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 ....

Water .....

Yesterday was All Souls' Day. Remembered during Mass all the family, friends and benefactors who passed away.

Trouble is brewing in the Holy Sepulchre because the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate's bank account is frozen. The water company is demanding 9 million shekels of past water bills. However the Church has never paid water or electric bills because it's been exempt all these centuries. If any payment is made now, it'll start a precedent for other companies to demand retrospective payments for electricity, land tax etc... for all church properties including pilgrim hostels, schools, churches, hospitals, orphanages. It's not right as mosques and synagogues are exempt. http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=290257  and  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/holy-sepulchre-bank-account-blocked-over-water-bill-1.474045#.UJSMko0k6W8.facebook  In a united move, all the churches are in agreement to close the Holy Sepulchre as a protest. So you see, water is not only a contention between desert-dry countries in the Middle-east ... it's moved into the churches as well.

"Thirst" - statue at
Mamilla Mall

So next time you thoughtlessly misuse water, stop yourself. Don't take it for granted. Every drop counts.

Weatherwise there's no sign of rain though it's terribly cloudy. Let's hope this winter will be kind and allow some heavy rains to fall later in the year. A couple of stormy days would be great.

All Saints Day

Managed to get an appointment with my physiotherapist this morning. 3 hour session to get the neck and shoulder back in alignment. Actually he found out that it's mainly due to my ankle (I fell 4 years ago and it wasn't healed) and knees (no miniscus) that projected it's misalignment to my neck thus causing most of the pain on the nerve. It was a slow long session but he did quite alot of good. Am having less pain now. But the problem is it will recur when I start overworking, stressed or carry heavy things.

Great burger at Jabontinsky Road

Anyway he was very nice and we chatted alot and he brought me out for a burger as it was past lunch time. It was certainly one of the best burgers I've ever eaten ... well, I don't eat much burgers in the first place. And as expected, I got really sick almost immediately after.

And it's All Saints Day ... not just a day to remember the holy people who went before us ... but rather a day to remind ourselves that we too are all called to be saints. And this includes carrying all our pains and aches ....