I kept hoping that something positive and amazing would pop up from life in Ethiopia, and then I realised I was looking but not seeing....
That dreaded 'glass half empty' feeling had encompassed me and the rosy tinge with which I normally view life had paled to a dull grey!!
Then I realised that there are indeed some hidden gems here.
How could I not have seen the people - the beautiful Ethiopian people The women are absolutely striking to a point of real beauty, large, luminous dark eyes, shiny long, wavy, black hair and the men are generally tall and possess great charm and presence. The clothing is bright and colourful, brilliant scarlets, ochres and striking blues and yellows.
Babies!! They adore babies, our Wee Boy is absolutely smothered with loving attention wherever he goes, and he responds manfully with a handshake or a High Five although he is not too keen on kisses and cuddles from strangers!!
The house that we live in is quite majestic, there was a great deal of Italian influence in Ethiopia in the early days and many of the house are gigantic and imposing.
Spacious, elegant rooms with high vaulted ceilings, decorated with attractive friezes, the floors are either parquet or magnificently decorated Italian marble, if a little too ornate, cool to the touch and easy to keep clean.
The security in an Embassy house is beyond description!!
Ethiopia has a divine climate, the temperature is never too hot and never too cool, it rains a lot, warm rains with intermittent showers. The gardens are green and lush and the communal areas are verdant and overgrown.
Ethiopian food really appeals to our family, it is spicy and aromatic, even my Wee Boy is developing a spicy palate. Delicious smells waft everyday from the surrounding houses, often in sync with the melodies from the Imam calling the people to prayer.
One thing that drives HeeHoo mad though is the fact that the powers-that-be can shut down the internet at the first hint of restlessness with the population!! He is indeed a gloomy man when there is no Twitter, WhatsApp and WiFi!!
Ha ha, I can at least find solace with scrabble and bridge!!