Library reopens

Yesterday's bibimbap dinner

It's the 3rd day of Eid el Fitri ... the last day of the holiday. The streets are a little busier than under lockdown but still it's very quiet by comparison to the past years. The police blocked our street after noon. I guess they expected huge crowds around the Al Aqsa entrances which are due to reopen tomorrow. In Bethlehem this morning, the basilica of the Nativity was reopened. And the Latin Patriarchate issued directives for the reopening of all churches. It's all very positive and some normality is coming back but we still have to be very careful of asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus. The PM has warned of supercarriers of the virus who will start a 2nd wave of infections which in his words "will be worse than the first".

Archbishop walk-
ing alone

Our Archbishop has been busy visiting religious communities when the lockdown was eased 3 weeks back. Every morning he would walk to various convents and monasteries, celebrating Mass for them ... as many convents did not have Mass for over 2 months. He stayed with each community for breakfast, asking about their welfare and encouraging them during this difficult period. He's truly a shepherd.

Thew weather has dropped to 13 degrees and last night was so chilly I need a blanket. Daytime today was up to 26. I've decided to stay home as it's the first day we're reopening the library. I have to make sure all the rules are observed ... rules stipulated by the govt for libraries. That means blocking off every other carrel, providing disinfectant for cleaning the books and tables, alcohol gel for the hands, masks for the students ... even quarantine books for 3 days after use. It's really very demanding but we need to make sure the library does not become an infection hotspot. Prevention is better than cure. But that means double work for me as I have 2 libraries to oversee.