Friday September 19th....... continuing a typical day!

ace-egypt closes at 5pm, usually by that time all Animals have been able to select oils they need and any needed daily have been bottled up and left in a cool place for staff to use in between visits. Kim gives staff a lift home, on the way back to Luxor we see many Horses and Donkeys working, sometimes we will find an Animal being beaten or overloaded. Kim will stop and ask for compassionate treatment. Drivers and local Egyptians who know her and have learned such compassion will wave and look proud of their well treated Animals.

If not needing food or a drink then I will be dropped off not far from home, as I have my kit with me, Horses or Donkeys on the way back can receive help, perhaps a chain nose band is needing padding or maybe a leg wound will need covering in gel. On the corner of the street where I live, many drivers congregate, giving me an opportunity to see all their Animals in one session.

When I need to get home first, having had dinner, I can then put together a small kit of Aloe Spray & Gel, some cotton wool, bandages and tape and head out ready to help Horses and Donkeys I come across. Carrying ace-egypt and Brooke Hospital leaflets proves useful where Animals are clearly in need of diagnosis and conventional treatment, drivers can take one and then will easily be directed to either place or the ferry clinic. Although most are illiterate, the information can be read by others who will tell them where they need to reach.

Much life happens at night, when the temperature drops slightly in the summer evenings it is a good time for shopping, meeting friends or simply sitting near to the Nile or a temple to enjoy the view. Carrying a small kit ensures that Animals may be treated wherever I land. There are so many of them, it would not be possible to walk anywhere without seeing them and around 2 in 5 need something.

All of the work at ace and on the streets is funded by kind donors, my lovely Donkey loving Mum - thanks so much Mum! and myself. I provide all the Essential, Herbal and Vegetable oils, next2nature.co.uk provide all the Aloe Vera and recently Jane from creaturecomforters.co.uk has generously donated Flower Essence Blends for Animals. Homeopathic Remedies have been kindly donated by Carol Carless, my UK Homeopathic practitioner. Heartfirst gratitude to all who enable working Animals to receive such valuable support :)

Today is a Friday, ace is closed giving the Animals a day off from tourist visits. Luxor is also quiet on Fridays, it is Holy day, many businesses are closed and hustle and bustle on the streets a minimum, though of course for the Animals, the work goes on and on and on!

Egypt has poverty on a scale that is completely incomprehensible to anyone who hasn't visited and even Tourists do not generally get to see the ordinary daily life for people here. You only really see it if you spend periods of time here or live here. The World Bank figures show that more than 50% of the population cannot sufficiently meet their own food or housing needs. Some 65 million of 85 million population qualify to buy subsidised basic foods. In such circumstances it is easy to understand why Animal care is not on the agenda, moreover, as basic Animal care is one of the many subjects not yet taught in Schools it is obvious why it continues to be greatly in need of practical support and funding.