cats and dogs

The rains stopped yesterday afternoon so I could walk up to Notre Dame Centre slowly (very slippery these stone pavements) to wait for the shurut (minivan). I booked it for 3.45pm but knowing local time you need to give an hour leeway. So I went up to Notre Dame at 2.45pm. It was very cold and I still had that splitting headache. As things would have it, the driver called me to say he's going to pick me up at 3.20pm so lucky me, being already at the Notre Dame gates, I managed to catch this shurut for the airport. The shurut usually takes 10 people to and from the airport. I was the 2nd person so the driver had to drive around the whole of Jerusalem picking up other people - only 5 in all. By the time it reached the airport it was 5pm. And it started to rain - real rain, with thunder and lightening. It was the storm we were waiting for. Luckily I was nice and dry in the airport by then.

The Caveros had a bumpy ride because their plane came in at the height of the storm. But they arrived safely and happily. We drove straight to King David's hotel, by which time it was almost 8pm. I was very worried because I had to walk home in the storm without a raincoat or umbrella (1 and a half kms away). And my ankle still hurts quite badly. Luckily the driver was kind enough to send me all the way to Damascus gate, so I had a shorter distance to walk (about 15 minutes). Oh it was COLD! I think it was 4 degrees or less. And my headache stopped because the airport doctor gave me 2 paracetamols.

Today the sun is shining again and the storm has passed. Most of the students are on excursion to the Neghev desert south of Judah, towards Egypt. I'll be doing some studies in the morning and then later in the afternoon I'll go to visit the Caveros.

I was meaning to write about this but never got round to it - the muzzein who calls the muslims to prayer from the mosques. In summer the muzzein starts singing between 2am and 3am, but now that it's winter, he sings at 4am or 4.30am. It's pretty loud when the whole of Jerusalem is asleep. But they get the best singers at that time. The muzzein of the early morning has a beautiful voice and these few mornings I realised it's a new guy - very much better than the rest. It sounds mournful, and eerie as he recites verses from the Koran and then calls the muslims to wake up and pray - but it is very very beautiful. Only those of us who've lived here long enough can appreciate it. Most newcomers still find it irritating to be awaken so early in the morning. Mind you, our monastery is directly opposite the minaret where the loud speakers are attached - so when I say it's loud, believe me, it's loud. We have double windows but it doesn't stop the sound. But like I said, it's very nice to hear a good voice early in the morning. And to be fair, I'm sure the muslims find it irritating as well when all our church bells ring at once - and the bells in the Holy Sepulchre are huge. I guess that's why the friars in the Holy Sepulchre are changed frequently - otherwise they'll go deaf!

And Sr Geronima was late for Mass again ....... watch this space for the latest ........