Perv massages and piano lessons

Franny Armstrong
Location
Super swanky hotel
Mood
Trudging
Date
16.08.06

Two of the stars of Crude being taken for a ride by the filmmakers Photograph: Sabri Hakim

Stuck in limbo land again

Franny Armstrong
Location
Super swanky hotel
Mood
Lonely and frustrated
Date
16.08.06

Rasmia & Noor. Photograph: Sabri Hakim  

Trip to the dead sea

Franny Armstrong
Location
Minibus back from Spanner Films' daytrip to the Dead Sea
Mood
Euphoria and fear heady mix
Date
11.08.06

We'd arranged a bonding trip to the Dead Sea today, for Rasmia and Jamila to have a rare good time and, hopefully, trust us a little more. They are understandably very nervous of British people - as their lives have been destroyed by the Americans (and British). So we booked a minibus and a load of kids we picked up at the school video session.

"I hope there's no more war in Iraq"

Franny Armstrong
Location
On the balcony of hotel, overlooking downtown Amman
Mood
Tired and tiresome
Date
10.08.06

Met up with the family from yesterday this morning. Filmed a great interview with the mother (Rasmia) and then were happily sitting drinking tea when something kicked off between Rasmia's brother and sister and a full-scale slanging match ensued. Never quite established what that was about.

Dropped down dead when he heard the news

Franny Armstrong
Location
New hotel room. Too many bedbugs and not enough AC in the last room.
Mood
Blank
Date
08.08.06

Franny, and our fixer, Khulood, interviewing Iraqi widows on the streets on Amman