Even sicker

Tisha B'Av at the Wailing Wall

So my canary finally died this morning. From today we're going to get proactive and rid the cats from our house. I guess it was fitting that it died on Tisha B'Av. Yesterday I saw lots of orthodox jews wearing slippers, sandals or barefoot in the streets as a sign of mourning for the lost of the Temple. At the Wailing Wall, they sat on the floor and read the Book of Lamentations. I've been reflecting on this tradition and how the Christian Church reinterpreted this - we read Lamentations on Good Friday when the Temple of His Body was destroyed. The physical building of the Temple was predicted by Christ to be fruitless and destined for destruction.

I'm sicker than before ... the fever is still high but it fluctuates between dreadful chills. A splitting headache. And a mother of all sore-throats ... I can't even swallow milk or yoghurt. I bet you I'm going to lose another 5 kg this week. I must go to the doc's today. This is really serious. This morning I almost fainted twice because of the pain. Managed to call Rani's mum at the pharmacy and she prepared several types of medicine. Firas went to pick it up. The medicine tasted nasty but it reduced some of the pain and fever. But I still feeling terribly sick.

Israeli lychees

Yesterday Buscemi (he's back for a couple of weeks) bought some lychees and gave some to me. Knowing how heaty lychees are, and me being sick, I didn't dare eat them. But here's a photo - Israeli grown lychees. They're not very sweet, in fact they're quite tart. The pulp sticks to the seed. And the rind is like a plastic covering, it literally snaps off bit by bit. More genetic engineering required I guess.

The cramps are killing me again. Gotta roll up in bed and scream.

Sick

Normally bustling Jaffa Street
is reduced to silence on
Tisha B'Av

Tisha B'Av clash with Ramadan - Extremist Jewish calls for a "provocation" in the Dome of the Rock Mosque (where the jewish Temple once stood) has led police to close off the muslim site to all jews. Police and soldiers are everywhere.    http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=279271   Meanwhile observant jews today are either going barefoot or wearing slippers as a sign of mourning. They'll fast for 24 or 25 hours. And no sitting on chairs allowed. They read the Book of Lamentations.

My dying canary

And talk about lamenting - it's been 36 hours now that I'm sick. Headache, nausea, stomach cramps (really strong), dizziness, sore-throat, aching joints. I must have caught it from one of the workers a couple days' back ... he was sick just like that. We painted a room in the library and since there were no windows and he was coughing throughout the day .... I'm sure I caught it from him. There was a high fever last night till this morning. Ami my friend called and offered to bring me to a doc, but I think I'll wait for another day.

Update on my health - the virus is really bad. The fever is soaring, I'm getting dizzy because of it. And my throat is really painful. And all my joints are aching. I may need the doc tonight. I'm flashing between chills and heat.

And more laments - the canary that had the wing and leg broken by the cat is dying. He's a beautiful yellow singer. But I can see it's his last hours. I hate cats.

Tisha B'Av postponed

Tisha B'Av or the 9th day of the month Av falls on Saturday/Sabbath today, hence the 25 hour fast can begin only tomorrow. It's a day of mourning and penance for jews - a day to recall the two destructions of the Temple on the same day 650 years apart, and all the other calamities in jewish history (check out wikipedia).

Talking about calamities, the workers didn't show up today. They came to work on Tuesday and yesterday only. So what am I to do? I'm so stressed out this morning my stomach cramps are killing me. I'm just doubled over with pain and can't do anything. Deciding to stay in bed today.

Baskets of geraniums at Ben
Yehuda Mall

And more calamities. The cat(s) have attacked the nesting cages of canaries again. 1 dead, 2 seriously injured and all the nests and eggs destroyed. Will someone get rid of the cats?????

Thanks to the Volunteers of Suffering, the Caveros, Cheng Bik Lin, Kath Malone and the Lam family. Received everything.

Here's a little relief from all the calamities ... nice baskets of geraniums at Ben Yehuda Mall.

Friday

So the US dollar has reached 4.06 shekels today .... after several years of dangling at 3.5-3.8. Bt we think it's only because Obama is coming to visit ... following the footsteps of Clinton who came last week ... to pull the jewish vote.

Herod's Gate police block and
checkpoint

First Friday of Ramadan. Unimaginable crowds getting into the City to the AlAqsa Mosque. But police have blocked off the City Gates. Only muslim men over 45 yrs are allowed to enter the City and Mosque. That raised alot of tensions. Nevertheless the people allowed in were still considerable. And as usual in Ramadan, beggers flock the City for alms.

This evening Tisha B'Av begins. Going to be tighter security than ever. Going out anywhere is going to be quite bothersome.

It was a nice surprise that Sr Regina and Sr Maria showed up today for a visit. They had not seen me for quite some time and wanted to see how I was doing. I've known Regina for almost 18 years. She's from Tanzania and Maria is Mexican. They belong to the Spanish congregation of Calvary. We chatted for a while and the usual comment - "You're thinner than before" popped up. Well actually yes. Yesterday at the doc's I was weighed and found out I'm now only 60kg. Lost 3 kg somewhere along these few months. Scary. I'll probably disappear altogether. And a polish friar I met in Jaffa yesterday also said the same thing; as did the superior of the Visitation the day before. Boy, this is serious.

Lousy pic of pigeon
feeding her chicks by
my window

Anyway had a session with my physio yesterday. It was good as I had my neck and shoulders adjusted again. Moran my physio prohibited me from carrying anymore heavy things (impossible as we're renovating the library), and get a higher chair for my writing table (because the ultra low chair is ruining my shoulders and neck). But we had a real funny time because he kept joking and we just laughed off two whole hours while he tortured me. But he could do nothing for my arthritic fingers. There was a mother pigeon with 2 chicks nestling by the window while my physio came to do me. He was amazed and took several photos as the mother curdled milky stuff to the chicks to eat.

So it's going to be a tough summer for me ... gotta start enjoying life now before I disappear altogether.

Solidarity

The saga of the tiny and besieged Christian community in Gaza continues. It's not enough that you just pray for them. You should be doing something pro-active!
Gaza Christians fear the end of their tiny community - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

Majed and family with the Iftaar
meal of makloubeh

Last night Majed our doorman invited me to his home for Iftaar, the evening meal that breaks the fast of Ramadan. He lives in a tiny apartment behind our house with his wife and 5 sons. His wife cooked a fantastic makloubeh and we ate it in traditional arab style - dipping your spoon into the huge communal dish. Makloubeh is one of my favourite dishes: it's rice cooked with chicken pieces and/or vegetables, topped with pine nuts. There was also arab salad (diced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and parsley) and laban (yoghurt). For drinks, I was served Karob syrup (my favourite), then almond syrup, then lemon syrup (all these are typical Ramadan drinks) and ending off with Coke Zero. Majed's 5 sons had a great time. I brought a Black Forest cake and 10 chocolate balls for them, but the boys are not used to eating black/bitter chocolate.

Walking back home, we passed very crowded alleys with children dressed in their best, people eating everywhere, teenagers firing crackers and fireworks. It was very festive. But I can tell you I was very nervous walking through. Majed accompanied me to his house and back because the neighbourhood is tough and pretty anti-christian. I had stares and sneers along the way home ... though no one spat at me ... or threw stones. I was glad Majed and his eldest son Majd came along.

All in all, it was a lovely dinner and meeting with Majed's family. It also showed that there are some muslims who are very friendly to christians in the midst of a largely anti-christian muslim society. I can fully identify with the Gaza christians' situation. In a lesser way, I'm living it here in the Muslim Quarter.

More canaries dead

Groups packing the Way
of the Cross

So I'm very very hungry because I've been trying to finish alot of backlog work. And of course, the workers never showed up today. More backlog.  Found some fish fillet leftover from lunch ... something I usually avoid because it's practically smothered in oil ... but hunger got the better of me. Ate two pieces, and then was terribly sick. Stomach cramps and dizziness.

Despite the heatwave, groups are slowly picking up. Not as many as usual, but then the economic crisis  is certainly playing a decisive role in pilgrimages and tours. Groups are making the Way of the Cross in this awful heat .... good penance.

Arthritic fingers again

My fingers after still awfully and painfully swollen. Don't know what triggered the arthritis. But it's pretty crippling and hindering me from doing alot of things. I wonder what else I can do to relieve the pain and reduce the swelling. Chop it off?

And the cats somehow have got into the school - killed 2 canaries, turned over several nests and wounded 2 other canaries. The birds are totally traumatised. We must find some way of getting rid of these cats. I keep the canaries indoors in the school because it's cooler and the cats cannot get inside the building. Well I was wrong - somehow they found a way in and been on a killing spree these 3 nights. Everyone is upset by this. But we don't know what to do.

Work and sweat

3 meter shelf collapsed

Work in the library continues under this dreadful heat. It gets pretty stuffy because we must close the windows otherwise the hot air from outside blows in, and the place gets even hotter. A small fan helps to circulate the air. Shelves were dismantled from the walls, refixed in new rooms, holes had to be covered up, ... tomorrow we'll start painting. One of the tallest shelves fell when books were stacked on it. Disastrous. Hidri cut his hands trying to hold it up. Needed 3 stitches. Workers said they'd coming at 9am today but they showed up only at 11am. The whole circus is driving me crazy. I was supposed to go to Ramat Gan to see my physiotherapist to adjust my neck and shoulders this evening ... but had to cancel it because the workers haven't finished their work. It's a bloody circus!!!

My marigolds 

The heatwave is still hitting us like a tonne of bricks ... though as I said, the evenings are alot cooler. One thing for sure ... some flowers enjoy the heat. Cacti are flowering and petunias and marigolds are flourishing as long as they have some water at noon. So are the portulacas.

This Saturday is Tisha B'Av or the commemoration of the burning of the two Jewish Temples on the same day 600 years apart. It'll be pretty tense here in Jerusalem. Jews are expected to fast for 24 hours while muslims are in the Ramadan fast. That makes things very jittery. Let's see if the heatwave will make a positive or negative effect this Saturday.

Mixed news

Well ... it's slowly leaking out into the news now that there were not just 2 attempts by Israelis to set themselves on fire due to the dreadful financial mire that State bureaucracy caused. This morning saw the 6th and 7th attempts at self-immolation in one week. This is very catchy .... we're expecting more of it this summer.  http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Arts/Article.aspx?id=278568

Damascus Gate filled with
Ramadan hawker tents

Ramadan is in full swing. The canon is fired at 4.30am to start the fast and 7.50pm to end the fast. The heat is still oppressive although not like last week's .... it's cooler in the evenings now. That lightens the Ramadan fast which is broken after sunset. And that's when life gets busy ... food shops open, hawkers of every thing saleable everywhere ..... fireworks exploding. The crush can get quite frightening. And of course pickpockets are on the rise. Next week is also the Jewish feast of Tisha B'Av or the commemoration of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem twice on the same day 600 years apart. Jews will be going to the Wailing Wall to lament, fast and do penance. Security will be like super tight then.

It's been all work for me this week. Am extremely exhausted. Tomorrow it's another section of the library to be shifted, painted and reset. But my neck and shoulder is killing me ... need another session of physio. One strange thing is my asthma is stopped 2 days ago. But my swollen arthritic fingers are getting worse. That makes manual work pretty difficult.

Public hate-Christian crime

An Israeli MP publicly tore up a New Testament, asked to be photographed and spread the photo around. Can you imagine if a Christian tore up a Torah? I bet he doesn't have the guts to tear up a Koran. Public hate crimes against Christians from the Jewish end .... now you understand how difficult it is to be a christian in this "Holy" land? Persecuted by jews and muslims.  http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/u-s-jewish-groups-condemn-knesset-s-michael-ben-ari-for-destroying-new-testament-1.452606

Last night thousands gathered around several cities to commemorate Moshe Silman, the protester who died after burning himself last week. "We're all Moshe" they chanted ... victims of Israeli bureaucracy. Well, how about us victims of religious fanaticism? I don't see anyone protesting against the tearing up of a New Testament. I don't see Obama or Clinton saying anything about this.

Now we're receiving news of a disabled man setting himself on fire at a bus-stop. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/disabled-israeli-man-in-serious-condition-after-setting-himself-on-fire-in-yehud-1.452777  This is a frightening copycat domino.

Almost empty street at
noon - heatwave

Anyway the weather is cooling off a little. The nights are cool and very windy. But the day is still quite hot.

1st Day of Ramadan

First day of Ramadan. The streets are strangely quiet as the heat rose early in the morning. The canon was fired around 4.30am and the fast began. The muslims around our area are simply too weak to stay under the sun or work full-time ... so the streets are pretty quiet. Just as well because it's the Jewish Sabbath and Jews are flocking to the Wailing Wall. The junction at the 3rd Station is pretty tense as Jews and Muslims jostle side by side. Soldiers everywhere.

Managed to video the the canon shot that started Ramadan yesterday and the calls to prayer from all the various mosques around the neighbourhood. It was very windy so the sound quality isn't that good. And it's only a snippet. But you can get a taste of our daily ritual in the neighbourhood.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse with arab workers, I was proved wrong. Yesterday our janitor Jadallah turned off the hot water in the house because he removed 3 toilets bowls from 3 rooms. But typical of arab work, he removed the old ones but did not replace the new ones. Job half done. And the hot water was left turned off. Today Saturday he worked on everything BUT replacing the toilet bowls, so not hot water still. Tomorrow is Sunday and he doesn't work so no hot water tomorrow either. And maybe, just maybe ... he might decide to restart the toilet bowl job on Monday. The thing is - why couldn't he turn back the hot water yesterday? No he can't. He's an arab. So I finally lost my temper and yelled to high heaven at him. He went upstairs and turned on the hot water system. It's as simple as that. But he's arab. I think it's time we sacked him. He's utterly incapable of the simplest jobs, and always ready with an excuse "I don't know". Enough is enough.

Ramadan karim

Headless sheep

So Ramadan begins tonight. The canon fired the traditional 5 shots announcing the start of the month-long fast. Streets are decked with lights. Restaurants and food shops close down, and thousands come from around the country and Territories to the Al Aqsa Mosque. There was some tension at Damascus Gate in the afternoon I was told. I only saw mounted police coming into the City ... and that usually means trouble. Israel is easing travel restrictions for muslims to come to the Al Aqsa during Ramadan.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-eases-west-bank-travel-restrictions-for-ramadan-1.452509  I saw some slaughtered sheep ready for the market ... it's going to be a feast tonight for most muslims.

Meantime we got news of the death of Moshe Silman, the protestor who set himself on fire last week. A very sad case of bureaucracy over mercy.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/moshe-silman-dies-after-self-immolation-at-israeli-protest-1.452513

The heatwave is still hitting us like a tonne of bricks. Yesterday morning was 37 degrees! The afternoon was worse. It was well over 42 degrees.

I had a chance to meet Malek again this afternoon after 2 days. He's part of a swedish youth group visiting the Holyland but originally they are all syrians. Malek has a fantastic voice and I got him to sing the Our Father in aramaic - the language of Jesus - in our Condemnation Chapel. Here's a part of it.

Eve of Ramadan

I've had enough of working with those arab "workers" who never show up for work. Well tomorrow is Ramadan so they'll not show up for another month ... Feeling utterly frustrated and totally stressed out, I accepted my physiotherapist's invite to go over to Ramat Gan and relax and get my neck readjusted. It's been so very painful the last 3 nights I couldn't sleep. That plus the headache plus the asthma plus the heatwave. A deadly combo.

Waves at 7am

So I took a day off yesterday and went to Tel Aviv at 4am in the morning. The heatwave is awful so by 10am I scooted out of the beach after several hours of quiet prayer and reading. It was beautiful. I needed it so much. Later in the afternoon my physiotherapist came and spent quite some time readjusting my neck and shoulders. Now my headache is gone. But he said I was pretty stressed. I know that!!! He said "Don't die! It's not good for your health!" Had a good rest there and came back to Jerusalem this morning at 4am. Yeah, it's the travelling that's killing me.

Good stuff for my ailment

I finally found the milk formula that I can take without worsening my diarrhea situation while getting nutrients - Almond milk! It's lactose and soy free so it doesn't cause my stomach problems. And the natural health shop that sells this is close by Herod's Gate. Only problem is it costs 20 shekels a pack ... a little on the expensive side. But it does help me, so I'll go get some more.

Meantime the suicide bombing of Israelis in Bulgaria has shocked everyone. The country is now on high alert and security checks are becoming more stringent. Too bad as this comes just on the eve of Ramadan. It's going to cause alot of tensions.

STOP the persecution

Witnesssed an awful experience of an arab guy being arrested by Israeli soldiers at the Musrara junction this morning. He probably didn't have his documents ... but there were about 10 soldiers all armed. He was only about 19 or 20 yrs old. I could see the fear in his eyes as he remained silent while soldiers were shouting at him. He was handcuffed and shoved into the military jeep. The soldier sitting next to him pushed his head down between his knees while the jeep sped off. I could just see his eyes as he made a quick glance to the left at me. I felt so helpless. And that's the awful part ... there was nothing I could do ... or at least I thought so. The guy is like so many of the guys I know ... struggling to get a few hours temp. job to bring back some money for the family. Why all this treatment? And the thing that hit me was only this morning the Israeli Court is going to establish a law to imprison people who mistreat animals. And here we have a human being trying to feed his family being arrested because he's arab and stood on the wrong side of the wall.

Christians huddle at church door as son is kidnapped and
forced to be muslim

And more upsetting is the news that Christians in Gaza continue to be persecuted by muslims - executions or forced conversion to Islam. http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/gaza-christians-protest-forcible-conversions-1.451544#  Isn't the world bothered? Aren't you?

The summer of discontent continues. Ironically this time it's the relaxation of security on the Israeli side of Jerusalem. Well for most of us, it's a relief that there'll be no more obligatory security checks at the Central Bus Station - it causes long queues and slows the traffic. But now security is practicing profiling; meaning arabs and all people falling into their profile will be security checked only. Israelis are not happy because it would mean more risks. A terrorist disguised as an orthodox jew could therefore easily carry an explosive and walk right into the Bus Station.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=277621  So Israeli society is divided on this issue.

And the social protest movement gets violent. The National Insurance agency's entrance was partially burnt with graffitti sprayed over it. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-government-office-burned-vandalized-in-solidarity-with-self-immolating-protester-1.451429

Hilary Clinton is in town. That means traffic jams everywhere. Hate it. Hasn't she heard of iPhone and Skype?

Grass at Damascus Gate's Palm Square
gets a watering from the heat.

And the heat .... utterly unbearable! In all, 6 baby canaries have died in 3 days. 1 survived only because it hatched 10 days ago and is therefore stronger in resisting the heat. But after this morning's experience, even the heat is nothing to the awful treatment of the arab guy or to Christians in Gaza.

Fires and fruit

Another series of fires yesterday ... this time in Jerusalem. But the apparent slow response by Jerusalem fire-fighters have drawn bitter criticism. 10 injured and houses destroyed.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=277555  It's been so hot today the usually crowded Independence Park was quiet and the grass was half-scorched. It was around 37 degrees but they say Wednesday it'll hit around 40 or so. Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel ... but in this heat, Mt. Carmel is all scorched and whitered.

And Israel's internal dispute proves to be a greater threat than heatwaves and forest fires. It's the ongoing debate whether ultra-orthodox jews should be drafted into the army. It's mandatory for all Jews but somehow the ultra-orthodox got away with it. The Shephardic Chief Rabbi met with the President to lessen the tension and gave his blessing to all the soldiers but the Eda Haredit sector of ultra-orthodox jews on the otherhand will be marching in demonstration against the draft.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=277556  Such internal division will not be good for the future security of Israel.

Talking about divisions, the social protests took a turn after the self-immolation of a protester. Hundreds more showed up to challenge the govt. for not helping the victims of Israel's worsening economy.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/hundreds-of-israelis-protest-state-s-social-policy-in-wake-of-self-immolation-1.451259  and  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=277596  Of course the protests have not reached the stage whereby blame is placed on the govt.'s financial support for the ultra-orthodox jews who not only avoid military service but also paying taxes or contributing to the economy. Tax-payers' money go to support the ultra-orthodox families instead of the tax-paying poor.

Cherries galore

If there's anything nice to talk about, it's the fruit in season. Lychees and mangoes are in abundance. And cherries from the Golan Heights. Had a bowl of dark cherries for lunch yesterday given to me by Sr Vincenta. But if the heatwave continues, and it will get worse by Wednesday, then all the fruit and orchards will be ruined. So better to enjoy the fruit this week while it lasts. As it is, the fruit are very costly. One kilo of lychees go for 20 - 25 shekels (US$6 - 8). I'm not buying those.

And finally some justice is served. After bashing the Catholic Church for years for anti-semitism and not stopping Hitler from the Holocaust, now jews acknowledge thousands of Polish catholics for saving jewish lives.  http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/out-of-the-shadow-polish-rescuers-of-jews-celebrate-hero-s-honor-1.451281

1st Anniversary of Tent City

Poignant message to the govt.

Yesterday marked the 1st anniversary of the social protest movement in Israel. Thousands took to the streets in several cities. But it was pretty disorganised - two different marches taking place at the same time in Tel Aviv, and demands of various kinds bullhorned from different sectors. But it really became bad when one man set himself on fire.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-man-sets-himself-on-fire-during-tel-aviv-social-protest-1.451041  and http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=277468  I think by now Israelis realised what their govt. is doing to the palestinians (bulldoze and ignore), its doing to its own jewish citizens. And the govt. always wins. Haaretz newspaper is coparing Moshe Silman - the Israeli who immolated himself yesterday - to Mohammed Buoazizi the Tunisian peddler who immolated himself that triggered the Tunisian Revolution.

It's so hot, no one is in the park
and the grass is half scorched

Meantime the heatwave is causing havoc in the country - massive fires up in the north. 1000 people had to be evacuated.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=277418  The heatwave reaches its peak right now between 12pm to 3pm ... and the Israeli eletrical company is calling everyone to avoid using heavy duty appliances such as dish-washers, washing machines, dryers during these hours so that an electrical outtage can be avoided.

And a total of 5 baby canaries have died due to the heat. All the canary pairs have stopped breeding as well. What a disaster.

False cushions

Despite the awful heat of 35 degrees this morning, I had a nice time because I unexpectedly met with  group of UNISA professors and students who asked me to guide them along the Way of the Cross. I had studied with UNISA (Uni. of S. Africa) for many years and was more than happy to bring them along the sites. The group consisting of 3 professors and 17 students had been excavating Hazor and now that the digging season is over, they came to Jerusalem for some religious visits. We covered the Probatica Pools, St Anne's church, the 14 Stations and everything inside the Holy Sepulchre. It was a 4 and a half hour tour. Everyone was happy. I'm glad I was able to do something for UNISA.

Dangerous comfort

While sun-lovers are gloating over the marvelous sunshine and perfect beach opportunities, and lots of student groups are making summer excursions and camps all over the country, most people are moaning about the heat. It is so uncomfortably stuffy and oppressive. And I have extremely bad attacks of asthma these few nights. Bleeding in the nose as well. And a splitting headache for 3 full days. Summer is not going to be good for me. The weather is like the cluster of colourful cushions occupying the shaded courtyard next to Safra Square. They look so soft and comfy except that police railings are surrounding them. Later a notice came up saying they're made from cement and therefore not as comfy as it looks. So that's summer for you - looks real good until you're in it and find out it isn't what it seems.

More dead as the war in Gaza continues for another day. And a potential terrorist is arrested in Cyprus. And the massacre in Syria continues. What a day! It's like having one of those cement cushions being thrown at you.

Friday 13th again, heatwave again

So this is the state of Israeli politics : racist anti-arab graffiti were sprayed on a water tank in an arab village. The perpetrators were not arrested. Then leftist activists ("pro arab") came to spray over the graffiti ... they got arrested. See where Israeli politics is going?  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/attacks-on-palestinians-continue-but-police-only-arrest-leftist-activists.premium-1.450803

The heatwave is still hitting us relentlessly. The govt. is afraid with so many aircons on at the same time, the country will face a power outtage. We're expecting the heat to rise by this weekend ... something above 35 degrees.  And the latest study says fans are useless when the temp. is over 35 degrees; in fact it gives off more hot air than cooling it.  http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=277356  Another baby canary died this morning. We think it must be the heat.

Apple (l) and cherry (r) jam with
chunky fruit. No preservatives.

Another Friday ... Friday 13th at that!!!  The streets are packed with muslims. It's the second last Friday to Ramadan so things are picking up in tempo: shops are selling festive stuff, food shops will be closing down, security will be doubled. The heatwave will not be kind to the muslims who fast, but at least we know there'll be less violence in the streets as hungry people wouldn't have the energy to go out in this heat to fight.

And talking about hungry, Firas' mum has made fabulous apple and cherry jam, with chunky bits of fruit. I'm trying to get some groups to help me transport them to you so you can taste some Holyland goodness. Also available is fig jam. Sorry but apricots and peaches are out of season.

Dark days for summer

Big news running through the headlines today: Israel preparing for a major earthquake.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-forges-national-plan-for-contending-with-earthquakes.premium-1.450697  However I don't see anything prepared by or for Palestine. We're doomed here in the Old City and especially in the Muslim Quarter. My earthquake emergency pack is next to my bed but it'll be more likely that I'll be buried under tonnes of ancient stones till some future archaeologist comes to dig my remains out.

Then the Armenians lose their land to Israelis as the parking lot in their quarter becomes exclusive parking for Jews only.  http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/jerusalem-s-armenians-outraged-as-city-approves-jews-only-parking-lot-in-old-city-1.410694

Israel bombed Gaza killing one. Israel is facing power outtages as heatwave hits the country again.   http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?ID=277207&R=R1  In fact it was so hot, one baby canary died this morning.

Muslim authorities are doing renovation work on/over the holy rock under the Dome of the Rock Mosque. Jews decry this sacrilege as it once was the Holy of Holies.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=276879

Coke Zero

So like I predicted earlier this year - it's a summer of discontent. We're expecting more stuff to happen. Meantime we got the window of the library painted. Tiring job. This morning was off to Bethlehem to visit my friend Firas who celebrated his birthday yesterday. His aunt and cousin from Toronto are here visiting and we had a lovely chat over arabic coffee in his house. His mum cooked up an apple jam and a cherry jam. Absolutely delicious.

Well with all the clashes we read today - Jews, Gazans, Armenians, Arabs, Muslims .... yes I think Zero is certainly a culture. It certainly is here in the Holyland - zero culture.

Hard work days

Two incredible days of work ... I mean from 8am to 7pm non-stop, no-lunch, no-toilet work. We painted the walls of a room on the library and a corridor, then varnished the wooden windows and painted a window. Not a big space, but doing a good job meant spending time doing it well. But what I really appreciated was getting to know the painter ... whom I knew since he was a toddler playing in the streets. He destroyed my prejudice of him as a school dropout, junkie, loafer when he started work: totally serious, honest, well-mannered, sensitive to the environment ... and for a young guy of 20 he certainly can show to older workers how to be a responsible worker. Everyone who inspected his work was impressed. He put every bit of furniture back into its original place after the work was done. Cleaned up every drop of paint. No music, no iPod, no chatting ... just hard, silent work. Everyone knows how much I value education but he showed me that what he could not achieve in conventional schooling, he achieved through life-experience. And I'm so happy he now wants to learn english. I'll try to look for a course at the British Council for him.

Great porridge at Mandarin's - not
in the menu!!!

Yesterday after a hard day's work, Ami my Israeli friend asked me out for dinner. We went to Mandarin's because he loves chinese food. Ah Ling the manager brought out pork-rib porridge and mui-choy pork which are not in the menu. Unbelievable! I wanted to avoid eating it as I'm not very partial to pork and fatty stuff ... but I ate anyway so as not to offend. And it tasted so very good!

Light at end of tunnel

Yesterday was another busy day. Even though Buscemi has gone home for summer, I still make the 5 km walk in the morning ... mainly because I had to do the chores like shopping for essentials. Then there was a meeting with Billy and his wife and Muhammed regarding the chinese restaurant's future. Then I needed a rest. The stress of the entire week - of workers who never show up, finally broke me. I went to sleep ... deep sleep. It's was like a hibernation from the Arab Winter (as opposed from the Arab Spring) where nothing happens.

After 3 years in jail, a christian pastor in Iran is now due for probable execution because of "apostasy".  http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=276623  Persecution of Christians continue today ... and you should be very very involved in helping your persecuted brothers and sisters. Some persecution are violent and blatant ... most are subtle and subversive. Get involved ... it's Christ whom you're ultimately helping.

Mesmerising sunrise

And yesterday's shopping meant I had to carry a heavy backpack walking 3 km or so. Result? Very sore back and neck. It was so bad I called my physio for help. But like everything else here, I had to postpone a visit to him. The renovation work would take too much time and I don't have sufficient time to go to Ramat Gan.

Too much bad news ... everything looks so dark. Just when it almost feel like there's no hope or cause for joy .... then there appears a spectacular sunrise: the sun was directly at the end of the arch gallery of the Municipality Building. It's incredible.

Shabbat

Big demonstration this evening in Tel Aviv demanding universal draft to military service - meaning ultra orthodox Jews and Israeli arabs must also do compulsory military service. The PM is in a hot spot as he leans to the ultra orthodox for votes and coalition in his govt. and they are dead set against doing military service. http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=276600  and  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/tens-of-thousands-march-in-tel-aviv-demanding-equality-in-national-service-1.449399

And yes ... the workers didn't show up today either. They'll be the death of me. Actually I can't remember anything else about today ... must be exhaustion. My short term memory has gone kaput the past weeks. I only remember meeting a good friend to say goodbye as he was returning to the States after doing 2 semesters of research in Coptic here.

Sabbath chaos at Damascus Gate

So it's another Sabbath. The police are now closing off our road during the evenings on Sabbaths so that arab cars cannot enter while Jews go and return from the Wailing Wall for prayers.  And there are literally thousands of them. Damascus Gate becomes a total chaotic scene as they cross the roads in groups. Soldiers are stationed closeby and all traffic get jammed log. Drivers sound their horns impatiently, people shouting and talking at the top of their voices ... the scene is surreal. Then again everything in this City is ... like workers who don't show up for work for 3 days. Surreal.

Help?

Can anyone help me acquire a couple of bottles of this medicine? Thanks

Herbalgy Touch: pain
relieving liniment

Of quirks and idiosyncrasies ...

What is it with arabs from Jerusalem? They, and only they, will say "sini" ("chinese") at me as if I don't know that already. So take the case of last night in Tel Aviv. Hundreds of tourists and local Israelis passed me by, but one had to stop and say "sini" at me like as if in a zoo. My fed-up response was "yaaa arabi" ("hey arab!") to him back. So he got shocked that I could speak arabic. So he said again in arabic "You're chinese right?" and I asked back "And you're arab right?" and I added "You must be from Jerusalem", and he got even more surprised and said "Yes how did you know?" ..... like is there any other dead giveaway???? Only Jerusalemite arabs say that "sini" stuff as if seeing a martian. I don't get it and I won't even try.

A typical road in the Old City
If only life could be so
easy and straight without
any quirks

So I had to go see my physiotherapist yesterday afternoon in Tel Aviv (actually Ramat Gan) as my neck and shoulder problem was getting worse. I couldn't even lift up my left arm. For 2 full hours my physio adjusted my shoulders and neck and analysed the different pains I had in my joints as all interconnected. "One millimeter of mis-adjustment in the foot would result in a centimenter shift in the neck" he said ... and that made sense. Anyway it was good because after that I could lift my left arm and even touch my toes.

With the physical pain gone, I now had to deal with psychological trauma - the workers who were supposed to come to do the renovation had again failed to come and start work. It's the 3rd day running that they promised to come but didn't. What is it with these arab workers? They have an allergy to work? I can't take these quirks anymore .....

Bomb scare

Police blocking the road

The road from the 3rd Station up to our door was closed off last night because of a suspected bomb. No one could pass through ... and I was returning home after a farewell dinner for Leonardo. Got stuck there. Talked to the police and finally convinced them that it's only a short distance. The police told me "Run! Hurry!" And the arabs standing around were all cheering and shouting "run run". I was the only one allowed to pass through. A Greek Orthodox monk who came out was told by the police to go back in. And a couple of our friars coming out were also told to return back. Actually I wasn't sure what was happening as they never explained why the road was closed. But I noticed an arab friend standing among the crowds so when I got home, I called him to ask what was happening. He laughed and said "bomb! bomb!"

That's life here ... so reminiscent of the 1st and 2nd Intifada. Never a dull moment.

Exhausted

I worked like hell ... believe me. With only half a medium pizza to last me 36 hours, and moving 2500 volumes of books and manuscripts ... believe me, I've reached the end. I'm so tired and exhausted. And it was worse because there was this arab guy who's contracted to work 5 hours a day for 5 days a week; but he actually comes 3 days a week and works 3 hours a day. And he was supposed to help me move these books. Every 2 hours he went out to smoke and have a coffee while Hidri and I worked flat through with no break. I'm going to fire him. He won't last a day in Asia. This kind of crap can only exist here in the Middle East.

Happy Amir with his new outfit

Well at least one guy is happy today - little Amir. He got to join the summer camp for young footballers and was chosen from out of thousands to be in the training camp. He got a new outfit for the camp including shoes. Now that's one happy boy ... and you should know he comes from a very poor family with no luxuries. He's the 2nd son of our doorkeeper.

The moon was gloriously full last night. Many people noticed this ... it was so bright it lit up the City like it was day. If only my days were just as bright ... now with all this frantic work in progress.

Thomas the doubter

So today we celebrated the feast of Thomas the Apostle, better known as the doubter. Actually one should be more sympathetic to him, as it surely must have been difficult under those circumstances to believe in anything.

Landmark carob tree chopped into
little pieces

And if he had to go through the pressures that I had to go through today, he'd probably throw up his hands in the air and gave up. I never had such a crazy day as I had today - workers suddenly showing up and wanting to work while everything was not yet ready. I had to round up an emergency crew to clear p as much stuff as possible so that initial minimal work can get started on the renovation. Ran out to the New City 3 times to get extra keys done. Then everything else is blanked out ... too exhausted to remember anything. Started work at 4am and only finished work at 6pm ... so that says alot. Totally stressed. Felt like the old carob tree that was felled in Independence Park - totally in pieces.

Anyway managed to relax a little when a friend called me out to chat. Change of atmosphere and mood. Had a lemonade and shared an anchovy pizza with him. He works for the UN in the Territories and has lots of interesting stories to tell.

So Thomas was totally stressed and his doubts ... but who can blame him? Welcome to the real world.

The big picture

Outspoken and unconventional rabbi Eliezar Berland calls for intervention in Syria to "save the Ishmaelites" - "even though some may grow up to be terrorists".  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/yeshiva-head-calls-for-intervention-in-syria-to-save-ishmaelites-1.448289

Dinner: spaghetti alio/olio
what's left of it

And a disturbing video of Israeli soldier kicking a 9 yr old arab boy while another holds him.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=276003   Mind you, you should also remember that the soldiers are under alot of pressure in Hebron; and arabs are known to kill their daughters for going out with the wrong guy, wrong clothes, wrong attitudes. So I'm not making any judgments here. Just simply telling you to see the big picture in which the small picture takes place.

Lunch: corn on the cob
what's left of it

Yesterday's lunch was unique - a corn on the cob that I bought and boiled. Haven't eaten corn for a very long time. Actually I bought 4 to feed the canaries, but decided to eat one myself! Then I realised it was an experience of what poor people have for their meals. It did fill the stomach though. Evening I had a terrible craving for spaghetti so I went to Bolognese Restaurant for an Alio e Olio. Not the best that I've ever eaten, but I finished everything on the plate. So that's the big picture for you - lunch plate is a meal for the poor, dinner plate for those who can afford. If I had only shown you only one or the other, you'd be thinking that I'm eating poorly or extravagantly. Well the truth is always somewhere in between.

Meantime Jewish extremist elements have vandalised the famous remains of an ancient synagogue in Tiberias, causing millions of dollars of damage.   http://www.jpost.com/nationalnews/article.aspx?id=271844  Maybe rabbi Eliezar should call for help to "save archaeology" from the fanatics, those who fail to see the big picture.

New triad on the block

Yesterday saw another series of social protests throughout several cities in Israel.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=275826   And there was trouble at Damascus Gate late night. Police everywhere. Another gang fight involving a shop. No one is saying - but observing from this regular attacks by hoodlums from outside Jerusalem, coming in a black van, dressed in black, armed with metal bars ... the modus operandi is all too similar with other previous attacks in the last 6 months. Looks to me like an arab triad is trying to take over the shops' "protection" through coercion.

Also yesterday the former PM Isak Shamir died at a ripe old age of 96. His advice for the peace process: hold on till the opponent tires out and blinks. http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=275812  I guess the triad is not waiting for shop-keepers to blink.

Hoopoe looking
for insects

Meantime the hot dry days are still giving way to windy cool nights. What a relief! Only problem is my room is still like an oven. The stone walls absorb the heat from the morning sun till evening and in the nights, the stones release the heat. It's like an oven. My room is one of two that gets hit by the summer sun for a good 12 hours a day. Thanks to the nifty portable aircon unit, I can have some sleep ... unless I get an attack of asthma, or the arthritis worsens. And of course the insect problem is made worse as mosquitoes, flies, ticks and bugs flourish. But that's good news for the woodpeckers, swallows and hoopoe. Independence Park is suddenly full of these birds - this morning we saw 2 woodpeckers and a young hoopoe which is the national bird of Israel. I was barely 2 feet away from the hoopoe and it was not afraid at all.

I guess the canaries aren't fairing well in this heat though. They're drinking alot of water and bathing too. But they managed to bring up 9 young birds that are all flying around happily in the big cage. In the second batch of nests, only two survived and are growing up quick in their nest. All the other eggs have dried up in the sweltering heat. And the cats are voracious in this heat. Well, perhaps the canaries should pay some protection money to the hoodlums to keep the cats at bay.