42 degrees

Figs on sale

Correction ... yesterday wasn't 38 degrees ... it was a whopping 42 degrees. The highest in 80 years I think. And today the forecasters say could get even higher. I'm staying in my room. I have a headache from yesterday's heat and I still feel unwell ... nauseous. And the bad news is ... this heatwave would become more frequent. The govt did warn elderly and sick people not to go out. I belong to both categories ... but I also have work to do and must prioritise which work is necessary.

And in this heatwave, there's one thing I must always do ... throw water on the roof. It not only cools down the roof and the rooms below but it stops the cracking of slabs and joints.

The heat is also ruining the business of the village women who bring fruit and veggies not the City for sale. The heat withers the veggies and dries out all the fruit. Grapes go runny and turn to raisins. Figs melt and sweat. All turn mushy. Peaches, plums, guavas ... all must be sold quickly in the morning otherwise they become unsellable after noon. Such a pity. I've seen cartons of such fruit and veggies thrown away.    https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-bakes-under-record-setting-temperatures-with-more-on-the-way/?fbclid=IwAR2RXB3XDXCSK1OJkTHFV5K7xhtpsHR80kleLtaa9XaedeacMocXUYK_0ac

Grapes and plums

And the threat of a lockdown is very real. With 3000 new infections and one third in my neighbourhood, the govt has warned that by Sunday a lockdown decree will be imposed. My dilemma is having to go out to buy food and staying home in the heat. The govt has openly said that Israel has the highest per capita infections in the world. Any other country would have lock downed the country when infections hit 3 digits. Here it's 3000 and the govt is considering a partial lockdown ... based on cities and neighbourhoods. Too little too late. I just need to keep myself safe.