Mansaf and roses

Despite the skirmishes in various places, Nakba Day passed off relatively peacefully. The Palestinian hunger-strikers actually stole the limelight and punch out of the otherwise violent event.

Homemade Mansaf

The weather has been very hot today. I was still feeling very weak after yesterday's fainting fit. The cook did up a "mansaf" which is mutton boiled in milk and cheese - rich and supposed to bring back some energy to my feeble body. Ate a third of it and immediately had diarrhea - absolutely horrible because I love mansaf very much. My stomach is no longer able to hold anything in ... Anyway my blood pressure was ok when I fainted so it's probably the blood sugar or stress/fatigue that got me fainting. Ah Ling of the Chinese Restaurant has been boiling herbal soup for me every night ... very energising but I missed it the past few days.

Fears of a major earthquake is back in the news - the big one is coming and Israel is working a plan to co-ordinate with Palestine in such an event as Palestine is not ready for such a disaster. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-to-funnel-aid-to-palestinians-in-case-of-earthquake-1.430686  I have my survival pack ready by my bedside - water, medicine, documents.

Lovely roses

Enough of black news - back to the weather. While the heat is back, it's making the roses bloom like crazy. Here's a carpet of Seven Sisters across Independence Park. They're little spots of delight in an otherwise summer of discontent ... we're expecting more demos and protests .... and of course, the earthquake.

And the Greek debt crisis? Easy solution - give us back our churches in the Holyland and all debts will be cancelled!!!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13798000