The Day after

Israeli visitors at my library

So I have mixed feelings about the postponement of my surgery. I wanted it over with as soon as possible, but thanks to the infection and the advise of my regular hospital (the Maria Bambina sisters) not to do operations in summer as they are harder to heal and easier to catch infections, the surgery will be done in autumn. That means I can work throughout the summer without having to take leave. Like I said in an earlier post, July I have to celebrate the daily Mass at the Ivrea convent and in September I have to preach a month long retreat. Anyway I am easily tired and very thirsty due to the medication.

Anyway this morning was one long rush ... starting at 7am I had Mass with my last 4 deacons who will leave for home tomorrow for their priestly ordination. It was a happy sad moment. They had been great students whom I had accompanied for the past 4 years. After that I had to rush up to the other library where I had to host a group of Israeli visitors. Then it was doing some paperwork before rushing down to Gethsemane to preach the retreat. Luckily one of the deacons' visiting parents offered to drive me down the 2 km journey to the valley. I had a 4 kg bag to carry and so I was very grateful for the ride. After preaching, I had to climb up the valley back home ... this time without the car ... carrying the 4 kg bag. This afternoon I have 2 more meetings.

Another dove nest

Koko is dead. The world famous sign language gorilla had to leave this world like everyone else ... no matter how unique and famous you are. The struggle to live has let to doves in our area to build nests in populated busy places ... such as on our pictures hanging on the corridors. Such busy areas means crows do not come and so the doves can safely raise their young without fear of crows coming to eat their nestlings ... despite the noise of passersby.

A famous chronicler of Jerusalem life is Sarah Tuttle-Singer, a young blond who takes fantastic photos and writes very expressively and passionately about the jewish-arabic life in the City. Not everyone loves her though ... her friendship with arabs has raised the ire of rightwing Israelis who see her as an enemy. She recently published a book and some kind person publicised it on his blog ... only to be riled and attacked by right-wingers. It's sad when Israel says it's the only democracy in the Middle East but is intolerant of views that are not rightwing.   http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/sarah-tuttle-singer-israelb-and-her-book-launch-10-points-you-need-to-know/

Singapore is the safest country in the world. That's what the polls say .... which is little consolation when we live here where Gaza just fired dozens of missiles into Israel again.    https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-ranked-safest-destination-in-the-world-for-3rd-10454308?cid=FBcna