Stormy night

It's 2.30am now. Just got back from sending off Ephrem our Gabonese student who's off to Italy. And the storm! I'm soaking wet despite the raincoat and umbrella (useless in this tempest). His shuttle bus to the airport was to arrive at 2am so we left at about 1.15am. Actually Jean Paul (the Cameroon student) was to accompany Ephrem to the New Gate. But because it's dangerous to walk in the Old City at that hour, Jean Paul asked me to accompany him back home. So I agreed.

We had to go out through Damascus Gate because of the luggage - there's no way you can carry luggage up the myriad of stairs in the Old City except through Damascus Gate which has a gradual slope. That means leaving the Old City and walking outside along the main road with no shelter. So of course we were caught in the mother of all storms this winter. The freezing cold wind kept pelting rain. It was about 2 degrees or less. The streets were deserted except for the Israeli soldiers dotted every few meters. Not even the rats were out - nor the bats for that matter.

We reached New Gate (up the hill about 1km) and had to seek shelter under the awnings of the shops there. The awning was useless when the wind blew the rains at a 45 degree angle. We got soggy wet all the same. But it was fascinating to watch the storm at 2am - silent, occassionally a car would shoot past, nothing but the pattering of harsh raindrops against the cold stones of the City walls; the wet stone streets giggling with light from the lamposts.

The shuttle bus finally came after a long wait. We sent Ephrem off and decided to walk home through the Old City now that we don't have the luggage to carry. Not a wise choice normally as it's pretty dangerous - but it beats getting wet walking through the open road to Damascus Gate.

After 20 minutes we got home but wet, wet, wet. I was afraid I'd catch a cold so changed very quickly, turned on my hot air fan, filled up my hot-water bottle and am staying in bed. Jean Paul has to go to Tel Aviv tomorrow morning to celebrate Mass for the African community so he's only got a few hours of sleep. Me? 2.30am is usually my wake up time so I can't sleep at all now. Will do some reading or maybe do the rosary or Way of the Cross with EWTN.

Graupel attack!

4pm and the Way of the Cross was cancelled today because of the weather. We're having graupel right now - that's "soft hail". Lots of it. Actually they look like very light snow. Round little solid ice balls that disintegrate on landing. They don't fall like rain or hail but flit around like snowflakes in the wind. A little more of this tomorrow and hopefully we'll get snow.

Winter at last

Wow! It's really winter now! The rain is not heavy but contnues to pour; with occassional thunder. But it's cold. It's about 2 degrees now but the wind, which is strong, is minus 1 degree!!! I was at the upper chapel of the Condemnation to say Mass this afternoon and it was freezing cold in there! And with all this rain, I expect a blackout sometime this evening. It always happens after a rain. Got my candles and torches ready.

The first reading for Mass from Isaiah was very appropriate for today. It not only talks about the true type of fasting God wants (feed the hungry, clothe the naked, home the homeless - all social changing actions; so remember that! Lent means soul-changing and social changing); but what is more important, it assures us that we are all people sincerely looking for God and struggling to keep His Laws. But in our weakness we slip up, we don't bring the consequence of our search into our daily practical lives of buying and selling, eating and drinking. Lent is meant to remind us that faith touches every facet of our lives, and we must live it at all occassions.

1st Friday of Lent

It rained last night as predicted. But the skies cleared up at dawn, only to turn stormy by 8am. But the rain was not as strong as forecast. Probably some other parts of Israel are getting the rain. The thunder continues to rumble though. And the winds are quite gusty.

First Friday of Lent. I've decided to skip lunch - yes we're having lentil soup. I'll have some fruit instead. And am reading up on my research, but not writing anything just yet till my computer is fixed. I figured the virus probably entered when some other guys who borrow my computer probably downloaded an email with the virus. Anyway my netvigator account is almost impossible to open although gmail and hotmail are still usable. That's what the other guys are telling me. Or is it that someone is hacking into my netvigator account?

Storm coming

The virus in my computer is causing chaos! I've lost pages of my thesis, the computer keeps turning off every 5 minutes .... it's driving me crazy. And apparently mine is not the only computer affected. Several other people's computers have also crashed. Now our Custody engineer is repairing them. I know nothing about computers so I'm totally lost - which is aweful when several pages of my thesis is gone for good and I have to redo everything. Disaster.

The weather is fine - very sunny and hot. The sky is perfect deep blue. So it's difficult to believe that it'll storm and hail tonight and tomorrow; and snow on Saturday. But the locals are saying anything can happen in just hours - it's the last kick of winter before moving on to Spring. Several of us plan to go out this afternoon to get whatever we need for the weekend otherwise when the storm comes, we'll be locked in and can't go out.

I'll have to study but I can't use the computer so I'll be using snail-age methods: pen and paper. But that's so much more dependable than the computer.

Thanks

Thanks to all for your generosity this Lent:

1. Catherine Pang for helping the children in Gaza. Right now they need diapers and wet-wipes which I'll be buying soon.

2. Mr. & Mrs. Poon, the HK Millenium Pilgrim Group and May Yu for helping the DSBC Centre.

We will be praying for you all here in the Holy City of Jerusalem this Lent.

Ash Wednesday

Lent begins. Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6 reminds us of the 4 things to be practiced during these 40 days of conversion and renewal: good-works, almsgiving, prayer and fasting.

Half of the community didn't show up for lunch today because they were on full fast - no food at all. Very examplary. I had lentil soup with 2 pieces of dry bread. I guess I'll skip dinner tonight.

Well some guys confirmed my feeling that the weather is awefully cold - colder than Dec. 2008. They said it's never been so cold this last winter. We're all wrapped up as the winds whip about with a cold dry cut.

Weather forecast is storm this Friday. It's going to be the big one everyone is waiting for. The forecasters say the temperature will fall to 2 degrees by Saturday. Lots of rain, hail and graupel. Snow for higher places (hopefully Jerusalem!) I'm wrapping up and staying in!

Crazy Monday

The weather is drying up, the sun is up, but the cold wind is still blowing. The past few nights have been so cold - colder than December. Even my "hot air fan" is ineffective. Anyway I decided to sleep real early yesterday - 5pm. Got a 10 hour sleep in all - something I need from all the lack of sleep the past few months.

Yesterday was just a rush of activities. The carpenters came to assemble the new table Sinead ordered for her office. And I had to be there to oversee. And the new bed for Fr Loche also came. I was running between places to oversee that everything was ok. And then rushed off to the Missionaries of Charity. I didn't have time to buy the medicines they needed. Will have to do it today.

The storm the past few days smashed a huge pot of cactus on our terrace. I picked up the broken pottery this morning but cut my hand. Clumsy. And the neighbour's horrible cat pooed all over fallen cactus. Nasty. Don't know how I'm going to replant it. Carefully I guess!

Managed to find two good books that'll reduce my research time. Finished reading one. Will start on the other today.

Nightmare Sunday

Biting cold with drizzle this morning. I got up as usual at 4am but I decided not to go to the Holy Sepulchre because of the cold, the rain and my painful ankle. Concelebrated Mass instead at our Flagellation Chapel at 6.30am. This morning we had lots of students joining in - usually they sleep in on Sundays and concelebrate the main Mass at 8am.

Anyway after breakfast - which for me is a cup of cafe-latte (I've lost appetite eating breakfast for some time now) - then cleaned up the birdcage, fed the canaries, then rushed back to my room to change because the sisters were leaving and I had to take over as sacristan.

We had two Masses at the same time and I was rushing between the Flagellation Chapel and the Condemnation Chapel to make sure things were ok. There are thieves who come in during Mass to steal things - including candlestands, chalices etc... In between, I was with Majed our doorman to plant up the little garden in the front courtyard which lies between the two chapels - remember that famous courtyard and the mummy?

And there were literally hundreds and hundreds of Nigerians coming to visit (their pilgrimages are subsidiesed by the government). One French group, 4 American, 1 Polish, 1 Italian, 1 German groups and I think some others. Then there were the small group travellers (5 / 6 people back packing). It was a tough job trying to direct traffic amidst the chaos. One American came up to me and said "I hope you don't get too stressed out dealing with these groups". All I could do was smile. It's incredible how tourists behave. They throw rubbish into our 1000 yr old stone displays, shout, eat, drink, smoke ... things that they won't do in their own churches but they would do here in the holiest places of Christianity. And vendors do business inside the church grounds without a care. I can't remember how many times this morning I had to chase them out. One nice thing was I met with Edna Almoog, an Israeli guide whom I know for some time. She's very openminded and respectful of our traditions. I appreciate that.

By 11am I was ready to call it quits. I'll die of a heart attack of I stay a minute longer. There must be an authoritative and well-thought-out programme to run our two chapels. Other sanctuaries are so well runned, clean and respected, but here at the beginning of the Way of the Cross it's utter chaos. What a shame. I'll have to speak to the Custos about this.

I'll go down again later this afternoon. Goodness knows what else to expect.

More rain and hail

It's 2.30pm now and the sky is still belching thunder and lightening. Once in a while hailstones still fall. As we gathered in the refectory for lunch, we could look out to the sisters' courtyard and see the ground covered with hail. Let's hope this keeps up for a couple more days. The parched land needs this storm badly.

Anti-Christianity

A vicious public attack on Christianity in Israel. But it's not a crime apparently ..... unlike anti-Semitism. http://www.custodia.org/spip.php?article5064&lang=en

Hail

We had a sudden and very strong hailstorm last night (actually this morning). It was just past midnight and I was still up doing my work, when I heard several loud booms : things don't sound too clear through the double windows. For a moment I thought we were bombed. Went to open the windows and heard thunder roaring. Then a sudden downpour of hailstones - small about 3 to 4 mm - bashing on the walls and windows. Then it stopped after several minutes, rain conitnued. Then after a while, another barrage of hailstones came. Well hail is usually the precursor of snow. But the rains have to continue for several days first in order for snow to form.

Today the skies continue to be dark and gloomy. It rains in bursts because the wind is too strong and blows the clouds toward Jordan. Yesterday I said to the guy in charge of the local nursery (plants that is) that we didn't have a proper winter. He said this week we'll have a proper winter because there'll be heavy rains. Sure hope he's right.

Since the sisters working in our kitchen have been reduced to two (try feeding 35 people with only two cooks - well we have a fulltime cook for lunch but not for dinner), I've been helping out after dinner by clearing up and setting the tables. Now they call me the substitute sister. Well I personally feel that if we eat, then we also have the responsibility to prepare and clean up before and after eating. Tomorrow morning I'll have to be substitute sacristan because the sisters (they also work as sacristans in our chapels) want to go for a special Mass in the Holy Sepulchre and no one is available to prepare the altars for Masses when groups arrive. I'll bring my book down to the sacristy so I can continue studying while waiting on the groups.

By the way, the free online course on St Paul of Tarsus will soon be offered again - a nice way to end the Pauline Jubilee Year - so those who missed out the first time round and sign up now with dsbiblecentre@gmail.com

Also another online course on the Passion and Resurrection will be available next week. So sign up soon.

Sand storm

Yesterday we were struck with a strange sand storm from the desert. The winds were strong and cold but very dry and dusty. Our eyes were smarting from the dryness and sand. The sky was an aweful yellow and we could not even see the Mt. of Olives. The temperature dropped from 24 degrees to almost 6 degrees by nightfall. And the cold will remain for the next few days - down to 4 degrees as predicted.

However weather forecasts say it will be raining for the next 3 days - pretty heavy too. That's good. We need the rain. Right now the sky is overcast but no rain yet. It did rain last night though.

Today's reading for Mass is on the Tower of Babel. I was reading some rabbinic explanations on this text and found some very interesting interpretations. Like the guys built the tower because they were afraid of another flood that would wipe them out as in the days of Noah (last Wed.'s reading). They didn't want to get caught offguard again, so they decided preventive measures were the better choice. This was a sign of lack of faith since God already promised he would not destroy humanity. Also by building and living in the tower, they had neglected to till the soil, a command that God gave humanity right from the beginning of creation. They had abandoned God's will by creating a different lifestyle contrary to the Divine Will, and the result will be "no food". Also by living together in the tower, they disobeyed God by not "going forth and populating the earth". By scaterring them all over the earth, God was preserving them: firstly by tilling the earth so they would always have enough food for sustenance; and if disaster struck one place, peoples of other places were still unaffected and so the human race can continue.

What can you glean from all these sages' words?

The Fork

Got this from a friend this morning.

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. 'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly. 'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply. 'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.' The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked. 'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor. The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes ofthe main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork . The best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming. Several people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed Cherish the time you have,and the memories you share ... being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

Thanks from Musky

Here are two messages I received from Musky 2 days ago. They were written in italian by Fr Vincenzo but signed by the beneficiaries. Note there are two Romanis involved - one is a boy adopted by your generosity and another is the Father of a baby girl Ilaria.

1) Dearest Fr Lionel, a thousand thanks on behalf of Romani and Mabrees, two children recently adopted by you. Your gift to them is truly manna from heaven. Their mother is ill and I have their aunt Nermina next to me who sends her thanks and greetings on their behalf. Best wishes and thanks, (signed by aunt)

2) Dearest fr Lionel, Romani the father of Ilaria, the baby you adopted, greets and thanks you. Ilaria, thanks to your gift, is now drinking good milk and growing well. Best wishes and a thousand thanks. (signed Romani)

There's a 3rd little note all written in arabic which I cannot read. Anyway I want you to know that your kind offerings are making a difference in the lives of the children in Musky. May God always bless you all and remember your good works.

Virus

So the bombings in Gaza were comfirmed in today's newspapers. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304813035&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

I'm sure there's a virus in my computer because all my default settings have gone haywire. I actually lost several pages of my work (yipes!!) and had to spend two days redoing it. And then my fonts would suddenly change. And the computer goes to sleep mode every 5 minutes even when I reset it to half an hour. And when I get it back from sleep mode, the screen settings all change and I either have this huge weird screen or a tiny tiny one. And when I scroll down the page, it bounces back to the 1st page. This is scary because I don't want to lose all my hard work on my thesis. What to do?

History repeats itself

We had a surprise shower last night - because the day was very bright and not cloudy. But toward evening a heavy downpour caught most by surprise. It continued to rain throughout the night and even into late morning today. If this keeps up ...well we just might have some snow. The night was so cold I had to turn on the "hot air fan" and hide under my blanket.

Yesterday and today the skies were ripped several times by fighter planes. Probably on bombing missions in Gaza. And the streets occasionally had more military presence than normal. We continue to pray for peace.

Finished my 50 page work (first instalment) and have decided not to loose the momentum. So am slogging ahead on the new chapter. I did take a break this morning though by going to Terra Santa College (missed going there for 2 weeks) and doing some other work that I usually do there. Met up with the rest of the team working with me. And yesterday was Fr Arlon's birthday (he's the chaplian of the team) - I think he's 28 yrs old. Unicea came back from Brasil, so she forgot all her italian; Enilda came back from Portugal (she still remembers her italian) and the other girls AnaPaula and Tatiana ... well, they only speak portuguese so somehow we have to use sign language to communicate. Marcio is still in Brasil. Egideus and Thiago were also there. And Cristiano cooked a lovely fish stew a la Brasil. I had 3 helpings! (Actually Thiago put the extra servings on my plate ... honest. He insisted. hahahahaha) Anyway Thiago got his driving license, so he drove me back to Damascus Gate in the rain.

Remember how Mark Anthony took the Dead Sea from King Herod the Great and gave it as a wedding gift to Cleopatra; who then had the cheek to rent back the Dead Sea to King Herod? Well, now Israel had taken over the Golan Heights from Syria, grows apples there, and is selling back the apples to Syria. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304805482&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull History repeating itself

Bad cat

Worked the whole day yesterday and night, and into Monday. Managed to finish 50 pages. Hope to hand it in tomorrow after final polishing. Mind you, it's only one chapter. There's still lots of other chapters to go. But at least one hurdle is crossed. Hope I won't get roasted again like anoher shwarma.

The sun is up today bright and shiny, but a very cold wind is blowing. Looks like no snow this year.

The neighbour's cat came this morning (well it comes every morning) to check out it's breakfast - of canaries. We saw one climbing up the cage just right after morning Mass, scaring the poor birds. I went out to chase it away and found it had already hurt one of our yellow males. It was flapping at the bottom of the cage, but I couldn't see any blood. So I let it be - knowing that if it's shock, it'll get over it by a couple of hours. Later in the afternoon I saw it back on the perch but with a scar on its head. Everyone is upset at the neighbour's cat(s) as it always comes to our house to eat, sleep and poop. We'll have to find a way to get rid of them.

Extreme study

Yesterday was one tiring day - I worked non-stop on my paper like 7.30am to 8pm with a 40 minute lunch break. Wait. I think I started Friday 13th (ooooooooooohhh) with this extreme study (skipped dinner). Well I wanted to complete it yesterdy evening but I couldn't so at 11pm my eyes were just so tired, I had to sleep. But woke up at 3.30am to start work again.

This morning I took a break from studies and went for a long walk with Fr Buscemi. I think it lasted 2 and a half hour. We walked through East Jerusalem across to West Jerusalem, to the Mashbir Mall, down to the Supersol supermarket near Terra Santa College (where I used to live in 2005-6) and to the Bible Society Bookshop near the New Gate. It was tiring.

But now refreshed, I'm restarted work on my paper again. I'm determined to finish it today. or night.

Today's reading was very interesting. We had a very long sermon but it was good for reflection. Want to know what about? Aaaahhh sorry no time to write! Gotta start extreme study again.

Flowers - the hope for Gaza

Good to see that some of Gaza's produce is getting exported. It's mostly flowers and strawberries. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7885412.stm Maybe more countries should buy flowers and strawberries from Gaza. That will help provide jobs for the locals and get livelihood going again. Just think how many churches there are in your country: each Sunday they need flowers to decorate the churches. If they all bought from Gaza instead of Holland (there's a direct flight to HK 4 times a week), just think how many people in Gaza would benefit. And its so much cheaper. The ball is in your hands. What can you do about it?

Down again

Suffered a sharp pain that I thought could have been appendicitis or hernia. Excruciating. Could hardly walk down the stairs. Jadallah our handyman drove me to the doc this morning. After a long checkup, the doc said it's probably a strained muscle. Yesterday I was moving some heavy things around. Am on painkillers now and though I'm walking less, I'm still sitting with my computer working on my paper. The pain still comes once in a while when I cough or get up or sit down.

Mother Teresa's sisters came by this afternoon. They brought some cooked food and to see how I was. They really take good care of me. Owe them big time. Those of you who're in contact with these sisters in HK, send them my regards. I haven't forgotten them and pray for them daily.

The weather has cleared up though. Hot and sunny today. Yesterday there was an intersting news article about the "Schindler of China" - a German CEO (or something like that) of Siemens in Nanking who saved thousands of chinese from the japanese slaughter during the Nanking Massacre. Very touching. it's made into a movie. Should be released soon. The guy returned to nazi Germany where he was condemned and he died a poor and forgotten man.

Electric storm

An amazing electrical storm we had last night that lasted into the early morning. Lightening and thunder that we have not seen for a long time. Several lightenings came close to our house. At about 11.30pm our electric system tripped and the museum alarm went off. It rained till 6am. Hopefully this will keep up again today to soak the dry land.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In the Office of Readings, we read from a letter of St Bernadette Soubirous recounting what happened. I was surprised by a fact that is seldom noted: Our Lady appeared standing on two yellow roses. Her rosary was also yellow. I think it'd be nice to put up yellow roses today to commemorate her apparition in Lourdes. I wonder how come this yellow rose was never used as an emblem for the apparition.

Israeli elections: close win for Likud and Kadima. It'll be interesting to see who'll form the coalition since both only won 27 or 28 seats. A majority of 61 seats is required.

Polling Day

We had a real storm this morning at 6.30am during Mass. I peeked out of the church doors just before Mass started and the rain was beating down hard. Everyone was glad it finally came. Then I remembered I left my room windows opened and had to rush upstairs to close them - told the main celebrants to wait for while! I guess lots of guys were laughing.

It was a good rain - and being the feast of St Scholastica, the sister of St Benedict, we thought it was very appropriate. You see, there's the famous story of how Benedict used to meet his sister Scholastica once a year (they were a monk and a cloistered nun). When it was time for Benedict to leave, Scholastica cried and asked him to stay longer. He said only God could stop him from leaving - so Scholastica prayed to God and there came such a storm, Benedict was forced to spend the night at Scholastica's monastery. Wish granted. So this morning we called it the St Scholastica storm.

The storm lasted till a little later, but the skies were very dark and drizzle came and went. All up to 4pm. And a tremendous wind kept blowing: very cold. If this keeps up for a week, we just might have snow. But that's unlikely.

Israel has gone to the polls. Haven't been out but from the news, it was pretty calm. Big turnout for the vote - 63% of the population! The rest are either boycotting or apathetic. There was some trouble at Umm er Fahm which borders Samaria and Galilee, along the road to Megiddo in the plains of Jezreel (sounds so biblical? IT IS!!!!)

Meanwhile my sinus pain is nearly gone. Still on antibiotics till tomorrow just to play safe. The cough is still there and I'm washing the sinus several times a day. It hurts when the saline solution hits the sinus - stinging pain.

I'm changing my name to "Shwarma" (the lamb meat roasted on a turning spit) because I got grilled yesterday and today by the powers that be. Roasted and toasted - well done. What a fate.

Tomorrow Polling Day

Just to give you an idea of how complex the political system here is comprised: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7873208.stm

Tu B'Shvat

Arbor Day today. It's pretty cloudy so I doubt many families will go picnic in the parks. And because elections begin tomorrow, the country is a little tense. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304719940&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Police expect riots, demonstrations and perhaps terrorist attacks on crowded polling stations. I'm staying home these two days. Whoever wins the elections will affect our visa stay, so we're keeping close watch.

4th day into antibiotics. The sinus pain is reduced and the fever gone, although the face is still abit swollen and I can't open my mouth big to eat or chew. But I'm sure it'll get better. And the voice has returned. I don't think I'll see the doc tomorrow because of the elections.

Gabriella Allegra, the niece of Fr Allegra sent a food package of Sicilian sweets but I never saw it. Just heard about it.

Back to work now. Will read up and start writing a new chapter.

Tomorrow is Tu B'Shvat

3rd day into antibiotics. Seems to be working - the fever is almost gone and the sinus pain is reduced. As the saline nasal spray was finished, I had to go out to the New City to buy another one. It was a nice warm day - with dust all around from the lightrail works (it's creating traffic headaches all over the city). Decided to go buy birds' nests for the canaries (time for breeding season) and nesting material as well. Economy must be bad because the shopkeeper Yossi fired his two staff and is working alone.

Now I must say that the trip up the New City was not easy for me, not only because of the remaining pain in my face; but also because of an uncontrollable diarrhea. The story began yesterday. Having taken so much antibiotics without eating food, my stomach was getting painful so I decided to drink a carton of milk the sisters gave me. Should have known I can't take milk - diarrhea since last evening, uncontrollable. Now I stay again mostly in my room, for obvious reasons.

Tomorrow is Tu B'Shvat or Arbor Day. It's a nice celebration - the birthday of the trees - people here eat fruit to celebrate the feast. And voting day is also round the corner - Tuesday. And two attacks reported in Jerusalem on Jews. Is the violence coming back? I saw the streets today with lots of soldiers and wondered why. Now I know.

St Bear's Hospital

Didn't get to see the doc. The Custos came for lunch and I was told to stay in. The doc was available only at lunch time (12pm - 2pm). Talk about bad timing.

Anyway I had to go down to the refectory for lunch (haven't been down for the past 5 days). Told the Custos I came down only because he was here for lunch - he kept saying "You're sick! Stay away form me". Well, he cheered me up for a while. We had a good laugh recalling a funny incident 13 years back when he entered my former room (I had just left Israel - he forgot that I had left) occupied by another student. That student happened to be in Jerusalem and came for lunch as well.

Well yesterday lots of people were knocking at my door but I was too sick to answer it. Actually I was very giddy all day and didn't know what time of day it was or where I was. Actually I didn't even know where the door was - my room was all dark.

OK end of another day. I'm not going down for dinner. Will sleep early like the past evenings. Right now I think St Bear's Hospital will cure me! Hahahaha ... am watching it now. This episode is on Harry the Hyena.

sick

Oh sooo sick. Yesterday was just pain throughout. The Sisters of Mother Teresa came to give me bread and milk and yoghurt (I haven't eaten in 24 hours) but I just couldn't eat anything. Started vomiting. And the right sinus is pretty infected - can't even open my right eye now. The pain is terrible. Awake most of the night in pain. Uuuugghhhh I'm feeling so sick. Vomited the whole evening. Maybe I'll go back to the doc today, but I don't have the strength to walk up the hill. Will see if the car is available.

Thanks

Thanks to Shum Hon Chiu, Dominic Tam, Cecilia Wong, Chui Pui Ha, Ho Miu Chun Michelle, Kwong Lai Ping, Chan Wai Fong Wendy, Chan Tak Hong, Wu Wai Ming Durine and Elizabeth Ho for their kind help. The sisters are coming today to see what medicines are most necessary to buy right now. Some meds are also for Bethlehem and Nablus.

Robberies up

Muscles aching to high heaven - that's what the doc warned when I start on the cholesterol pill symvastatin. It makes any movement difficult so I'm staying put in my chair and working on my research the whole day. If the aching continues, I'll have to stop it and change the medicine. The headache is still continuing though.

Early this morning at 4am when I was awake from the headache and chills (again), the electricity suddenly was cut off and the museum alarm went off. Could have been a burgler trying to get in - but with my aching muscles, I decided to stay in my room instead of going out to investigate.

The economy is bad and the news is saying robberies are on the rise. It's getting dangerous to walk in the nights now.

Saw the doc ... finally

Yesterday I was really pretty sick. At 2am I had this dreadful pounding headache that kept me awake. Then at 4am I had the chills - big time. Stayed under the blankets till 6am because I was shivering real bad. The headache continued through the morning so I decided I had to go see the doc. Got Jadallah to drop me at St. Saviour's where the doc has his clinic at our infirmary. Jadallah was on his way to Ein Kerem to do some job (which really isn't his job).

Anyway I probably have an infection in my sinus that's causing the fever and headache. My nose has been stuffed for the past week and each time I blow it, it bleeds. It's really making me sick. I'm on antibiotics now. Also back to seratide and ventolin to reduce my asthma. And also starting on simvastatin to lower my way-too-high cholesterol.

Well the doc was pleased that I reduced my weight and my suger level has gone down to within normal limits. It took real hard work - and coke had nothing to do with it.

A very touching story in China - http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/suicide.for.liver/index.html There's still selfless love left in this world. If only there were some other way to help the family so the little girl did not have to try suicide.

Where are the pigeons?

So I didn't go to the doc .... like you expected. No surprise. I think I'm getting better. Mind over matter. The phlegm is much more reduced and so is the coughing. The fever is also less frequent but the joints still ache. In fact right now I've got a bad headache. Maybe not drinking enough. Anyway I tried to stay as much in my room so as not to spread the germs. Got several visits from profs and students yesterday - mainly to see if I'm dead yet. Sorry to disappoint them.

Most of the 1st and 2nd year students have gone on excursion to Sinai for 5 days. So the library is pretty quiet. Managed to borrow two books for research reading - italian and french books. Maybe that's why I have a headache now. Brains are not ready for such heavy reading I guess.

A friend came over yesterday to pick up something. I told him not to come between 1pm - 3pm as I was busy - and of course he had to come at 2.30pm. Why do these things happen? It's like the phone call you wait and wait but never comes, and when you step into the washroom for that one second, it rings. Everyone in the house has had that experience and we were laughing about it.

As expected http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7869704.stm Things are not getting better if aid is not entering Gaza immediately and reconstruction of the strip begin. People are sleeping outdoors in winter with little food and medicine. And the horrors of the war are now coming to dreadful light http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7848768.stm

So what was this guy thinking???? The flight lasted what? 16 hours? Poor pigeons! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7869301.stm

So the Vatican has ordered Williamson to recant on his Holocaust remark. But again, that is a different issue from the 1988 excommunication and the lifting of it (which is the denial of papal authority and validity of the vernacular Mass). In fact this order to recant is going to prove if Williamson is really ready to obey papal authority. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7869995.stm

Rosemary tea

Managed not to go to see the doc today. Didn't take much convincing. The rosemary tea really got the phlegm going - you should try it. Boil several sprigs of fresh rosemary - add some suger and lemon slices if needed - and gulp down quickly. It tastes terrible but it clears the congested airways. But I've still lost my voice (everyone seems to be very happy about that) and the fever comes and goes. Joints aching still.

Another local brew I had to take some time ago when I was again ill. Maramiyeh tea. Boil Maramiyeh (sage) dried leaves and drink - for vomitting (or is it diarrhea?) Must have worked on me since I'm still alive. Locals also boil Naanaa (mint) tea for stomach problems and I heard Bay leaf tea is good for reducing blood-pressure. But I'm not going to try that for the moment - the rosemary tea has blunted my tastebuds.

An inside look into immigrants' lives in Israel. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304665347&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

And tourism to Israel is getting bitten http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304669138&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

And Merkel should keep quiet when she doesn't know what she's talking about: the excommunication on Williamson and the other 3 bishops were imposed many years ago because they formed a schismatic church that refused to obey papal authority neither recognising the validity of the "modern" Mass. Now that they're ready to recant, the excommunication is therefore lifted. It has nothing to do with individual views on the Holocaust. Why does Merkel need to make everyone feel guilty for? Obviously she's feeling the weight of her nation's historical responsibility but as we learn from history, hark on the same theme for too long and too strong, the younger generation is going to swing to the opposite direction. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7867775.stm During mealtime we spoke about Holocaust denial as something not only terrible but flying in the face of objective evidence that is so well documented. And what will be worse is when the younger generation goes that direction as a reaction to the old generations nagging. Like we say in cantonese "hou sum tzo wai see".

Rosemary woes

Rosemary tea tastes terrible. It is so foul tasting I think I'll throw up if anyone brings that name up again. But it works - at least in clearing the phlegm. When I finished the jug boiled by Khalil our cook, I thought it was over and done with. Then later in the afternoon the sisters of Mother Teresa came and brought another jug. Luckily they added a bit of suger in their concoction. Nevertheless I still am voiceless, although the coughing is very much reduced.

So Israel did bomb southern Gaza yesterday - but this morning Gaza bombed Ashkelon. Looks like it's not going to end. Bad.

Spring is in and we haven't had enough rain. We'll have to start rationing water soon.

Feast of the Presentation

Feeling worse today then yesterday. Now I need to clarify this matter - seriously - when they say take medicine "4 times daily" does it mean 4 times in 24 hours or 4 times in 12 daylight hours (considering that nighttime you're asleep and therefore won't take the medicine)? I'm still a total blurr. Last night because of the heavily congested lungs and nose, I took "neosed" every 3 hours (5pm, 9pm, 1am and 4 am). Boy did I feel even sicker after that. It kept me awake all night but at least I could breathe through my nose. I've still lost my voice (everyone here is making fun of me - even Sinead called me from her office to hear what I sound like) and my chest hurts like hell when I cough. The phlegm is a horrible thick dark green type that I have trouble coughing up.

Khalil our cook has boiled rosemary, sage and lemon into a tea for me to drink. It's the local concoction to clear the phlegm and congested airways (and I must say it really works!!!). However the taste is not something you'd recommend to people. Yucks.

Fever is still high, joints still aching. Mother Teresa's sisters called to say they'll bring me to see the doc today (knowing full well I never go to the doc) but I'll find a way to escape them. I may be sick but I haven't lost my brains!

By the way, the Israeli PM's threat to respond in a "disproportionate" way to the Gaza rockets yesterday has sparked rumours of a new war - obviously Hamas has had time to consolidate its position now. People are scared.

Meantime today we celebrate the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. If you calculate from Dec 26th, it'll be about just 40 days. So Jesus was presented to the Temple as the first-born son, the son redeemed by the blood of the lamb smeared on the doorposts during the Exodus. By virtue of our baptism in jesus Christ, we too share in this privilege and heritage of the first born son.

Thanks

Thanks to all of you for your generous donations that I just received. In summary:

1. For Gaza and other needs of the Missionaries of Charity (US$1,514)
2. For Musky (US$1,414)
3. For poor in the Holyland (US$6,391)
4. For other projects (US$2,044)
5. Vitamins, medicine, warm packs and food that will go mostly to the Christians in Gaza.

And of course all the lai see for the Chinese New Year. All your beneficiaries are praying here for you.

Superbug

Hit by the super bug the last 5 days. High fever, swollen eyes, congested lungs, coughing compounded by asthma, and totally lost my voice. Well apparently its two different bugs - one that causes the coughing and congested lungs, the other gets the eyes. I happen to have both. Many people have fallen victim to these super bugs here in Israel (including some carmelites in Nazareth). It's terribly draining of all energy and mental focus. Am still down with it and am feeling so very sick.