St Barbara

Violets blooming

 It's the weekend. Nationwide protests against the PM took place for the 24th week and shows no signs of abating. The opposition parties are calling for another election. And the pandemic infections have soared. 2020 is ending with alot of uncertainties and fear. All I can say is ... don't forget the poor people, those who lost their jobs, their livelihoods, their dignity. Care for the people.

Anyway optimism for a virus vaccination is in the air ... but no one is putting much hope in it. There's been alot of hype about it and people are wary of it. It usually means higher prices ... and anyway foreigners like us will not be in the frontline for sure.

It's sunny and cold this weekend. The violets that I planted in front of the library are blooming profusely. I like the purple hues on them ... very rewarding also to see the anemones and freesia sprouting strong stems and large leaves. I think 2021 Spring will see alot of scented flowers in bloom. At least they don't have to worry about lockdowns and vaccinations.

It's the feast of St. Barbara and in the Middle East, children dress up in masquerade to remember St. Barbara disguising herself to escape the roman persecutors. As she ran way, wheat sprouted behind ehr to cover her footsteps ... so christians here grow grain in small pots. By Christmas these would have germinated and they are used to decorated the crib. And of course they make burbara ... a sweet dessert made up of barley and types of wheat and dried fruit. That's what our cook Georgette is doing right now. I'll have a version without nuts.