The newspapers are awashed with the "Prisoner X" case. But on ground level I don't see many people interested in it. More interesting is the private budget of the PM ... among the annual costs is 10,000 shekels for ice-cream provided by a little store near the PM's home and behind our Terra Santa College. After this news broke, the tiny gelateria has become an overnight sensation - people from all over the country are coming here to have a piece of pistachio ice-cream reputedly the favourite of the PM.
And the weather changes again. From a lovely sunny 19 degrees yesterday, it dropped to 11 degrees now. It's very cloudy, with occasional drizzle. And everyone I meet says they have a headache ... including me. Definitely not nice.
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| Haman's ears I bought |
But on the happy side, Purim is round the corner. It begins on Feb 23rd evening. Streets are selling masks, costumes and other tacky stuff as usual. Bakeries everywhere are selling Haman's ears. I bought 2 boxes, about 1 kg in all. Both have date fillings but one box is without sugar, for diabetics. I shared it with our kitchen staff and nuns. It's not everyday that they get to eat this festive treat.
The lenten rigours have begun as with every year. Midnight last night was vigils with matins and prime plus the obligatory procession around the empty Tomb at the Holy Sepulchre Church. The Masses are celebrated up on Mt. Calvary from 1.30am onwards. This goes on for the next 4 weeks, and most of us will take turns attending the midnight services otherwise all of us will be out of action during the day.
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