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