watch out for abu charbel

In every building contractor there is an abu charbel. Before I introduce you properly to him, let me show you what abu charbel can do for you!

This is our appartment garden before abu charbel
arrived to our neighborhood.


And this is it after his arrival.....

long time no hear

My life in general and my work in particular were on a speedy roller coaster the last 3 months.
Though it is still spinning it has slowed down slightly seemingly nearing its destination.
During this rough ride, I travelled to Beirut to inspect the fallen garden of our apparment; then off to Johanseburg where I was kissed by a beautiful elephant followed by a week long trip to Bahrain where I had just enough time between meetings to catch up with my dear friend Maria.
Once I returned to Lagos from all these trips, it was clear that it is best to move on. We are moving back to Beirut soon.
Between the packing, the handover of work and the shutting down of an old life, I will introduce you all to Abu Charbel, the elephant, the indifferent bar scene of Beirut and the beautiful rainy season of Lagos.

tall and beautiful

Most people you cross on the streets and in the markets of Lagos are beautifully fit.
This is not due to a special diet it is because they walk. They walk everywhere to make a living.
They walk carrying on their heads large plates filled with foodstuff or any other goods to sell.
On street junctions, young men carry stacks of news papers on their heads and run to cars to sell one. Mothers carry their baby on their back wrapped by a piece of cloth as they walk to care for their business. They all walk tall in a natural, beautiful and effortless way. They walk with pride.

traffic

When we first arrived to Lagos everyone complained about the traffic jams or " the go slow" as it is referred to here. It did not deter me; coming from Cairo where traffic jams are a very serious issue. Last week, however I changed my mind.
The distance from home to the office is rouhgly 9 Km which we normally cover in 15 to 20 minutes. That particular monring, it took me 2 hours to reach the office... Is this a new world record for a go slow?