Sandstorm from my Window

Two days ago we had this ferocious sandstorm – it was a bit like being in the middle of a hail storm except that the wind was warm and you were being skinned alive by small sand particles rather than stinging hail stones. You couldn’t stand up in it, although I see a little figure in this picture who was bravely trying. Such storms are terrible for people with breathing and sinus problems.
Next day, I noticed a layer of sandy dust over everything in the appartment. As well as that, enough sand to fill a small bucket had come in through the two balcony windows.
Lovely view what? It will probably be filled by an eight story appartment block by the time I leave…
We are also in the season of fires – mostly on the many building sites around the town. Six Syrians died in one and then there was another one in the so-called Twin Towers over the weekend . One of the buildings had gone on fire last November because the contractors were using some kind of bitumin inside which was highly flammable. This time, one went on fire and then flying debris set the other one off. Fortunately, no-one died, but the fire brigades had a tough time of it since their ladders only reached the second floor of the buildings. The workers from other building sites rallied around and shared their lunch-boxes with their colleagues, said the local paper in a rather touching comment.
A day after there was yet another fire in the industrial area. Most of the fires appear to be caused by storing a lethal mixutre of plastic bits and pieces, gas and other building materials together. Strangely the press doesn’t get too worked up about it – you read the report on the day and the next day there is absolutely no follow up. No questions are asked about how the fire happened or who is to blame. If someone dies, their family is entitled to blood money and then it all comes out – but that can be during a court case maybe 18 months later.
Do we make to much of a fuss or do they make too little? That is the question.