A hot and hazardous week

A hot and hazardous week

Last week, life seemed to be under severe pressure, everywhere. While it is hot outside, daily temperatures above 30 degrees, roses flower and wilt within a week’s  time, red cherries on the trees in the street, summerflowers everywhere

….many things were turned upside down:

 

1. A Worldbank representative was here for a supervision mission of Roberts project. Hectic!   An error in the original contract (no money budgeted for the topographical survey, an essential part of the project) made for aggressive discussions, diplomatic maneuverings, finding and discussing alternatives, Robert not sleeping very well, and – in the end- an undecided conclusion on May 31^st.

The consultancy company (Roberts employer) now has to find additional money in the contract (the suggestion is to reduce international input) and take some additional financial risks and come up with a solution on June 7^th at the latest. Presently they are not willing to agree with this solution. If they don’t, the government here might decide to terminate the contract, (one month notice) and we would find ourselves home again by half July.  Que sera? But then again, the soup is never eaten as hot as it is served 

2. Our daughter Meike decided to quit her study psychology in the Netherlands. After all the efforts she had put in, it wasn’t what she wanted or had hoped for. What a disappointment for her it was! And a difficult decision to take. She is now reorienting herself and we hope she will be a happier and more satisfied person in the future.

Meanwhile life here just continues and we went to an amazingly good concert in the Roman Catholic Polish Church (picture left)  

3.  Of our good friends a couple is going through difficult times since about 2 years, which turned into a definite divorce announcement by May 30st. It is painful and sad, and we are in thought and emails very often with them.

 So our weekend now is suddenly very quiet and relaxed.

Picture right and left are of the Government park around the statue of the weeping mother (only open to the public on Sundays) and Government buildings strewn in it

So, we had some recent Uzbek friends for dinner on Saturday evening.

And this Sunday morning we took a long walk through the parks , enjoying the summer smell of roses, mowed grass and the wish-wush sound of fountains – which are turned on everywhere, for the better enjoyment of life of ‘the population’ .

To our surprise we recognised some beloved real tropical trees here,  next to West European species.