further kabul

very busy days here in Kabul, as it is Ramadan the times are 7am to 2 pm at the workshop then rushing to find silks and textiles for the collection. 

Hoping to do the big textile necklace with a lovely cousin of Belquis, she is employing 200 woman and needs desperately work for them - and the craftsman and women at TM are all well and really pleased I came back which is really gratifying and makes me feel all the stress was worthwhile..

Security is not good here at the moment, most foreigners on lock down, a lot of road blocks, checks etc  but have a nice driver Zia who takes us here and there. 

I was speaking to Javid's father today - a dignified and wonderful old man who had been a teacher, he was telling me how beautiful Afghan culture can be in regards to the family and community and religion then I asked what he felt about the future for the country he shook his head sadly and said there is no future for his country - it is only a land for killing and death now ...we have become animals here - was so sad - his eyes just spoke of his heart break of his beautiful country destroyed. 

Made me want to cry... when I asked what about his grandchildren lives .. he just shook his head.

walking through the bazaar every day to Javid's new workshop has been an adventure in itself, considered an unsafe area at first one walks through with caution and head down ..but then the next time you look up and smile and when you smile even the most frightening Taliban fierce face under big turbans and shawls and beards suddenly opens into a beautiful smile and wave and nod in greeting - isn't smiling wonderful?