Mariam is back

Back to “work”, after having said goodbye to Dutch campers. It was nice to have the occasion to talk my own language for a change.

They are doing a challenge for a “good cause” : Holland – Aqaba (Jordan) – Holland in 3 weeks. This means they have no time to visit anything. Just doing the miles.

This morning they told me that they were supposed to drive to Dakar, but changed the route at the last minute because of the terrorist attacks in that part of Africa. The Red Sea route should become an alternative for them. “Them” is 4 times during the year a team of 10 cars driving the “challenge”.

Our place is getting known among the campers of which many have their own website.

“Work” is a big word today, as a cold storm wind is blowing coming from Siberia. Time for some chores in the house next to the burning stove.

I am told that last week it was freezing 16°C below zero in Prague at night. It is still winter in that part of the world. Not here. Spring has definitely started. The rose bushes are the first to show new leaves. Other flowers are popping up.

Soon I will know how much damage the unusually long period of frost has caused to the trees and plants.

This week’s most memorable event was the visit of Fozié. I hadn’t seen her for more than 1 year due to some disputes in the family. The latest dispute - which made her stay with nephews and nieces in Aleppo for a few months - was with her brother with whom she is living as he is not married. Her nephew Mohamed together with his uncle Mohamed got her back home. She claims there is no problem and just stayed in Aleppo because of some health problems (kidney stones).

Disputes and conflicts always end this way. In the end, there is never a problem, and all is well again… until the next time.

Fozié’s real name is Mariam. Her parents didn’t agree on a name, so they both called her differently. Nowadays, everybody calls her Fozié except for her brother.

Mariam is a common name in this region. It refers to Mary, mother of Jesus. Both described in the Koran. The big difference with the Bible, the Catholic version anyway, is that Mary never got married to Joseph. She was an unmarried mother who received her son from God. Jesus had many divine gifts even as a small child.