Whats in a name ?

It has been brought to my attention by a reader from the UK that I have a penchant for mispelling De Lacey's, and he is absolutely right - it should be De Lacy's. Funny how not even young J....( Irish reclusive bar owner) noticed this mistake. - Ah well spelling never was my strong point, but my thanks to the attentive reader.

As to the happenings of this week, well frankly it has been a quiet week, where it was much as I could do, to drag myself down to De Lacy's ( see how quickly I learn !) for beer.

Am I missing not being able to have a cigarette at the same time ?- surprisingly not - but what it will be like in winter, when you will still have to step outside - but I will deal with that when the time comes.

So as you all might gather the weather has remained absolutely stunning, and seems to be continuing into next week.

This weekend I plan to join the celebrations in Cesis, where they are celebrating there 800 anniversary. ( http://www.cesis.lv )

Friday night will see an outdoor opera gala, and on Saturday a whole variety of goings on, ending with an outdoor Disco featuring International stars ( I think not) - including Right said Fred ( does anybody remember there hit song ?) and Lou (Be Happy) Bega - interesting !

At he same time as the Disco, another event is being held and I quote -

"Musical performance “In the Light of Lantern”

Taking into account that Cēsis has old and diverse music traditions and many creative groups are working at a professional level, a special dedication for Cēsis anniversary is created. Legend about Cēsis is made as a musically dramatic play. Music of the world known classical composers is used.

At the end of the performance firework will be lighted on Palasta Street."

Now if you will here for the Riga 800, you will remember the fireworks display on the Saturday evening - stunning - but if the above description is correct and it is not simply a mistake in English, then clearly the Firework display - is going to be brief

Whilst it will not have the size of the Riga 800 celebrations of a few years ago, if it can create the same atmosphere, albeit on a smaller scale, and IF the weather holds up, it should make for an enjoyable weekend.

Interesting goings on at Zvannieki this week, last Friday there number increased by seven.

The background to all of this ( taken from Leta news agency)

Seven Somalis granted asylum in Latvia

RIGA, July 13 (LETA) - The Refugee Affairs Appellate Council today decided to grant asylum and alternative status to seven Somali refugees, as the Justice Ministry's representative Jana Saulite told LETA.

The alternative status will be granted to them until the situation in Somalia stabilizes.

As reported, last December the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs said that seven citizens of Somalia, who illegally entered Latvia in August 2005, have no proper grounds for receiving refugee status or any alternative status in Latvia.

Refugee status is granted to a person fearing persecution in the country of their citizenship or previous host country (if the person is stateless) due to race, religion, ethnicity, social status, or political conviction.

If these persons cannot claim refugee status, they may be granted an alternative protection form, if they are under threat of the death penalty, corporal punishment, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment due to internal or external armed conflicts and if they need protection but cannot return to their home country.

Until now, the seven Somalis were in Latvia as asylum seekers. They are now residing in the asylum seekers center "Mucenieki", prior to which they were placed in the Olaine camp for illegal immigrants. Their detention period had expired July 7, and they traveled on and stayed briefly at a farmstead in Skujene County.

As reported earlier, the Somalis arrived the morning on August 5, 2005 in Latvia and went to the Red Cross in Riga and explained to the staff their expedition to flee their war-torn homeland. After arriving in Latvia, they asked for asylum, but were denied the request.

In March this year, the Refugee Affairs Appeal Council turned down their complaint against the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs' decision to deny them refugee or alternative status in Latvia.

In May, the Somalis submitted to the Justice Ministry a new application with a plea to grant them refugee status.

What the above does not say is that after being released last Friday, they were simply kicked out of the camp at Oliane - with no money, and no arrangements made for them to stay anywhere.

Not quite sure how they ended up at Zvannieki, but they did - and there they have stayed, they are not at the so called asylum seekers center "Mucenieki" - as when the border guards turned up Zvannieki - they were poltely told that the children ( thats what they are) would be staying there.

So much for Latvia, and its compassionate officials - but again the Ladies S..... (Canadian/Latvian) and S..... ( Latvian) - have turned up trumps - despite the obvious logistical and liguistic problems that it will cause. They have even registered two of the younger children for school next term.

One of them even has a piece of shrapnel still in her leg, from her time in Somalia - so as J.... ( Irish builder) was out at the home yesterday, he in partership J..... ( Irish smoker) arranged for visit to a Doctor in Riga, to have her leg examied and hopefully have the shrapnel removed.

So to the doom and gloom merchants around the world - just see what a little love and care can do for those less fortunate than ourselves.

This seems an appropriate time to remind all that the Smiley Fund is still open, and anyone who feels they would like to help us to help the home, please make a donation, every amount big or small helps.

Rietumu Bank Brivibas iela
Riga
Latvia
LV1010
Account Name : Zvannieku Majas
IBAN Code : LV80RTMB0000600804033
SWIFT CODE : RTMBLV2X

Have good weekend, and for those of you in Riga this weekend, watch out for the Gay Pride Parade, where once again Latvian intolerance of such things will again be on display - pity, but another indication of how far Latvian officials and society have to go in regards to an open society.