Weekend begins

The weather is awfully strange ... hot in the afternoons but cold in the nights. You never know what to wear. There was no tension or scuffles yesterday in the Mosque and everything is back to normal. The sunny afternoons are just too pleasant to ruin with violence. Everyone just wants to enjoy the sun.

Time for a laugh ....

Yesterday was an utterly exhausting day. Monthly retreat in the Garden of Gethsemani in the morning, then rushed off to Tel Aviv to see the doctor. My diarrhea has been very bad for the past 3 days and I needed a checkup. Was waiting in line and getting the examination from 1pm to 5.30pm. Horrific wait. Didn't eat anything so by the time I got back home 65 km away at 8.30pm, I was dead tired and hungry. Went to Mandarin's and Ah Ling and her staff were shocked to see me almost fainting. She boiled fish soup and put rice in it to make a sort of porridge for me. Then she got a taxi and paid the driver to bring me home. That was very nice of her.

And so the weekend begins for us. Time for a smile ... the photo was shared from FaceBook ... really cute.

Of violence and vellum

Yesterday morning saw violence in the Al Aqsa Mosque. A Knesset member (parliament) with extreme views about retaking the Mosque from the muslims to rebuild the Jewish Temple had proposed such a law to be read at the Knesset. Muslims became nervous and blocaded themselves in the Mosque at midnight. When the Mosque doors opened in the morning, muslims inside threw stones at the Israeli police on the outside. The police retaliated by firing stun grenades and tear gas ... what a way to wake up in the morning.   http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=12217

Anyway things calmed down later in the morning. But there was still a heavy military presence throughout the City. Young men were stopped, questioned and even searched. I witnessed a young man with hands on the wall, legs spread eagle while soldiers did a body search ... right in Damascus Gate. Dreadful.

It started to drizzle all night and this morning. Pretty chilly. I have difficulty in breathing but its not asthma ... just a heavy chest like bronchitis. And my fingers are all swollen with arthritis.

One of the ancient
manuscripts in our library

Well I have to work as usual. Yesterday morning we had a very important consignment for our library's ancient books department. Some 10 ancient illuminated manuscripts from the 12th - 14th centuries. Absolutely lovely. Most are just below a metre tall ... those ancient monastic prayer books with gregorian notations and lovely decorated initials, some in gold. What a treasure. I have a team from Italy cataloguing them and one specialist who studies each one. Most are in very good condition because the vellum / parchment used were good quality. But others had gone mouldy or destroyed by insects. I will need a professional vellum restorer from Italy to come and repair these codices. And I surprised everyone by chanting one of the pages ... no one expected a chinese to read gregorian notation from the 12th century. Never judge a book by its cover ... (pun intended).

We need rain

Yesterday at 10.30am sirens were blaring throughout the country. It's the rocket alert system that warns people to run to bomb shelters because a missile is on its way. But not to worry ... it was only a drill for schools. From my window I could see the students from the school opposite running into ground floor classrooms. The exercise was repeated several times.

Bedouin women selling
veggies in the sidewalk

Other than that, it was a normal day. Markets were opened as usual and people were only momentarily taken aback when the sirens sounded. But life went on with buying and selling.

The forecast is for rain today and the skies are certainly overcast with rain clouds. But the strong westerly winds might just blow the clouds into Jordan and the rains will escape us once again. And its very damp too. My arthritis is playing up. 2 Fridays back, the muslims prayed for rain in the Al Aqsa mosque. That's how much we need the rains.

Anyway its back to work. I dread having to walk to work in the rain ... but we do need it desparately. Otherwise it'll be another drought season and everyone will suffer for the rest of the year: prices of vegetables and food will rise, water will be rationed and heavily taxed, the air will be dusty and polluted ... Let's pray God be merciful and send us heavy rains.

Stromata

The ornate and imposing
entrance of the Augusta
Victoria hospital

The weather has been pleasantly warm in the day ... 20 degrees and sunny. But the cold returns once the sun sets.

Yesterday was a very hectic day with emergency requests for help that I had to attend to. Managed to complete my tasks and then spent several hours walking though the Old City with a good friend Yonatan. As an Israeli, he has never been to the Christian and Muslim Quarters of the Old City, so I brought him around and showed him some very rare sights that tourists have no access. It was a very nice walk and we had a drink and pizza at Jacob's pizza.

Earlier in the morning I had my appointment at Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mt. of Olives. First time inside the 100 year old building dedicated to the wife of Kaiser Wilhelm II who visited Jerusalem in the 1890s and wanted a german hospice to be built for german pilgrims. The British converted it into a hospital during the war. Anyway once inside the huge monastic structure, you get the feeling you're in Germany ... the architecture is very german. The garden surround the hospital has a stupendous view of the Dead Sea, Jordan and the southern desert.

The cloister of the hospital

Anyway the doc wants me to have another CAT scan and then discuss it with other specialists if I need an operation and how it is to be done. It's apparently going to be complicated and 3 specialists from Haifa's Rambam hospital will be called to do it. We'll see how it goes.

This afternoon some arab kids went overboard and harassed the Israeli security guards of the Tunnel. One of the guards sprayed pepper spray, police were called in and the ambulance brought the boy to hospital. Now I'm in a quandary. The security guards are my friends and what they did was right. But the kids are also my friends in the carpark whom I don't agree with their violent hooliganism, but nevertheless hang around with them in the hope of changing their lives. Now both sides are waiting to see which side I stand on this latest scuffle. I'm stuck in the center. It's tough living in Israel. There's no room to maneuver even in friendships.

Stromata

Yesterday's expectation of a riot after noon prayers fizzled. Everything was fine. No scuffles, no problems. Everything was calm and everyone continued with life as usual. But the newspaper Haaretz carries an article by an American Jew Tod Gitlin commenting on jewish prof. Eva Illouz's powerful (self) critique on the Israeli Occupation of Palestine likened to slavery. Very acute, intelligent and brave. If you cannot access the article, here's a brief passage: "So she adopts a rhetorical strategy, but it is not only rhetorical. Read her again. Of course she omits elements of the situation. But consider what her radical shift of perspectives permits one to see. The “conditions of slavery” that she itemizes are almost identical to the conditions that struck me on my own visits to Israel in 2008 and 2010: the experience of literal imprisonment for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians as a routine way of life; “the feeling of spatial imprisonment” accompanied by “economic strangulation”; land expropriation; home demolitions; the throttling of property extension; and so on.

From what I have seen and read, Illouz’s estimate is plausible when she writes that “70 percent of the Palestinian population live with a permanent sense of dishonor, conduct their lives without predictability and continuity, live in fear of Jewish terror and of the violence of the Israeli military power, and are afraid to have no work, shelter or family.” But perhaps it is a smaller percentage of Palestinians whose “freedom, honor, physical integrity, capacity to work, acquire property, marry and, more generally, plan for the future are alienated to the will and power of their Israeli masters.” Or a larger one. Who knows? Does it matter? Not much. For the principle of her argument stands: The occupation is built on systematic violations of dignity, of honor, of personhood."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/.premium-1.575493

Fiery sunset

Frankly I'm growing very weary of work. It is sapping my energy and I'm losing enthusiasm. Time for a break ... hmmmm like overdue for 8 years now. Am really feeling utterly exhausted ... and today I have an appointment with the doc. Things are not as efficient as back home ... so a visit to the hospital means being directed from one department to another, staff ignoring you as they drink their coffee, smoke their cigarette and chat to each other. Minimum 3 hours wait. It's a nightmare.

Yesterday's sunset was stupendous. Fiery changing to gold. The weather has been very warm today. The country is expecting a drought year as not sufficient rain has fallen this winter. That means besides the water tax there'll also be a drought tax on water. A very expensive year ahead.

Tense Friday

The past two days were hectic with work. Unbelievably packed with work ... Have been running some 5-6 km everyday up and downhill to get jobs done. Utterly exhausting.

Armoured bulldozer with
water canon

Today they're expecting riots after the noon prayers at the mosque. Damascus Gate is full of police and soldiers, horses and even a water canon. Fearing they'll close off the Muslim Quarter, I called off work early in the Jewish side of Jerusalem and rushed home. Otherwise I'll be locked out of home till probably after 3pm or later. Let's hope for the best.

The rise of Jewish extremist "price tag" attackes on arab and christian property is on the increase with 2 or 3 cases each week. The newspapers are saying that the PM has lost control of the arab side of Jerusalem and the Jewish extremists are overrunning the territory with utter lawlessness.

Anemones flowering
on my terrace

Another news causing a stir is that apparently the Vatican is pushing the Israeli govt. to return the Last Supper Room before the Pope's visit in May. The Last Supper Room - the birthplace of the Church and the Sacraments - was wrested from the Franciscans in the 1500s by the muslims and then 1968 by the Jews. All this despite the Franciscans holding the title deeds. No Israeli Court wants to recognise the title deed so as not to offend the extremist Jews who want to keep the Last Supper Room for themselves. ALmost immediately after this news, the PM's office issued a notice assuring the Jewish public that the govt. will never give back the Last Supper Room to the Church.

Enough of bad news. The flowers are a pleasant sight and makes everything look more positive and bearable in this atmosphere.

Herb Garden

Herb garden by the
City Walls

The skies have finally cleared and the sun is shining brightly. But the wind is still cold. Everyone is still wearing scarves, woolen caps and think clothing. But the weather is great for the plants. The Municipality has planted a swarth of herbs along the City Walls. Fantastic aroma of rosemary and thyme. And strangely no one has plucked them up yet. It's just a matter of time.

Spent 10 solid hours working. Not breakfast or lunch. Just one glass of water. Am so exhausted and lost my appetite.

The Salafi terrorist group in the Sinai has admitted bombing the tourist bus. Now they have issued a warning to all tourists not come to Egypt or they will be targets for more violence. Loathsome.

On my way home from work, there was a heavy military presence at Damascus Gate down into the Old City. Border police with automatic rifles and mounted police were everywhere. No one could tell me why. I though there was a riot or something but apparently nothing of that sort happened. Just another day I guess. Stopped to have a short chat with my israeli security friends Vlad, Yogev and Barad. These guys are really great. They watch my back and are ready for a good laugh. It brings some normality to an otherwise crazy world which we have become numb to.

Rain

Dark gloomy and wet

It drizzled all night ... and though it was not heavy, the roads are all flooded due to blocked and filthy drainage systems. In the central part of the country, major floods occurred. Later today in the afternoon, hail pelted the City and then 2 showers that sent everyone scurrying for cover. It is still very cold and wet. My israeli security friends were all freezing as they have to work out in the open. Poor chaps. They were very glad I came to chat with them as we laughed alot and forgot the miserable weather around us.

Just got news that 4 korean tourists were killed at the Sinai/Israel border. The tour bus was bombed. Now the border between Egypt and Israel is closed. Police suspect the bomb was planted in St. Catherine's Monastery.

Rainbow over the
Dormition Abbey

And then the newspapers report that the Attorney General bowed to the political right and religious extremists by allowing them to define anti-arab and anti-christian attacks as not terrorist. Awful. And a beachfront shootout in Tel Aviv saw one man dead in his car ... possibly a mafia revenge attack. So much lawlessness.

Despite the rain, I decided to go out and take a walk. Needed to clear the mind. I think I walked some 5 km. It was a pretty heavy shower at first so I had to shelter in my friend's phone shop - "Dr. Phone". Then as the skies cleared to a drizzle I continued my walk. And saw a beautiful sight ... a rainbow over the Dormition Abbey. A sign of hope ... a sign of promise. Perhaps things won't be so bad after all.

Yuan Xiao ... double Valentine's Day

Cloudy skies with
full moon on Yuan Xiao

So it's Valentine's Day twice over ... the western and chinese feasts coincide. The moon was full and beautiful but there were many rain clouds and the wind was bitterly cold. It even started to drizzle. The forecast is for rain this weekend. Let's hope so. Yesterday the muslims made special prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque for rain. Looks like a drought year for us.

At last the police are doing something about the arab mafia that controls tourism to churches. These guys stand at church entrances and pretend to be guides ... inevitably leading to tipping and going to their shops for shopping or restaurants for meals. Now when they start threatening to stab tourist police whom they deem to be blocking their illegal activities, the Law Enforcement has finally stepped in.  http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Father-son-arrested-for-attempted-stabbing-of-police-officer-in-Jerusalem-341381

Meantime the rest of the country went into turmoil because the central company that handles local credit cards had a  major glitch in their computer system. For the past 2 days, people could not pay with their credit cards. A major inconvenience.

Of moon and Valentine

The weather is warming up and everyone is finding it very nice to be out in the open, soaking in the sunshine like reptiles. The nights are still cold though, down to 4 degrees. Forecast is for rain tomorrow and Saturday. Let's hope so. Everyone is worried it will not rain, and we'll have another drought year.

Moon at 3.30pm!!!

Tomorrow should be Yuen Xiao, the 15th day of the Lunar New Year which is a full moon. The moon here is so large and bright, yesterday at 3.30pm it was already halfway up the sky. Everyone noticed this strange sight.

And talking about strange sights, yesterday the news reported that a statue of Mary up in the north of Israel has begun weeping oil. Wildfire reports are flashing around the world right now and filming it. I really don't know. If this "miracle" can bring about peace in our region, then by all means go ahead and weep ... If it's just a ploy for attention to the plight of Christians, then forget it. Muslims and Jews will simply condemn it as idolatry. And the rabbis are getting pretty aggressive about that.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.573781 


A good example of the rabbis' fight against anything and anyone is today's discussion about Valentine's Day (tomorrow). Can a jew celebrate it? Big discussion.  http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-features/.premium-1.573940   Well can they? If it's just giving presents, roses and chocolates, then it's permissible because it's nothing religious (read "christian") about it. But if St. Valentine is invoked and worshipped, then it's not permissible because it's idolatry. And since even the Pope doesn't worship St. Valentine or celebrate the feast .... so it's permissible for Jews to enjoy Valentine's Day!!

Sunset

Hadassah Hospital is paralysed by strikes from all quarters. And of course it's all about money. Pity that this world class private hospital with it's innovative medical services is going down that road. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.573396

And the rabbis are on the warpath again .... this time they are fighting against Whatsapp ... the phone app. http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.573371  The rabbis are very much on their toes.

Ecce Homo Arch at sunset

The sprained ankle is doing well as long as I don't walk. The moment I stand up and put weight on the foot, it hurts. A good excuse to rest, right? No way ... it's work as usual. the swollen fingers, bloated tummy, skin rashes and general tiredness are all on the roll.

Now there was a fantastic sunset yesterday that took my mind off the sprained ankle. The sun was directly shining from behind the bellfry of St Saviour's Monastery 1 km away uphill, and it was framed by the Ecce Homo Arch. The play of light and shadows was amazing ... almost like an 18th century painting.

Twisted ankle

Twisted my ankle again ... this time my right ankle. Usually it's the left ankle as it's weaker. I was exhausted, having woken up at 3am for class ... and then having to walk 1km uphill to work and struggling with the Pred. side-effects ... I twisted the ankle on the very unlevel stone stairs of the City. Total disaster because once at office, I had to walk another 1km to the bank to make payments for the library books, then walk the 1km back to office, then another 1 km back home. Had to stop several times along the road to sit and relieve the pain.

At the Thailandi kitchen

And talking about side-effects ... swollen fingers, bloated tummy, loss of appetite, depression ... all the withdrawal symptoms as I expected. Luckily the weather has been warming up after the 3 degree night temp. And the sun is very bright. And ... Thailandi has opened a shop in the Jewish Quarter. It's all kosher of course, so no pork or shrimps. There's Pad Thai which is very unlike Pad Thai. I guess a good dish is egg noodles. It's the only "asian" cuisine that I can get in the Old City. It's run by the brother of my Israeli security friend Shvili. US$13 for a plate of fried egg noodles. Expensive? Everything else in the country is expensive. No surprises here.

A Jewish Conflict Resolution Institute is trying to make 9th Adar a holiday for Jews ... it recalls the dreadful event when 2 rabbinic schools led by the famous Hillel and Shammai in 70 AD, fought over differences of interpreting the Bible, resulting in 3000 dead. They hope this holiday can help Jews resolve their internal conflicts in a constructive way. Be that as it may, it does little to resolve conflict between them and the arabs. We've news that more anti-arab vandalism was committed in Silwan (biblical Siloam) last night. 16 cars were torched. What next? ....

Almond blossoms

The govt. is thinking of raising the quota of foreign workers esp. chinese construction workers to up to 8,000 more because of the housing boom. Also because Chinese workers work for less, work longer hours (12 hours) and are more skilled. Hurray for some ... I guess.

The tensions of yesterday have vanished. Like everything else in this country, things happen but disappear almost as quickly. And no one remembers the last 24 hours. It's a collective dementia that helps block out the otherwise sad and cruel reality that envelopes this region.

Almond blossoms on a
roadside tree

On a happy note, the almond trees are blossoming. It's a delightful sight that brings hope that Spring is coming in a few weeks time. In hebrew the almond tree is called the "watchful tree" because it watches out for Spring .... it's the first tree to blossom even before the leaves are out. It's the Middle East version of the cherry blossoms. And the fragrance is overwhelming. In the valleys of Ein Kerem, the hillsides are filled with pink and white blossoms. An amazing sight.

I'm down to my last day of Pred. Now we'll see if there will be any withdrawal syndrome tomorrow. I guess a long walk to tire myself and some more sights of beautiful flowers and a nice Sunday pastry for breakfast might just get my mind off the Pred. side-effects.

Violent Friday

Israeli soldiers on
rooftop

Still very cold today though the sun is very bright and whoever stays under its rays will feel warm. The streets were quite subdued though, with only asian groups doing the usual tourist visits. The underlying tension was felt by all the locals. The usual busy Friday market at Damascus Gate was closed, many shops did not open ... and heavy military presence throughout. They were expecting trouble.

And trouble came at noon time. Muslims devotees in the Al Aqsa Mosque began chanting and confronting Israeli police who entered the Mosque esplanade. All this because yesterday some Israeli Jews entered the Mosque esplanade and tensions were ignited with the muslims inside.

Protesters clash with police

Today stun grenades and tear gas were fired in the esplanade area. It spilt out into the streets. More stun grenades and rubber bullets were fired in the streets ... there were soldiers stationed on rooftops of the Bab Hutta quarter. Chaos for a couple of hours. The Friday Way of the Cross was cancelled as a result for fear of violence on christians.

Well things are back to normal now. The security helicopter is still flying overhead but the streets are returning to its normal routine. Another weekend ahead ... who knows what it'll hold for us ...

人日快樂

Anemones flowering in
my pots

Yesterday was incredibly cold ... even locals are mentioning how strangely cold it was. Today was a little better ... but nevertheless cold. Thoroughly unbearable. But the flowers are loving it. Anemones are blooming everywhere in the pots.

Early in the morning as I was at the doc, the news on the radio reported that there was trouble in the Al Aqsa mosque. Apparently some Jews entered the esplanade and muslims reacted. Soldiers were called in and the skirmish continued for several hours. But that's not all, Haredi Jews (ultra-orthodox) were on the rampage throughout the country because the govt. has threatened to cut funding them if they dodged military service (military service is compulsory for all in Israel but ultra-orthodox jews have been dodging it for 50 years). And the war has also entered the world of soft drinks. Soda Stream's embattled voice Scarlett Johansson's recent spate with Oxfam because of the Soda Stream's establishment in occupied Palestine has caused the company to slide down. Now Coca Cola is bulldozing into the Israeli market to edge out the incumbant Soda Stream. And the Finance Ministry has issued another warning regarding the impending earthquake and the financial losses it would incur.

Callas lily on the bloom

And today is 人日. Not that anyone ins Israel knows or cares. Well I spent it at the doc's 70 km away, having to leave at 5am. Came back at 10am ... yes it actually takes 5 hours for all the travelling, waiting, checkups, results ... now you know why I hate going to the doc's. Then to celebrate 人日 I thought I'd take a slow walk down the City, bought some food along the way. Couldn't stop thinking of Yu Sang (raw fish) that you guys are probably eating to celebrate. Happy Birthday everyone

Very cold snap

Temperatures dropped to 2 degrees last night. But it felt even lower. The wind was bitterly cold and the drizzle has stopped. Even with the sun shining, there was no escaping the piercing cold that cuts into the bones.

Some of great guys

There was still work to do though. No escaping that as well. After a tiring day of work till 4pm, I decided to take some fresh air by chatting with my Israeli friends at the door. Today's team was great - all my good friends who are very supportive. It was a good break to regain some commonsense and perspective in an otherwise wearisome and dreadful day. And anyone who thinks they can bully me ... watch out. These guys are ready to kick some ass.

My arab friends were all arrested by police last night. Don't know what trouble they got into. I don't even want to know.

Healthwise I've got 3 more days of weaning off Pred. I'm down to 10mg today. So far so good ... the depression has kicked in, anxiety attacks and general nervousness ... that's the good part. I expected it so I'm ready for it. The fingers are swollen and the diarrhea is still severe. But all was expected. Let's hope it's smoothly running its course.

Drizzle

Drizzling the past 2 days. The roads are all slippery and pretty dangerous. And its cold. Last night was down to 3 degrees and I had to use 2 heaters to keep my room warm.

Mr. Bird plays with coins

My flu is almost gone so I'm off Dexamol. And my asthma is considerably under control now that I'm on Pred. Got 4 more days to wean off. Diarrhea is absolutely awful, with dry throat, dizziness and lost of appetite as part of the side-effects. And cramps ... awful cramps in my left hand as I was carrying a box. Oh ... and lost of memory .... almost forgot that one. Well at least Mr. Bird keep me entertained with his antics. Takes my mind off the physical pain.

Sadly news is out that an Israeli soldier was killed in friendly fire at the Gaza border. His platoon mistook him for someone suspicious. Very sad. And more battles on the Wailing Wall as sects and groups begin to align themselves for or against liberal jewish women who want to wear tallit and tefilin like men. And doctors at Hadassa Hospital have decided to go on strike due to paycuts. And israelis continue to attack US Sec. of State Kerry for his style in the Peace Talks ... even making a spoof to mock him. Actually all this only shows Israel is losing control and is scared and is resorting to mockery to get its way. Poor show. I guess it's not a good day on many fronts ... and the weather seems to reflect it.

Presentation Feast

Mounted Police this
morning at Nablus Road

The temperature has steadily been falling and it drizzled several times in the afternoon. Cold. And miserably grey. Tomorrow will be even colder and it'll probably continue for the next few days. The young fragile leaves of rose bushes are all burnt by the cold but tulip buds are loving this cold snap.

There was heavy military presence in and out of the Old City. Don't know why. Mounted Police were also in the streets. Well at least I got to see some real horses for the Year of the Horse. Too bad these horses were stopping arab youths along the street for ID checks ... not a lucky symbol definitely.

Healthwise the diarrhea is continuing. I've developed a cold sore on the upper lip. And the blood pressure has dropped a little today ... but still feeling dizzy.

Anyway it's the Feast of the Presentation ... when the baby Jesus was brought up to the Temple by Mary and Joseph and met by the old Simeon and Anna. Too bad christians can't celebrate this feast in the Temple area (which today is the Al Aqsa Mosque) as no one except muslims may worship there.

年初二

2nd Day of the New Year. The weather was great and sunny and the wind was not too cold. People are out everywhere - at least on the eastern side of the City. Being Sabbath, the western jewish side is all closed. The eastern side is arab and its the weekend so people come shopping or going to the mosque. Of course nobody cared about Chinese New Year ... actually they never heard of it.

Pred side-effects kicking in. Diarrhea. Looks like I'm homebound for the next week. I'm also on Dexamol day-and-night flu medication. And my other daily must-take medicines. It's a meal in itself. Yucks. What a way to start the New Year.

Anyway to try and avoid the depression side-effect, I stayed out in the courtyard to get fresh air and chat with people and see things happening. It keeps the mind occupied. And in my room Mr. Bird was quite entertaining. Managed to flash-shoot his reaction while he watched the news and Facebook on my computer ... all in 40 seconds.

2. He dislikes messages and
notifications 

1. Mr. Bird likes watching
the news online

.4... so he deletes the page

3.... gets a shock from
a message