PostScript Summer Time

Two men talking. First man: What are seat belts good for? Second man: To keep the police happy. That is why we put them on when we approach a police control point (for a minute or two). First man: But why do drivers and passengers wear the seat belt for the whole trip in central Europe? Second man: It appears they have too many policemen, checking this gives them something to do! - Like most items the ticket for a journey from e.g. Sousse to Tunis by minibus has increased (10%), now it's 10,920 Dinar, but this is nothing compared to the taxi fare from Moncef Bay (minibus station in Tunis) to Les Berges du Lac, Rue du Lac Windermere,  an area with several Embassies. The driver demanded 15 Dinar, he must do this journey fairly often as he got there in no time via motorway. When we complained that is far too much, usually 5 - 6 Dinar, he replied: "You went to the toilet" (before we started, he waited, it took me only three minutes, the most expensive visit to a toilet). We realised too late he had the meter switched off, this hasn't happen to us for a long time so we didn't expect it. Bearing in mind that success encourages to continue, I believe in not keeping quite and letting him get away with it for didactic reasons. By the way all other taxi drivers we encountered were perfectly honest. Four years ago a man approached us with a 1 Euro coin in his hand: " How much is this? Please exchange it for me." Being on guard for tricks to steal money, we declined the request. It didn't remain the only time that we were addressed in such a manner. The other day in Sousse a poor tourist wanting to be helpful had his purse stolen when he took it out. One can only hope he didn't use his purse like a wallet. When two young men on a motorbike snatched my handbag off my shoulder three years ago, I lost my mobile phone, my passport, keys and a small sum of money. In Germany thieves often have at least the decency to throw items that don't interest them in a letterbox. Unfortunately there is no such custom here. (This is not just because not many letterboxes are available.) As I love animals and cats in particular it struck me as funny that before returning from Tunis I discovered a lovely white cat sitting in front of the ladies toilets and after I locked the toilet door behind me, this cat followed me through the gap at the bottom of the door. We went to Carthage (world heritage) and discovered in the archaeological area a cat mother with 6 kittens and we're happy to see that the people working there gave them water and a bit of food. One should never take this for granted. Tunisa is a good country and as someone famous once put it, "Democracy means equal rights for thinking folks and twits (Denker und Deppen)."

Summer Time

Everybody makes occasionally mistakes, but only real men admit these. (Words of a Czech song).  The same applies to women of course. Here, though, it seems to be common believe that strong folks never make a mistake or at least should always deny this. Put the blame on someone else.... Further, it is normal for a tradesman not to arrive at the time he himself picked, usually it is several hours later or even on another day. If he phones to inform you accordingly, consider yourself lucky. Labour is much cheaper here than in Europe, but you only get what you pay for, better not to compare (with a few exceptions). People quickly feel insulted even by only well mend suggestions.
Now that nights are rather warm and days pretty hot, there is less football playing during the day, but at what is considered "sleeping time for kids" in most parts of Europe, is when lots of children suddenly appear, very active, "full of beans". On account of what I would call extreme long holidays, they can sleep until lunch time and anyhow apart from playing football they don't seem to know much how to spend all that time on their hands. Pity books are out of fashion. Scientists discovered that it's better for the brain development to write by hand rather than mobile phone or notebook, as it would require more brain activity. - The beaches in Tunisia are by nature of a high quality, very fine sand and where tourists are likely to turn up they are usually kept clean. Even though the administration tries to put a stop to this stupid rubbish dumping (one can be fined), more is required. Start with the kids, once they understand that the environment needs to be protected (their future) they could even tell ignorant adults to do so. The plastic bottle collectors (many) do a good job. For one kilo they are paid approx. 600 Miliem, not much but for some the only income. I was shocked to learn that the beaches are endangered by raising sea water level and pollution. Urgent action is required before it's too late, after all these beautiful beaches are not just a tourists' attraction, Tunisians love them too and who would like to see Carthage or Hammamet disappear into the sea? Let us protect the World Heritage, amazing sites in Tunisia and the future of this mainly beautiful country. Not to forget the poor, the government promised special support for those in need in particular in the south, an area neglected by various governments. Tunisia has much more to offer than most tourists are aware of.

Postscript More about my Little Darlings

Two men walking home late at night after several drinks. First man: "I wish I were a mouse, I wish I were a mouse...." Second man: "What are you on about?" First man: "My wife is afraid of mice." -
Now is the time I fear so much, tiny lovely baby kittens appear, many get run over by cars, several are put out on the street often separated from their mother (who may or may not be killed by accident or wilfully). Well meaning folks all too frequently leave the tiny ones at my door step. Unfortunately I haven't got a sanctuary, a garden, only two terraces and cats that feel already that my "family" is getting too big. Besides, I still need to be able to cope, physically and financially. As I don't let my little treasures out on the street to leave their excrement somewhere there, I have my daily toilet cleaning work and to buy quite a bit of sand for the toilets. Anyhow, it remains depressing for me being unable to help all cats in need. Having decided that no more additions are possible, my new arrivals are: lovely white (with a bit of black, looking quite cheeky like the cat from a well known cartoon here) Leilah, sweet black and brown Natasha, pretty black and white Natalie, precious brown and black streamed Rachida (one eye missing that is why I at first thought she's one of mine already and just ran out). The very latest, not very well orphan Daniel, lovely white cat with blue eyes, the only survival of his family, as a charming well educated lady from the neighborhood told me. She feared that should he die as well it would depress her young boy who would love to save all cats, just like me. Schlawiner sometimes sleeps on top of my letterbox I discovered or my awnings, cheeky lad, as long as he doesn't climb on top of my roof and create a lot of unrest there. Because of him I had almost all my lady cats neutered. Some are too young and as Diana is suffering from a chronic cold I have a problem. Giving her the anaesthesia could turn out to be fatal. It is now really hot here I was hoping there would be no more sneezing, running noses... Since cats have no handkerchief they clean their faces and noses with their tongue, not at all ideal and I am not always there to use tissue instead (they hate this). In some cases the cold has become chronic unfortunately. I can't afford vaccine for my big family, so sad. My vet afford a good price in view of their number but it is still too much.

More about my Little Darlings

When cats decided to live with human beings they discovered that language is useful for communication. Of course their language differs from ours, but they have a choice of sounds for various situations. While everybody talks about cats' miau/meow they really only use this when they require help.  Our vet noticed that one of our cats voice changed when she addressed us. My approx. 6 weeks old lovely little Leila appeared to suffer from constipation, so I massaged her little tummy. When she made a special sound at first I didn't understand why, well she tried to tell me she needs the toilet . The next time when I had her on my lab and heard the same sound I quickly brought her to the sand filled box, her toilet and she did "her job" immediately, so amazing. Honey and Bella, when they see me outside they call me, it almost sounds like "don't leave me".  They come running, always great to see so much love and affection from my little treasures. I couldn't take Bella in-doors as she didn't get along with my other cats but I had her operated at least to save her from one pregnancy after the other. Honey is the only one of my beautiful darlings who spends part of the day outside. Whenever I call her, even though I don't see her, she usually appears, some times out of "nowhere". Always happy to note she is fine. When I say: " Honey come home" she follows me to the house, not always willing to enter straight away, prefers to have several invitations that have to come from me rather than from my husband. Well, she is my girl! Cats are a great gift from heaven. Couldn't image life without them. Even though I had all our cats operated (family planning), we continue to have baby kittens and yes, I tried to inform folks around here that we no longer have the capacity to accept more cats. Nevertheless little ones keep appearing in front of my entrance door. Often brought by kids who mean well and want to save their life. Experience shows those that are separated from their mothers less than 6 weeks old are most likely to die in spite of all efforts. One exception were lovely gentle Eileen and Allan whom I fed with milk that I bought at the vet's, sold as milk powder for baby cats. This was rather expensive and is no longer on the market here.

Postscript Don't worry could be worse

"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you" Friedrich Nietzsche
It is kind of a new fashion that governments all over the world don't want criticism, while Trump calls such "fake news" the  previous  Kazakhstan government declared: "everybody in the country is happy and rich". - Prices will most likely rise yet again after Ramadan and the Laid celebration. Not surprisingly many are unhappy and complain, not enough jobs until the tourist trade really picks up again. Luckily the rate of exchange enables tourists to enjoy a holiday at low costs. So there is
hope. I noticed we haven't got many coloured folks in Sousse, in spite of lots of sunshine, after all darker skin is a natural protection by nature (is the opposite of coloured colourless people?). There is a British saying: Beauty is only skin deep. Anyhow, we haven't  just got many gorgeous cats but also beautiful kids and adults, but unfortunately not all possess matching manners, good education or morale, at least in the quarter of town where I live. Why one shouldn't neglect children can he studied here, so sad to see pre-school kids roam the streets, at an age that influences their later development. While they test how far they can go, their limits, several local parents appear to believe if you excuse everything with "they are children" then this makes them good parents. One rarely hears around here parents e.g. telling their kids not to scream so loud, show respect, don't drop their litter just anywhere, etc. Since some adults do just that one cannot expect kids to know better. Taxis shouldn't transport cats and dogs I am told. If this applies to animals without a transport box then this makes sense to me. In Germany I used to frequently travel in an expensive new Mercedes taxi accompanied by a lovely cat in a transport box. No hygiene nor security problem as these boxes are specially designed to be safe and remain clean. As far as the transportation of other goods, e.g. bricks, cement, large items, are concerned there remains much to be desired. In Germany I once spent a day with authorities who check whether goods on lorries are secured according to regulations in order to avoid unnecessary severe accidents. They stopped lorries and several drivers were prevented to carry on without additional measures to secure the load properly. If this wasn't possible on the spot, they had to phone their company to deal with the problem. No exception made. Like in Europe it is forbidden to phone while driving, but nevertheless it is quite common here, even on a motorbike or by mini bus (luage) drivers. The new four-lane road from Sousse to Kairouan is almost completed. The middle strip (concrete and soil) deviding the two directions should prevent quite a few accidents as those who believe "time is money" unfortunately often practise dangerous overtaking. A big problem remain those drivers who believe they can phone or use the internet while driving, even a minibus, apparently not aware of their responsibility towards their passengers. We prefer not to experience their "multi tasking" attempts and got off after a short trip, three times lately. By the way, the bus is much safer to use and several are modern and even cheaper. Strange none of the other passengers said anything, frightened an angry driver will be even more dangerous? Or just the result of a long dictatorship that many learnt to keep quiet and accept whatever happens.

Don't Worry, Could be Worse

If you never leave the house, you'll think mother's cooking is the best. (West African saying)
Ramadan is a Holly month, religious people fasten from sun rise until sun set, don't smoke and even with hot weather don't drink anything. This is mend to give them a feeling of what it is like to be poor. Working like that isn't easy. Those who can afford it work reduced hours, e.g. half day. Less cafes and restaurants are open during the day as only tourists are mend to come. Poor folks can hope for a small donation, just like Christians do around Christmas (for various charity purposes, including animals and environmental protection). Last meal before the sun rises means late extended nights not only for adults. Youngsters and even very small kids, only 3 or 4 years old, are out on the street, lack of sleep gives them additional energy, (screaming, running, acting like hooligans) should it be good for their development though, then they must be quite different from let's say European kids. I am under the impression that those who are not religious are often specially misbehaving during Ramadan. Even if you can say no, no, no in Arabic (le le le), they don't understand you. When we first arrived a lady from the neighbourhood's advised us never to give any presents, not even bonbons to the kids here, as they "would always chase you, demanding more, they don't know any limits". It seemed to be strange, in view of several children coming from poor families. But  we didn't have any experience with neglected kids who are out on the street all day, those who attend school often before and straight after school, mainly playing football. On the radio a father complained that by end of May this year there were only two months of school. As a kid (until today) I loved my books, learnt a lot without noticing, pity they don't know the joy of reading. Those growing up with ignorant parents are highly unlikely to find books at home, but most probably will receive some cheap plastic toys instead. - Scientists tested what is most important for cats: food, toys or the company of their human friend. The result didn't come as a surprise to me, I experience it every day, they are so loyal and love to be with us (if not abused). This is why cats don't like closed doors. Whenever I closed the bathroom door behind me, my late Filou used to sit in front of the door and complain. Another time as I was about to enter my apartment, a neighbour addressed me, we discussed politics while my Mucker was waiting for me on the other side of the door. I obviously took too long for his liking, so he started to hit the door, sweet darling. One day when I returned home a few hours later than usually, my cat punished me by not allowing me to stroke his soft fur - at least for 10 minutes! The kitchen of this house here is much too small. All our cats want to join us there. Luckily there is more space on the terrace but the weather is not always inviting. "The more I come to know people, the more I love animals" (Erich Kaestner).

Until the Cows come Home

"And it's so wonderful here I feel quite dizzy" August Macke wrote of his fortnight trip to Tunisia April 1914 together with his 2 painter friends Paul Klee and Luis Moillet. They visited Tunis, Hammamet and Kairouan. The Medina in Tunis (world heritage) has 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, masjids, fountains, dating from period of almohad and hafsid. The paintings of the aforementioned artists resulting from their trip to Tunisia became famous as "Die Tunisreise" . Strange, I have yet to meet any Tunisian who heard of August Macke, his beautiful paintings and those the other two painters did of Tunisia. Pity, many tourists only come here for the sunshine, the beech and low hotel prices. Though lately with all that climate change, Moscow has the same or occasionally even a higher temperature than Tunis. I joke those tourists from Russia all took a bit of sunshine back home, that's why. Anyhow, great to have more sun again and less sneezing of my little treasures on four legs. The cats here are so beautiful, well worth viewing as well. A young lady told me her English teacher adviced her to never use he or she when talking about a cat, thus making a living creature a "thing", doesn't sound very bright to me, wonder how a vet could work with her way of thinking. We achieved less stone throwing at cats but the stealing of cats' food (which I donate for those homeless) continues. The other day I secured a pot outside with a lock and chain in order to stop this theft, only to discover that breaking a lock is just another talent for some.

August Macke: View of a Mosque 1914

 Merchant with Jugs

                             Man on a donkey