I can’t believe our princess Isolde is 2 years old today!

Isolde yar’Arwen, born September 1st 2008

Wasn’t it just yesterday that I came back from Sweden and found a delightful little filly in the garden of Isthar’s Ark? Isolde yar’Arwen was the first filly born in our care. Raising an equine from the very beginning has [...]

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We come out one morning to find Ivory, one of the equines of Ishtar’s Ark without her halter.
IVORY: Esther, I feel naked without my halter. Can you help me?

ESTHER [to herself]: Now I wonder who could be the guilty one…?

ESTHER: OK, Ivory! Let’s try pink on you! Let’s spice up this horse yard and make [...]

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After nearly a week in Zinder, it’s still hard to sum up the feeling of how good it feels to be home. Sheba is being a darling, not leaving my side. I am so glad I made it back in time before Anette leaves for Sweden on Saturday (close call!). She has done an amazing [...]

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Looking back at the past few months of my life, I sometimes stop and wonder - did all that surrealness really happen to us? I look back at the blog and at an immense archive of unsorted pictures from Taiwan and I am reminded that - yes, it did happen. And it was real.

When we [...]

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Last week, Moncef took us to the animals Souk in Tunis.

The Souk is a weekly market, and every city and village in Tunisia has one.

This particular one specialized in small animals, which Moncef explained was unique.

Everywhere we walked, there were animals for sale. Hens & roosters, ducks, geese, bunnies - you name it.

(Notice the dog [...]

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I can’t believe it’s already been three days since we picked up the new Eden car, packed it over night and started the long journey the following morning! It feels so good to be on the road again, not only because we’re heading HOME, but also because it’s been fourteen years now since our last [...]

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Riding in the bush is a passion to be shared with both humans and critters.

Sheba, my 1½ year old Rhodesian ridgeback from Sweden, is always ready to accompany us on our rides!

As Nigeriens are very social, we often stop to talk to people.

And while humans stop to talk to humans, Sheba takes the opportunity to [...]

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Taiwan, March 2010
I finally went to the dentist in Sweden and they fixed my front tooth (the one that got damaged during the last turmoil in Taiwan).

Before…

…and after!
I cannot tell you how happy I am that they were able to restore the tooth! I never reflected on before how attached we are to our teeth [...]

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It’s Easter in Sweden and spring is on its way. The snow has melted, but the winds are still cold.

My dad got restless on Thursday and there was somewhere he just had to go.

We took the train and traveled north,

…to Smögen, my mother’s island on the West Coast of Sweden.

My dad bought flowers.

Purple flowers. Just [...]

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We are still in Sweden, preparing for a trip south. We are all eager to go back home (to West Africa), but while we are here, there are many beautiful places worth visiting and it’s nice enjoying snow, mist and cold for a change… There will be enough heat awaiting in Niger during hot season [...]

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Arne & Bettan’s cottage in Sweden, February 2010

Resting in Staffan & Inger’s livingroom

Falkenberg, March 2010

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On Monday morning Taiwanese time, we took the plane to Seoul, then to Germany. Finally!!!
We are now be heading north to Sweden. Will update you as soon as I can!

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The past 60 hours have definitively been the most intense of this journey. On the evening the day before yesterday, we called our father (who had once again been taken into hiding, after we confronted Joy with the appearance of our mother’s wedding ring on her finger). He informed us that he was at the [...]

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For all my life, I have known my father as an alert driver, with whom I have always felt very safe as a passenger. He would never drive recklessly, as he taught me to have respect for traffic, and taught me more generally in life, that risks should be taken for causes that are worthy [...]

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On the day of the second anniversary of my mother’s death (after spending the night at the police station), my dad came to our hotel room to spend the day together with his family with Joy’s blessing.

We started with fresh juice,

…then went to a little café close to where my father was staying, and had [...]

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