In the doldrums

The kids have been on their school holidays but not much has been happening because I'm not on holiday. They stay up half the night and sleep half the day so when I get home and start cooking lunch they are poking around the kitchen looking for breakfast. Hopefully next weekend we will go someplace or do something. Until then life is boring and there isn't much to blog about.

Yesterday was my brother's birthday... he'd have been 40 if he were still alive. Today is my oldest sister's birthday and she's a big, fat, five-oh!

Happy Birthday Andi-Sue!

One goal accomplished today.

Todays task of sorting out the window next to my desk - accomplished! I think the new plants look nice and I took care of the old plants. It still needs something with flowers - but this will do for now. The whole area next to my desk looks fabulous now. 

Here's another picture from behind my desk:

When I first came to Libya in 1989, I came through Tunisia. So Tunis was where I stepped down on the continent of Africa for the very first time. As I walked down the steps of the plane I looked out at the view  of a mountain in the distance which I later learned was called 'Jabal Bou Kornine' or the Two-Horned Mountain. I've been back to Tunis a few times since then and we usually take the time to go for a picnic and hiking on that very same mountain which is also a national park. It's quite nice actually, there is interesting wildlife to see, including wild boar (quite a surprise to come face to face with one when I didn't expect it). There's supposedly some ancient Roman ruins but I've never come across them. Once, while shopping in the capital, I found a really pretty card with the mountain in the background. I fell in love with it and bought it, took it home as a souvenir and had it framed. It's been sitting next to my desk ever since, as a reminder of my arrival in 1989.  One day I will visit again... I'm sure whatever changes there will be, the Two-Horned Mountain will still be there.

An update: Yusef came home with yet another dog today. Now there are eight. .... I think we are turning into a dog rescue shelter. 

Two weeks into 2011

Yesterday I had planned to spend the morning in the garden planting seeds for the future - flowers in spring begin their lives now. But it was cloudy and cold so I scrapped the idea and hung about the house. Today the weather is better. Ibrahim and I went to a plant nursery and bought an assortment of things to put in the area around my desk. That's today's project. I'll plant some seeds too - pictures to follow, hopefully.

Later I have to do the weekly big shopping at the supermarket. The Libyan government supposedly lowered the tariff on food in the country... it's yet to be filtered down to supermarkets. Everything seems to be getting more and more expensive. And the kids are eating more and more too. Teenagers consume a huge amount of food - like a hoard of locusts!

It's only fifteen days into 2011 and our household has increased in size. 

• The last week of December, Yusef came across a heavily pregnant stray dog with a leg injury. He decided to keep her safely in the shed out on the farm. On New Year's day she gave birth to 4 puppies, two of which died. So we have New Year puppies! (now that puts the number at 7 dogs for us) 
• Cheekie, the cockatiel was looking a bit lonely so we bought her a partner. We've named him Chucky. Cheekie isn't very sociable - she's a bit bossy and poor Chucky looks henpecked already.
• And finally, I hope, is a big white albino rabbit that was delivered last Thursday evening. Fitting as this is the year of the rabbit. The cats have been trying to figure how to make the rabbit into a meal. I'm not sure how long the rabbit is going to last.

I looked up the Year of the Rabbit to see what I'm supposed to be like  (I was born in the year of the rabbit).  It says this:

"People born in the year of the rabbit and sheep are considered the most sympathetic. They know how to comfort others, and will listen to them patiently. They are realists. They will not adventure forth with you into strange places even if you are their best friend. They will help any friend who is in trouble if it is within their power. But if you hurt them they will leave you quickly and in a friendly way." 

Well, I can sometimes be sympathetic and patient. Definitely I'm a realist. The part about venturing into strange places doesn't sound right considering I'm living in Libya. I will help those in trouble if it's at all possible, but I'm a firm believer that some people need to help themselves. Hurt me and you will get dumped for sure - not so sure if I'll be friendly about it though. 

Happy Year of the Rabbit!

I will post pictures later.... if I get around to it.

P.S.... People are all excited about events in neighbouring Tunisia... just when I was planning a weekend away all hell breaks loose... sigh..  I'll have to wait till things settle down. Viva le Tunis!