Kiwa loan update

In November 2009 I lent USD 25 to a woman in Benin via Kiwa. Benin is a country in Africa where the average annual income is USD 1,500. I just read on www.Kiwa.org that this woman has now repaid 62% of her loan (it is a one year micro-credit loan of USD 250). She took the loan to increase her business of selling fabric for clothes making. I hope her business has improved.
It feels good to make this "investment" in another person. I do not miss the 25 dollars but to her it makes credit available. Once she has repaid the loan in full, I can loan the 25 dollars to another person requesting a micro-credit loan. Thanks again to my friend Cia who got me interested in Kiwa!

Things to smile about: One

Having the day off. All three of us.
Being able to do whatever we want.
Or do nothing at all.
Just as we please.
That is something to smile about, isn't it? Cottage near the viaduct in Chirk, UK. (private photo)

Breakfast

One Tuesday morning 6.35 AM.
The weather was so lovely I ate my breakfast on our patio.

Total bliss.
The only sounds heard were birds chirping and the distant sounds of trains crossing the Öresund bridge.

A wonderful start to the day!

I am grateful for the warm summer mornings

we have had this year:

many breakfasts were enjoyed on the patio.

Will save those memories for November!

Saturday Tram ride

"Children are encourage to let elders use the seats"
The tram itself.
Platforms front and back from 1927, interior from 1907.

Warning triangle on board in case of a mechanical breakdown.

To warn other drivers.

Extra long stop.

TV crew from Dubai interviewed the driver.

SEK 20 will get you a ticket that is valid all day for as many rides as you want.

We rode the tram 3 times.

Interior from 1907.

Read more about the museum tram here (only in Swedish).

Things growing in our garden

An afternoon well spent

Last Wednesday on our bike ride home from the park, my son and I suddenly saw some builders about to pave a road. We quickly got off the bike, pulled out the picnic blanket and sat down by the side of the road to watch. My son could not believe his eyes: real life Bob-the-Builder(s) and the Can-Do-Crew laying asphalt and making a road! There was Roley (the steam-roller) and Bessie (the finest road-paving machine ever made from the movie Cars) and a truck which we quickly named Lasse Lastbil in Swedish (in English we could have called him Tommy Truck). It took about an hour to pave the road and we sat quietly and watched. Very interesting. It was an afternoon well spent.