Turmoil as 2014 ends

Municipality workers handing out
Christmas trees

The Israeli PM's sudden decision to call for a snap election in 3 months time seems to backfire .... or is it exactly as what the PM intended? Originally he wanted to shake off the 2 new coalition partners who cannot agree with him on many issues. The intention was to build another coalition govt. with the old allies made up of ultra-orthodox parties that tow his line. However the past week saw the collapse of the largest and most powerful ultra-orthodox party "Shas" - there were defections, leaking of defamatory tapes, general mudslinging, resignation of it's leaders from Parliament .... And the other old ally coalition partner "Israel Beiteinu" has had dozens of its members under police investigation for graft. Looks like the PM has no one to work with if he wins the elections ... nor any other party for that matter as political factions have splintered into myriads.

On a local scale, Christmas was a chance for the Israeli municipality to flex some publicity muscle. Hundreds of small Christmas trees (really small cypresses) were given free to christians at Jaffa Gate. It was a clear sign to the world that while christians are being persecuted all around the Middle East, Israel remains the only ME country to protect and support christians.

My first anemone bloom

And that seems to be the way 2014 is ending ... a mixture of turmoil and assurances. Seems to reflect my health situation. Yesterday someone said my health is like a pendulum swinging from one extreme to another all within one week. The medicines I'm taking are very strong and it makes me dizzy, sleepy and always out of focus. Difficulty in concentration. And that sucks as I have alot of study and work to do. Feeling really sick.

The first anemone that I planted has bloomed. A white bloom. A red one is also coming up, and a purple one is also budding. However it's too soon for them to bloom!! It's only December! They should bloom in February and later when Spring breaks. Perhaps it's a positive sign that good things lie ahead in 2015.

Emergency Ward again

Emergency Ward: 6th time
this year

Spoke too soon. Am back in Emergency Ward at the French Hospital. After carrying pails of compost 2 floors down to the courtyard to fertilise the plants, a slow attack of asthma started. It was still manageable during the evening but by 2am I practically suffocated. I couldn't get to hospital as it was only 4 degrees outside and there was no transport and I couldn't walk 2 km to the French Hospital which is the closest to my house. I managed to celebrate Mass but after that began to collapse.

At the Emergency Ward the panicky nurse drove the catheter into my arm but it hurt very much ... and like the last time, he missed the vein but instead of withdrawing it, he manipulated the catheter tube inside my arm with his 2 thumbs until it went inside the vein. Can you imagine the pain? If I didn't die of asphyxiation, I'd have died of maltreatment. Anyway they also gave me oxygen TOGETHER with a nebuliser ... had the mask over the face as well as tubes into my nostrils.

Now I have loads of medication to take ... including Prednesone. Simply hate that. All the 5 types of medication make me very sleepy. I can't function during the day. And I have tons of work waiting for me.

It's not a fun way to pass the New Year.

Awesome satellite photos

Clearly visible are the Sea of Galilee (R)
and the larger Dead Sea (L)

Some amazing pics from astronaut Barry Wilmore who flew over the Holyland on Christmas morning. Just think of it ... of all places, in this desert surrounded tiny strip of land ... God chose to become a human. Awesome.

The Holyland ... the connecting land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa ... 3 great continents. What a better place for God to manifest himself.

Close-up of the Holyland with the 2
lakes as landmarks

Well back to mundane things. Christmas is another working day for me. Had to clear up the stinking compost and fill up hundreds of flower pots. Under the sun, the stench decimates. But last week the mound of one year's compost was simply too much to bear. The awful smell was fouling up the entire house. The plants and flowers are going to enjoy the nutrients though. We can expect lots of beautiful flowers in Spring. And the lemons should be abundant too. I harvested the lemons of this year ... not very many. About 50 in all but they were dry and hard the tree looked sickly.

Healthwise my asthma is much under control though it occurs several times but not severely. The feet are still alittle swollen though and they still hurt alot. The neuroma problem is not solved. Wearing the orthopedic shoes help alot to alleviate the pain. Well I hope 2014 will pass with all these ailments gone. I really wish 2015 would be better to me.

More violence after Christmas

Family lighting candles at
the Grotto of the Nativity

A whole series of violent tit-for-tats yesterday. A jewish car was firebombed near Samaria and a little girl inside the car was badly injured. Back in East Jerusalem, 8 arab cars were damaged overnight. Israeli navy then fires at Palestinian fishing boats, an arab then steals a truck to ram into a police car ... it's a vicious cycle.

And the weather is warming up.

Let's hope things will calm down. Not a nice way to start the new year with violence all round. But it has been like that for the past few years. Maybe all the prayers at the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem will be heard and we enjoy some peace at last.

St. Stephen's Day

The peace and calm which we had been experiencing for the past week shattered early this morning when an arab stabbed 2 police officers down our road ... about 200 m away. There was an immediate shut down of our Quarter. Security helicopter flew very low down searching for the assailant who escaped into the alleys of Bab Hutta. The attacker is still at large though the police have reopened out Quarter. Massive military presence though ... I think there'll be a door-to-door search soon.

A very unique Nativity Scene at the
Flagellation Chapel

So it's St. Stephen's Day ... and like every year, I read T.S. Eliot's "Murder in the Cathedral". It's something I enjoy doing on St. Stephen's Day. St. Thomas a Becket's murder in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 Dec. is poignantly depicted as his struggle between personal pride and the common good of the Church. His final resolution is the crux of the play when he realises "to do the right deed for the wrong reason" is the ultimate lie any person can decide to live with. It's his murderers chose this lie but tried to justify their deed as right because the reason to maintain political stability and independence from the Church was right. A very relevant study of modern ethics, I'd say. To do the right thing for the right reason; or to do the right thing for the wrong reason; or to do the wrong thing for the right reason? It's the human dilemma.

Andreusz restoring the panel

Our Flagellation Chapel this year has a very unique Christmas Crib. It's not made with statues and crepe paper. All our statues were stolen last year by a Russian woman. This year it's a marble slab engraved with the Nativity scene weighing some 20 kgs. No fear of the Russian woman stealing it this time. The marble slab was part of a basin in the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Now it's housed in the Flagellation Museum and for Christmas, it's proudly displayed for all to see. Our conservator Andreusz spent some time cleaning and restoring the panel prior to it's display.

Christmas Day

A Peaceful and Holy Christmas to all

... celebrated Midnight Mass at Shepherds Field, remembering everyone.

Christmas Eve

My Christmas wreath

Christmas Eve. Appears to be very calm ... unless you realise there's a security helicopter hovering overhead since dawn which means there's danger of a riot somewhere in the neighbouring villages. Police presenc eis down to a minimum. But in the Christian Quarter it's bustling with activity. The scouts are practicing with their bagpipes which drowns out the entire Quarter. Christians are doing their last minute shopping. The parish church is being spruced up last minute for the Midnight Mass.

I think Bethlehem will be crowded. Entry to the Basilica is by tickets only. I'm going to Shepherds Field instead where masses can be celebrated by groups. In the Basilica, all the bishops will be there and priests concelebrate. Local christians and diplomat corps will be present as will also the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. That means lots of Palestinian security around and inside the Basilica. But in Shepherds Field, we're free. By the time Mass ends and the trip back to Jerusalem, I think it'll be 3am. And it'll be freezing. Right now at 3am it's 14 degrees. Tonight it'll drop to 4 degrees in Shepherds Field.

Stewed lamb dinner

Yesterday was an unbelievably exhausting day. I actually walked over 5 kms up and down the hill from one hotel to another visiting several groups of pilgrims from Asia. They called and asked to see me so I had to meet one group every 40 minutes. That included walking/running time between the various hotels in the City. My feet are killing me. Anyway I had to stop by Mandarin's to drop off some chinese medicine that Ah Ling will boil later during the year. She had stewed a lamb shank and it was absolutely delicious. Her son-in-law and I ate 2 helpings.

Well my feet are still hurting very much. I need to rest them before going to Shepherds Field tonight.

Grateful thanks to all for your gifts: Marvien, Yvonne, Fiona, Agnes, Miriam, Gigi, Rose, Cecilia, Paulette, Irene, Letty, Jordan and Joanne, Auntie Chan, Cavero family, the Sunday Mass group, Theresa and Roger. Everything arrived. Appreciate them very much. Gifts for the poor in the Holyland are acknowledged in the Holylandassist blog.

Last day of Hannuka

The enormous Christmas tree
at the La Salle College in the
Old City (New Gate)

It's the last day of Hanukka. Many jews are celebrating with dinners and wine. For christians it's a day before Christmas Eve. The streets in the Christian Quarter are all decked with lights. Shops are blaring carols in arabic. Parties are being held in churches and schools. It's festive and you can feel the people are happier than at previous Christmas when we were clouded by war. The cold weather - today was only 8 degrees during the day - has dissuaded people from violence and anyway the police presence was relatively heavy ... mainly to protect the jews going to the Wailing Wall for Hannuka.

Auntie Yvonne's famous chiffon cake

Today has been very tiring for me. Had been running up and down the Old City to work and then to visit groups that have come to celebrate Christmas here in Bethlehem. So many groups. I've covered almost 10 kms today ... walking so much my poor feet are hurting so bad. The neuroma is killing me. Thank goodness the asthma isn't playing up. But I was mostly breathless due to all the walking up and down the hills that the Old City is built on.

Thanks to everyone for your gifts. Received everything and appreciate it very much. Yvonne's chiffon cake arrived and was finished off within one hour. Tomorrow at midnight I'll be at Shepherds' Field to celebrate Mass. Will remember all of you during Mass.

3 days to Christmas

Chrismukkah

The skies really got dark yesterday afternoon as forecasted. Temperature fell to 12 degrees at 3pm. I quickly kept the canaries indoors as they're very fragile in cold weather. Mr. Bird will of course stay in my room during the night; and the finches stay outdoors ... they nestle 2 in each nest that's lined with cotton and jut so they're very warm. What a Chrismukkah we're having this year! Now if only it'll snow ... that would be perfect!!!

But thanks to the cold and eventually wet weather, we're not seeing any violence in the City or the neighbouring villages. In fact the country seems rather peaceful. Nice way to celebrate Christmas. I remember the 1st two Intifadas that took place just before and after Christmas ... it was a terrible time and Hamas forbade christians in the Territories to celebrate Christmas or ring church bells. Absolutely awful time. It was a foretaste of what the christians in Syria and Iraq are experiencing now.

Santa got stomped!!!!!

On the funny side, I saw an inflatable Santa Claus quite deflated in front of the Scouts' Christmas Store. It was so miserable looking. Then passed Sr. Regina ... definitely not the smallest person I know. I managed to convince her to stand next to poor Santa to get a pic ... and she couldn't stop laughing. In fact lots of people stopped to watch and laughed as well.

I've been doing some thinking this morning as I went to the supermarket to buy food for the birds. I've worked so very hard these past 3 years. I never had any summer holidays and anytime I had to rest was always a visit to the doctor or Emergency Room. This week - Christmas - I'm going to spend some time for myself. I think I deserve it.

Christmukkah

The Friday market at Musrara
functions as usual

It's Chrismukkah ... that's the word around town. "Chrismukkah" is when Christmas and Hannukah coincide. Most jews of american and european origin are more caught up by Christmas than by Hanukkah ... so there's a subtle movement to "judaize" Christmas hence allowing the euro-american jews enjoy Christmas while not losing the spirit of Judaism ... "within limits"! That's the other catchword.

The rest of East Jerusalem continues life as usual ... it's predominantly muslim so the spirit of Christmas is rarely seen. "Rarely" because there are some shops that display christmas trees and decorations. For the most part it's christian shops but there are also shops run by young arab muslims who have studied in christian schools that have imbibed the christmas spirit in them. It's a little refreshing to see some christmas joy in that quarter. By the way, the rabbis have ruled that christmas trees are idols and hence it's forbidden for a jew to put up one. Ultra-orthodox jews would even close their eyes and spit when they walk pass a christmas tree. So much for the Chrismukkah spirit ... I wonder why they don't think of the Hannukiah (hannukah candelabra) as an idol. It's as ubiquitous and bright as the christmas tree during the 8 days of Hannukah.

A christian shop with a
christmas tree

Weatherwise it's very cold. The forecast is rain for the next 3 days but on Christmas eve the rains should stop but temperatures will fall to 8 degrees. Christmas will be very very cold. That'll be nice ... like the old days 25 years ago when it felt like Christmas. It hasn't been like this for the past 15 years with the drought and weather change. A hot Christmas just doesn't feel like it.

School has closed for the Christmas holidays. That means I have lots of work to do when the students are gone. Moving hundreds of books from one section to another. Christmas isn't much of a holiday for me.

Exhausting Friday

Ponchky or sufganiot on
sale everywhere

Today was exhausting as I had to go for a checkup. That meant waking up at 3am, cleaning the cages, feeding the birds, watering the plants besides preparing myself to leave at 5am. Then it was a 70 km journey in the cold dark winter night to Ramat Gan. Everything completed by 9am. Result is I'm sensitive to certain types and amounts of vegetable (legume, nut) proteins so I have to be careful with what I eat. Tricky because no peanut or sunflower oil allowed ... but I don't know what food is cooked in what oil. Anyway before I got home, I decided to go to Thai House and buy a Char Kway Teow takeaway. I think I deserve this little treat for Christmas. No peanut or sunflower oil used! And because  it's now Hanukkah and sufganiot (ponchsky) is the daily delight of this season - a holeless doughnut filled with jam or cream, the temptation to taste all the flavours is overwhelming. I ate one that was baked in the oven and not fried in oil. Safe bet.

Well it was tiring today not only because it was an early start to the day ... but also because yesterday I had a long working day, ending my last class at 4.30pm. Then it was more work in the night till 10pm with groups. It was accumulated fatigue. I fell asleep on the way home today ... Moshe my taxi friend drove me home and he let me sleep for the whole hour ride. On the bright side, last night was the end of my prednesone course. Glad it's all over. Tomorrow ends my Telfast (anti-histamine) course. My asthma and bronchitis is almost all gone but the side-effects (like I said in earlier blogs) like headaches, giddiness and depression are lingering. I don't want to go back to Emergency Ward again. It's 4 times now this year.

The very big baby waiting for adoption

Well my short detour to Thai House passed through a pet shop where people drop off unwanted puppies in front of the shop, waiting for adoption by some passerby. Amazingly cute puppies! There was one huge baby only 6 weeks old but was 3 times larger than the other pups that were 3 months old! People around wowing at it say it's a type of east-european shepherd dog. Well if it's such a massive baby now, I can only imagine how enormous it will get when it's an adult. But it was very adorable and bright. Then an idea began twinkling in my mind ... what if I wanted to get myself a Christmas present ... like .....

1st Day of Hanukkah

Dinner tonight

2nd last day of my prednesone course ... thank goodness. The depression side-effect was awful yesterday and worse today ... as I expected. Happens everytime I take prednesone. And my Telfast course (anti-histamine) is in its 4th day. Ruining my stomach. But the desired effect is good ... no more asthma or bronchitis or allergic swellings and itching. Now it's just left to get my neuroma pain solved.

The last 2 evenings was nice because I had warm fresh food free of fear of allergies. Was at Mandarin's where Ah Ling cooked up white rice and beef/broccoli yesterday, rice and prawns/spinach today. Tomorrow she'll boil chicken herbal soup and Friday it's dumplings.

Last night was the 1st night of Hannukah - the jewish feast of re-dedicating the Temple after it was purified from the abominations committed in it by the Syrian Greeks (Seleucids). It's all written in the Books of the Maccabbees ... read it!

A large Hanukah cadelabra
at Jaffa Gate

However military presence was very very heavy everywhere. There was no usual festive spirit in the streets as in previous years. People are feeling nervous and tense. The recent violence and growing unease between arabs and jews are very palpable. When I got home from Mandarin's yesterday night, there was a large force of soldiers and police at the 3rd Station. All side streets were closed off and guarded by police. As I entered my room, the fighting started. Explosions directly outside my window - arabs firing fireworks at soldiers and soldiers responding with stun grenades and tear gas. It went on for almost an hour. I was lucky I got home safely before it started. Tonight however is very calm. Not a police or soldier in sight. But large groups of arab youths are wandering through the Old City ... like vigilantes. Jews returning from the Wailing Wall for Hanukkah prayers feel threatened but there's no military to protect them. We'll see how the next days develope.  Hanukkah lasts for 8 days ... which ends on our Christmas Day.

Cold but sunny

Now we learn that as the Sydney siege was in progress, in Belgium another hostage case occurred but very quickly resolved. And today over 100 children were killed by the Taliban in a Pakistan school. One thing I know ... the world has no will, neither political, religious nor moral, to end this madness.

A baby pilgrim gets dandled
by Sr. Hyacinta

Back here we have no violence, thanks to the cold weather. At 1.30 pm it was 13 degrees. And the nights get very much colder. But the sun is bright and shiny ... and we've seen an influx of pre-Christmas tourists and pilgrims. Quite a lot actually. The mornings are simply packed at our place. But as the evening approaches and the sun sets by 3.30 pm, the streets become empty again as everyone rushes home to stay warm indoors. Most of the groups are asians and slavs but we had 2 groups of american students today. Then there are the small family groups and individuals.

Healthwise nothing has changed much. Let's see if I can pull through this week. Christmas for me is going to be hectic as I have major renovations to do in the library ... and looks like I'll be doing it alone.

A little hope

My first narcissus in bloom

So the Sydney siege is over. Good job. It's sad that fanaticism has spread so far from the Middle East ... to the farthest continent. But that's what christians and other minorities are facing daily here in the Middle East. OK so the Sydney attacker maybe a lone wolf and not an organised group, possibly for personal reasons and not national ... but all the attacks we suffered here in Israel this year are all by lone wolves with personal reasons. It seems to be a trend outside of Syria and Iraq to have lone wolves acting.

I'm still dizzy with medication ... and with class at 4am, work throughout the day and final class ending at 4.30pm ... I'm definitely not in good shape. I hate Mondays. Drained. And the prednesone side-effects are kicking in ... with major depression, swollen fingers. And the antihistamine is pretty strong too and makes me sleepy all the time. I'm a wreck right now. I just need to go back to hospital and stay there for a week ... get away from class and work and phones and birds and people and computers .... everything. Except my flowers ... my first narcissus bloomed today. That made me very very happy. It's a little hope pushing out of a mess of misery.

So foggy today it's hard to see the
buildings on the Mt. of Olives

The weather has been terribly foggy today. No clear vision from 1 km. It never really rained but the dewfall was heavy. And the temperature at daytime was between 8 degrees to 12 degrees. Typical winter weather ... but something we haven't had for over a decade.  And the sun trying to shine through the gloomy grey clouds is also very inspirational ... a little hope shining through.

Emergency Ward again

Incredible sunrise after the hailstorm

We've had a very heavy hailstorm the other night. Large hail, thunder and lightening. Last night it was rain with lightening. And the temperature is falling again. Daytime is cloudy and damp with occasional drizzle ... 9 degrees today. Not a nice time ... but good as it discourages violence, riots and other negative acts.

The sunrise was incredible after the hailstorm. Crisp clear sky but very cold though. But its what winter should be.

Drip

Yesterday morning was a disaster healthwise. Was warded to Emergency at the French hospital again. Allergy reaction but not sure what ... I didn't eat any nuts. Had half a cup of coffee for breakfast. Docs say I have multiple food allergy ... which means everything and nothing. Swollen eyes, throat, tongue, blocked air passage, asthma, nausea ... anyway I had lots of injections and 2 drips. The first nurse was so nervous he put in the needle but missed the vein. The chief nurse had to do it on the other hand. Was there for 3 hours till things normalised a little. Then I walked home despite docs advise ... he insisted I get a taxi. But taxis take advantage of sick people here and ask exorbitant prices and know the patients need the ride and will pay. I walked back one km dizzy and sleepy. Doc said one of the injections make me very sleepy. When I got home I slept 17 hours. Got up this morning feeling better. The asthma and bronchitis subsided, no more swollen eyes and lips ... but still very tired and sleepy. I guess I'll have to sleep this one off today.

Christmas presents

A very tense Friday following the death of the Palestinian minister after a scuffle with Israeli soldiers. Palestinians claim he was killed by the soldiers, Israel says he died of natural causes (heart attack). Well the police were not taking any chances as muslims gathered by the thousands to pray at the Al Aqsa mosque. But like all the other incidents of this "unnamed war", Jerusalem was very calm and quiet but the surrounding towns and villages were on fire: stone-throwing in Hebron, acid attack in Gush Etzion, arab driver drives into israeli soldiers in Nablus ....

Thai House Char Kway Teow

Anyway I went off to see my podiatrist and doc this afternoon after a few hours of morning work. The 70 km journey was tiring. My podiatrist was happy with the improvement in my feet, pressure distribution and posture that has reduced the pain. Doc on the other hand says I must continue with my prednesone and prescribed other stuff ... medicines that make me very sleepy. Luckily I had my friend Moshe to drive me home cos I was so drowsy and was slipping in and out of sleep, I would have gotten into trouble if I had gone home by bus. But before I got home I treated myself to a nice hot delicious plate of Char Kway Teow at Thai House. Met the manager whom I know ... and he got me a table immediately. I haven't been there for a year now. It was good to eat at that place again. And the manager assured me that they still do takeaways if I asked. Good.

Yesterday night Ah Ling called me over for dinner. She boiled chicken herbal soup with rice and fried tomatoes with eggs. It was great to have a hot dinner after a long while. Her son-in-law is now in Israel helping her out in the restaurant. They're very kind to me. So is Xiao Yang the cook who always cooks up more food for me than for others.

Sisters from Gaza collecting
medicines for the poor

And Hannukah, the jewish feast of the rededication of the Temple is next week. It's always a feast close to Christmas. And talking about Christmas, thanks to everyone for your kind generous gifts that have helped the poor and needy in the Holyland. The sisters of Mother Teresa have collected the donations and are packing gift-packages for the poor families as well as their charges in their homes in Nablus, Gaza, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It's still not too late to offer something to help them. Do something beautiful this Christmas, help the christians in the Middle East have a happy Christmas despite the war and persecution.

Rise in tension

Tourists being stopped
and searched

Tensions are up again today after yesterday's death of a Palestinian minister after scuffles with Israeli soldiers. Violence in Qalandya immediately flared up though the rest of the Territories remained quiet. Today heavy police presence throughout the City ... every other 10 cars in the street  is followed by a police vehicle. Soldiers stop and search everyone ... including tourists!
pockets are emptied, bags emptied out ... it's a new and vigorous tactic by the police. Not a pleasant experience for the tourists for sure ... but we believe the police must have had a tip-off regarding certain tourists and the possibility of violence.

Dusk in the Old City

And of course all this happens when the weather is perfect. Daytime is a lovely sunny 16 degrees and nights are a comfortable 12 degrees. Good weather for violence. When the skies display a wondrous sunrise and sunset, we have to beware. Tomorrow is Friday and we expect the worse. But then again the weather forecast predicts rain. That could just save us from a possible bad Friday of violence. Well I won't be around to find out as I'll be off to see the doctor. Let's hope there're not many road blocks and checkpoints, given the tense situation.

I'm into my 3rd day of prednesone. The asthma has greatly been reduced. But the other medicines for bronchitis is making me very weak and sleepy. That's tough when I have so much work to do.

Prednesone cure

The bronchitis, asthma and fever has reached a stage where I cannot bear it anymore. Can't walk 2 steps without wheezing and suffocating. Feeling faint all the time due to the lack of oxygen ... or some say too much oxygen / hyperventilated due to rapid breathing. Whatever. I decided to put myself on a course of prednesone ... which I hate. Will start with 25 mg for 2 days, cutting 5mg every 2 days. Hope the weaning off will not be traumatic. But if it stops the asthma ... it's worth the while. I'm crippled by this disease.

Home-made kubbeh with
yoghurt for lunch

That doesn't mean I'm on sick leave. I still went to work yesterday morning but by noon I practically collapsed. My jewish security friends were all insisting that I stop work and go to my room to sleep. It's nice that they care. No one else does. And Yogev was back ... haven't seen him in a month when he was serving reservist time in the Syrian Golan. The old gang is practically gone ... only a couple of "intermediate" guys and all the rest are new. And because I have jews as friends, some arabs are not happy with me. Last evening they threw stones and a bottle at me. That's life with the arabs. Never a dull moment.

Meantime a national catastrophe was "discovered" in the southern Negev desert: millions of liters of crude oil have spilled into a nature reserve. Everything in its way has died ... plants and animals. It'll take decades to repair the damage.

Bronchitis and asthma

Fantastic sunrays at dawn

For the 2nd night running, it rained with lightening flashing across the sky. Strangely it isn't as cold as last week. But we welcome the rain anyway ... every drop helps in this 10 yr. stretch of drought. The dawn though is amazing. Each day presents a new splash of awe and wonder.

Meantime flashing across the media is Israel's bombing of sites near Syria's airport. It's the first time in recent years that Israel has sent aircraft into enemy land and bombing enemy sites. It's raising vociferous concerns from other neighbouring arab states ... and locally everyone is asking about its timing - the dissolving of parliament and the call for new elections. Everyone thinks it's a political ploy by the PM to scare the people into voting him back with a right wing coalition obsessed with security issues. If it's true, it's a dreadful way to play on people's fears just to score political points.

Funeral Mass of
Fr. Ravanelli

Yesterday morning we sent Fr Ravanelli off to the cemetary. The Mass was not very well attended despite his fame here. Probably its because it was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the patriarch was presiding at solemn Mass at St. Anne's Church where everyone else attended.

Healthwise it's been bad. Bronchitis with asthma, fever as well. I can hardly breathe now for 2 days and the wheezing is so loud, guys halfway down the corridor can hear me. I'm avoiding to have to take prednesone ... but it's the 3rd day today and not getting better. Will ask the doc if I need to start a course of those steroids.

Sunny Sunday

Grapefruit tree in the
hospice garden

The weather continues to be fine and already we've received news of unrest in Silwan, Anata and other villages around the City; but the City itself remained calm.

I spent the morning at the Charles Borromeo hospice run by german nuns in the German Colony. The first time I've ever stepped into that place. The property is immense, with fruit gardens interspersed with flower beds. Very german in organisation. At the moment the citrus trees are fruiting: there are lemons, oranges and pomelos so many that the branches are bent over.

Oranges galore

I was there to preach a retreat to the english speaking sisters. Some 40 participated, coming from various congregations and countries ... english, maltese, indians, american, canadian, even a polish, swiss, austrian ... a very mixed group. It was good to be out of the Old City ... and walking in the gardens was wonderful - lots of fresh air and perfume of the blossoms. A very nice break except that it was also work ... preaching, confessions, mass ....

I think I'm down with bronchitis ... the pain in the chest and lungs are awful; a fever comes on and off, lost my voice. Am feeling very sick. But that doesn't stop anything: another week of Advent sets in ... soon Christmas will set in and another year will end. Time really flies.

Influenza time

My professor of classical hebrew 22 years ago died yesterday. He was 87 yrs old ... and he was a remarkable figure. He had a photographic memory and the excursions he used to lead us students around Israel and Palestine was so packed with information it was impossible to digest everything.

Flowers flourish in the cold

The weather has warmed up ... even the nights are not so cold. And strangely there was no spike in violence yesterday. Military presence was not so heavy too. A good sign for us all. Perhaps it's all due to the crash of the Israeli govt. Everyone is anxiously waiting to see which groups will form an alliance with which to form a viable coalition.

The political tension within Israel is matched by the outbreak of influenza and cold sores. Almost every other person is coughing and sniffling from a running nose, nursing a cold sore somewhere on the lip. It's definitely an outbreak that's worrying many people ... jew and arab alike. Viruses do not discriminate between races and religion. The weather is mostly blamed for this ... but the flowers seem to enjoy it. The garden shop belonging to Ahmad and his brother Islam have crates of flowers blooming in all colours. I was there to buy 2 bags of earth to plant some bulbs. The narcissus have already pushed up buds ... 2 months earlier than usual. Perhaps a little premature colour will bring some joy and delight to an otherwise gloomy social outlook in this country.

Friday again

Poinsettias for sale

As if things aren't bad enough, yesterday we received news that a jewish policeman was attacked by an ultra-orthodox jew when he entered to pray in an ultra-orthodox synagogue in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood. Now it's jew against jew. So there you go ... a country that's imploding and exploding in all directions. Latest update ... 16 yr old girl peppered-sprayed at Qalandya checkpoint for wielding knofe and shouting jihadi slogans.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.630141

The newspapers are lamblasting the PM as a failure who led the country to this mess. Now that the govt. is dissolving and elections aimed on March 2015 ... it's a free for all. Even since yesterday sacked ministers are discussing alliances to oust the PM in the elections. Suddenly the "arab threat" is thrown into the back-burner.

New Madonna icon in
the Empty Tomb

Healthwise my feet are killing me. It's a little swollen but the neuroma is the real problem. I realise I must wear my orthopedic shoes all the time otherwise the pain is crippling. The asthma has improved though due to the long walks in the open air. And I actually got to sleep 4 straight hours yesterday afternoon. The nights are awful because the municipality workers repave the road under my window from 9pm to 3.30am. It's hydraulic drills, jackhammers and one enormous bulldozer with 10 workers and 4 policemen for security. The noise is unimaginable but they don't care.

Looking on the bright side, poinsettias are on sale! The Christmas ambiance is always sparked by the appearance of poinsettias in the streets. And in the Empty Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre, the Greek Orthodox have put up a new icon of the Madonna. Much lovelier than the old silver one. And unknown to many people, it's actually a window which opens and exposes the ancient Crusader stones  of the Holy Sepulchre.

Good weather is bad news

Sunset over the Sea of Galilee

Sadly the sunny weather is encouraging more violence in the country. Yesterday an arab stabbed several people in a supermarket in a town outside of Jerusalem. Then this morning another arab was caught for inciting a mob lynch on a jewish motorist. Along the road today I saw at a checkpoint a body covered with a blanket - there was a small crowd of arabs and a huge posse of police and soldiers. Awful.

And that is the dreadful irony of good weather - the harbinger of violence.

5 loaves 2 fish stone art

And to top it all, the Israeli govt. is closed down with the PM sacking several of his ministers and calling for snap elections. The 5 party coalition has never been so divided over Israel's response to the recent violence. Rightists want to deny citizenship and all rights of the arabs, leftists believe a carrot is better than the stick ... and the center cannot make up its mind. It looks like the PM is now looking for a coalition with the ultra-orthodox jews - as in the good old days - where the latter is not interested in politics but only in their own religious agenda (funding of yeshivas, no military service, power of the rabbis over marriage and other social institutions ...). That way the PM has no opposition over his political decisions.

On a much smaller micro level, I'm busy helping to raise funds to buy basic necessities for poor christian families for the Christmas season. I hand over everything to the sisters of Mother Teresa who do the gift packs and delivery to these families. The recent war and Israel's crackdown and collective punishment of arabs have dealt a severe blow to poor families. We're doing our best to let them at least have a warm Christmas.

Violence returns

The good weather has caused
wild cyclamen to flower

The sudden return to good weather saw a surge in violence yesterday. An arab car attempted a hit-and-run while in a town south of Jerusalem an arab woman stabbed a jewish settler. In a tit-for-tat attack, a jew attacked an arab taxi-driver. In fact several weeks back, several arab taxi-drivers have been attacked by jews. But the perpetrators have always been released without charge while arab perpetrators have always been caught and jailed. An insightful study to the cause of the arab violence points to a possible solution to this vicious cycle ... but undoubtedly no one will listen.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/East-Jerusalem-portfolio-head-addresses-core-issues-behind-Arab-discontent-383361

The good weather though has caused wild flowers to bloom everywhere. A beautiful sight when clusters of crocus and cyclamen appear between rocks and tree roots. Nighttime is still very cold though. Last night was 6 degrees. So far the finches and canaries are holding out in the cold. I cover their cages with blankets to keep them warm.

Lighting candles at the
birthplace of Christ

The Christmas atmosphere is in the air. Shops are selling christmas knick knacks ... some very tacky as usual, and practically everything is made in China. A trickle of local christians still go to Bethlehem and light candles at the birthplace of Christ ... praying for the peace that only the Prince of Peace can give.

Tiring "vacation"

Giant Christmas tree at
Bethlehem's Manger Square

The weather has been excellent recently - sunny and bright though the winds can be very cold still. No signs of violence so far ... so that's good news. I guess everyone just wants to enjoy the good weather again.

Been very busy as my sister's family is over for a visit. Brought them to see the usual sights and also some places I've never been to, such as the Pool of the Arches in Ramle. Interesting underground pool built in the 10th century held up by many arches ... visit is by boat ... which you row by yourself.

The giant Christmas tree is up in Manger Square in Bethlehem. But the crowds and festive spirit is pretty dampened. The recent war, tensions between the Israel and Palestine, the extra strict security at the checkpoints have discouraged many tourists and pilgrims. Too bad as the locals need the tourism of Christmas to survive. The atmosphere is like during the Intifada.

In the underground Pool
of the Arches

It's good to get out of the City and usual routine. But it's been more exhausting because in the nights I have to go give talks to the chinese groups that come. They're not happy with the local guides who have no experience with catholic pilgrimages - it's all tourism and shopping. They want to pray. So I have to make up for the lack by giving them talks. Get home each night at 10.30pm or so and then next morning is visiting other sights again. I'll need a vacation from this "vacation".