One day closer

1st grapes of the season

The Lebanese election is over and we're all expecting a war to break out in the north. Iran/Syria were waiting for the pro-tyrian Hezbollah party to win so this strengthens its position all across the north of Israel to facilitate a full force attack. And it'll probably start on the 14th next week when the US embassy moves to Jerusalem. It'll disrupt the celebrations. Yesterday the Jerusalem mayor personally put up road signs for the US embassy. A plaza will be dedicated to Trump next week. Very provocative. So the drums of war are getting louder. People are already asking for gas masks. Poor people like us will just have to rely on luck to escape injury.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/u-s-embassy-road-signs-go-up-in-jerusalem-1.6061930

The weather continues to be crazy. There was a hailstorm in Tel Aviv yesterday. And it rained there today. But here it's overcast and humid and gloomy. That might be a good deterrence for incoming missiles. The wind will blow them off course. which can be good .... or bad if it lands in crowded residential areas. The arabs are saying that this strange weather is a sign of a coming earthquake. What else do we need .... an earthquake and a war? It's just one day closer to calamity.

And there's been a series of demonstrations and protests on the western side of Jerusalem. Residents want the shops in the old train station to remain open on Sabbath so they can have some place to go with the family. The Municipality is bowing to the ultra-orthodox to close them down. Then there is the plan to dig up Emek Refaim street - the heart line of the German Colony with quaint shops, restaurants and german buildings to build the tram line. It's either that or destroying the 7km park on the outskirts for this tram line. Both are not acceptable to the residents. SO everyone is up in arms.

False carmelite

This morning my ankle started to play up again. I couldn't walk down the stairs. And my right neck and shoulder has been hurting for the past week. And my right eye has been red all week ... a burst capillary. Everyone is telling to rest. Easier said than done. I just need to get all outstanding work done before I can go away for a rest.

Yesterday on my way home, I saw cherries and grapes on sale. It's the first fruit of the season ... usually they aren't sweet. But the grapes I bought weren't sour either. Not very sweet ... but the 2 parakeets are enjoying them. The smaller one, Chilli, has never eaten grapes before and is enjoying it very much. And just half an hour ago I had a good laugh on my way home from school. Just outside the Post Office I thought I saw a carmelite nun ... brown habit, white wimple and black veil. But I didn't recognize her ... and I know all of them, As I walked closer, I realized it was a muslim woman dressed in the same colors. What a laugh!