Under Siege XX: Will We Stay or Will We Go?

And they say that a week is a long time in politics! This evacuation lark has more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing (to paraphrase Blackadder). First of all we are going, so we spend most of the weekend packing; then we are not going, so we stop packing; then I might go, so I think about packing; then we both might go on holiday and return, so we both think about packing things we might not have taken and then unpack things we would have taken if we had been evacuated and not if we were going on holiday which we may now be taking anyway. And it may all change tomorrow!!! And I thought just the bombing was emotionally exhausting!

Packing conumdrums aside, this weekend saw Dom and I venture out of Beirut for the first time in what seems like ages to go and survey some of the damage done on the bridges north of Beirut. I do aim to upload at least one photo of the damage if I can but it is incredible. A whole bridge near Byblos has been taken out. A hole has also been blasted in the bridge near Jounieh although in true Lebanese style, half the bridge is open to traffic. I must say that I quite admire the stoicism of the Lebanese in still using that bridge; if it was left to Health and Safety it would have been completely out of action. We also surveyed the damage an oil slick caused by an Israeli attack on a power station south of Beirut (they only run on imported diesel) had done to the local coastline. Up to 35,000 tonnes of diesel has been spilt so far - when you consider that Exxon Valdez was 40,000 you begin to get an impression of how bad the damage is to Lebanon's none-too-clean-anyway coastline, and it will come as no surprise that this is far and away the biggest environmental disaster in the area ever.

The bombs continue - last night was particularly noisy. And the destruction of the southern suburbs is still happening - Dom's colleague Wissam learnt today that the building opposite hers has been destroyed (she has not been home for some weeks) and that her doors and windows were blown out by the force of the blast. As I have said before, it is the stories of personal loss and fear that affect you the most.

Tonight we are off out for a bite to eat as we continue to support the economy in one of the few ways we can. In the meantime, Dom is watching live coverage from Headlingley as England play Pakistan - and appear to be beating them too - he is particularly excited to hear the voice of David Gower again... Need I say more?