They must be nuts!

I have mentioned before that Georgians love nuts and seeds, especially fried sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanuts. To meet this very popular need almost every street will have at least one ‘resident’ seed seller who sits on a low stool under the shade of a tree or umbrella and sells nuts and seeds in small paper cones to passers by.

The tall person took this photo yesterday of a ‘mobile’ seed seller who has made a very clever conversion of a baby’s pram to convey her stock of sunflower seeds and peanuts. The folded paper tucked between the compartments is used to make the small cone-shaped containers for the seeds and nuts. The sellers use thick bottomed glasses to measure out the nuts, which makes it look as if you are getting more than you actually do! A small cone of sunflower seeds will usually cost 10-15 tetri, which is less than 1 US cent.

Why me?

After haircuts yesterday the tall person and little person and De went to the new park on Marjanishvili Street. The park has some play equipment and a sort of assault course for little people. The little person likes to go there for a ‘workout’ sometimes. De likes to go there for the slide and see-saw.

However, this is not the main reason I am writing this post. I am writing to inform you of a disturbing discovery. At the entrance to the park the tall person saw this sign.

Ok, it looks like a ‘no dogs allowed’ sign but look closely. Whose silhouette is this? It’s not a Chihuahua. It’s not a Daschshund. It’s not a Newfoundland. It is a silhouette of me! It is quite obvious from this sign that the municipal authority has decided to increase the privileges of all dogs except for me. Whilst other dogs are clearly permitted to run freely in the park and use the play equipment I am not allowed in and would have to wait outside with my nose pressed against the fence yearning to join in the fun.

Why me? What have I done to deserve to this?

I have asked the tall person to contact the municipal authorities and appeal against this unfair and discriminatory by-law.

P.S. I have called this post ‘Why me?’ for two reasons. Firstly, why me? Why have I been singled out for individual discrimination and secondly, ‘why me’ is how the Georgian expression ‘vieme’ is pronounced. You may remember that ‘vieme’ is a much used exclamation and can mean surprise, disppointment, curiosity, alarm, fear, pain, delight, excitement, disbelief, wonder. I am using it here in the context of disappointment and disbelief.

‘Vieme!’