No, I haven't go a picture, its a bit too misty and the view is obscured - but the snowline is now down to just above the level of the highest apartments up the slope behind us. The last two days have been heavily overcast and the rain at our level is snow higher up. Hills that were not snow covered at the beginning of the week are now. And the wind is definitely colder. As soon as there is a clear day I want to try and get a picture, but it isn't likely to be before Thursday at present appearances.
The dry ground is now muddy here and the farmer opposite the Training Centre is busy harvesting the turnip crop. Crop rotation is obviously something deeply ingrained here, as he has ploughed, harrowed and planted a winter crop already - presumably one that that likes the snow and needs the water that is available in winter.
And the good news for us is that it is now nine days to our flight home. Personally I can't wait. Its been fun in some ways, and its certainly paying the bills for the moment. But I'm also conscious of the very large number of things now urgently requiring my attention at home. Not to mention my beloved old Paddy Cat who has probably given me up for lost.
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Monday, 7 December 2009
Tense in Tehran
For the moment we still have the internet and the phone, although there is reportedly a large anti-government demo in progress. We did have a lot of warning about it and last night there were people standing on the rooftops chanting, the traditional form of protest here. That said, where we are accomodated and where we are working we have seen and heard absolutely nothing further.
BBC news reports from Turkey are interesting, but there is nothing live to go by.
Watch this space, I'll post of there is more.
Meantime we are looking forward to getting home in just on ten more days. The folk we are working with are super, we couldn't ask for nicer people to work alongside. Even the people on the street are warm and friendly, its not unusual to be stopped in a shop and asked where you are from and then engaged in friendly conversation, albeit in broken English. But, lets face it, home is home. Twelve weeks away from it is a long time.
BBC news reports from Turkey are interesting, but there is nothing live to go by.
Watch this space, I'll post of there is more.
Meantime we are looking forward to getting home in just on ten more days. The folk we are working with are super, we couldn't ask for nicer people to work alongside. Even the people on the street are warm and friendly, its not unusual to be stopped in a shop and asked where you are from and then engaged in friendly conversation, albeit in broken English. But, lets face it, home is home. Twelve weeks away from it is a long time.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Happy St Nicholas Day
St Nicholas of Smyrna, now in modern Turkey, was bishop there in the early history of the church. It is his example of giving gifts to those who needed help that is the model for our gift giving at Christmas and other times. He is also the model of Santa Claus - more propery Sinta Klaus, the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas - and some of our traditions.
The traditional red coat may be a confusion of traditions as well, since it is the colour used by the church to depict a martyrdom and Nicholas was not in Western tradition, a martyr.
Today is the day in Holland that "Struwel Pieter", a rather scary figure, visits homes and checks on which children deserve presents. In some traditions as well, it is this day that gifts are exchanged and not on the 25th. Whichever tradition you follow, remember Nicholas, and remember who he was following in his generosity to others. It is an example we do well to follow.
The traditional red coat may be a confusion of traditions as well, since it is the colour used by the church to depict a martyrdom and Nicholas was not in Western tradition, a martyr.
Today is the day in Holland that "Struwel Pieter", a rather scary figure, visits homes and checks on which children deserve presents. In some traditions as well, it is this day that gifts are exchanged and not on the 25th. Whichever tradition you follow, remember Nicholas, and remember who he was following in his generosity to others. It is an example we do well to follow.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
More from Karsan
More pictures from Karsan and the stunning heritage of the "great houses" that are preserved there. The sense of history as one surveys this country is almost overwhelming. The pictures show some of the vault decoration in the Merchant's House. It is original and unrestored - stunning to think it is more than 200 years old.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Blogging from Tehran
Is fraught with interruptions and to be honest we are working so hard that it is sometimes difficult to remember to post something. For one thing we do not have internet access at work. This was promised weeks ago, but using a MacBook has its disadvantages, especially when the host has a system that requires the installation of a Microslosh program in order to access their systems login .... The MacBook simply refuses to even consider it. Probably rightly.
Some of the other guys have access, but it is slow and erratic, so I don't bother while I'm at the office. Besides we have enough to do just to run the courses anyway as we have some support, but it is usually restricted by language barriers. Much easier to just do it yourself.
It is interesting to see what is reported here and how it is reported. I am strongly reminded of political science lectures from my distant past in which it was pointed out that a common tactic for a government unpopular at home and in trouble to "invent" all sorts of external "enemies" and to play up external threats. So the vote in Switzerland, hardly what I would term a typical example of the west, as "Islamaphobia" and "proof" that Islam is under attack in, and by, the west. I am constantly told here that "freedom of worship" is practiced, yet Christian Churches, and there are quite a number, are generally run down, locked and well hidden. Mosques, on the other hand, are everywhere being built, renovated, or enriched - all with a "Mosque Tax" imposed and collected centrally and available only to the Mosque committees. The people here are told that this is the way the western democracies fund the promotion of Christianity and the "war" on Islam.
Likewise the seizure and freeing of the yacht and its crew in this week is "spun" in the same way our Labour Government "spins" and filters the news at home. No wonder people everywhere are losing faith in their governments and politicians have lost everyone's trust.
Yet, one cannot but be aware of the pride of the people in the street in their heritage and their hopes, not dissimilar from our own, in a bright and free future for themselves and their children. It is surely not such a far fetched ambition? Perhaps if we could actually get a media that is free of political bias, interested in telling the truth and not in spinning the bad for political and financial gain we might begin to understand one another better.
But that is probably far too much to wish for!
Some of the other guys have access, but it is slow and erratic, so I don't bother while I'm at the office. Besides we have enough to do just to run the courses anyway as we have some support, but it is usually restricted by language barriers. Much easier to just do it yourself.
It is interesting to see what is reported here and how it is reported. I am strongly reminded of political science lectures from my distant past in which it was pointed out that a common tactic for a government unpopular at home and in trouble to "invent" all sorts of external "enemies" and to play up external threats. So the vote in Switzerland, hardly what I would term a typical example of the west, as "Islamaphobia" and "proof" that Islam is under attack in, and by, the west. I am constantly told here that "freedom of worship" is practiced, yet Christian Churches, and there are quite a number, are generally run down, locked and well hidden. Mosques, on the other hand, are everywhere being built, renovated, or enriched - all with a "Mosque Tax" imposed and collected centrally and available only to the Mosque committees. The people here are told that this is the way the western democracies fund the promotion of Christianity and the "war" on Islam.
Likewise the seizure and freeing of the yacht and its crew in this week is "spun" in the same way our Labour Government "spins" and filters the news at home. No wonder people everywhere are losing faith in their governments and politicians have lost everyone's trust.
Yet, one cannot but be aware of the pride of the people in the street in their heritage and their hopes, not dissimilar from our own, in a bright and free future for themselves and their children. It is surely not such a far fetched ambition? Perhaps if we could actually get a media that is free of political bias, interested in telling the truth and not in spinning the bad for political and financial gain we might begin to understand one another better.
But that is probably far too much to wish for!
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Decoration
Some of the decorated walls in the Merchant's House in Karsan. Considering the house has stood open to the elements for the last 140 years it is a tribute to the original craftsmen that these are still visible.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Karsan
The symetry of the buildings is amazing, they are grand, they are designed to impress - and they are several hundred years old. This picture was take in the reception hall of the house built by the family who collected the tax for travel to Esfahan from Karsan. The position was a hereditary one and the house reflected the "perks" of a tax collector at this time.
Nice post - if you can get it.
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