Post Tenebras Lux

Dear Sagir,

I don’t know your name but this is what they call you in Arabic. To me you are the hawk.

I’m glad you have returned to the desert. You have made me proud of myself and given me the best start to a year I’ve ever had. I had something to say in my annual greetings rather than the usual silly ‘Happy New Year’.

When I found you in the desert near Jeddah you looked very sick. It was pretty easy to catch you – I just caught you in my Chinese jacket. It was New Year’s Eve and nobody wanted to interrupt their celebrations to go back to the city to take you to the vet so we put you in a plastic basket.

My Saudi friends were surprised at my desire to rescue you and assured me you wouldn’t survive but you did. Once midnight and our celebrations had passed we took you to the vet. The day after I checked on you. You were still alive. I couldn’t believe it. When I was a child, the chicks I found fallen from their nests during a storm never survived.

You spent a week at the vet and you recovered costing me just 500 riads. Now you are free once more, returned to nature.

I’ve been told you are a noble animal used by Saudi Princes for hunting. Adelina commented: Post Tenebras Lux. You were a symbol of life, hope and triumph amongst Egyptians and Incas. Perhaps I will be lucky this year. Who knows? Insha’allah

Anyway, I like you as a symbol. Even better with the Latin motto. I will take you both to mark my 2011.