Storm

Tempest at
Damascus Gate

What a storm last night!! Thunder and lightening and very very strong winds. My door and windows were rattling all night. Both my heaters were on to keep the room warm. The whistling of the wind in the trees was very loud and you could see the palms bending over almost to breaking point. And the torrent cascading down the steps of the Old City .... it's unbelievable. Not seen this for some 25 years now. As everyone says, we need the rain. But the inconvenience and danger of a storm is something quite scary.

Well I went out last night to get some medicine for the pain. Was totally soaked when I got home. This morning it was back to work ... mainly to meet the British Library team so receive their report. Arrived soaking wet. Luckily I don't catch a cold easily ... I think I'm getting immunized to it. I usually get an immunization jab every Spring and Autumn. This year I didn't get a jab but I'm doing well. Half my house though is down with the cold. Anyway we wrapped this season of digitalization of the ancient manuscripts by the British Library Team and we started projecting for the next steps, hopefully in Autumn.

Emu running on the highway

Just got news that the Ramat Gan Safari fence collapsed somewhere because an emu was seen running along the highway. Let's hope the lions and other wild animals are not running loose as well. And parts of the barrier wall between Israel and Palestine have also collapsed. It's one tempest we'll remember for years to come.

Rain and cold

Rainy day

Last night it rained all night. Earlier in the day the desert storm blew in lots of sand. The sky was dreadfully overcast and yellow. I was choking and coughing on my way home. Temp. had dropped drastically and I was a little sick from the cold. I still had a fever and pain in my abdomen, so I decided to sleep very early at 7pm. That was a good decision because many others became sick due to the sudden change in weather.

This morning I had to go to work because the team from the British Library had finished their project and wanted to hand their report to me. It was raining and I trudged through the cold to get there only to find the team was not in. They'll meet me tomorrow. But it's forecast to hail tomorrow. Not looking forward to walking in the hail. Temp. continues to fall.

The municipality continues to upgrade the roads  and streets in the Old City. Some 200 million shekels are being poured into this project. It's really a good idea. Ramps are created for wheelchairs on all the staircases. Hand railings are added on all staircases as well. and the old grimy slippery paving stones are changed for new chipped stones which grip better so we don't fall in this rainy weather.  https://www.janglo.net/index.php?catid=99&fbclid=IwAR10xHUDhbD5jI5SHH7vxxbGHMj0tE8aQAU4_oObzT2nXg4PEd-BUf2E1hY&option=com_adsmanager&page=display&tid=461891

My friend Haim who took Chili home, made a short video of Chili. He was so calm I couldn't recognise him! Haim has a way with birds so I know Chili is in good hands. And Haim has many other parrots in his house so Chili will have lots of friends to play around. In fact Mr. Bird, my white ring-necked parakeet is there as well. I gave her away 3 years ago when she started laying 5 eggs ... she needed to breed and Haim's menagerie is just the right place.

Bye Bye Chili

Bye bye Chili

Today I had to say goodbye to Chili my pineapple conure parakeet. He's a feisty little guy ... now one and a half years old. Has an attitude like most pineapples .... unlike green-cheek conures who are a lot friendlier. But he was a good companion ... waddling around the floor like a vacuum cleaner with his head along the floor, sitting on my shoulder during class. He's learned to say his name and say "eat eat" when hungry. But he's all grown up now and ready to breed so I thought he'd be happier with other conures. He's a pedigree with papers so he's much sought after. But I won't trust anyone with him. I know of only one israeli friend who understands and cares for a dozen of these birds so I gave Chili to him. I'm definitely sure he's in good hands. Anyway Chili got his name form the Rock Band Red Hot Chili Peppers which my other friend Bar is a great fan of. I asked Bar to name him and he suggested Chili. Well Chili is gone now. The room is a lot quieter ... and lonelier. I'll have to learn to get used to Chili not being around anymore. Sad.

The forecast storm has arrived. Rain in the north and sandstorm here in the south. And very cold. Temp. is dropping some 10 degrees in the last hour. And very strong gusty wind. Hail is forecast for tomorrow and Thursday. I don't look forward to that. With my fever and pain, I might just decide not to go to work.

Week before Lent

Family of 3 generations walking home
after prayers at the Wailing Wall

The weather is warm today ... again over 15 degrees and very sunny. Everything looked fine until you see the heavy police presence in and around the Old City. Tensions have not ceased. Thought the muslims have claimed victory by storming and reopening the Gate of Mercy inside the Temple Mount, Israeli security seem determined to re-enter and close it again. Warnings of further escalation in violence have been sounded from both sides.

Holy Sepulcher
under renovation
for Easter

It's a week before Lent. We're preparing to burn last year's palms to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. Another cycle of liturgical celebrations climaxing on Easter Sunday. Our students are busy trying to finish their written papers before Holy Week because the liturgical services are so many and so rigorous , they will have no time to study. Every Saturday midnight for example they will need to go for the midnight service at the Holy Sepulcher. Saturday afternoons will see solemn processions around the Holy Sepulcher and Fridays will be packed with Way of the Cross. The students' timetables will be full and studies will be at a minimal. So now is the time to finish their assignments. Almost immediately after Easter is the final exams.

I am still sick with fever and pain. We'll see what the hospital says at my next appointment. Thanks for the prayers. Next operation on March 12.

Weekend over

Anemones in bloom

The weekend was very tense with a large number of police in the Old City. Stop-and-search were made at every corner. Police helicopters circle overhead as early as 6am. Our street was blocked to traffic today. Entry or exit is a space large enough for one person ... so the queue was long and slow.  There's a sudden surge of tourists this week so the closure wasn't a help.

The weather turned warm today and very sunny. It was 14 degrees at noon. Many of us took advantage of the fair weather to walk along our terrace after lunch. But by evening the rain clouds have gathered and possibly it will rain tonight. Forecaste is rain all week.  

Rose canes budding again

Anyway my fever and pain continued this weekend. Lost of appetite and becoming quite confused. I was leading vespers this evening and kept standing up to read my part ...  only to realise the psalms weren't ended yet. Everyone was giving me curious looks. Last week I kept mixing up the days of the week and got my schedule all wrong. It's becoming a burden for everyone.

Rain and hail

Muslims scattering in the hailstorm
at the Arches of Mercy

The expected violence did not take place today Friday at the Al Aqsa compound. Though thousands marched toward the Golden Gate (where muslims, jews and christians believe the Messiah will come through) and broke down the barriers that Israeli soldiers had put up to shield off the Gate form muslims. The police did not retaliate. But the real hero was Mother Nature .... when noon day prayers ended and the expected riots were to take place, it started raining harshly and eventually hail began to fall. People scattered for shelter and that was the end of the riot that was to be. From the photo, you can just see the dome of the Golden Gate/Gate of Mercy among the trees (bottom left). The arches at the centre are the Arches of Mercy.

Similar large demonstrations were organised in Hebron but everything was peaceful and the Israeli soldiers did not confront the arab demonstrators. Today the muslims there commemorate 25 yrs ago a jewish extremist shot and killed 29 muslim worshippers inside the mosque of the Tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives. But at the Gaza border, the demonstrations turned violent and 1 youth was shot dead.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-of-palestinians-break-into-closed-off-temple-mount-section/

Full moon

Last night in our neighbourhood, Israeli police were going house to house arresting some 60 arabs who were planning to riot today at the Al Aqsa mosque. It was a nip-in-the-bud operation which seemed successful. But the chaos, shouts and shooting of tear-gas last night to stave off arabs resisting arrest.  

Anyway the cold and rain is bitterly harsh and I've spent the hold day in my room. My fever is now 3 weeks' old and the pain was so excruciating I have not slept since midnight last night. That makes 17 hours awake in pain.

Full moon

Tsahal Square on a cold night

Tensions continue to rise as Israeli police continue to barricade the area of the Golden Gates in the Temple Mount. Muslims continue to protest and I was warned in the streets to avoid our neighbourhood this Friday because they expect riots. We've not had major riots for many years now ... I guess the pent-up frustrations all these years are now surfacing with this event. I'm just wondering if I should stay home or go to my other office 1km away and stay there. Must make up my mind soon. Should the police lock down our neighbourhood, then I might not be able to come home. Serious.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/19-palestinians-arrested-in-fresh-temple-mount-clashes/

Full moon

The weather continues to be cold and cloudy. No drizzle today though it was forecast. I didn't go to work today as I felt unwell. Still with fever and pain. I did go to buy bread though ... and I found a new type which are packed with zip-locks. Great ... because they can stay fresh for several days. It's a new type of bread ... unleaven and thin but wholemeal. It's like Lebanese bread but it's a lot thinner. Good for my diabetes and necessary diet change.  

The full moon is up but the clouds are constantly hiding it. Last night I caught a glimpse of it when the clouds cleared for a while. It looked so surreal with clouds like pieces of jigsaw floating around it. I just realised that after this full moon comes the jewish feast of Purim. But not before Ash Wednesday. This year it doesn't fall on the Lunar New Year so there'll be rigorous fasting. For us it means lentil porridge. I dislike it ... so eating it is penance.

Stromata

Busker in the cold

It's Chap Go Meh, the 15th day of the New Year. Realised I've miscalculated it by a day. Should be nice Spring weather ... but here we're having very cloudy days and very cold nights. The past few nights were down to 3 degrees again. Daytime is about 6 degrees ... and it drizzles. It's like winter doesn't want to go away.

Some good news though ... the Sea of Galilee has risen 1.5m though still below the red line. Forecast is the summer heat will evaporate it all and the sea level will fall again.

Cleaning the oil
lamps at the Holy
Sepulchre

Am still feeling lethargic and slow. It now takes me some 30 minutes to walk a 12 min. distance. And being uphill, I have to be very slow. Been feeling terribly dizzy and a little scared to go out on my own. 2 weeks ago I blacked out in the streets, luckily in front of the Spanish Sisters convent. A passing friar got help there. So I'm very careful now when I go out.

This morning I went to the Holy Sepulchre. There was a big crowd lining up to enter the Tomb but it was closed for cleaning. It's one of those rituals rotated among the 3 Church denominations - Greek orthodox, Armenian Apostolic and Latin franciscans. This morning was our turn. It was very interesting to watch the various oil lamps being cleaned and filled with oil, wicks trimmed.

There was some tension yesterday when Israeli police closed off the area around the Golden Gates of the Al Aqsa compound. Muslims demonstrated and police spiked their presence including helicopters. The tensions continue today. The king of Jordan who is the guardian of the holy place condemned the Israeli move. We'll see how it'll be resolved.  https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Police-chase-suspect-onto-Temple-Mount-developing-report-580994?fbclid=IwAR2HspqhYiSucVWLph8DgLXKICNvkIFK6XJEoc7LQatKTTM75j-2XXoOaTY

13th day of CNY

Crowds at the 3rd Station of the Cross

What a dreadful start of the day. I was feeling very dizzy and nauseous the moment I got up. And I was like that all morning .... in fact all day. It's a very light-headed feeling, everything spinning around ... like the last few seconds before you actually faint. And I've lost my appetite even though I've forced my self to eat something otherwise I'd get more giddy from hunger. And the fever continued all day. It's not looking good.

Armenian seminarians with sisters of
the 3rd Station

Same thing said about the weather. 6 degree weather all day, very cold winds and it even drizzled just after lunch. Still it did not dampen the crowds coming into the Old City. There was a sudden influx of european and american tourists today. The 3rd Station of the Cross is the intersection where people of all 3 religions pass ... and this morning the crowd was unbelievable. I had the Armenian Mass at the 3rd Station this morning and it was very nice to have our armenian seminarians coming to help me. The White Fathers' seminarians also came to help with the readings. It was a good liturgy ... I'm beginning to do more parts of the Mass in Armenian now. The PDDM sisters who are in charge of the Armenian cathedral at the 3rd Station invited us for breakfast after the Mass. It was a nice moment.

After that I needed to rest as the dizziness was getting worse. And talking about dizziness, the govt has issued another warning of an impending massive earthquake. I should repack my earthquake backpack again ... restock the medicines and water bottles in it.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-southern-israel-is-hundreds-of-years-overdue-for-an-earthquake-1.6933565?fbclid=IwAR2vsJr_4bDl6PFh6q2RGvWH2Tn0IftnUSXUYnydIJS0vFWkWqFrCcH35ns

12th day of CNY

Cloudy skies

It was a slow day today ... after yesterday's hospital visit. I had an antibiotic drip as I have an upper chest infection. Been very lethargic today despite having class and meetings. I still have a fever. Yesterday was 34 degrees. Today was not so high. The weather was very encouraging for my health ... a little drizzle with sun but very cold and occasionally very cloudy. I stayed home all day even though I should have gone out to do some work. Maybe I'll go tomorrow if I feel better.

Hawkers at Herod's Gate

Being the weekend for jews and muslims, hawkers sell their wares at all 3 muslims city gates - Damascus, Herod and Lions. Things are cheaper during these weekends. Many muslims from throughout the country come to pray in the Al Aqsa so hawkers make brisk business ... especially the food stalls and restaurants. The food is therefore fresh and the desserts are especially good on weekends. They make kattayef which is pancakes filled with cheese or walnuts. That's my favourite dessert.

Yesterday despite the weather there was the weekly riots at the Gaza border. Some injuries on both sides of the fence. There seems to be no let up to this.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/hundreds-of-palestinians-join-weekly-protest-at-gaza-border/?fbclid=IwAR3UK0fQtdDkq_b4jwz7urBIdrJIdaIJoAIpX9-nNz1NSxis8Tnko8tN35E

11th day of CNY

New MRI machine in hospital

It's Friday and cold but dry. The forecast rain didn't come ... but I noticed it did rain overnight in Tel Aviv and Nazareth. I had a hospital appointment in Nazareth so I left early at 5am to avoid the traffic on the highways. Outside Jerusalem the air was crisp and clean .. obviously washed clean by the rain. The journey took only one and a half hours because the roads were still relatively empty of cars.

Once at hospital at 7.30am, the sisters showed me the developments of the last 3 years. And it has changed a lot. An entire new wing of 4 storeys with full maternity ward and children's ward. A latest MRI machine and many other things. It was very impressive. I only hope the service they provide is as upgraded as the physical structure. Well my checkup ended at 11.30. My fever is due to an upper lung infection. I was put on a drip of antibiotics. Then there was ultra-sound and other stuff. The sisters gave me some breakfast since I fasted since last night for the tests.

Then it was a 2 hour drive home because the driver decided to use the Jordan Valley road in order to avoid the heavy traffic on the central highway. And the entire ride was costly ... US$400. Well the taxi driver did wait for me. Still that's the prices we have to pay in Israel ... an expensive country to live in.

Road-blocking sheep

The Jordan Valley road back was very delightful because it crosses the desert lands which are all green and blooming with countless flowers because of the rains. Many local Israelis drive out there to see this spectacle. And our taxi was stuck when a huge herd of sheep crossed the highway to graze on the fabulously lush slopes along the road. It was a great sight ... all the sheep herded by 2 dogs and 3 shepherds.

Well I'm very tired easily and was quite dizzy all morning. Doc's orders are a change of diet, lots of rest and no stress. I nearly died laughing. Maybe I should just move out to the desert and live with the bedouins ... and learn shepherding.

8th day of CNY

Sunny morning

The weather has suddenly turned sunny and bright again. But it is bitterly cold ... much colder than when it rained the last few days. I am feeling quite sick ... with fever and chills at night. It's probably the weather I guess .... I hope. I'll need to see the doc again soon.

Well the cold is great for Spring flowers. The almond blossoms are finished and the anemones and other bulbs are flowering. My little garden on the library terrace has anemones and muscari. The chincheereechee will blossom with the amaryllis and lilies in early Summer about Easter time. I think this year's blooms will be fabulous.

Anemones in bloom

It just occurred to me that this is the last semester of the year. Most of my 4th year students are writing their final theses and preparing for final exams. Then by June all will return to their own countries t be ordained. Another generation. I really feel old ... I've seen some 20 generations pass through my hands. Maybe it's time for retirement.

It also occurred to me that this CNY I didn't have nien gao and pineapple tarts and all the kueh-kueh. There were no groups coming from home to bring them over. Oh well ... we can't have everything. I'll still be the same after the New Year. Maybe less fat from the lack of all the kueh-kueh !!!!! Maybe I should go to Tel Aviv's Thai House for a nice Char Kway Teow to make up .... sounds like a good idea. But it'll be only after the canonical visit of the Custos. As long it's on, everyone has to stay home and be ready to be called to give reports and documents and interviews.

Meantime preparations for general elections are underway with politicians giving speeches and meetings. I think the elections will take place in April after Passover.

人日

Another drizzly day at Nablus Road

It's the 7th day of the CNY and it's 人日 ... the day mankind was created. Well ... it's not celebrated here so no difference for us asians living here. The rest of the chinese priests and nuns were also busy so no one was available to celebrate. The drizzle continued all day so it's not very fun.

The Custos has come for his canonical visit. That means he will meet each of us individually to understand our situation in life and maybe changes to be made. I guess my turn is Wednesday. I must prepare all my reports and present them. Today I was late for the opening of the visit. Everyone was waiting for me in the divano. I was teaching in class at our seminary college and my superior sent me a message to come home. I rushed back and was 15 mins late. They started without me. And they left an empty chair for me next to the Custos. Gulp!

Anyway I was awake and working for over 14 hours without rest or food ... so immediately after the opening ritual I went to sleep. Didn't join them for Vespers or dinner. Was really brain dead.

Yesterday Israel attacked the border town of Quneitra on the Syrian side. Quneitra is the traditional site where Saul (Paul) was struck blind by a bright light and the resurrected Lord appeared to him on his way to Damascus. Quneitra is about 60 kms away from Damascus. Well this doesn't bode well for us as the last Israeli strike in Syria a month ago drew anger from Russia and Iran, the 2 powers behind the Syrian civil war.  https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Israel-strikes-Quneitra-near-Syrian-border-with-Golan-Heights-SANA-580362?fbclid=IwAR1DRN4T4jIDRFKUGA56wunGrxXYTWcXh1SHnbIbcQo8osBl7f__CZzN0k8

6th day of CNY

Rain this evening

It rained and rained all night and day. OK it drizzled. No difference for us since anything drop that falls from the sky is considered rain for us. I ran out of my medicine this morning but forgot to bring one back from my office where I store my stock. Thanks to the Hong Kong St. Luke's Guild for the one year supply. It costs a lot for me to buy because I have no medical insurance and I need to buy a pack of the medicine every 2 weeks. Well At 5.30pm I walked up slowly to my office 1km uphill in the rain. It was miserable. Slippery streets and steps, puddles in every pot hole. I arrived at my office which was nice and warm ... it's 6 degrees ... and took my medicine immediately. Then I rested for some half hour before making my way home. It was very dark ... because most parts of the road home had street lights that were broken. Walking down endless slippery steps is a dangerous business. Anyway I reached home safe and sound. I really should keep a couple of extra packs of medicine in my room. I'm not good at organising these things.

Armenian hymn
after consecration

The rain has claimed some lives this afternoon when a busload of ultra-orthodox jews skidded on a highway and overturned. 2 died and many injured. Drivers ought to be very careful because the roads here are not made for rains, floods and snow. We've been so used to the drought that people no longer remember how to drive in wet conditions.

This morning I had a lovely breakfast. The sisters had boiled eggs and I had a bottle of kaya (coconut jam). Ate it on toast and a hot cup of coffee. It was perfect on a cold wet morning. Then I had the armenian Mass at the 3rd Station. Several seminarians from the White Fathers, Salesians and Franciscans came. I asked them to help me, especially the armenian guys who did the singing and readings. It was a lovely celebration. I sung for the first time the mystery of faith in armenian. In fact almost half of the prayers after the Creed are now prayed in armenian. Everyone was pleased. Me too.

A new week begins ... a new semester has started. The busy routine restarts .... till summer holidays come.

5th day of CNY

Rain, cold and wet

The sunny weather of yesterday disappeared at sunset and the rains came non-stop till now ... which is practically 24 hrs. Well I say rain but it's actually heavy drizzle ... that's as rainy as we'll ever get in this drought. Still it's good to smell the wet stones on the walls and the sound of the clattering zinc awnings. It's very nostalgic of winter 29 years ago.

Indian lunch

This morning I had to celebrate Mass in the Empty Tomb for the Tel Aviv filipino community. It's a monthly 2nd Saturday Mass that they organise. My student, a Salesian deacon came to assist me as he usually does. It's his last few occasions to celebrate inside the Empty Tomb before he returns to India for his priestly ordination and mission. Immediately aft Mass I give the group a Bible reflection in the library. After that I had work in the library till another student came to present his work for approval. We went through it for almost an hour. Then it was work again till 6pm when another worker came to hand in her work. With almost 12 hours at work, I was exhausted by 7pm and came home ... walking in the rain. Thank goodness Bro. Leo our seminarian -cum-professional chef prepared indian biryani with dhal and chicken liver and potatoes. I helped assuage my hunger since I had no breakfast.

Deacon Pushpa
in the Empty Tomb

Now it's time to sleep because I am utterly exhausted and the rain is making sleep so enjoyable. It's 6 degrees by the way ... which is very comfortable.

Yesterday a teenage jewish girl was murdered in the south of Bethlehem. Within 24 hrs the arab murderer was arrested in the central Palestinian city of Ramallah. Now I wonder why it's so difficult to find the jewish culprits who burned our churches and vandalise our property and cemeteries ... after 7 years??????

4th day of CNY

Ben Yehuda Mall

Despite the tension in the air, today Friday passed off without major incidents. The weather had suddenly turned very sunny and the rains have stopped. But the wind continues to be very cold. Forecast is rain again tomorrow. Well I hope  tomorrow's rain will not prevent me from going to work. I have Mass at the Holy Sepulchre and then an hour's class and then meeting up with some people on the library projects. It will be a busy day.

Despite the cold, people are enjoying dinners in restaurants and walks in the City. It's special ... before the heat of summer overtakes us. The last bit of winter fun. Purim the jewish feast commemorating the book of Esther will soon come round ... the first Spring feast. It'll fall on March 21. The weather is always warm for that feast.

A chinese exchange student form the U. of Haifa came to wish me a Happy New Year today. Travelled over 200 kms to Jerusalem for this. He's from an old catholic family ... very traditional. I met his parents last year when they came on pilgrimage. Nice simple folk. And it was very nice of the student to come all the way. I brought him out to lunch before he had to go back to Haifa immediately because the Sabbath was setting in and all public transport would have stopped.

3rd day CNY

Storm clouds over the Mt. of Olives

It rained all night again and drizzled all day. It's wonderful of course ... we need the rain. But I'm not ready for the wet slippery streets. Walking outdoors is a health hazard. I'm scared of falling and breaking a bone ... at my age I don't heal easily. Anyway it's the final swipe of winter before Spring totally takes over. Problem is Spring here lasts only a week or two. I see from the weekly weather forecast that tomorrow Friday will be sunny but the next 4 days will be wet and rainy.

Old City in the rain

These 2 days of rain has caused the southern desert to be flooded. There 's a video that's going viral showing how the desert is overrun by sudden flash floods and rivers. Such a lovely sight that the parched tortured desert is now quenching its thirst after a 15 year drought. Wild flowers will suddenly push out from the ground in a few days ... those rare sweetly scented flowers that spring up and bloom for only a few hours, perhaps a day ... and then it dies. A very fleeting existence. And many desert insects will also breed, lay eggs, grow into larvae and then adulthood before dying ... all within a few days while the rains last.    https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5459558,00.html?fbclid=IwAR2UNQLegMDAFVlko05HDIJI6ao8LZ6KZ5MkyYBBSgvM-4d9N0lf9pAUVoo

The giant supermarket chain Supersol is in big trouble because one of it's outsourced delivery vans was caught on camera transporting a dead body from hospital. Imagine having your groceries kept with a cadaver .... and the van has NO air-conditioning. It's definitely not kosher and Supersol will be hit bad not just by the ultra-orthodox jews but by any decent person who cares for hygiene. People will and are avoiding the chain. Better safe than sorry.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/supermarket-delivery-van-caught-transporting-dead-body/?fbclid=IwAR1pZ2Ij1nd_GwDflaGKJp9QyE46QiBVRjOVUBNgTuWU7aZqz6ornf28Alw

2nd day CNY

Municipality Square today

It rained last night ... quite unexpected. The warm weather we were enjoying just dropped down to 6 degrees again. And this morning it continued to drizzle till sunrise. Very chilly. I had to wear a thick hoodie to go to work. Just received tonight's forecast ... rains will start again at 7pm and progressively get harder till midnight. Oh my ... I'll stay warm in my room and not go even to get a glass of water.

Jerusalem City was like any other working day. After almost 3 decades overseas ... I just wished one New Year's Day I would wake up and see the city in festive decorations, New Year songs blaring and greetings at every street corner. I actually tuned in to asian tv to watch chinese programmes and concerts for the New Year.

A lovely bouquet
for CNY

I had to work as usual. But thank goodness the bank and lawyer and payment drama is over ... well almost. Then I had to go trough some Coptic manuscripts I discovered in our library deposit. A team of experts has come so I'm letting them study it and write up a descriptive catalogue. After that it's writing a report because the Custos is coming for a canonical visitation next week.

A witch hunt is ongoing in some cities. A mayor has actually asked citizens to report illegal immigrants so they may be arrested and deported. Immigrants mean robberies, danger, drugs .... sounds like he took the cue from Trump. The irony is that the city is Petah Tikva, the first jewish settlement at the turn of the century when jews began immigrating from Europe.     https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-mayor-asks-residents-to-report-asylum-seekers-to-remove-them-1.6900768?fbclid=IwAR3pICA2DESGqLH0uUvMtCQ9f9_XfUxDAdy8LsjpOKknYHGEP17cYd2jrBc

Yesterday there was a terrorist attempt in the north of the country. 2 arabs threw explosive devices but one was shot dead by soldiers.  https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Two-Palestinians-throw-explosive-at-IDF-soldiers-one-terrorist-killed-579662?fbclid=IwAR3IDWRnm0dsKkpE09Xr_jKh9zQXF3xWYw_DJbyC5yapMtfsyur2c9odmxY

Happy New Year

Fai Chun at my door

Yesterday was New Year's Eve and I was extremely busy with all the bureaucratic redcap of getting invoices paid, bank transfers etc... for books ordered by the libraries. It was traumatic as each time I need lawyers to help me out. Yes ... it is that complicated and thank God your system is alot less stressful. Yesterday was a full 4 hours of waiting and phone calls before things worked out.

Reunion dinner

In the evening we had the Reunion Dinner at Mandarin Restaurant as we always do every year. There were 16 of us from Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and China. It was good to be able to share the dinner and celebrate the New Year. Ah Ling slow-boiled chicken soup, and we had the usual noodles and rice, dumplings, lots of veggies. We all enjoyed it and especially when we could all meet up at least once a year. Usually our timetables are uncoordinated and we are seldom all together for monthly meetings. Anyway I was feeling unwell and very tired so luckily we ended early and I went home to sleep.

My altar

Morning came with a beautiful golden sunshine ... and lovely start to the New Year. Well the rest of Israel went on as usual. It was difficult for me to tell my jewish friends it's the year of the pig/boar as it's an unclean animal. But most of my jewish friends accepted it and laughed, without getting offended. I had to get back to more bank bureaucracy and paperwork which ended at 1pm ... another 4 hours. And there were any bills to be paid ... which is a no-no on the 1st day of the year ... but I had to get them done. Managed to stop by the asian restaurant "Thailandi" to order 4 noodle takeaways. My arab friend was working there as well as the thai cook this morning so it was good to see them ... and they gave me a bigger share with an extra Springroll. They are always so generous to me. Well I gave 2 packs to our library staff for lunch and another 2 packs to our Curia staff. They all enjoyed it.

I was hoping to rest in the afternoon but more calls to work. So here I am at 8.45pm in my office. Exhausted. Am going home to sleep.

Nablus day off

Nablus knaffeh is the country's best

The last Sunday of the Chinese Lunar year ... and we're all looking forward t our Reunion Dinner on Monday evening. I think there'll be 16 or 17 of us ... the largest group so far in these recent years.

This morning I had to travel back to Nablus in Samaria to celebrate Mass for the MC sisters. The ride was surprisingly smooth ... only one hour to reach there. Usually the traffic at the border from Israel to Palestine is clogged and would take hours to pass. And the road was relatively empty. I had to bring 5 bags of used clothes and 8 boxes of canned food to the sisters for distribution among the poor in the neighbouring cities of Jenin, Zebabdeh, Tubas and Ramallah. It was heavy work loading them and unloading the donations.

Curry, rice and
chutney lunch

After Mass the sisters cooked a lovely curry lunch with chicken and beef and veggies ... plus their fabulous mango chutney. It's really very good and when I had my previous operations and lost my appetite, it was the chutney with rice that kept me going. And by the way ... any one coming to the Holy Land? Please bring green/unripe mangoes so the sisters can make more chutney. It's very difficult to buy unripe mangoes here. Then the sisters bought knaffeh, an arab dessert made from several types of cheese steamed in honey or sugar. Nablus is famous for the best knaffeh in the country. It was fantastic but because of the pistachios which I think I'm allergic to, I could dare eat more than one.

Locally there was an attempted stabbing in Hebron. And Israel went ahead to build a high metal fence to cut off Gaza infiltrators. Other than that, it was a quiet Sunday. Let's hope it remains so for the rest of the week.

Presentation feast

Crowds outside Damascus Gate

It's the feast of the Presentation ... and the Church celebrates religious and consecrated persons. Jerusalem based religious gathered at our St. Saviour monastery with our bishops and they had a small prayer service in our courtyard before proceeding to the parish church for solemn Mass. I would have preferred it to be celebrated at the ancient Temple steps south of the Temple Mount where it actually took place: where Mary brought the baby Jesus to be offered in the Temple and where Simeon and Anna met them and prophesied to them.

The weather continues to be bright and shiny ... which means summer will be nice and hot. But the winds are still cold. Almond trees are blooming wildly ... and it's a spectacular sight. More people are out today ... Sabbath ... because of the weather and the Old City was very crowded with local jews and arabs. Tourists though are lessening ... which is typical of February. There were no extraordinary security measures. What a relief!!

Inside Damascus
Gate

I am sure the air in Jerusalem is very polluted because once I'm out of the City, my wheezing and coughing stops. Maybe it's time for me to move out.

No remarkable news from the northern or southern border. That's good news. It would make celebrating the Chinese New Year a lot more joyful. As usual the chinese religious and priests will gather for a reunion dinner but this year we won't celebrate a Mass on the New Year as most of us are too busy with work. For some it will be the first New Year away from home.

Tomorrow I have to go back to Nablus to celebrate Mass as the nuns there have no priest. The parish priest is away on retreat and the nuns didn't have Mass almost all week. Also I have a lot of canned food and clothes donated by many people for the poor. They amount to over 15 boxes and sacks. I'll need someone to help me carry them.

Nablus day out

Crusader church in El Bireh

This morning I had early Mass in the Empty Tomb. Then I had to go to Nablus in Samaria to celebrate Mass for the M. Teresa's convent. Thats a long way north ... like and hour and a half of car ride through wilderness. But before reaching Nablus, just after crossing the border to Palestine ... I decided to stop by at the Crusader church ruins at the village of El Bireh. That's the place which recalls Mary and Joseph meeting and discovering that they lost the boy Jesus. Almost everyone has forgotten about this church which is a terrible pity. I make it a point to go there on my way to Nablus and say a prayer among the ruins.

Fresh air in Nablus

At Nablus I celebrated the Mass and had a simple lunch there before going home. All in all it took 5 hours for the trip there. And I am exhausted. My back is sore from all the sitting. But the air was fresh and I had no trouble breathing up in the Samaria mountains. It was a good outing. I probably will be back there next week as I have a lot of clothes donated by the parishioners of Jaffa and a whole load of food donated by a protestant church, which I have to give the sisters there.

I managed to come home early as well so I could rest a bit. Haven't had time to check the news .... after a nice day out I guess I'm not ready for bad news. One think though that bothered me from yesterday: Israel has the highest use of pesticide in its products in the world ... fruit, veggies .... That explains my asthma and allergies with food here.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5455284,00.html?fbclid=IwAR2aWP8LQ8VVJn-wWtBoHqsrbQvuyz3Ar0Tu36Ylh3uG5ZqyRpFth1_9m_M