Eve

Jaffa Gate blocked by police

Another trial on this new configuration. As you can see from yesterday's blog, there is a problem of uploading a picture with a text. This is an abominable system.

We're 15 hours to total lockdown. No one is happy about it. apparently it's alot more severe than the 1st lockdown in March ... but as I see it, it only is harsher with religious gathering s and demonstrations. It's mainly to curtail massive crowds during the Jewish Yom Kippur on Monday and the feast of Sukkot a week later. Still the eve of a lockdown is always full of jitters. Have I enough food stocked? Do I have enough medicines? I did go and buy up my essential medicines which I must take daily. Also at the insistence of the Dean, I went to get my flu shot. The flu season is starting and with my asthma and low resistence, if I catch the flu it'll make me more vulnerable to catching Covid. Not taking any chances here ... at least my community doesn't want me to take chances.

Covid cases are still in the 7000s today ... the 2nd day running. It's a nightmare. I had to go to our legal office to clarify what the lockdown means for my workers. Will they be compensated and by whom ... the govt or the insurance community or what? How do you define "essential worker"? The govt directives are very vague and we don't know what to do ... so finally we decided everyone will work till 12pm (2 hrs before lockdown) and then we close our institutes for 2 weeks and wait for more govt.directives. 

Ducklings

Without a cleaning lady for the last 4 days, I had to clean the 8 toilets and all the floors of the school as well as disinfecting all common areas in the library. By 7.30am I was exhausted. Still there was the mad rush to get as much admin done as possible before the lockdown. That included payments andtransactions. Actually I'll be glad lockdown starts. There's nothing else I can do so ... just relax and let things ride out the 3 weeks.   

For sure I won't be the only one enjoying the lockdown. A nest of ducklings are enjoying their pool and sunshine at the junction of Austrian Hospice and the 3rd Station of the Cross. Neighbours have been bringing out their pets to that junction ... including weasels, canaries, parrots, mice ... and the amused passersby stop to take pictures and play with them. It's a nice distraction from an otherwise difficult stage.