Sunrise sunset

Sunrise today

The lockdown is tightening now that the police are enforcing the rules on the ultra-orthodox community. There were clashes when some in the community refused to abide. The police made some arrests and gave out some fines as well. Let's just hope everyone does his part and break the chain of infection.

JJ sleeping

The sun is rising a lot earlier now ... and about 4am the rays of the sun can be seen glowing over the Mt. of Olives. The muezzin starts singing the call to prayer just before sunrise . But usually I'm awake by then ... starting work early. Our librarians are working at home ... since most work can be done online. But I have to co-ordinate all 6 workers' work and liaise with our double-checkers in Milan. Today it was 4 hours of texting and video conferencing in order to check on the work done. It also meant that I had to go down to the journals section of the library to physically double check on the online records and the actual books. Lockdown is no vacation ... I'm working 6 times harder.

Buddy and JJ aren't used to me being home for so many days. JJ is just a teenager by human standards and is extremely playful and naughty. He's quite a handful and I get tired just half an hour with him. But after being 6 days at home, he's getting tired of me as well. Half the time he just sits on my leg and sleeps. At least he's keeping out of trouble.

The weather is very sunny and cool ... around 17 degrees every afternoon. Sometimes I take a walk on our terrace ... the panorama of the Mt. of Olives on the east, the Al Aqsa Mosque compound on the south and the upper part of the Old City on the west is spectacular, The Mt. of Olives is all green from the grass. The lights from the upper city is stunning at night. Lockdown isn't that bad ... it gives a chance to slow down and admire the beauty around us.