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[QUOTE=Fiona]It's the very best thing about living here. And it looks especially good this year. I've already chosen lots of things I want to see, and that's just on a first look. *dances about*

Er... am I starting to sound like Chu?[/QUOTE]You sound like a happy little girl on her birthday party when the presents come out but haven't been opened yet. So a bit like chu, yeah.

Don't care. I'm going to try to see Altan, Carlos Nunes, Mariza..... and I'll probably succeed. Brian Kenney is playing with Daniel Lapp and Hans Theesink is playing with Bruce Molsky, too. It'll be great And Kate Rusby is coming and Karine Polwart (she's not with Malinky any more so it'll be different, but I like her solo album) And if I miss anyone I'll most likely catch them at the festival club

Oh, and Robin Williamson is doing his bard bit. He's good at that !

@ Rav. They run trains and buses to Glasgow, you know. We even have an airport.

Well, I''m sure you'll enjoy the festival.

[QUOTE=Fiona]@ Rav. They run trains and buses to Glasgow, you know. We even have an airport. [/QUOTE]

Ooh. Even an airport. :laugh:
Train or bus would take most of a day to get that far as for plane I suppose I could usae a London airport, but to be honest this festival isn't really my kind of thing. Looks nice and all, but I don't really want to travel more than halfway across the country to see it.

Okay, I'm going for a while.
See you both later on.

Your loss :laugh:

Bye Ravager

[QUOTE=Fiona]Don't care. I'm going to try to see Altan, Carlos Nunes, Mariza..... and I'll probably succeed. Brian Kenney is playing with Daniel Lapp and Hans Theesink is playing with Bruce Molsky, too. It'll be great And Kate Rusby is coming and Karine Polwart (she's not with Malinky any more so it'll be different, but I like her solo album) And if I miss anyone I'll most likely catch them at the festival club

@ Rav. They run trains and buses to Glasgow, you know. We even have an airport. [/QUOTE]You seem to be heavily into folk, I don't know any of those names. Oh well, still more than a month to go in excited anticipation. Do not forget to eat or fall sick... otherwise you might miss it

I won't. I am very into folk, but it's probably not like you think. Lots of crossover and fusion stuff. The music is very accomplished (these people can really play). But I agree that if you grew up in the tradition it likely adds something.

I thought you might know Hans Theesink. He's dutch, but he lives in Austria and he plays deep south american blues. Very talented but he's a lot of fun. Last time I saw him he managed to get a whole audience singing that african song "the lion sleeps tonight". It isn't easy getting Glaswegians to lose their inhibitions that way. Plays with a harmonic group called Insignizi from Zimbabwe and they are teamng up with Daniel Lapp who is a Canadian who plays fiddle and trumpet

And that's far too much information for you. Sorry

What are you looking forward too?

Well, here's a little ditty for you then, from when I was still a student:

LMAO.

Found out

As for what I'm looking forward to, more and more the end of my contract... (end of March).

Are you not happy in your work there, Lestat? Or is the political situation making it difficult, perhaps?

What will you do next?

I also wondered how you got into your line of work?

I don't mean this to turn into an interrogation. Question and answer isn't my favourite sort of conversation, but it is difficult to manage much else in this medium. I don't mean to be nosy

Well the atmosphere has somewhat degraded over time on the working floor, and Liberia is not the easiest country to work in (lack of creature comforts and decent ways of relaxing).
There might be a possibility of a job in Brussels afterwards, again via a consulting company, but also with the EC.

And how I got into this line of work? Well I wanted to work abroad in aid (whether development or humanitarian) and got the chance to do so with MSF. The fact that I had already spent some months abroad (in Nigeria, for my masters) and some other factors helped. And once you're in the system it becomes easier. Sadly enough every year of experience you gain makes it easier to gain more experience. It's difficult to get in when you're young and starting out but once the experience starts to accumulate it becomes easier.

Do you still have a wish to work abroad? I mean if you get a job in Brussels would you see that as temporary, or would you prefer to be based permanently in Europe now. Sometimes you see a little homesick. Sorry if that's stepping over the line

[QUOTE=Fiona]Do you still have a wish to work abroad? I mean if you get a job in Brussels would you see that as temporary, or would you prefer to be based permanently in Europe now. Sometimes you see a little homesick. Sorry if that's stepping over the line[/QUOTE]
Well, the melancholy is partially linked to Liberia specifically (e.g. I spent long periods abroad in other countries and it was easier there, and I see it with many other colleagues, including those with longer experience, that the country 'wears them down'). But of course Walhalla/Nirvana/Heaven for any of us, is to be based in Europe and be able to do enough short term missions to earn a comfortable living.
And the job in Brussels would be linked to development projects in ACP countries, with possibilities of overseas missions. So I don't exactly turn my back on the aid world. It would be for three years, which is not exactly temporary.

I'll tell you when you're over the line (or just skirt around the issue). No worries.

Is this a reliable source of information?

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/fac ... os/li.html

I have read all of this and it is difficult to see much reason for optimism The major exports are subject to sanction and this does not mention any real large scale alternative source of income. What can the new president ( or anyone) do in this situation? I suppose I mean what do you think are the most urgent changes which could be expected to yield long term benefits. I see that they have tried to disarm the population but without much success.

PS I won't ask any more after this or I'll get into trouble with the SF authorities

Great, I show up and everyones serious about something.....

Sorry Demortis. There didn't seem to be anyone else about so I thought it was Ok. The floor is yours

Please, proceed, im just so bored right now....

@ Demo, forgive for continuing the seriousness for just another post

@ Fiona: recent articles on the BBC site might give you an idea about the challenges. Main issue is to give the boys that had the guns something else to do and start rebuilding the country, while reducing corruption. The President Elect (Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf) has a fair standing with the donor community and might loosen purse-strings. It's clear that without donor money the country will have large difficulties to rebuild itself.
Further, the thing you mention about major exports under sanctions seems dated to me, certainly as far as rubber is concerned. Diamonds & hardwood might still be restricted, but that is under the circumstances not totally unwarranted since there is little correct oversight. Institutions & infrastuctures need to be rebuilt and cleant out, but all in all it can hardly get worse as it was before.
At the same time, you see quite abit of reconstruction of houses & buildings, we are also working on projects to rehabilitate rubber small holdings (which has extra benefit of employing low skilled labour, read ex-combattants) and other agri projects. And if the Lebanese are investing again, it's a fair sign.

Last one, I promise.

I did read the BBC sites as well. I agree there are good reasons for the sanctions on diamonds and hardwoods, it just seems harsh when unemployment stands so high. Rubber was mentioned but I didn't see it as a huge money earner - clearly I am wrong about that. You don't make it sound completely hopeless, though

@ Demortis. You got any plans for later?

@#^§!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With this bleeding lovemaking connection I don't even know anymore when a post has gone through. RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Petrol prices upupup --> Synthetic rubber prices upupup --> Natural rubber prices upupup!