Sunday 9 September 2007

update




Here are the updated pictures of the walls of the Oudayas. Don’t they look fantastic? I think the chaps are doing a splendid job. It is terrifying to watch them scale the scaffolding with no safety equipment, no helmets, and no gloves. I am so very pleased to see that are finishing the walls in the ‘old way’ and not slapping on some concrete.

I included a photograph of a woman in the traditional form of dress until thirty years ago, haik made in Tafroute; this is a large piece of fine woolen cloth serving as a cloak, hook, and veil all in one. I would say very difficult to maneuver in one of those. You can see why the djellaba is a feminist statement.

I believe I have answered all the comments from the days I was "missing in action". Please let me know if I missed anyone.

Ciao.

11 comments:

I Beatrice said...

The walls certainly look great!

I have just come back from a city of walls too - Lucca, in Tuscany, the only completely walled city in Italy, I believe. They are very charming, and you can walk, or cycle all the way round them, viewing the medieval city from every point...

But perhaps they are not quite so high, or so old, or so formidable, as the ones you picture here?

I can't look at veiled women however, without experiencing some kind of almost primeval rage - but that aside, I'm so very very glad to see you're back, and better!

lady macleod said...

i beatrice

Wonderful to see you as well. I take it you had a good holiday. It sounds quite grand. I don't believe I have been go Lucca but it sounds charming.

thank you for coming by.

Omega Mum said...

So glad you're better and I love the pictures.

lady macleod said...

omega mum

As am I! Thank you and

thank you for coming by.

Maude Lynn said...

So glad that you're feeling better!

The pictures are absolutely gorgeous! But, can you imagine trying to go about your daily tasks dressed like that?

lady macleod said...

mama zen

I have and I can't! Albeit they are allowed to wear what they please inside their homes, but some still dress if there is anyone visiting.

Thank you for the kind words and thank you for coming by.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Ciao, Lady M. I hope you are completely better? These are lovely photos and I, too, am glad that the walls are being restored in the old style. I'm fascinated by the picture of the woman - how on earth could you move or even see?

lady macleod said...

welshcakes

Yes I am quite well once again, and happy to be so.

I am amazed at how the women maneuver. It is in the minority as apparel now, but one does see it in different materials and brighter colors than previously. The brightly patterned ones in silk are really quite lovely, but look very uncomfortable.

thank you for coming by.

jmb said...

Amazing how they are still doing things in the old way, however I wish they would follow modern safety standards.
I too get enraged when I think that women have to cover up in this way. In the heat no less, silk must help a little.
Glad to see you up and about again.
regards
jmb

lady macleod said...

jmb

thank you for coming by.

Pig in the Kitchen said...

Hello M'lady, have hunted in vain for your email address, so will clog up your comments instead. Sorry.

Was reading a copy of Foods Matter (subsription only)when I came across something and thought of you! It was an article about milk and milk allergies...
...'Lucy had migraine. She found it reduced when she gave up dairy products. People with migraine are likely to be short of one or more of the PST enzymes which deal with amines and phenols in foods. I suggested that it was the tyramine in her mature cheese that had caused her migraine. She found she could tolerate butter and mild hard cheese. She had given up dri8nking coffee...this also helped reduce her migraines as withdrawal sumptoms from caffeine can trigger them. By reducing other foods high in amines or phenols, like onions, oranges and over-ripe bananas, she eliminated the migraines altogether.'

Later in the magazine, a reader has written in with the following:
...'Once i removed every dairy product from my diet, including cream, butter, margarine, flavoured crisps, etc my migraines disappeared like magic. I discovered I could not tolerate any form of milk, including sheep's and goats' milk and if I stirred my husband's milky tea with a spoon first, and then stirred my own black tea, that was enough to trigger a migraine.'
PHEW, sorry for copying it out in full, the articles weren't available online.
Perhaps none of this is useful to you, but then again...

I won't mind at all if you want to delete this comment, I would've sent it by email if I could so as not to bore your readers!
Pigx