Holy Family feast

Feast of the Holy Family ... the octave of Christmas is coming to an end. So is 2012. Just when we hope to end the year on a happy note, we hear of more persecution of christians. This time in Iran - a pastor is re-arrested and re-imprisoned.  http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=297740  The situation in Syria is absolutely appalling as we receive news that there's no flour or bread in many cities. People are starving. And the winter cold is hitting hard. In Egypt the new pro-Islamic constitution is sending shockwaves of fear among christians as persecutions will be the inevitable result.

Sunset over the Sea of Galilee

Healthwise my asthma is keeping me awake all night. And I'm not the only one. Practically everyone I know who has asthma is suffering from it this week. It's the weather and the pollution. But in my case, the docs say it's the polyps and messed-up septum that's causing the severe asthma attacks ... plus allergy to canary poo. Was at the hospital for 2 days to have tests done. Diabetes, BP and cholesterol are high but still below the highest limit, so I'm safe for the moment.

As the year drags to its inevitable end, we recall with thanks for all the good ... and bad that we experienced this year. Everything happens for a reason, and every time it is an occasion to grow and learn. Perhaps that's what the Holy Family feast is all about - family is where one grows and learns in "wisdom, grace and stature" (today's gospel).

Christmas Octave

The Crib on the site of the
Annunciation (Nazareth)

Christmas in the Holyland is always special. And much more so in Bethlehem. It took place there. Pilgrims have come flowing back ... not too many though. They're mainly asians and africans. Very few europeans or americans. The weather is fine ... sunny and cool.

But sadly Christmas cheer here is always shortlived.  Blatant discrimination continues as 2012 ends. A Palestinian man was denied by the Post Office from sending a package to Britain because ... he was not Israeli.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-post-office-says-palestinian-cannot-send-package-abroad.premium-1.490457

And it gets worse. On Boxing Day some Jewish fanatics sprayed pornographic graffiti on a Church wall in northern Israel. Though the church was long abandoned due to the war, it nevertheless receives many visitors who used to live in that town, and where the cemetery still stands.

All these remind us that the peace and joy of Christmas still remains elusive here in the very land where Christ was born. His followers still continue to suffer persecution ... even at Christmas time.

Christmas Day

Christmas Vigil Mass on Dec 24th night was as usual special when celebrated in Shepherds' Field. The sky was clear and the stars were shining; and the air was cold and crispy. There were many groups celebrating Mass in the various altars around the sanctuary. But the crowds trickled toward midnight when everyone went uphill to Bethlehem to join the celebrations.

Candy packs from Israeli
soldiers at Bethlehem
checkpoint

Bethlehem therefore was packed to the brim with locals and tourists. The road into Bethlehem was jammed and it took over an hour to get from the Israeli checkpoint to Shepherds' Field. Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint were distributing packs of candy for tourists and pilgrims as part of their Christmas policy to show welcome despite the Wall and other security measures. Got home just past midnight but was ravaged by severe asthma so I couldn't sleep a wink. Then it was Mass at 6.30am and then chores to be done. Am extremely exhausted because each time when I try to rest, a call comes through and it's more work.

Christmas is not all fun for some people: a 3rd arab youth was attacked by Jewish teens in the City centre in 2 months. No culprits were caught ... which is disturbingly strange because if a Jew were attacked, suspects would have been rounded up within 2 hours. So much for Christmas hope and cheer.

Then the rabbis issued a decree to cancel the certification of all restaurants and eating places that put up a Christmas tree because "Christmas trees are idolatry". Suddenly all the christmas decorations around the City disappeared in a few hours. So how come a giant Hanukiot in Zion Square is not idolatry?

Christmas wish

Rare and unique sky

The sun is up but the temperature is still below 9 degrees. Crispy and sunny. Forecast for tomorrow - showers and a drop in temperature. Midnight Mass will be wet and cold. And Christmas morning will be equally wet and cold.

Yesterday I managed to catch a very unique photo ... the sky over Jerusalem caught between the storm and fair weather. Fantastic.

Let's hope the fighting in Syria will stop and the poor people will not have to suffer through this winter cold. Let's hope this Christmas will bring true peace and protection to the helpless. May the storm of war give way to the dawn of Christ's true light.

Thanks

Thanks to 1Peter for the canned food; Wini and Walter Au, Irene Teoh and Family, Angela Lee, Katie, Jocelyn and Sherwin, Vincent, Glenda and Eva, Mary and Agnes Leung and everyone else who sent their festive wishes.

Winter Solstice Festival

Wrapping the dumplings

Yesterday's storm has blown away but the cold is still lingering. The Israeli weather dept. says it's a once-in-a-decade storm. The Sea of Galilee rose by 6cm. It was a welcome rain - the air is clean again, the streets are clean again. And everyone is home keeping warm. No trouble in the streets. All is calm ... a fitting prelude to Christmas.

So yesterday was the Winter Solstice festival. A group of northern chinese tourists came to Mandarin Restaurant and started wrapping and cooking dumplings. That was a real feast! Ah Ling the owner called me over for the feast and the group was very kind. They shared their dumplings with me and we chatted and laughed like old friends. The dumplings tasted very good ... both the beef and the pork versions. A little vinegar and soya sauce with chilli and it's like being home again.

Yummy dumplings

The Christmas holidays begin today so school is a lot quieter. Most have already returned home to their own countries. The rest of us will probably spend Christmas in Bethlehem. I'm cleaning up my room for Christmas. It's incredible how much dust collects in a week ... but that's the phenomenon we encounter here in the cities around the desert. Then of course it's studies and studies again.

The H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) is spreading quickly in Palestine ... already 3 arabs have died this week and lots of cases are popping up in the Territories. Israel has issued an alert saying the virus was brought by arab pilgrims to Mecca. So I'm staying away from crowds ... including Bethlehem. Might just spend Christmas in a quiet place away from people. Could be fun.

Hail storm

So it's 21/12/12. And right now we're having a hail storm and gale force winds at the same time throughout the country. It's so very cold. I'm wearing all woollen clothes now ... as everyone else. And heaters are on everywhere. Tonight the forecast is 3 degrees. Though it'll warm up on Sunday, the cold front will return on Christmas Eve, with lots of rain. That is ... if the world doesn't end today.

As everyone has gone home for the Christmas holidays, I'm pretty much alone with the canaries for the festive season. They can't sing carols and I won't sing to them ... so this Christmas is going to be quite carol-less. But I think my past students are coming to visit me tomorrow. That will be very nice.

But for some of us, it's studies as usual. It's the big rush to complete assignments before the term ends. So much for the holidays.

Cheer and drear

As the year crawls towards its end, the weather seems to be protesting. Very cold and gray, with threatening rain clouds waiting to strike any moment. And my asthma seems to be in sync. Found out this almost annual malady is due to the change of temperature in the weather plus the polyps and messed up septum in the nose plus allergy to canary poop. This is really a dumper as it makes my nights sleepless and my days tiring.

Notre Dame wrapped in
Christmas lights

But  on the cheery side, Christmas lights are up in all christian places by now. This year Notre Dame really outdid itself. Very impressive light show. Then of course you have alot of tasteless decorations in many other places that make a mockery out of Christmas.

Groups are picking up in numbers for Christmas, most will spend Christmas in Bethlehem. That's one day in the year when Bethlehemites make a small profit from the tourists. Then they struggle to make ends meet for the rest of the year. It'll be fun to spend Christmas Vigil in Bethlehem but I'm not going if it rains. I don't need to be sicker than I am right now.

The municipality is making renovations all along Haggai Street (El Wad street) and Via Dolorosa. Pretty messy as machinery dig up half the road. If it rains, the roads will be muddy and slippery.

So another 10 days before 2012 fades into history and 2013 makes its entrance. Full of cheer and drear.

Cold

Bethlehem Christmas tree

The giant Christmas Tree in Manger Square, Bethlehem  has been lighted and it looks magnificent. The lighting and decorations were done by an english company form Liverpool. The crib at the bottom of the tree is tastefully done ... nothing kitschy. And a huge stage was erected on the side for choir performances on the night of Dec 24.

The temperature these days are no more than 9 degrees and its very chilly. The nights go down to 5 degrees. On coming Thursday night it'll start raining and peak on Friday/Saturday with a thunderstorm. Temperature will drop to 3 degrees. Christmas is going to be very very cold and wet. Hanukkah ended yesterday.

But studies continue ... reading and writing everyday. The heater is on but it's not enough so I think I'll have to use the radiator tonight.

Chilly Sabbath

Like a pillar of fire ... 

A chilly Sabbath today. Crispy but chilly. It's 13 degrees now. The sun is shining bright though. In the morning I saw a magnificent sight over the Mt. of Olives ... a swirling cloud just like a hurricane rising from the top of the mountain up to the sky, but shining red because of the sunrise behind it. It reminded me of the pillar of fire in the exodus.

The tragic killing of teachers and students in the US school is the buzz around town. It's unbelievable how it could happen ... even for us living in this country where violence is relatively a daily occurrence, we never have had such a tragedy occur in a school. Received a photo message of a t-shirt written "How could you allow such violence in schools, God?" and God replies "I'm not allowed in schools". Succinct yet poignant answer to this american problem.

Christmas is approaching ... let's not forget the spiritual aspect of it. Go to http://elwebcast.blogspot.com for a daily short reflection on Advent.

Thanks

... for the ginger snaps, prosciutto, biscuits, blanket, Osim. Got everything.

Stromata

Rioting and deaths in Hebron these past 2 days. 16 year old arabs shot dead. The version from SCMP says "Israeli policewoman pumps six bullets into teen on birthday.."
http://thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=29293
while the Israeli newspaper version headlines "IDF shoots, critically injures Hebron rioter".
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=295880

Another tree turns brilliant gold
in this weather

The power of rhetoric. Anyway violence in Hebron is no surprise. It's always been a flashpoint back in the 2 Intifadas. Today Friday we expect more tension in Hebron. But that's 60km away from Jerusalem. A totally different world. Jerusalem so far is normal. No extra police or cavalry. If there's any tension, its the weather - cold and overcast ... a bummer for the weekend.

Turning to Israel, it's still Hanukkah season. This 8 day celebration is often compared to Christmas but Jews detest that. Whatever it is, I like the part when sufgoniot is eaten ... this year I've tried banana sufgoniot, pistachio, chocolate, tiramisu, blue berry, vanilla ... my diabetes has gone super duper sky high. Doc warned me not to eat them again ... but we'll see.

Sufgoniot treat: coffee choc,
blueberry, pistachio, multi choc ...
It's diabetic hell with a smile

The asthma is not getting any better but I'm using Olbas Oil as an inhalent. Sure clears up the stuffy nose and relieves the lungs. Should get some more as I'm down to my last bottle ... but they're not on available in Israel. Will need some angels from Singapore to help me.

Burbara seeds

Another very cold day ... with drizzle and overcast skies. The ground is so wet and slippery it's a hazard going out. People are getting sick.

Sprouting burbara seeds
on our window sill

The beans are sprouting! They're placed on wet cotton and left to sprout on the Feast of St Barbara to commemorate her escape from Roman soldiers through a freshly sown field. The seeds miraculously sprouted to cover her tracks. Nowadays christian families sprout seeds and when they're fully grown, they're placed on the Christmas cribs as decorations. Seeds are chosen from barley, chick pea, millet, lentils ... anything green and grassy. Lovely tradition.

Was out to see my doc this morning. Woke up late - 4am. Had to go to Tel Aviv for appointment at 8am. Was late. But half way through, a call came to say that the workers in the library are sick and cannot work at the afternoon shift. So I had to terminate my appointment and travel 70km back to Jerusalem, walked another 1km in the rain to get back to work in the library. Utterly exhausted.

And yesterday we didn't have Internet connection for 24 hours. I had to cancel a class as a result. When the Internet company guys came to check the problem, they said someone pulled my cable out of the server. What??????? I was fuming mad!!! That got me into another asthma attack.

Mist

Mt of Olives and sunrise all
smothered by the heavy mist

We woke up to a very very foggy morning ... the Mt. of Olives was not visible, not even the sun rising behind it. And the western half of the City was equally enveloped by the mist. And it was very cold. The temperature dropped to 4 degrees during the night. The rains had stopped though but the cold lingers.

After the mist lifted, a brilliant sunshine slapped the City awake. Kids were out in the streets again, the Suq (markets) were busy with buyers and sellers. Life back as usual.

Perhaps too much life back as usual. This morning the Monastery of the Cross was again vandalised by fanatic Jews - the 2nd time this year. They sprayed "Price Tag" (meaning revenge for dismantling settlements in Palestinian land) and "Jesus is a bastard". I wonder what would happen if someone sprayed an equivalent insult on a synagogue. And for the record, the vandals who burnt the Trappist Monastery chapel doors, vandalised the same Monastery of the Cross previously, the Last Supper Chapel etc.... they were never caught after 1 year. But in 2 hours the guys who planted the bomb in a Tel Aviv bus was arrested. Disturbing and unsettling discrepancy.

Well things are not too good healthwise either. Asthma every night. Dreadful pain in the right shoulder and neck. And today I had to work extra hard in the library as some employees were sick. I'm so very tired. Wish the mist would wrap me up and set me to a long painless sleep for once.

Snow on Hermon!

My Mr Dog shoes

Another storm broke last night and the temp. has fallen drastically ... down to 6 degrees but actually feels like 2. So says the weather forecast. Even the Polish guys feel cold ... so that's a good indication of  the weather now. And Mt. Hermon has snow for the first time this year! Let's hope this keeps up for the next weeks and into Christmas. Would be lovely to have Christmas in the snow. I've got my Mr Dog shoes out ... yup, it's that cold.

For the past several nights I've been having bad asthma attacks.  Must be the cold. I've got the heater on but it's not enough. Ventolin puffer is close at hand ... The headaches have mostly gone; it's the side effect of the medicine I'm taking.

Well one thing good about the cold and wet weather is nobody goes out to cause trouble. The streets are serene, tourists hardly anywhere as the 1st two weeks of December are notoriously low season. Tourists may come back during Christmas but we don't expect many because Christmas is primarily a family celebration and people prefer to remain at home.

And just received one piece of upsetting news - someone stole Rocky. We feared sooner or later Rocky would be stolen because he is such a nice dog and the arabs in the Bethlehem area are known to be dog-stealers. Rocky's chain was snapped and the thieves probably jumped over the fence. Fahdi the present owner is still frantically searching for Rocky ... and me and Ahmed (Rocky's first owner) are very upset.

Hanukkah

Hanukiah at Zion Square

Hanukkah begins tonight. It's the celebration of the Maccabee revolt against the Syrian occupation of Palestine which forced the jews to adopt gentile ways. Read it all in the Books of Maccabees. Every family lights the hanukkiah (9 candle stand). In Zion Square, as in former years, there's a giant hanukiah. And of course, eating sufgoniot is a must.

The weather for the past day was nice and sunny but the nights are cold. 8 degrees. Today the drizzles returned, overcast skies and very cold winds. We expect rain tomorrow and Monday. It's nice. We all know we need the rain because of the drought ... but still it's inconvenient going out when the streets are very slippery. Goodness knows why the municipality paves the streets with smooth Jerusalem stones that are a hazard whenever it rains or snows. This morning I saw mothers gingerly taking step after step over the slippery stones while carrying babies in their arms. One fall would spell disaster for both.

Yesterday's riot in Hebron has raised the security alert of the City again. Cavalry and more soldiers are out and about in the streets. But nothing happened. It's too cold and wet for people to go out. It's winter as usual.

Healthwise I was back to see my doc 2 days ago - blood pressure high, sugar level high, cholesterol high. Must be the sufgoniot. And the headaches are the side-effect of the new medicine I'm taking.  I'm recovering from a second cold now. Was caught again in the rain. With all the nose-wiping, I've developed a cold sore too. Not fun. Spending time in bed reading on my studies. I've got 4 new books to cover - all on classical Greek literature. Everyday it's Greek examples of epideictic literature: encomia, protreptikos .... I finally caught myself speaking greek to the prof. sitting next to me in the refectory. Luckily he also speaks greek. It's all getting too weird. I need a break.

Storm

El Wad street in the storm

The rainstorm came. It was a welcome rain but not when I get caught in it. Very heavy winds and cold. The nights are 8 degrees and the days are 13 degrees. The canaries are now in 3 small cages kept warm in the school corridor. I had a meeting yesterday evening and was almost all wet when I got there and back. Then the whole night I had a fever again ... and a splitting headache right up till now. What's with this headache thing? Somehow everyone seems to be getting it. Must be some chemicals in the air released during the previous week's war that the rains have precipitated. Everyone is getting this dizzy feeling with migraine like pain in the head. We need a sleuth to find out what's behind this mysterious sickness.

Meantime another type of storm is also brewing big time - political. The govt is bulldozing ahead with the building of 4000 houses in occupied Palestinian land despite several countries protesting. The Housing Planning Council met this morning to decide which areas should be built up first. Nothing will or can stop Israel. But in the streets, there's little reaction. People just want to continue making a living and feeding the family. So long as it's not their house or land, there's barely an eyelid batted.

St Barbara

A dramatic twist of soap-opera proportions in the Israeli punishment of Palestine; it's now revealed that the building of 4000 houses in E1, the confiscation of $120 million and other punitive measures against Palestine for it's successful bid in the UN, is actually a punishment against America, an open outright slap in the face of Obama. The poor pawn happened to be Palestine. America is reportedly furious but still is playing it's Hollywood part of the smiling handmaid of Israel and "nothing is wrong".  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-angered-by-claim-that-new-building-at-e-1-aimed-at-obama-not-palestinians.premium-1.482197

Burbara cooked this
morning

The rains have come - hard and heavy. The winds were also strong. Much as I didn't want to, I was caught in the storm while on my way home from school. Luckily this time I had a plastic poncho so I was quite dry. Right now the rains have trickled to heavy drizzling. But I think it'll pick up again tonight.

And today is St Barbara's feastday. Locals make and eat the traditional "burbara" today - a very sweet mix of boiled barley, nuts, candies, pomegranates, anise .... It should be a festive time for children throughout Lebanon and Syria (Barbara was born in Lebanon) who go trick and treating in costumes because Barbara was constantly in disguise to escape the Roman soldiers. But with the dreadful war in Syria, we can only hope the children have enough food and shelter from this winter. St Barbara pray for them.

Autumn leaves

The Israeli punishment of Palestine gets a backlash from some european countries but America as usual is not saying anything. The 4000 houses to be built in E1 area effectively cuts off Bethlehem/Hebron from Jericho/Nablus/Ramallah because the only road that links these two West Bank regions lie in that area. It is the last strangle that will choke Palestine. Actually I'm surprised the rabbis have said nothing so far.  Such vindictiveness on Israel's part will not do it any good. Read the Bible ... it says everything.

The expected storm is brewing right now. The skies darkened by 4pm and a chill spread throughout. I think it will start raining tonight. I managed to get all the canaries into 3 smaller breeding cages and placed them indoors. They're too young to withstand the storm, cold and rain.

Autumn leaves

Waking up at 3am to teach is taking it's toll on me in this wintry weather. Asthma attacks the whole day and exhaustion ... so much so that I rested throughout the day, so no studies or work done. Bloody waste of time. But my health is not what it used to be. It's scary to think that I've passed the threshold to a slower sedentary life, reluctant to change, fear of catching a cold ..... aaaagggghhhhh why not get me a wheelchair and a fireplace? The autumn of life. And it's bad to be sick now ... the nurses have gone on strike ... again. It's exactly a year since the infamous strike that got me stuck.

The autumn leaves are showing up on City walls ... the creepers are the first to change, then the trees. It's a little late but at least the plants know its time to change before it's too late. Maybe Israel can learn something from that.

1st Sunday of Advent

Israel today punishes Palestine for getting the UN vote as a non-state member. It confiscated millions of dollars designated for Palestine donated by foreign countries and is building 4000 houses in settlements in Palestine. And of course America will tacitly nod its agreement.

The weather held up today. Everyone said it was beautiful. It was sunny and yet cool. About 23 degrees. But Tuesday will see a tremendous thunderstorm that may last for 4 days. This time I'm going to be very careful and not get caught in it. Last week's fever and pain is a lesson enough.

Little Rocky looks good

Being such a lovely day I went to see Rocky in his new home. He's alot thinner but still very happy. He has a large garden to run around, lots of cats to chase and is getting used to his new food. And it's time for his jabs. I hear he's very well behaved and the doctor likes him. He's so cute and friendly, we're afraid he might get stolen. He ran away twice and Fahdi his new owner was witless searching for him. As the weather gets chilly in the nights, Rocky is kept indoors. Also during the day when it rains. He's well behaved and sleeps in his bed all day and night when he's indoors. He's still a little dog - 7 months old.

Well it's the 1st Sunday of Advent. Liturgical colours change to purple. Readings go back to the Old Testament prophecies. Time for self-evaluation and introspection.

Weekend

This morning was especially upsetting when I read the news. A jewish rabbi took advantage of the pain and suffering of the war to collect millions of dollars from american evangelical "christians". And Israel is lauding him. The headlines read "When rockets start falling, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein springs into action. The worse things look on the ground here, the easier it is to ask hundreds of thousands of evangelical Christians in America to open their pocketbooks." Shockingly disgusting.  

Christmas kitsch 24/7

The big news around town is the UN admission of Palestine into the non-state  observer status. On the ground, it doesn't mean anything. But psychologically it's a big boost to a hounded people. Lots of young people are wearing the arab headdress (khafr) or carry the Palestinian flag. Military presence was especially tight the past 2 days as Israel feared a rise in Palestinian nationalism against jews going to the Wailing Wall. 

On the christian side of the City, christmas decorations are up. Shops are selling the kitschy stuff. One shop actually is opened 24/7 .... horrors!! I'm just putting up a small christmas wreath with a candle. 

Healthwise I'm still nauseous and weak in the legs. I realised it could be due to hunger and exhaustion. I'm really stressed out and overworked. And I'm eating just a little because I'm not hungry. I only ate something because the medicine requires it. Today I was pretty giddy but still had to go out to do some chores. Really regretted it. What exhaustion .... Tomorrow begins Advent, a new liturgical year ... and I'm too tired to get started. Not ready.

Sahlab

The weather is cold but sunny. But it's not helping my health situation. Still with a splitting headache and ache all over the body. Found out I wasn't the only one. Those who were caught in last Friday's rain all have the same symptoms. I'm switching to another type of medicine.

Yesterday I was out teaching. Couldn't walk all the 2km uphill so I took a taxi. It was difficult teaching for 2 hours because of the headache and aches, and I couldn't stand. Legs were too weak. Then I walked home very slowly. Took me exactly 1 hr. Was exhausted and had terrible pain in the knees when I got home. Almost fainted twice too. Despite the constant calls that inevitably disturb me, I managed to grab 40 mins of sleep. It helped alot and I felt better after that.

My 1st shalab this winter

Was well enough in the evening to go out and say goodbye to an old friend who stopped by Israel for 5 days. We had shalab, a thick warm drink made from the roots of a certain orchid mixed with warm milk with rose water and crushed nuts etc... It's a typically drink drunk in winter here and other parts of the former Ottoman Empire.

Then it was back to sleep at home as this cold is really devastating. With so many others going through the same symptoms after being caught in the rain, it made me think if it were not in some way a type of acid rain that contained chemical/viral particles that lingered in the air after the bombs exploded last week during the Gaza war. If it is, I'll be one of the casualties and die a horrible toxic-induced death. But it's not going to stop my next sahlab!

Cold

What an almighty cold I'm suffering. The body is still aching all over, fever comes on and off, splitting headache .... the lesson learned: never ever go out again in the rain. I'm not as young as I used to be.  Awful nausea most of the time but forced myself to eat some rice on Sunday. Suffered the consequence. Yesterday Sr. Vincenta made a chicken sandwich which I like, but again my stomach is not taking food well. Still I need it because of the medicine I'm taking. I found out the medicine's side-effect is causing my sensitivity to light, which in turn gives me a headache.

Weatherwise the sun is back but it's not any warmer. It fluctuates between 14-18 degrees in the day and 9 degrees in the night. Time to bring the canaries indoors I guess. Otherwise they'll die of cold like last year.

Night market at
Damascus Gate

But life goes on as usual for the rest of the country. Ehud Barak has officially announced his retirement from politics; Likud primaries are taking place right now despite computer hitches throughout the country; exit polls show the right is gaining strength after the Gaza war, the left is tottering on one leg. The whole election thing in this country really amuses me. Only in Israel can the loser of an democratic election process become the ruling govt while the winner takes a back seat. That's what happened in the  last election when Livni won the elections with a slight lead but could not organise a coalition govt; while the loser Netanyahu struck a bargain with the ultra-orthodox and came up with a coalition that made him PM ... though he lost the elections. So why bother voting? And ultimately it's the rabbis and ultra-orthodox who are the real king-makers. Ah well ... let's enjoy the entertainment in the meantime.

Storm

Rain soaked road in
the Old City

The rains were super heavy all through Friday. Thunder, lightening, the works. I got caught in the rain coming home from dinner with Alessandro. Yesterday was feeling sick with nausea and fever. Last night the fever was pretty high while I had severe chills. Took a Dexamol and went to sleep but it was difficult. Pain in all the joints. This morning I've got a splitting headache and terrible sensitivity to light. Have to wear dark glasses otherwise the light causes a massive headache.

Meantime local politics is warming up to the elections in 2 months time. But no one is serious that anything will change. The ultra-orthodox and rightists will still hold power. The left is such a disappointment.

Violence against women is not reducing despite financial and technological progress. The problem here is religious. 19 killed this year.   http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=293312 

Thunderstorm

What a thunderstorm! The previous night was chilly and we have even turned on central heating. Then this morning the skies burst into a storm we have not seen in Jerusalem for many years. Thunder, lightening and lots of rain. It felt good.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=293174

The ancient stones I mentioned in the last blog entry were removed by the municipality and the pavement is now covered with ugly asphalt. What a shame. Another piece of history removed from public view. Making the Way of the Cross at the 3rd Station will not feel the same anymore.

Today I've been having acute bouts of stomach cramps. Pretty bad as I have to double up to stand the pain. And I have a bad headache as well. But it was brightened up when a friend paid me a surprise visit. He returned to Italy 4 years ago but now he decided to spend a short holiday back here and visit all his friends. Welcome back, Alessandro!

Ceasefire

At last they could agree on the wording and the ceasefire took effect from 9pm last night. It's unlikely there'll be a flare-up as both sides flexed their muscles and showed what they can do. And the poor people can get back to their normal lives ... but for some it's been tragically changed for the worse.

Digging away the ancient stones

Last night municipality workers blocked off the "square" in front of the 3rd Station and began removing the ancient paving stones, possibly the paving stones from Aelia Capitolina (c.130 AD). The municipality wants to "redevelope" the street which runs the length of the Old City from Damascus Gate down to the Wailing Wall. Hope they won't destroy these ancient stones. It'll be an archaeological and historical travesty.

Weatherwise the forecast is rain for tomorrow and Sunday. We certainly hope so.

Iron Dome picnics

The ceasefire which was supposed to start at midnight last night did not take place. The two sides cannot agree to the wording. But in effect the shelling by both sides have reduced significant this morning. Ban Ki Moon was here yesterday and then Hilary Clinton today. Things are winding down ... the rhetoric as well. In the evening there were scuffles in the Territories between local arabs and Israeli soldiers. It's meant as a show of support by Palestinians to their counterparts in Gaza. However it takes place only in the evenings when people finish their work or studies. It's not like a very passionate thing that consumes them even in the day. In effect, people just want to get on with life.

And now there're Iron Dome picnics: families pack a picnic meal, go out to the open spaces in the south and watch Gazan missiles fly into Israel and Israeli Iron Dome defense rockets intercepting the missiles in mid-air. http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=292642

Cyclamen in the library

As the weather warms up, cyclamen are in bloom. They usually do so after a sudden chill. And this year they're cheap. 20 shekels for a large pot. Someone placed a pot at our library reception desk. Lovely.

Maybe both sides of the border need shock therapy - like a sudden heavy chill for the cyclamen - to get peace blooming in our land.

End in sight

Things have quietened down in all parts of Central Israel. Only Ashdod. Ashkelon and Beer Sheva were bombarded yesterday and this morning. Everyone is talking of an imminent ceasefire. Thank goodness for that.

Sr, Vincenta at work

Weatherwise it seems to be getting good as well. The sun is up and warms the day while the nights get chilly. Yesterday several drops of rain fell but stopped after a short while. The warm day makes me thirsty and since it's season for pomegranates, Sr. Vincenta offered to make pomegranate juice for me. Yummy. Two pomegranates and one orange makes one cup of fantastic thirst-quencher filled with vitamin C.

Well it's back to studies again. I need to work extra hard this semester. But my stomach wouldn't let me. Yesterday evening suffered severe cramps and diarrhea after eating plain white rice. Maybe I should just survive on the pomegranate juice Sr. Vincenta makes for me.

Thanks

Thanks to Auntie Yvonne for the cake (finally!!!) and gift, Gigi for the TimTams, Emma, Paulette/Antonio and family, the Cavero family, Miriam/Raymond/Laila, Cecilia/Debbie/Trini/Dani, Hessler, Margaret/Dominic/Katherine Siu, Paula Leung, Poon Kong Ming, Yvonne Yeung, Melania and James, May Yu, Rose Chiu, Joanne Tong, Letty Chabot, Vida Leung and everyone else for their Christmas greetings, kind thoughts, medicine, shoes and gifts.

It's a nice break from the tensions of these few days.

Other thanks acknowledged in http://holylandassist.blogspot.com

Worse than War

Today is relatively quiet - both here and Tel Aviv. Only the cities in the south got pounded. Israel began a sea assault at 6am this morning on Gaza. But yesterday saw a dreadful barrage on both sides of the border. Many killed and wounded. Palestinians in the Territories demonstrated in solidarity with Gaza; so did Israelis in Tel Aviv who called for an end on the assault on Gaza. But Jerusalem ... it's another world ... concerned with the spiritual realities.

Life as usual in Mea Shearim,
the ultra-orthodox
neighbourhood in Jerusalem

A lone drone flew above us this morning ... very low buzzing noise, but very worrying. I can imagine how the Gazans feel as these drones are constantly flying over them - some equipped with cameras to survey the land below, others with rockets. Very sophisticated weaponry. The Gazans on the otherhand are less so ... they fire rockets aimlessly, hoping it'll land somewhere news-worthy. Nevertheless it's the little people who suffer. Our heroes - the Sisters of the Word Incarnate, the sisters of Mother Theresa and the priests remain in Gaza to comfort and support the small but persecuted community of Christians. In fact the parish priest, a young Argentinian, was out in Jerusalem when the war started and he fought to get back to Gaza to be with his flock. Remember them in your prayers.

I suffered a severe attack of asthma last night. Was awake till now - a good 16 hours, Went to see my doc in Tel Aviv. Was nervous to go there but found out it was quiet and life went on as usual. Got back safely but had an unpleasant experience in the bus ... there was an obnoxious opinionated american jewish lady talking at the top of her voice to apparently a visiting relative from Canada. It was an experience worse than facing a Qassam rocket. "Damn the arabs!" was one constant remark. "The Romans came and went, the Greeks came and went, the Persians came and went; it's about time the arabs left too"; "Thank God we're no longer dependent on the goiim (gentiles/pagans): we have our own country, our own government, our own army" But her xenophobia did not stop her from exclaiming "Oh Jesus Christ!" after every few sentences. Well that was one lady who wanted her hate to be heard. A young orthodox jewish mum rolled a pram up to the bus and was in a dilemma: she had to leave her bag and toddler in the bus while she folded the pram and load it at the back of the bus' storage. The obnoxious lady was still going on at the top of her voice against all non-jews. I stepped forward and took the toddler on sit on my knees while his mother breathed a sigh of relief and went off to load the pram behind the bus. The obnoxious lady turned to me and gave me a nasty look as if to say "Keep your goiim paws off this jewish child". I smiled back. The orthodox mother came back and happily reclaimed her toddler, smiled widely and said thank you to me.  So there, obnoxious xenophobiac! If you were so full of righteousness, why didn't you offer to help an orthodox jewish mother of your own faith and race in need?

Iron Dome defense system

And the celebrated Iron Dome defense system that intercepted many Gaza rockets and saved many cities in Israel is now available in home-version ......

Quiet on the homefront

Soaking the olives in water

Yesterday was relatively quiet despite the talk that the evening would see more violence. But Tel Aviv came under more attacks. This morning 2 more rockets fell near the city but landed either in the sea or waste land. Like I said, Hamas will not risk destroying the Al Aqsa mosque by shooting Jerusalem. So we're pretty safe here.

There were widespread demonstrations throughout the Territories especially near the security checkpoints; but nothing happened here in Jerusalem. You just get groups of arab youths gathering in street corners jeering and taunting Israeli soldiers standing at the opposite end of the street. It's the usual posturing and bravado that ends in nothing.

This morning Israel started an assault on Gaza from the sea. Coupled with attacks from the air, Gaza is getting a pounding. When the sea and air assault has weakened the Hamas forces, we believe the Israeli land forces will enter Gaza.

Sr Lucia bruising the olives

But life continues as usual ... the olives have to be prepared for pickling. It's tedious work. Luckily the weather has warmed up and its pretty sunny as well so working outdoors is quite pleasant. Then you have to bruise the olives with a mallet before soaking them in brine and spices. Then you have to fight off the crows that try to steal the olives. Or the cats that come and poo into the tubs of olives (It happened last year!!!)

Thus another day passes ... and we wait for good news that the war will end soon. Battering olives is more fun than battering at war.

Jerusalem outskirts bombed

Today 4.50pm the sirens sounded in Jerusalem. We got out to see what happened and realised we were being fired upon by rockets. One fell near Tekoa (the village of the prophet Amos) south of Jerusalem. It's certainly unexpected because Gaza never had the capability to fire rockets beyond 25km. Now they reached Jerusalem which is 120 km away. Someone is providing the Gazans with new and powerful rockets. It's the first time in 20 years that rockets have been fired into Jerusalem - a foolish move since the Al Aqsa mosque is right in the centre of the city and any damage to the mosque (the 3rd holiest in Islam) will be unforgiveable by the rest of the muslim world. We're certain this was just a once off shot to frighten the Israeli govt. and will not occur again.

But believe me, even with this scare, life went on as usual. In fact more people were in the streets, sharing stories about previous wars over a cup of coffee and cigarette. Shops continue to do brisk business. Military presence was high but not anymore than the usual Jewish holidays.

Sr, Vincenta at work

And just to show you how usual life is, we have Sr. Vincenta sorting and washing the olives before pickling them. Couldn't resist taking a photo.

Later in the evening Giuseppe, our volunteer archaeologist, invited me to a home cooked dinner. His fiancee Chiara (also an archaeologist) arrived a week ago and she wanted to meet me as she heard alot about me from Giuseppe. It was a lovely simple dinner - mushroom soup, smoked salmon and fresh bread, fruit and cake. Chiara and I chatted alot while Giuseppe was busy in the kitchen. Chiara leaves for Italy on Monday morning.

So it's war and peace ... rockets may be fired all over the country but the people will not let it destroy their lives; they will live life as usual ... it's the only way to win a war ... by not fighting it.

War update

A possible land assault on Gaza soon. Israel called up 30,000 reservists. Meantime air and sea assault started at 6am. Gaza has not responded so far. So far the talk about town is the missiles fired into Tel Aviv. The usual Gaza rockets don't have the capacity to fly beyond 25-30km. This time it flew way into 70km ... which means the rockets are a different type, more powerful and therfore foreign made. The question is: how did they get into Gaza despite Israeli blockade?

There's a sick conspiracy theory being whispered around the streets - that the war was orchestrated to boost both Israeli and Hamas govt as elections draw near. It's really sick because human lives are being sacrificed for political ambition, if it is true. Anyway it's common for such rumours to fly during times of crisis. And it helps no one.

War

Rishon LeZion, the city next to Tel Aviv was hit by 2 missiles from Gaza at 4.45pm yesterday. Missile alert sirens sounded in Central Israel. Other southern cities near Gaza like Ashdod and Eshkol were also fired on. The country is tense. That's the consequence of Israel killing Gaza's political bureau chief Jabari in an air-raid the day before. We expected some form of retaliation, but 2 missiles all the way up to Rishon? It's definitely a first. Jerusalem will not be touched ... the Al Aqsa mosque is here and Hamas won't take the risk of firing a missile that could potentially destroy Islam's 3rd holiest shrine.

An hour later we received news that Tel Aviv and Holon (neighbouring city) was also hit by missiles. It's causing jitters in the coastal cities but Jerusalem is life as usual, people going shopping and dining like any other weekend.

Meantime Israel is firing into Gaza from the sea and air. We expect a lot of casualties. Let's pray for the innocent people stuck in this war they never chose.

Let's see what the rest of today holds ... it's a Friday after all.

Sufgoniot

The sky continues to be overcast with dark clouds, hiding the sun. It's cold ... about 16-20 degrees. But no rain.

Palestinians were demonstrating to mark "Independence Day" - but most of the action took place in the central country ie Ramallah, Nablus etc in Samaria.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/thousands-of-palestinians-protest-to-mark-independence-day-1.477679  Nothing happening here in the south. Everyone just wants to get on with life ... work, pay the bills and eat 3 meals.

Sufgoniot I bought yesterday

And talking about meals, it's the time of the year for sufgoniot (or Pączki in polish) ... those doughnuts without holes, filled with jam or chocolate. Yummy. Not good for my diabetes but I had two yesterday. After all sufgoniot comes round only once a year during winter. Gave some to our polish sisters who love eating them as well. Sr. Vicenta hasn't perfected baking them. Her first lot were hard as rocks ... literally. Used to throw them at the cats to chase them out of our courtyard.

So far it's been a quiet day - time to read, study and correct an article for our annual. It's good not to be stressed .. but I wonder how long this will last.

Char Kway Teow diaries

So the rains have stopped this morning. Though the sun was up, it was still pretty chilly. Everyone still has their jackets, jumpers and hoods on. Welcome winter!

So Nazareth Hospital's got a new superior for the nursing nuns. She and the PR officer came to see me this afternoon. We bumped into the patriarch and we chatted up. Anyway the superior is a professional medic and she said I probably got a certain intestinal infection (can't pronounce the name ... too technical) which causes constant diarrhea and vomiting. She wants me to go for tests. Meanwhile I have to keep off certain foods and have to keep my tummy always warm - day and night.

Char Kway Teow takeaway
from Thai House

Well that's not going to stop me from having Char Kway Teow ... haven't had it in months. Was at Thai House 2 days back with my physiotherapist as we had a late session and we were both hungry. Was abit tough as he keeps kosher and Thai House food isn't. Ended up with TouFu tom yam and a chicken curry for him. I was surprised to find out that duck is kosher. I always thought otherwise. Anyway am suffering the consequence of eating ... got the cramps and diarrhea. Maybe I should go to Nazareth Hospital next week. The physio was good though as 70% of the pain in my neck and shoulders is gone.

Right now fighter jets are flying overhead. That means Israel is bombarding Gaza again. For the last 3 days there's been an exchange of missiles across the border but this morning Hamas called a truce. Also Israel fired into Syria as a second round of missiles "errantly" landed in the Golan Heights. It's the usual thing this time of the year - not too hot or cold to keep people indoors so they come out and cause trouble. When it gets colder and wetter, things will stop and people will go home to stay warm and watch tv.

More rain

If only we could learn from them ...

What a weekend. 3 missiles from Syria fell into the Golan Heights and Israel sent warnings in reaction. Then lots of missiles (85) were fired into southern Israel from Gaza, and Israel fired in return - deaths and injuries resulted. As usual, all this is just testing the waters after Obama won the elections. It's positioning ... like fighting fish flaring and circling each other. If only we can learn from the two babies in the pic.

And there were earthquakes all over the world during the weekend: twice in Guatemala, then Burma, Kentucky, Papua New Guinea, the Kuril islands ... all over the magnitude of 5.

And it rained the whole day yesterday. Flooding in Eilat and other coastal cities from Tel Aviv (south) to Haifa (north). While it caused alot of inconvenience, no one is complaining because we need the rain so very much. The wind gets pretty strong up in the hill country ... and it was 10 degrees last night. I got my heater out.

So much for the weekend ... is it a foretaste for the rest of the week?

Feast of St. Leo

Storm clouds gathering
before the downpour

It actually rained ... I mean, rain!!! Not drizzle like the last few days but real rain!!! All night too! Just when we thought it won't rain. The temperature dropped to 12 degrees or so ... but it felt like 10 degrees. And a very strong easterly wind was blowing. Feels like real winter at last. In fact we even had a blackout at about 11pm ... incredible! Like the good old days when we had several blackouts a day because the rain short-circuited the centuries old electric system of the Old City. We had to have candles in every room and every staircase. And we had to study for our exams by candlelight. If anything, last night was a tiny reminder of what used to be 20 years ago.

Most of us felt the coming of the rain yesterday evening - our joints began to ache. My knees were so painful I couldn't climb up and down the stairs. I was sure the rain would come. Natural weather station.

Today is also the Feast of St. Leo the Great, the pope who stopped Attila the Hun from destroying Rome in the 5th century. Well, St. Leo must be great ... he did bring the rain!!

Festival time

The forecasted thunderstorm didn't come to Jerusalem ... though it rained all over the rest of Israel. The temperature did drop though, some 5 degrees compared to yesterday. It was cold. And very cloudy and gloomy. Typically winter except it did not rain. What a pity.

A gargoyle amusing kids

Yesterday was the last day of the Medieval Jerusalem Festival. It takes place for 4 consecutive Thursdays from mid-October to November. And it draws thousands upon thousands of Israelis and tourists into the Christian Quarter of the Old City. Following a fixed route along the alleys of the Quarter, performers do their stuff to wow kids and adults. Starting from Jaffa Gate plaza, the King and Queen of Medieval (Crusader) Jerusalem were entertained by troubadours. Then the route follows through the winding streets with performers, flying dragons, centaurs, gargoyles, demons, King Arthur and Excalibur, demons and lots of dancers and dragons at every corner and crossing. Very fun, but very packed; so packed you can't turn round and go back. You just follow the flow of the crowd, covering about 600 meters around the Christian Quarter.

King Arthur and a young fan

A centaur mingling with
the crowds

The fountain at the Muristan
becomes a stage

A demon draws a crowd

         




   

Musicians performing
 music

A giant red dragon flies across
 ancient walls of King Herod's Palace

   

Curry

The pesky mosquitoes are absolutely intolerable. No one has escaped their bites. Everyone has some red itchy spots on their hands, legs or face. Worse case scenario ... infectious boils. All on biblical proportions. Jerusalem is Egypt now!!! Where is Moses to lead us out???

Despite the rain in the night, the day is still unbearable hot and dry. It only encourages more mosquitoes to breed. I've sprayed my room with insecticide but they keep coming back. They don't die. They're immortal!

Lovely indian lunch at
the MC sisters

Had a very very busy day studying, teaching and working. Almost fainted from exhaustion and hunger at 3.30pm. Went to check on the painting work at the convent of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa). Luckily they had some lunch left over - curry, veggies and rice. I finished every bit of it. You can't believe how good simple food tastes when you're so hungry and tired.

Thanks to Yvonne Yeung, Poon Kong Ming, Melania & James, Rose Chiu, May Yu, Ma Fung Ming, Melania & James, and the Wednesday Group for their generosity to the poor. 

And a crocodile that escaped the Gaza Zoo 2 years ago has been captured in a sewage pit where it had been living ... and growing to become a 6 footer. Neighbourhood pets have been missing during that time. Made me think about Mr. Monster who escaped his biotope tank the other day ... if he managed to get into a drain, he might just grow into the next Godzilla. But nothing to fear ... the mosquitoes will finish him off.

Mr. Monster takes a walk

Lovely clear skies this morning
after the rain

Last night there was alot of lightening and thunder and intermittent showers. Quite unexpected. But it was very welcomed. The pattering of raindrops is something we rarely hear nowadays. And the rumbling of thunder ... well I think the little children would not have heard it before. This morning the air was clean and fresh. The sky was alot brighter with the first rays of the sun rising above the Mt. of Olives. Great sight!

So it was during the night storm that Mr. Monster decided to take a walk. I got up at 4.30am to study but noticed from the corner of my eye a little black thing walking along the wall of my room. It was Mr. Monster (that's my pet newt) up and about! How he got out of his tank is a mystery. And he was very dry by then and I thought he'd die of dehydration so I popped him back into his tank. Now that felt good for both of us. I wonder what would have happened if I stepped on him accidentally this morning ... yucks, what a mess. So now he's safely back in his biotope tank, eating mosquito larvae and swimming around happily. Hope he doesn't get out again though.

Mila defended her thesis for the Master's degree this morning. Interesting topic - on Huldah the prophetess. Unfortunately I couldn't stay for the whole event because I had a meeting. I hear she did very well. Good for her.

Stromata

The Lutheran Church in
central Bethlehem

Thunder, lightening and a heavy shower ... which lasted half and hour. Wasn't enough but we needed it. The air is cleaner now, the atmosphere less oppressively hot and smoggy. Walls and streets are washed clean, and a very cool breeze is now blowing. It should be a nice day tomorrow.

I managed to readjust my neck bones and this has relieved alot of pain. Well ... also because I managed to rest quite alot today. Managed also to do some reading of a new book on the topic of my research. Reading can be quite stressful when you have a dateline.

There's a lovely neo-gothic Lutheran church in the heart of Old Bethlehem, standing out in the sea of islam that has overtaken the city of David and the birthplace of Jesus. It's clock/bell tower though is a typically muslim spire. The sight of this church in winter snow is fabulous.

Han SuYin has died. A great novelist who revolutionalised the novel genre in Asia, about Asia. Also pioneer in highlighting the eurasian race. She's best remembered for her semi-biography "A Many Splendoured Thing" that later became a film shot in Hong Kong and immortalised by the song. So another literary milestone has passed on.

New Pope for Copts

The Copts have a new pope. He was elected this morning by a blindfolded altar boy .... actually it's every altar boy's dream ... to choose a pope!!! http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/04/world/africa/egypt-coptic-pope/index.html?hpt=hp_t3  and  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20192922   Congratulations to all my Coptic friends!!

Great barbeque by the olive
grove

Thanks to my physiotherapist, the pain in my neck and shoulders have been greatly reduced. The kinetic tapes really work ... at least in my case. Now my (our) greatest pain is the terrible tiny mosquitoes that bite us everywhere. The bites result in swells, itch and in some cases infection. Everyone is moaning about it as there's nothing to stop them ... not even insect spray. It reminds me of the 10 plagues in Egypt ... mosquitoes ... it's really a plague. What we need are more frogs and lizards and bats!!!!

Faadi did up a great barbeque in his garden. His family invited me over and I found out it was Sabreen's birthday (Faadi's wife). Paco the dog ran out from his yard and went on a crazy chasing spree of the cats. He came home only when Sabreen offered him a piece of chicken. What a little greed can do ....