A guest writer

Hello everyone. Dom here. I thought it was about time I contributed something, although I too can't identify the bird! But I know a man who can so hopefully we will be able to let you know...
So Beirut then. Paris of the Middle East and all that. Well maybe it's not at the moment and it will take a bit of time to recover. Although I was just out on our local square getting the pizzas and beer in and it seemed to be fairly full of people eating out in the cafes - although the chat is maybe a bit different from normal. And we hear that up the coast north the social scene continues as normal, Jounieh's nightclubs are buzzing 10 miles away.

Briefly on politics. Lebanon has been a very impressive place the last few days, with real unity developing against Israel. Of course people are angry at Hizbullah for their adventurism, but any Israeli attempt to get the Lebanese to oust Hizbullah went wrong when they started attacking the infrastructure. The Lebanese army would love to implement Security Council resolution 1557 to disarm all militias, but it's difficult when that militia is stronger than the army itself. And it is creating a humanitarian disaster which is only starting to become apparent with the refugee influx into Beirut. Is all this helping a fragile democratic government maintain control over its own country? Do they want an anarchic failed state on their northern border? Who knows what they think they are achieving?

Anyway. Interesting the blog was quiet for so many months. We were really manic with going out and working hard. I was away a a bit, we had loads of visitors who had a great time. Visited all the great sights of Lebanon and Syria.Time Out was really changing the way people looked at Beirut, sometimes controversially. It seems weird that last Sunday - 8 days ago - we drove out to the Chouf, had a walk in the Cedar Forest, went off road to a freezing (yes honestly) ridge to look at the amazing views, and had dinner at sunset in a lovely little town called Deir al-Qamar. Only 40 minutes outside the city - it would probably take 4 hours now with the destruction of roads. Let's hope we get the chance to try again.

But no apologies for coming here and bringing Fi. We have both had the time of our lives - a real adventure. I don't know why I keep going to dangerous places? Basra was easy compared to this. I suppose I find the Middle East fascinating with an undiscovered cultural and historical legacy which we were at least able to show some people and change some perceptions. Small victories in a shallow and selfish world - you only need to sniff the ignorance in the media. Lebanon has its faults but it is a real jewel of this part of the Med - lets hope it can be preserved.

Fi says I must be getting verbose so I must stop - a few hours sleep hopefully lie ahead.
Love to all