busy - as usual

It's been a while since I've posted anything on the blog. I've been busy, busy, busy. Lots of work this week at home as well as work.

When I get through the end of the day and think back about what happened in the morning it always seems as though the morning was a long time ago. But if I think about the week it seems as though time has flown by!

This week I've also been putting together a new project for a group of teachers that are exploring learning with computers. It's a fun and interesting challenge: http://learningwithcomputers.pbwiki.com/Widgets

I'm enjoying it! :)

A morning at the fair

This morning we decided to go to the fair - on the way we drove past the fountain that I had previously posted a picture of and found workers cleaning it. I decided to take some pictures since the water was turned off.

There must be some information somewhere about the background of this fountain.

Near the entrance to the fair.

We arrived early in the day so it wasn't very busy.

There were displays from many different countries and they had all kinds of things to look at and things to buy too.

Jenna inspected the ambulances and medical equipment. She's still not sure whether she wants to be a doctor or a lawyer.

The US had a pavillion but it was closed - they said they were having a conference and they were closed to the public. Mustafa said to the man standing at the door 'Is this the time to hold a conference? You should use this opportunity to be open to the public.' We never did see more than the outside of the pavilion. . . maybe next year. . .

As usual they had a poor little gazelle with a photographer for people to get their pictures taken with.

The kids need this to keep them busy this summer.

It was a nice way to spend the morning. Time to get back home and send Jenna off to school.

We saw this sign on the way to the car . .. westeren food and sandwishes. . . lol - Time to think about lunch!

Friday Afternoon

This afternoon we went to the farm. Things are beginning to dry up and will soon be brown - but there's still some wildflowers to be seen.

After the apricots came into blossom we had an awful sandstorm but the blossoms held and there will be apricots to eat soon.

My husband says this plant is called jilbana. It has some beanpods and he says in Tunisia they eat them. I've never seen it before. Anyone got any recipes for it?

Jenna gathered some roses for me - Thanks Jenna!

Thorny and sticky but so pretty. It was a nice peaceful afternoon - actually the whole day was nice!

Friday Morning

They've started taking the census in Libya - going around sticking stickers on all the houses. Wow! We've even got bar-codes - just like the supermarket! The census has never been very successful in Libya. Most people are suspicious by nature and don't want to give out any information that they think might be used against them in the future. I doubt it will be successful this time either. This morning we went out for a walk around town and I took some pictures - (it's not the sticker on my house).

Jama Misran - I think the telephone pole spoils the shot but I took it anyway.

Old alley off Misran Street.

The Grand Hotel - notice how no one pays any attention to the lines painted on the road.

This is a fountain near the Grand Hotel that was put there during the Italian occupation. It's really lovely - a gazelle with nude, but it's difficult to photograph because of the way the water hits it and the reflection of the light off the water. We plan on going back with something to put in front of the water jets to stop the water hitting the statue from the front and then get a better shot . . . another time.

From another angle.

A shady place to take a rest.

The old fort with the entrance to what is now the museum. The long pole on the top is said to be the mast from the American ship the Philidelphia which was captured . . . from the halls of Montezuema to the shores of Tripoli . . . .

Someone is being clever - they've got a mural painted on the top of the fort and from certain positions it looks as though 'the leader' is up there waving through the arched balcony. Is that really necessary?

Construction is underway for a large park with a big fountain. I think they need to put in more shade trees. Palm trees look picturesque but offer little respite from the sun and heat during summer.

This part of the park is looking pretty good. Nice to see green grass - I hope they manage to keep it looking green.

Lots of places for the kids to play - I hope they finish the park before summer gets here.

'me time' and 'in-law time'

It's been a busy, busy week. I've knocked myself out this week, but I also managed to take some time out for me. Actually I did that twice! - Once was a trip to Sheila's to get my hair cut. I went with one of my friends and we had a good time. We laughed, joked, dragged out Sheila's cd's and played music that we all knew the words to so we could sing along. It was fun! - and I look better with my hair cut.

More 'me time' last night. A get-together with many of the American ladies who've been here for years and years. We never go hungry when we meet - last night was no exception; sloppy joes, potato salad, macaroni salad, grilled lamb, corn, mixed salad and eggplant salad - I can't even begin to describe the desserts! - yummy!

I really needed the 'me time' because next week will be 'in-law time'. The Islamic holiday called Miloud is next week. This is Prophet Mohamed's birthday and actually in Islam, birthdays aren't celebrated. In Libya Miloud is celebrated with the kids getting new clothes, toys and setting off fireworks and for breakfast many people eat a traditional dish called asida. Many of the women will get new clothes too.

My in-laws like to act as though they are so super religious and say Miloud celebrations are 'bida' (innovation) and shouldn't be celebrated. But at the same time they'll all be showing off the new clothes they bought for the occasion, etc, etc, etc. uuugh! - I'll go as usual, sit quietly and let the kids have fun. I always bring a magazine or a book to read (I've got 2 National Geographics that I haven't read yet - saving them just for the occasion).

I'll survive. I always do. . . . got to remember to stop by the pharmacy and pick up some panadol.

Introducing . . . .

The other day I added to my growing list of Libyan and Libyan related blogs and got this comment:

Hi Khadija,what about my blog !!! - Sereeb

The name of the link looked familiar, I clicked on the link and had a look . I kept thinking 'Where have I read this name before?' Then it occurred to me that it was from the Tibra website that I had read the name before, a spotlight about Soad El-Rgaig.

More for the growing list!

Sereeb - the blog ~~ Sereeb - the website

Also added:

Tarabulus

I'll add them to the sidebar as well - Thanks for pointing yourself out. If there's anyone else hiding out there - Come out! Come out! Where ever you are!!!

Libyan drivers

Below is an interesting video I found of Libyan driving.

Actually yesterday one of my friends called me in a panic. Her husband had gone shopping and taken her car. He parked it and got out, noticed a minibus swerving in and out of traffic at high speed and then it ploughed into her car and totalled it. It's a good thing that no one was in the car because they probably would not have survived.

Anyway, her husband was at the police station trying to straighten it all out. It seems that some of the passengers on the bus were injured and the busdriver was trying to talk his way out of it all. Of course the minibus didn't have proper insurance and the police were advising my friend's husband to just take whatever money he could get! - the car was less than a year old!

God help us all!

note: the video is not from the insident I mentioned above.