This weekend, they were back in town and came to visit, which was a lot of fun! We talked about everything from horses to politics. It was a fun and relaxing time and what a treat to be able to speak in English for a while.
And here's a picture just to make sure that our hard-working photographer is not forgotten... :-)
When Nettus and I went to work this afternoon, we stumbled upon some festivities going on in our street.
The younger brother of a friend of my brother (it's complicated, I know...) was getting married, and so the tent was up, and dancers had been hired for the occasion.
I didn't have the time to stay for long, but Nettus did, walking around with her camera and photographing the people.
It was a beautiful crowd, and as for all the people wearing the same tissue, that is one of the key issues in Niger which shows family unity. 
Sahara looking beautiful as ever - but who would have thought she'd grow so much during the time that she's been with us?
Maya starting to become less and less like an indifferent bush horse and more and more like the other mares in the flock
Arwen with the right posture. I wanted a picture of that belly to see if there will be any visible difference in a few months. It's only been about four months since DanMaffia was here and did his business... She hasn't called for any male attention since, but that's about all I know about whatever is going on inside her! And let us not forget, I have been tricked before...
Hampsatu and her baby daughter Sherifa
Some of the other women in the room
Some of the people outside
Nettus and Ishtar eating à la Nigerienne - although I must admit, I totally lack the skill of eating with my hands! My colleague finds this hilarious, since he knows I can eat with "sticks" (he has seen me at a Chinese restaurant) and logically, eating with your hand should be a lot easier. But it all comes down to habit, and I am untrained in the art of getting food correctly in my mouth using only my hands - without looking like a slob! The good news is that we were commended for our efforts and did not offend anyone!
Nettus and I on the bed together with one of Sherifa's brothers and her mother.
Outside in the courtyard, friends and family (only the women, of course!) where helping out with the upcoming dinner - a meal of meat that everyone was looking forward to!
Photos of the women
We stayed for an hour and then went home for a "break", promising to be back later on... On our way home, we stopped at Ladi's and took some pictures with her and her younger brother Abdul-something (sorry, I keep forgetting!) and sister Aïchatu. Aïchatu is the funniest little rascal you can find (worldwide) - both Nettus and I adore her. She always always makes us laugh!
A lot of people here have been wondering if I've let the country, since I have grown so scarce. Well, both Nettus and I have been very much present, but our presence has been very much limited to the office, where we have been working long, long, long hours these past few weeks. It's a fun challenge though, and we get to do things we never thought possible for us to do before!
Oh, what a perfect winter we have had this year! Great temperatures and a deep blue sky with lots of sunshine, just the way I love it!
Our colleague got another daughter today: a beautiful baby girl! The naming ceremony will be later this week.
In Niger, horses start being ridden at far too young a age, sometimes not more than a year or so. With Maya, we let her run along for the first few weeks, but when she started getting too daring on her own (peeking into people's gardens on our way out of town and hunting the herder's goats when out in the bush), we decided to give our 2 year old a try and see if what she was like. Nettus and I fought over who (wouldn't be the one) taking her out, and the lot fell on Nettus, who weighed less than I. It was a interesting ride but not a comfortable one - we only tried her out for a few minutes before deciding that the horse needs to grow a lot more before one of us will be comfortable to take out her. So Maya went back to being a filly again, which answers the title question with a big YES, despite regional norms.
So, a new year and a new season. I have to remind myself of the "cut", since I see a year as the full extent of time that I am in Africa! For me, the new year will be after I have gone back to Sweden and then get to come back to Africa again.
Anyway, this weekend showed some interesting races at the track, so Nettus & I sent the mares with Ali and took the bikes ourselves, meeting with all the "who's whos" of the Zinderien horse community. Arwen poor thing had to stay home recuperating from a fall we had (which left her with an injured muscle).
The place was crowded and so security was up.
Everywhere, you could see people preparing their horses for the races.
The discipline amongst the stallions today was impressionable! Nettus got to take some fab pictures!
And they were off!
When they were done with the first race, Yaronbaba took the Ishtar girls out for a ride. Sahara taking the task dead seriously and Maya the young one tagging along. She did run though! And jump... And play... They had fun, and so did we!
Nettus, Maya and our friend aka the Snow Man
Nettus with her favourite horse's younger sister
Ishtar & Maya
Maya trying to communicate that she would like to have her fair share of phone conversation, especially when the call is from Sweden!
The heated debate about what horse is going to win the race!
The winner in person - Aldo the Menace (brown horse to the right). If Nettus and I get things the way we want, Aldo will be siring Sahara's foal, but in order for him to do that, she must first express a specific interest him in... But that'll be another story!
