted family member  is feeling at home. He recovered well from his road accident, but his pupils are still not okay. It may take some time, I've been advised. It is getting warmer, our cats enjoy sunbathing on the roof terrace. Colder days are yet ahead, winter isn't over, wish it was, though. Lucky are those who  can live in a house, not just a tent or some kind of makeshift shelter. Human intelligence seems to on the decline, judging by the state of our  present world, blackmailing, threatening, violations of human rights, flexible truth, successful tools in modern politics, so it seems. Massive violations of internatinal laws make people lose trust. Brave New World. It is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Ausschwitz concentration camp, freed by Russian and Ukrainian troops. Germans were very frightened of the Russians, fearing their revenge for the atrocities that Germans did to them. Hitler treated them like subhumans. Why he hated them so much I don't know.  Incredible and depressing what the "master race" (or Arier, term orginating from an Indian valley ) was capable of doing. According to Nazi believe Arier are a Nordic race, tall, athletic, blond and blue eyes, - neither Hitler himself, nor most of the big Nazis resembled this model, isn't it strange? The Nazis not only practised collective punishments, but also randum punishments to spred insecurity. They tried to kill the intelligence in Poland in order to facilitate enslavery of the others and clear the country for German settlements (land grab for "Lebensraum"). Trump's idea to clear Gaza and resettle Palestinians in Agypt and Jordania ("for a better life") is not acceptable for those concerned. Strange, Trump himself doesn't want immigrats in US........ UN and EU stressed the only solution is two states, Palestinians need to have their own state. Underneath the skin we all look alike, why rasism? It appears to be helpful to have scapegoats, allows exploitation, is welcomed by those who are full of envy, don't mind getting in an evil way rid of successful competitors. As James Baldwin once explained, those who deep down feel inferior, feel better if they can believe persons exist who are even less worthy than they are. The Nürnberg Trail was a good idea, but it ended too quickly, more war criminals and mass murders should have been held accountable and received harsher sentences. All too often Nazis who appeared to be useful, got away without punishment, even with the help of US government officials, not just in Germany. This included Shiro Ischili, the Japanese leader of Unit 731, a department of the Imperial Japanese Army that carried out horrible unethical experiments on prisoners and civilians. Shiro Ischili managed to offer his test results - "experiments that you could never carry out in your country" - in exchange for immunity, given by the Supreme US Commander of the Occupation, Douglas McArthur. Difficult to stomach. Animals could and would never do what humans are capable of doing. By the way, abused children, those who have been subjected to a lot of cruelty, if left to grow up without therapy, can either become very sensitive and develp deep empathy, or become hard and cruel. Lord have mercy. 

Postscript Expect the Best and Prepare for the Worst.

 "Human beings seem to have an almost unlimited capacity to deceive themselves into taking their own lies for truth." "Schizophrenia can not be understood without understanding despair." "The way out is the way you came in." R. D. Laing.  "The majority of men are not capable of thinking, but only of believing, and are not accessible to reason, but only to authority."  "A pessimist is an oponist in full possession of the facts." Arthur Schopenhauer.  "Civilization is a helpless race to discover remedies for the evil it produces."  George  Wilhelm Friederich Hegel.                                                                                 Fierce knocking on my door. An unknown religiously dressed woman asked me to help a cat that got hit by a car, an emergency, the cat screaming with pain. I went to have a look, further down the road than I expected. There was some blood seeping out of the mouth, couldn't discover more injuries at first sight, but obviously lots of pain. Not sure whether any bones were broken, so I tried to place the poor feral victum as gentle as possible into my transport box. A young man and two ladies went with me to catch a taxi. It was Friday afternoon, couldn't reach my vet, tried 3 times in vain, we therefore travelled to a nearby veterinarian clinic. Their diagnosis : The cat is under shock, traumatised, concussion, tongue and mouth injured, his eye pupils (1 big, 1 small) in addition show there is something wrong with the poor treasure. Bones probably not broken, needs to be examined at a later stage. The cat received infusion with various medications and I was told I could take him home after 2 hours and than return the next day. I decided that it would be less stress for the poor darling to stay over night, and after consecutive treatments the next morning be taken to his "nursing home." I wasn't sure how my crowd of foster ferals would react to the new patient. Since the black beauty (male, approx. 3 years old) wasn't fit to leave the transport box, the introduction was a bit easier. Next problem feeding with a syringe, due to the injuries, and medication (3 different types of tablets, including pain killing pills, plus antibiotics), I was lucky the boy is gentle, no aggressions against me, thank heavens. I named him Jimmy. Meanwhile 3 people inquired about Jimmy's well being, speaks for them. The young man, who went with us to the clinic, by the way, paid the taxi fare. Still, I hope the word doesn't spred that I deal with the cost for injured street cats (I definitely can't). The veterinarian said they at least receive one cat a day hit by a car or motorcycle. Don't I know it!!! Speeding is around here unfortunately a big hobby of the folks, not just youngsters. Jimmy is slowly getting better, still a bit wobbly while walking. Thank heavens, nothing broken, but the neck was also effected by the crash (not visible, just sore). Further improvement of Jimmy's condition. He manages to eat croquettes meanwhile and simply loves his pieces of cats' sausage, even asks for a second helping. Only medication now is Tetra B for a month. Sweetie, a kitten young kids brought to me, after it nearly got hit by a car, has been with us for several weeks. Looks like she decided not to grow. After all, she's the only Baby in my house. May be she sees a certain advantage in this. The children were very persistent that she needs to be protected and they wanted to know her new name. I appreciated their empathy. Perl, a regular visitor to my Cat's Table, Persian blood, lost one eye due to an unknown cause. In addition she now also lost a tooth or 2, bleeding from her mouth. I tried to clean and treat her mouth with the blue stuff veterinarians prescribed for gum infections, mixed a pill against pain under her food and gave her antibiotics left over from Jimmy's treatment. . She remained very gentle, no aggression, better than some of my foster ferals indoors. She appears to be getting better, 2 days later. - The new "Emporer", Donald Trump, has big plans to reshape the world, supported by Dollar Billionars. Stopping the war (not just a cease fire) in Palestine and Ukraine has yet to happen. "Every idiot can start a war, but it takes hundreds of geniuses to end a war." Wise words of a former Russian president. Anyhow, Mr. Trump decided that the WestBank belongs to Israel and this is "God's will", biblical dominion. I thought that the Pope is supposed to be God's deputy on earth (at least according to Christian believe) , it will be interesting to hear what the Pope has got to say about this subject. At present the violence of Israelian settlers into the WestBank is escalating, more than 750,000 are - corresponding to international laws - living illegally on occupied land. Against some violent settlers the former US government (and several other countries)  imposed sanctions. Mr. Trump now lifted those of the US. The UN humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, advised that up to 1 million children in Gaza are in need of mental health support. In view of what they have experienced and seen, what no innocent child should be subjected to, nearly 15 months of bombardements, parents that can't protect them, their homes reduced to rubbles, nothing to look forward to, their anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts are hardly surprising. Oh Lord, have mercy. - The population of the United States once all arrived as immigrants, in several waves, the First Nation (Indians) came from India, people from West Africa were probably the first who discovered America, much later mainly Europeans came (majority driven by famine or religious prosecutions). The Trumps originate from Germany, but Germans are not proud of them and Mr. Trump is aware of this. Strange, this urge to deport (illegal) immigrants. Effected by Trump's deportation orders are approx. 11 Million people, about 41 % work in 3 sectors: agriculture, building trade and health service. Deporting them not only reduces human resources in US but also largely increases costs and prices, creates suddden vacancies of unattractive badly paid jobs. It will be interesting to see how folks who applauded " the biggest scale of deportation the US has ever seen", will react once they realize the consequences. Manipulation of public opinion has never been as easy as nowadays, thanks to social media, more or less smart fake news and artificial intelligence. What goes around comes around. Heavens help us all. 

Siames beauty, once the most expensive cat in the world and only the Royal family in Siam was allowed to have her. 

Expect the Best but prepare for the Worst

 "Insanity  a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world." "The range of what we  think and do is limited to what we fail to notice."  R. D. Laing.   "The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say this is mine, and found people simple enough to believe him, was the true founder of civil society. What crimes, wars, murder, what miseries, and horrors would the human race have been spared, had someone pulled out the stakes or filled the ditch and cried out to his fellow men: "Do not listen to this imposter. You are lost if you forget that the fruits of the earth belong to all, and the earth to no one."  Rousseau.  "We can make our hell out of the people around us." Jean Paul Satre.                                                                                                                                       Kids from the neighborhood required "first aid", no, not Betadine and plaster but sweets. Well, they did make it sound like an emergency. One young lady brought me a handful of croquettes for the ferals, a pleasant surprise. Returning from the veterinarian with my lovely, gentle Nikola (urinary problems and stones starting to develop), a neighbour passing by greeted me with his thumb up. Folks occasionally do this and I am happy to see they share my believe that cats deserve good care. The new year is starting off well with daily household waste collection, much appreciated. Recently President Said made it clear that he wants to see clean streets and won't tolerate household waste piling up on roads. Raising coffee prices due to a bad harvest in Brasilia and other countries. Kenya and Uganda are the only countries with a twice yearly harvest of coffee beans. EU refused to make an advanced payment to these countries, so China bought the whole lot. One can at least hope for the second harvest. Perhaps we should try "Africa first."  The fees for medical consultation are going up wef. 01.01.2025, general practitioner 40 to 55 Dinar, specialist 55 to 80 Dinar (most of the later used to charge 70). The amount is about the same as in Germany (paid by the obligatory Health Insurance System) though, covering there a 3 months period, independent of how often a patient arrives during that time. Anyhow, folks who cannot afford to pay 80 Dinars for a specialist (plus possible extra costs, e. g. for injections) will just consult the pharmacy, not without risks. With a bit of luck the pharmacist is a qualified doctor. Several say they have enough problems already paying for their medication. CNAM (national health insurance organization) could be an alternative, but unfortunately mainly in theory. Waiting quite a while for a partly refund of a larger amound, I finally received just about the sum I had paid for the taxi. Don't expect much so that you won't get disappointed. Hopefully veterinarians won't decide to also raise their consulation fees.  Animals already suffer sufficiently because quite a few owners prefer to spend their money on essentials like cigarettes. A lady told me that I've got cats' eyes (well, not exactly the shining bright shade of blue famous for the Siamese). Some say pets and those who adopt them tend to resemble each other. With the cold nights some of my visitors to my Cats' Table arrive a bit later than usual. As long as all my feral friends are okay, I am happy. I have 3 beautiful new guests who obviously either still do or did until recently live in a house. They are gentle and enjoy cuddling. One lovely cat with Persian blood sadly has lost an eye, could be a reason for kicking him out, poor little darling. Still no sign of my one-eyed, 3 coloured, gorgeous, gentle, treasure Myriam. I fear she's no longer in the land of the living. I miss her. -  "No justification for Israelian continued attacks on Gaza." President Macron advised. The World Food Programm convoy was recently attacked, shoots fired at them (even though clearly marked trucks), their aid donations for Gaza robbed. Meanwhile at least 1,054 health workers have been killed. 16 of 36 hospitals are partly still working in Gaza, none in the North, 815 Mosques are destroyed, 150 damaged, 19 cemetries destroyed, 3 churches also (one dating back to the Middle Ages). Joe Bidden decided to send 8 Billion Dollar worth weapons to support Israelian " self defence." The Hind Rajab Foundation (based in Europe), named after an 8 year old, killed Palestian girl, tries to pursue legal cases abroad (e.g. in Brasil and Chile) against Israelian soldiers for war crimes. Proof of such is often produced by videos that the soldiers made and posted themselves. - Donald Trump declared that he wants to take over Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada. Just dreaming or real threat of US Colonial actions? Greenland actually belongs to Denmark. Should he use military force, which Trump didn't rule out as "US needs Greenland for Security reasons" (experts suspect he is after the resources, in Greenland presently protected by their environmental laws), this could well mean war with NATO. At the same time war with Panama? Trump's offer for Canada is to become the 51st state of US, no import tax, a better life.... None of those countries concerned feel amused. In addition Trump, seemingly considering international laws as non-binding, suggested to change the name "Golf of Mexico" to American Golf. Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, replied: "Why not change the name of US to Mexican America....." (part of the US actually used to belong to Mexico. So when folks from Mexico try to cross the border, I always wonder whether they as a matter of fact are trying to visit old Mexico.........). 

Nearing the End of the Year.

 "Keep true to the dreams of your youth." Friedrich Schiller. "A man is not idle because he is absorved in thoughts. There is visible and invisable labour." "To die is nothing, but it is terrible not to live." Victor Hugo. "If you are going to live by the riverside, make friends with the crocodiles." Ubuntu African Proverb.  "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but becausd of those who look on and do nothing." Albert Einstein. "A man without education is like a building without foundation." George Bernhard Shaw.                                                                                                                                        In US a German shephard dog went missing, then the door bell of the owner rang - it was the dog (caught on camera), waiting to be let back in. A knock at our door. My husband called: "I am coming." In front of the door stood a cat. Some ferals manage to open doors, if there is a handle. In addition we had a cat that used to bang the key attachment against the door, when he wanted to enter a certain room. Several cats learned this method from him. Experts say cats can approx. reach the intelligence level of a 2 year old child. In spite of the meanwhile often cold and rainy days the majority of the youngsters on my road still wear the open summer sandales. A homemade drum from an empty paint bucket and a wooden kitchen utensil, covered in plastic, ensures it doesn't get too quiet around here, it's to celebrate the starting school holiday, I am told. It never gets boring in our quarter. Poor, gentle Schmusi went over the rainbow. He lately lost a lot of weight, a sad sight, just bones and fur. The vet had diagnosed anemia. Our sweet little treasure loved to cuddle and loved his food, but it didn't stop him from getting thinner and thinner in spite of this and his medication. In Germany it was discovered that so called "chewing bones", made in China out of cows' skins, caused 50 dogs to suddenly fall sick, suffering panic attacks, cramps and sudden aggresion. Luckily it can be cured, first step to calm down and relax, keep the dog in a dark room, without noise. Plus veterinarian treatment .  Now that less folks are sending letters (mainly elderly folks), the post office in France has taken on additinal tasks, delivery of cooked meals and on 6 days per week checking that elderly folks, living on their own, are okay and don't require help. Sounds like a good idea. We can learn so much from each other, i. e. fighting rabbies. Old methods that aren't very effective, why continue (some vaccinatons are meanwhile carried out here, but not on a big enough scale), when other countries are actually successful without killing the poor, so called strays (all too often pets kicked out for convienence, to save money, owners' lacking sense of responsibility). Antoine De Saint-Exupery once said that we are during our whole life responsible for that what we have made known to us. Wise words, but how many are listening? We seem to be living in a world that usually doesn't allow the best to make it to the top. The other day Jimmy Carter, 100 years old, Nobel Peace Price holder, passed away. In my opinion the best president the US ever had and will have for the foreseeable future, highly dedicated to human rights, peace and democracy. Now politicians all over the world praise him (including  Joe Biden and Donald Trump), even though, many of them don't share his values - judging by their actions. At least the Pope condems the cruelity of war that kills children and the bombing of schools and hospitals. UNRWA says that a child is killed every hour in Gaza, more than 14,500 since the start of war. So far

7 babies have frozen to death. In view of 70 % of destroyed houses, makeshift shelters that don't deserve to be named as such, minus 10 degree centigrate, heavy rain falls, lack of blankets, food, water and medication, it is getting worse. Meanwhile all hospitals are destroyed in Northern Gaza. Alon Pinkas, a former Israelian ambassador, has a clear opinion: "Hospitals should be out of bounds, hospitals should not be targeted, period." What was or was not in the hospitals "doesn't matter."  Netanyahu sees Hamas terrorists everywhere, it's a magic word that excuses everything, but he all too often fails to produce proof. Violation of international laws and regulations are the new standards, who can say he/she didn't know? At the end of the year we always hope the next one will be better. May God/Allah have mercy with us, punish the evil and provide those in charge with wisdom, empathy and respect for human and animal rights. 

Some Days we could Do Without.

A visitor to my Cats'  Table. 

My beautiful tree. 

My killed tree, a great shock. 

 "No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself." "Time is the only critic without ambition." John Steinbeck.  "Fear is the mother of morality." "Success has always been a great liar."  "A casual stroll through the lunitic asylum shows that faith does not proove anything."  "To forget one's purpose is the commenest form of stupility."  Nietzche  "Hounds follow those who feed them." Bismark.  "The highest we are placed, the more humble we should walk."  Tullius Cicero. - It is getting pretty cold, feels like freezing. In most European  countries Christmas school holidays have started. In Tunisia also - oh waite a minute, I guess it's called something else here. Pity many kids don't know what to do with all that spare time on their hands and books seem to be out of fashion. Several years ago I planted a tree in Kairouan and it grow up healthy, strong and very beautiful, ideal to help improve the environment and reduce the temperature (up to 5 degree scientists say). I was very proud of my lovely tree that now required trimming, cutting off lower branches and a bit on the right of the top (near a neighbour 's window). A woman whom we paid in the past to keep an eye on the house (and do a bit of watering) said she found an experienced man to do the job for 45 Dinar. Knowing that one doesn't always get here what one ordered (i. e. if you say "in the middle," it is understood as either mainly to the right or left), we stressed that we want to be present to control the performance, therefore we would need to know the suitable time a day in advance. Blow and behold, this was too much to demand! Unfortunately I allowed my husband to persuade me to pay in advance - which I really didn't want and I would strongly advise against it, if you don't enjoy having tradesmen "dancing on your nose". Anyhow, when we arrived on the scene I felt close to a heart attack, why do ignorant folks hate trees? For me it was an "environmental crime" and in many countries it is against the law to do this to a well grown healthy tree, so important to reduce air pollution and create oxygen! There was a "corpse" of a tree, a sad view, I was close to tears. Those responsible are lucky that trees cannot scream. I hope Allah will punish them. Well, we failed to read the "writting in the sky", a warning, when the aforementioned woman informed us last summer that we won't have any grapes to harvest (should have been more than a bucket full) as 300 birds (!!!) suddenly appeared and ate them all. Strange, birds normally leave marks of their picking, did they all swallow complete grapes? We are convinced that she was simply too lazy to water the plant. Someone famous ones advised : "Trust is good, control is better." Daily collection of household garbage worked perfectly well for several years, though often an unpleasant job as not all landes in the right place and some folks are too inconsiderate to care. Anyhow, in Sousse  waste disposal vans no longer arrive every day. I tried to work out the system as no official data is suppied. Seems to 3 times a week, not on one or two weekend days. Wonder whether the employees (as a special peek) can choose the relevant days at short notice. 

Those are our Days

Myriam

 "The future influences the present as much as it does the past."  "He who fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster."  "If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."  "In an individual insanity is rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule."  "Those who cannot understand to put their thoughts on ice, should not enter the heat of debate."  Nietzsche.  Sweet, gentle, beautiful, 3 coloured, Myriam has disappeared. She sneaked out one evening, unnotiiced until the next morning, breakfast time. I called her to serve her her special meal of sliced sausage with salmon oil (good for the fur). She loves it, but didn't turn up. I searched every corner of my house and in the neighborhood, called her in vain. My sweetie didn't have an easy life. Approx. 5 yeas ago a neighbour showed me her photo and asked whether I can help her, following a car accident. The vet discovered a broken jaw and one eye so badly injured that it had to be removed. After a little while Myriam integrated well into our big family. Some months ago she sadly started to develop daily cramps. For a few seconds she then moves in a circle, wets and sometimes injures herself. I fear that ignorant folks seeing her outside, may think Myriam is a stray and maybe having a contagious sickness, therefore should be killed. I had her examined by our vet, an x-ray made, but the reason for her cramps remained in the dark. She received Tetra B vitamines to strengthen her. I miss my little treasure, feel depressed, hope and pray she's okay and can return back home. There is a small chance a kind soul took her inside, but unfortunately most Tunisians only want a "perfect" cat, at least the cat should be perfect in the house. I love her as she is, but can others see her true beauty? My feral family as well as the guests visiting my "Cats' Table" lately developed a larger appetite (plus probably some folks "helping themselves" to free pet food from my bowls outside). In addition an unknown person stole yet again the pottery bowl in front of my house. As experts recommend to avoid plastic bowls for cats' food and drink (can cause brown spots on their gum), I used it to provide fresh water in addition to the croquettes, even though I was well aware that the bowl is likely to disappear quickly, sadly the same applies to any other nice piece of decoration. - Not only in my opinion, we have too many school holidays in the country. Around here these kids and youngsters then spend most of their time on the street, playing football with a lot of screaming, not caring about possible damages to house walls, throwing stones "just for fun", getting up to no-good, lately also playing with lighters and a rope emitting sparks when hurled in a circle, looks like lots of little fires - some kids showed me resulting holes in their clothes and one boy burn marks on his skin. Trying to advise that this is a dangerous toy, produced the usual reaction from the neighborhood children, for revenge stone throwing and breaking bricks (fitted to stop cars from parking on our pavement) . Luckily one of our neighbors knows the concerned youngsters. Speaking with the parents - if they are senseable - can be the solution and it seemed to work here. One doesn't always need to call the police. Still no sign from Myriam, I fear the worst. Nonetheless we will try to gain information about her fate. We got some leaflets printed with her photo and offer a small reward. Our poor little darling really has suffered enough in life. Chances she has been taken indoors by someone are minor since there are more beautiful cats outdoors around here. Why do animals have to suffer so much? Their character is often better than that of humans. They don't start wars, create or buy horrible destructive weapons, don't torture, don't lie...... In Aleppo young  guys meet to tidy up their town, they want Syria to become again a good and attractive place to live. Much can be achieved if more persons would adopt such an attitude. Would be a good idea also for Sousse and other places. Butter is available again and also sugar for a short spell. Coffee and honey prices have gone up quite a bit, some medication and sweets also as well as other items. We won't grumble as long as essential products remain on offer and are reasonable priced.