Et puis soudain, juste en face de la villa de celle-ci, une autre villa se trouva libre. Alors Oblomov la loua et, sans même la visiter, s'y installa. Et le voilà avec Olga du matin au soir, le voilà qui lui fait la lecure, lui envoie des fleurs, se promène avec elle sur le lac, dans les montagnes. Lui, Oblomov! Qu'est-ce qui n'arrive pas dans le monde?

Two weeks ago, the submarine cable which transmits most of the data out of Benin, has broken. This explains a severe deterioration of the internet connections (and telephone landlines, but this does not really concern me) we had recently. A ship from South Africa, which can repair this, is on its way, and in the meantime the government tries to rerout the data by satellites. But the connections to the outside world are seriously hampered.

Oblomova spares neither cost nor effort to keep you updated.

Not that much has happened in the meantime. In our front yard, tomatoes and beans sprang up amongst the rubble. Hopefully they will escape the zeal of the weed exterminator who passes by regularly.

The internet session is interrupted by a blackout. Yesterday this happened while I was at the hairdresser. Normally the procedure takes about an hour, but this time I had to sit there for almost three hours, admiring the skill of the braiders (they fix hair extensions to strands of 2 cm and screw them into little ropes of not more than 2mm), and still I had to leave with my hair undried. People are masters of improvisation, but the loss for the economy must be tremendous. The other internet café has not yet recovered from its burnt modem.

I know that some of you don't really enjoy my wildlife pictures, but I cannot resist to take them, if only for my sister's edification (she will pass her final exam on 11 August, so please cross your fingers). I am sure, many of you always wanted to know how millipedes do it: here is the answer, some kind of insect porn, so to speak.

This animal sat on our wall one evening. The following morning I only found its arm on the ground.

Admire this artistic anthill.

Meet the West African ladybug, comme chez nous a big devourer of aphids.

Another nameless beauty.