Rain at last!

Although I have been happily enjoying the weather over the weekend, I have also been feeling very bad for the poor Japanese, with that unbelievably strong earthquake and the subsequent tsunami.  It is unbelievable how powerful and destructive tsunamis are and even trains are like little toys. I  spoke to friends in Tokyo and they were really shaken (no pun intended) by the force of the quake and the aftershocks.  Our friends said it was really odd that, although their apartment had been shaken about, most rooms survived intact but their TV room was turned upside down! Very odd.  It is good that most of the world is offering to help and that includes Kuwait.  By the way everyone, although it is a little known fact, Kuwait is one of the biggest donors and aid givers, per capita, in the world.   Our thoughts are with the Japanese.

Back to the weather. What a weekend. It has rained for 4 days. On the first two days/nights, we had huge thunderstorms and I, being as I am, slept through both storms.  I didn’t hear a thing.  I only realised in the morning when I went to get my breakfast.  Lovely and fresh it was. It rained Friday and Saturday and it looks like we might get a bit today.  Yippeeee, I love rain but unfortunately, it is too late for the desert.  For the desert to really flower you need rain in October and November which we didn’t have.  You also need to get rid of all the horrible rabble campers.  When it rains in the autumn we also get Fugger. No, it’s not what you think you dirty minded lot, Fugger, or Fage’ (I don’t know, in Arabic it’s فقع)  This is a Kuwaiti word, in Arabic they are called Kama or كمي.  And do you know what Fugger’s are?  They’re not what you think you dirty minded so and so’s.   Fage’ are the desert truffles and they grow in the sand.  In the springtime, if the rains have been good, people go to the desert, look for cracks in the ground and dig up the truffles.  They are excellent either fried lightly or boiled.  They are often eaten with rice, that is the traditional local method, but I have also had Fage’ omelettes. Yum.  But this spring I am sure there are no Kuwaiti truffles and they are considered among the best. I  think North African and Saudi truffles are available in the market.  Try them, they’re delicious.

PS notice in picture after the rain the 'pile' is thankfully intact!