Man, Machine and North African Sky

Earlier this week I posted about my husband fixing, among other things, the air-conditioning unit in our flat. You can read about this here. Ever the helpful wife, I took a few photos while he did the job.

Downloading the photos, I was amazed to see how clear and blue the sky was.

For more Scenic Sunday posts around the world, click here.

Spring in the Southern Hemisphere

Having spent most of the week alone in Khartoum, while my husband worked down in the south of the country, I was a bit drained by time Friday arrived. It was the second week since I’d arrived in North Africa and I was feeling homesick for my cool and lush garden at home. I don’t even want to mention my family, grandchildren and pets back there in South Africa.

As I often do when I’m feeling a less than cheerful and positive, which is not often, I browse through my photographs. Imagine the nostalgia that was brought to the fore when I came across images I’d taken in the garden only days before I flew out of the country.

There was the young wild plum (Prunus cerasifera) which had shot up in closely beside my Japanese Snowball Bush. (Viburnum plicatum). Earlier this year, John and I chopped it out as best we could without hurting the Snowball Bush. Obviously it is more tenacious than we thought, so here it was growing again.

It was therapeutic to allow myself to "wallow" a little. I also I marvelled at the fragility and beauty of nature.

Stop press: Thank you to everyone of my fellow bloggers who blostered my courage by commenting and e-mailing me. It was heartwarming to have so many people out there who care.

My darling husband arrived home safely on Thursday evening. The nightwatchman has not yet returned to work. However, the power is still on. Praise God!

Sandstorm over Khartoum

On Tuesday afternoon I walked onto the balcony and noticed that the sky was overcast. This type of weather normally precedes rain, but the air felt dry. I took a few photos and came inside.

I inserted the photo above which my husband took from the roof earlier this year. The trees (same ones in my photo at top) were also windswept in this week's storm, but I couldn't go upstairs to photograph them for fear of being blown off the roof!

While speaking to my husband on the phone that evening, I glanced out of my home office door. There was an eerie red glow in the sky. After saying goodbye to him, I grabbed my camera and dashed out onto the balcony. Instead of a calm sunset awaiting me, I was blasted backwards by a wave of dust. I managed to take two photos and ran back indoors, shutting and bolting the door behind me.

Even though my husband had sent me photos of this incredible phenomenon which occurs regularly in Khartoum, and I'd read up about it on the Internet, I was not prepared for the fury and strength of the storm.

For more beautiful photos of skies around the world, click here.