R.I.P.

Retreat in
Gethsemane

 Had a bad shock this morning when I received news that our neighbour had died. Only yesterday morning at 9am I met him driving off to work with his son, while I was returning from preaching a retreat to the MC sisters in the hermitage of the Garden of Gethsemane. He's about my age, or a little older. At 2am his son sent a message and photo saying his father is in hospital feeling sick and at 7am he messaged to say his father died. The fragility of human life. So unexpected. It came as a shock as he looked so alive and without illness in the morning.

This morning the Old City was in chaos as a 30 yr old arab woman tried to stab an israeli soldier in the Suq (market) near the mosque. She was shot dead. The City Gates were closed to capture any accomplices who might have been there. Attacks have become more frequent now. It's a worrying sign for the coming winter when its cold and people wear thick clothing. They can conceal weapons which otherwise summer clothes can't.

This morning I was suffocating from the phlegm lodged in my airways and couldn't cough it out. I almost blacked out due to lack of oxygen, and I had just gone to throw out the garbage and was downstairs in the courtyard. That's an awful place to blackout because it's all hard stones and nobody passes by there till 8am. But I managed to walk in circle vigorously and it dislodged from my throat. It's a very bad feeling. I'm continuing to lose weight and the abdominal pain is still there.

The weather is changing and many people are wearing jackets and hoodies. Winter is coming early. I'll have to be ready for it as the cold will provoke more asthma attacks and other problems. I'm just wondering is I should get my flu shot.

Day [off]

Explaining Magdala

 Yesterday I took a day off from work ... well sort off. It was another kind of work outside the library. The chinese catholic migrant workers asked me to bring them to visit the churches around the Sea of Galilee. We managed to visit a couple as the travel time from Jerusalem is 2 and a half hours. And churches close at 12pm due to Covid restrictions. The Legionaries of Christ however were very accommodating and let us stay around the archeological site of Magdala for several hours, where we could eat our picnic lunch and celebrate Mass. I didn't feel well but I managed to keep up with the whole trip. However 3 of the group became very sick along the way. But we survived. I guess the weather change was a contributing factor, but also the long traveling distance. Anyway it was work for me, though I wasn't up to it. I'm just lucky I got home safe and sound with no major health problems.

The govt. is not taking the advise of health experts in imposing a nationwide lockdown. Infections have dropped to 4000 which is very low by our standards, but health experts seem to be worried. Anyway it seems life will continue under Green Pass system, so people and the economy can get back to normality.

The Jewish High Holy Days are over and the heavy police presence is also gone. We don't have to through barriers and checks; and aggressive jews who spit at us. A little peace at last.

Newspaper reports say the army has prevented massive terrorist attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem after the raid and arrest of people inside Palestine. For the sake of security, these raids are necessary. But collateral damage should be avoided. Anyway one thing we learn after years of war is never to be in a crowd. Crowds are always the targets of terrorist attacks as it guarantees maximum casualties. I'll be mostly indoors anyway as I have no Green Pass and cannot enter any shop, restaurant or indoor activity. The police are very actively catching people without Green Pass and handing out 5000 shekel fines as well as enforced home isolation for 2 weeks. 

Crowds

Jew praying with the Sukkot
plants

 It's the last evening of Sukkot. This morning our street was filled with jews chanting. It gets quite intimidating when hundreds of jews packed in a narrow street marching down in waves, shouting at the top of their voices. Many were carrying the 4 plants required during prayer during the 8 day festival. These are the palm, the myrtle, the willow and an etrog which is a type of inedible lemon. They are held together and waved in the air during their prayer. Many of these jews try to enter the Al Aqsa compound to pray but are prevented by police as the muslims refuse to allow them to enter for prayers. So they crowd around the dozen or so gates to the compound and pray there. This causes alot of traffic inconveniences as the streets are very narrow and even people on foot cannot break through the mass of people crowded there. I dread going home tonight as it occurs right in our street and in front of our gate.

There's news of a dreadful murder where a muslim man killed his mother because she converted to Christianity. Yes it's the 21st century but such ideas still encrust the mind of some people. It's sad and one can only guess at the future of such a religion that fears everything other than itself. 

I am still feeling quite unwell. But during the day I get better though the upper abdominal pain gets quite bad several times a day. I might buy some pain relief medicine. And strangely my right bunion is causing so much pain it's difficult to walk. Everyone says it's because of the change in weather. Many people with arthritis are also suffering pain.

Well I've been up since 1.20am today. That makes 16 hours now of non-stop work, going down to Gethsemane then going up 1.5km up a very steep hill from the Kidron valley to my workplace. I'm terribly exhausted. I'll have to sleep early.

Rest

1st Mass for the nursing nuns

 It's chilly ... autumn has set in and some trees have begun to shed their leaves. In fact Spring bulbs have already sprouted! My freesias and muscaris have sent out leaves, which is too early. They usually do so at the end of December. The Passion fruit vine is finally flowering after a year's dormancy and the golden spider lilies are also flowering after several years of refusing to put up blooms. 

After yesterday's exhausting work, I slept most of the morning today. I did have to go to Gethsemane to preach a retreat but came home in an hour and slept. Had no energy to clean my room or prepare the laundry for tomorrow. The abdomen pain was acute several times today. And I've no appetite to eat anything. I had 3 small drumsticks for lunch ... leftovers from yesterday's meal I think. I'll just have to rest more till tonight when I have class at 4am.

Yesterday I managed to celebrate Mass for the Maria Bambina sisters at Caritas Baby Hospital, the first Mass in their convent chapel. I had to consecrate 2 large hosts for the convent chapel and the hospital chapel, as well as many small hosts because the sisters have no priest to celebrate Mass for them. Let's hope for the best for them.

Tomorrow is the eve of the end of Sukkot ... the most important day of the 8 day feast. Lots of extremist jewish youths have been passing through our streets, provoking locals and police alike. We feel unsafe walking in the streets as these people get violent and aggressive. Some have been sitting opposite the basilica of Gethsemane, watching our schedule. They had burnt part of the entrance of the basilica last year ... and they have tried to reenter it again yesterday. There are no police watching our basilica, no protection.

There's been clashes when Israeli police raided several arab towns to capture terrorists. 5 arabs have been killed. I think there'll be a rise in violence these next few days. Dreadful cycle.

Beer Sheva

Moon between the trees

 Yesterday we had drizzle and heavy dew in the early morning again. It sure feels like autumn now. The full moon os slowing waning but it still draws a large crowd every night at Damascus Gate.

With the weather cooling down to 23 degrees with a strong wet wind, many families come out into the park to sit, eat and enjoy the weather before the rains come.

And yes ... the rains are coming. Every morning is humid and heavy with dew. Drizzle for several hours as well. Very promising winter of heavy rains. Fingers crossed. Maybe we'll get several days of snow as well.

Heavy dew every morning

Today was totally out of control. I was supposed to have 6.30am Mass with the MC sisters in Old City, then 8am Mass for the Maria Bambina sisters at Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem, 12pm meeting with a jewish family from Tel Aviv, then 3.30pm retreat conference with the MC sisters at the hermitage of Gethsemane ... mind you I am already quite sick as it is without this punishing schedule. Then came a call to say I must go to Beer Sheva 130km away in the desert to organise the removal of furniture from a house whose family was moving out. It took almost 2 hrs to reach the city and another 2 hrs to carry fridges, furniture etc... into a huge truck that I hired for this. Result was I had to cancel everything else for the day and spent day travelling and working in Beer Sheva. I only managed to celebrate Mass in Bethlehem. 

It's been a crazy day. I need to rest now. My feet and head are hurting very much. And tomorrow is not going to be any easier. What a dreadful weekend.

Mooncakes

Mooncake!!

 I managed to eat a mooncake for the Mid-Autumn Festival. I thought I'll not be able to eat one as no groups have come to bring mooncakes to us. But somehow someone gave a box to the owners of Mian Restaurant, and they gave me one. It was very nice. The moon was super large as well, and very bright. The Chinese sisters cooked a simple dinner and invited me over. So the Mid-Autumn festival wasn't that bad after all. 

The Jewish feast of Sukkot is also underway ... for 8 days. It's a festive celebration but there're always some bad hats that want to create trouble. We've had youths chanting slogans and singing loudly after midnight in our Muslim Quarter. Yesterday a tour guide was carrying a huge israeli flag walking through our muslim neighbourhood while guiding local jews, It was very provocative. Every street corner has police stationed in groups of 4 or 6. It's quite tense and intimidating. Mounted police also patrol the streets outside the Old City.

Homecook dinner

I've been feeling quite sick the past few days. Maybe it's lack of sleep, maybe it's something else. My respiratory problems get quite bad by 5am every morning and I cannot breathe. This hurts my lungs and my heart rate goes very high ... at times I thought I'd get a heart attack. It makes me faint due to lack of oxygen. And every night my upper abdomen hurts very badly. It's sharp and acute. I'm still not sure when my turn will come for doing the tests in hospital. The Covid restrictions are affecting many of us non-Covid people ... we get shut out of hospital care because the Covid patients are priority ... those people who do not want to be vaccinated, who deny there's a pandemic; while we who abide by Covid rules are penalised by not having hospital services available to us for other sicknesses. It's very unfair.

The weather has changed drastically and it started to drizzle heavily last night till the late morning. The sky is dark with rain clouds and the wind is still cold. The raining season has started early and we hope it will be consistent and heavy. We need the rains.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Full moon

 It's the Mooncake festival ... but this year there're no mooncakes. It's pretty sad. But our little Chinese community in Jerusalem will meet up and celebrate in our own little way ... eat some home-cooked Chinese food. That's the best we can do. 

The past few evenings I've been working late, so on my way home I could catch the full moon over Damascus Gate. It's beautiful. The area has been quite tranquil after the capture of the 6 prison escapees. Police presence is less and so is the tension. However last evening saw crowds of Jews going to the Wailing Wall to pray for Sukkot. This morning too the street from Damascus Gate leading to the Wailing Wall was full of Jewish families carrying the 4 species (palm, myrtle, citron and willow) to wave during prayers.

Last night I had a long sleep ... about 7 hours. I was really exhausted. But when I woke up at 4am, I couldn't breathe. I was struggling for 2 hours, almost blacking out due to lack of oxygen. But it finally passed and I was back to normal. I went to the pharmacy just now to see what I can take but the pharmacist told me to see the doctor. I did get a nitroglycerin spray for heart attacks though ... I always carry one with me because I won't die from suffocation but a heart attack provoked by the suffocation. That's a handy spray to have in the pocket.

Well I guess everyone will be having a great Mid-Autumn festival despite Covid restrictions. Enjoy but stay safe!

ps* Yesterday's viewers to my blog reached 931. Don't these people have something better to do? Stalking me online is a waste of time. 

New sisters

Patriarch with new sisters

Wow ... so out of the blue there're 918 viewers to my blog today. Another scary hint at I'm being watched. I usually have only 20 - 40 viewers ... so it's very revealing why numbers shoot up like that all of a sudden.

Been feeling really sick for the past 3 days. Last Friday for a few minutes both my arms were paralyzed ... twice. I really felt sick then ... nausea and fainting. Later that day the chinese sisters pricked my fingers to release blood and did some reflexology massage to lower the blood pressure and promote circulation. Nights are dreadful with pain in my abdomen. I planned to go to hospital tomorrow but transport will be very difficult because it'll be a major Jewish feast - Sukkot.

In a few hours it'll be Sukkot ... the feast of huts/booths. Everything stops for 24 hrs till tomorrow sunset. Jews will eat all their meals in those huts which are found in every house and street. It'll be quiet again tomorrow like on Yom Kippur. A nice change from the hustle and bustle. But inconvenient if you need to travel.

It's Monday ... I had class last night from 9pm to 10pm ... then class at 4am ... then I had to bring a new convent of sisters to visit the Patriarch and get their visas done. I arranged for them to come and take charge of the Caritas Baby Hospital since the last congregation of Franciscan sisters left last year. This group of Indian sisters are all nurses and well trained for obstetrics and gynecology. Caritas Baby Hospital is the only such hospital in the entire Palestine.

Anyway I'll feeling unwell. Will be off to sleep early.

Back to normal

Sunrise on Yom Kippur

The country's back to normal today ... Yom Kippur ended at sunset and public transport resumed in the night, shops reopened in the night, people started coming out of their houses. Today they are busy putting up their huts on their balconies and terraces and sidewalks. Its for the feast of Sukkoth that begins in 6 days.

The weather has gone even cooler than at the beginning of the week. Last night was 16 degrees. Chilly. And today was 26 degrees. It was slightly cloudy and a cool breeze was constantly blowing. Feels very much like autumn. Sukkoth is the same day as Mid-Autumn festival ... so it's really autumn. I think after Sukkoth the leaves on the trees will turn red and fall. And this autumn feel usually sets the tone for Christmas ... which right on cue, shops in the Old City's Christian Quarter are selling Christmas decorations!

Tomorrow I have to celebrate the Konkani Mass. Their chaplain is back in India for holidays so I help out. I do that for the Ethiopic Mass as well; I love the ethiopic singing. So I'll go prepare my sermon now and have an early sleep.

Feast

Blooming Jerusalem artichokes

 Time flies. It's already Thursday and I haven't updated the blog. There was work to do, but also I was trying to get some rest as I've been having bad headaches and general weakness. I avoid going out except for work as infections have again risen, and police are entering shops to check on vaccination certificates.

It's Yom Kippur today. The City is dead. No cars, no noise, no people in the streets. Even the Muslim Quarter is rather quiet as I went to work in the morning. Only soldiers were stationed at every corner. Majority of the Jews are fasting and in prayer at home. By sunset today, they'll break their fast and preparations will be made to celebrate Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles/huts in 7 days time. They will be busy building wooden huts with palm branches for a roof. For 8 days they will eat their meals in these huts and not indoors. But till then, Yom Kippur is a solemn quiet day. No public transport, no media, no music, no work allowed.

Today's garbage

Well for me it's another day of work, though our workers are taking a day off. Without public transport and road closures, our workers cannot come to work. But I came to the office because I needed to consult some books. Also I had class with the Sydney Youth, and in one hour I'll have a talk with MC sisters followed by confessions and Eucharistic adoration. Then I hope to find some food to eat. I couldn't find any food today ... neither breakfast nor lunch and I'm terribly hungry. I ate some fresh dates that I bought yesterday but they're not enough to fill my stomach and give me energy to work. And this morning's work ... throwing the garbage ... was difficult. There was so much garbage which I had to carry from the kitchen down 5 floors to the road outside. Let's see if there'll be as much garbage tomorrow. I'll have to call for help.

Again

Fallen unripe dates

 There were 2 stabbing attacks today. Earlier in the morning there was an attempt in the town of Gush Etsion just south of Jerusalem, but the police foiled the attempt. Then an hour ago another attack at the Central Bus Station with 2 injured and the stabber killed. I guess these unrest will continue for a while when the Jewish feastdays take place till the end of the month. It's very tense  and I try to walk home from work through the alleys so as to avoid crowds. Crowds are always the target of attacks.

Gaza continues to fire into Israel. And the latter retaliate ferociously. Somehow the Gaza authorities don't understand their military action is counter-productive. The Gazans will suffer in winter without heating, electricity or medicines. Peace will allow the borders to be opened and essential goods will flow in.

Pruning palm branches

The palms at Palm Plaza were pruned yesterday ... mainly because the branches are needed to build booths or tabernacles for the Feast of Sukkot (Booths/Tabernacles/Huts). Poor Jews can't afford, so the Parks Authorities cut public palms and distribute them to the poor. The unfortunate thing is the unripe dates are also cut off. Parakeets love the ripened dates as they're sweet and full of energy. Already flocks of Indian ring-necked parakeets have been munching on the few ripe dates. Now everything has fallen on the ground and thrown away. Pity.

The weather continues to cool down. Nights get chilly at 18 degrees. Buddy and JJ are shedding their summer feathers and growing winter ones. We had a good day together yesterday. I cleaned out my room and both were very involved ... walking on everything, wanting to see everything. They're very curious by nature.

Attack

Empty plaza at Herod's Gate

 2 hours ago there was a stabbing attack near our house. A 50 yr old arab tried to stab an israeli police but was seriously shot. A police was also wounded by a ricochet bullet. It's something we've been trying to avoid. It occurred near the 5th Station of the Cross ... and catholics were just making the Way of the Cross just then. 

My walk home after work saw empty plazas at Damascus Gate and Herod's Gate. Police were everywhere and people tried to stay home to avoid problems after the stabbing. There was a road block in front of Notre Dame Centre's main entrance. It's very tense to say the least.

The past nights saw demonstrations and rioting by arabs in support of the 6 escaped terrorists. The general disturbance all around areas of the country with arabs serve to divert military forces from tracing down the escapees. Here we're just about 650 meters from the riotings. 

Apart from the general chaos around us, I must say the weather is getting cooler by the day. it's down to 22 degrees right now and a strong cool breeze is blowing. I wished I had a thin hoodie with me. It was a cold walk home.

Great curry

Lamb curry

 Tensions continue within the country and around its borders. Clashes occurred at Damascus Gate yesterday as well as all the borders with Palestine. Shots were fired as well from both sides. I think tonight will be worse. Police presence remains high. Because I wear a mask and cap, it's not always obvious I'm a foreigner and police have tried to stop me ... so I have to pull my mask down each time I pass police street and road blocks.

The pharmacy's recommended cream for the midge bites are very effective. It has reduced the swelling and itching and my fever has gone. However I still need to spray repellent in order to prevent future bites. It's horrendous how a tiny midge the size of a pinhead can cause so much pain and infection. Next Spring I'll keep frogs and chameleons in my room to eat those insects.

Yesterday was the feastday of our Indian sisters' congregation "Maria Bambina" (Baby Mary). Sr Clara the superior cooked lamb curry and biryani, and gave some to me. It was very delicious. She managed to find the ingredients from an indian grocery somewhere in West Jerusalem, which I don't know of. I loved the curry and rice. I'm missing asian food alot. The curry and biryani made it feel like a real feastday ... special food for special occasion. And there was also a piece of apple cake in my tupperware!

The change of my BP medicine from Novasc to Exforge has helped keep by BP at 145 to 125. I realised that every few years, the medicines I usually take become ineffective and I have to change them. The thing is I never know when till I get severe symptoms. That's dangerous. I'll need to be careful and be on the constant lookout for any slight changes to my health.

Feast day

Road Block at Notre Dame

 Police presence has been stepped up throughout the City. There were road blocks even in front of Notre Dame Center. City Gates have more police than usual and metal barriers are placed at every corner. I think the escape of the 6 terrorists have alerted everyone to be extra careful. Stricter restrictions in prisons to prevent similar escapes, were met with riots today - mealtimes, outdoor times were limited which the prisoners felt was collective punishment. Family members of the escapees have also been arrested ... drawing anger from the local arabs. It all seems to go downhill. 

Honey on apple

Today is also the birthday of the BV Mary. The traditional Mass at St. Anne's Church (Bethesda Pool) near our house was celebrated with a small crowd of local religious. Due to Covid indoor restrictions, no more than 50 people are allowed to gather. I was in my office all day, doing lots of work till 6pm. I also went to the pharmacy and the kind owner immediately gave me a cream to put on the midge bites that have been infected. It also stopped the itching ... for several hours. Then I had to reapply the cream again.

Yesterday's Jewish New Year saw no clashes in and around the Old City or near the Wailing Wall. I taught the chinese sisters to eat apple dipped in honey ... which is a traditional Jewish New Year delicacy. I love it, especially with green apples because the tangy, sour apple goes well with the sweet honey. Hopefully it brings in a sweet year .... end of Covid and back to normal life.

New Year

Protest in Bethlehem

 Today is the Jewish New Year. But it didn't start out well. 6 terrorists from high security prison escaped and the country is on red alert. Mass gatherings at synagogues and public places are at risk of possible attacks and security has stepped up a lot around the City.

Anyway the streets and roads are a lot more empty as Jews are not allowed to work on this holy day. The borders with Palestine have been closed.

Also tensions at the southern Gaza border has increased, with Gaza flying incendiary balloons into Israel, burning up the surrounding land, and Israel bombing targets in Gaza. Also up north in Syria, tensions are rising. But if things are like previous years, it shouldn't lead up to war.

Israel has lowered Singapore's Covid standing, downgrading it to orange level meaning visitors must be quarantined for 1 week. Hong Kong, Taiwan and China though remain in yellow level which requires only 24 hr isolation. Local infection rates have lowered quite a lot but fears of mass gatherings in synagogues will lead to another spike. 

I try to avoid crowds but work requires me to walk 1km to my office. With my difficulty in breathing, I luckily have a tuk-tuk driven by our doorman to get me there. Our local tuk-tuks are golf carts that don't require licenses to drive; unlike the tuk-tuks in Thailand and Philippines which are jeepneys. Locals bring elderly and sick people around the Old City in tuk-tuks because climbing all the stairs is really very difficult. I'm numbered as elderly and sick.

New Year

Basilica of the Nativity

 Disaster this morning as all the lights in my room blew up. I only had only the light of the fish tank to brighten my room ... and at 3am it is very very dark. I need to get it fixed today as soon as possible but our worker has already left. I may have to fix it all myself ... except that I need to know which bulbs and neons I need. It's such a mess, and after yesterday's exhaustive series of talks and classes ... I just don't feel up to it. My head is all dizzy from lack of sleep, and my whole body hurts from the midge bites. They have started attacking my torso now. And those on my legs have begun to blister. I may be developing an allergic reaction to it.

Anyway it's the eve of the Jewish New Year. Road blocks are at every major street corner, police are everywhere ... and road closures have been issued. The borders with Palestine will also be closed. I had to rush off to Bethlehem this morning to bring in aid to the sisters before the borders close. In the rush to get things ready, I forgot where I placed my keys. It was another 20 minutes of wasted time searching for it .... which eventually I found at the adjoining door of the library reading rooms. After my embolism 2 months back ... my memory has deteriorated.

At the MC chapel (Bethlehem)

Made a short detour to the Basilica of the Nativity and prayed for you all there. Then I went to the MC convent to deliver the aid and celebrated Mass for the sisters. Yesterday they celebrated the feast of M. Teresa and the altar is still adorned with the flowers and picture of Mother. It was good to be the sisters.

After that it was a quick rush to leave Bethlehem as the borders would close in 4 hours, and there was heavy traffic at all the border-crossings. Many Palestinians who have permits to work in Israel were trying to move to Israel so they would not be locked in Bethlehem and lose several days work. I decided to go home through the desert beyond Shepherds' Field and there was no traffic there ... only one truck in front of us.

Anyway it's going to be the Jewish New Year ... so Shanah Tova to you all!

Feastday

Conference today

 The weather has cooled significantly. Nights go down to 18 degrees and daytime is 28. That means those horrible biting midges are back. My feet are filled with red swellings that itch terribly. No amount of ointment or insecticide seem to stop them. Their next season will be end of Spring when the weather reaches this temperature. 

Today is the feast of M. Teresa. I celebrated Mass in commemoration of her. Then in the afternoon I organised a talk on the sanctuaries of St. Joseph in the Holy Land, presented by our resident archeologist. The small group of english speaking religious from around Jerusalem came. It was a very interesting talk, with some very unknown sites presented to us. Everyone enjoyed and learned from it. Then they were treated to a free tour of our museum (which is still in construction). 

School has started so my 4am classes are back on schedule. I will definitely be tired but teaching is what I need to do to keep alive. I have 4 classes per week, plus studying for my degree, and work in 2 libraries. My body isn't what it used to be. Wrecked with pain and sickness. But I find strength when I teach. So it's full steam ahead.

Corona infections have begun to drop. The booster shots seem to be effective. However with the Jewish New Year beginning tomorrow, and mass gatherings will be rampant; followed by Yom Kippur 2 weeks later, and Sukkot a week after that. We must be cautious. Borders with Palestine will be closed during this period and I guess our movements in the Old City will be restricted with roadblocks and street closures. It's something we learn to live with.

Cool

2 pigeons on our steeple

 Spoke too soon about silence at the borders. Last night Syria fired something into Israel, which landed somewhere in north Tel Aviv. Israel in turn fired missiles into Syria. But there's no cause for panic. I think it's just posturing. No one wants a war in the middle of a pandemic.

And talking about pandemics, apparently Israel has the highest number of infections per capita in the world. Still the mortality rate is dropping. We need to distinguish between the two ... infections do not mean deaths or hospitalization. And Israel is the first country to mobilise 3rd vaccine shots. That's very advanced because many countries haven't even finished their first round. And children above 12 yrs can also be vaccinated. That is comprehensive vaccination. 

Weatherwise, it's cooling down alot during the nights. It's down to 19 degrees now, though daytime still hovers around the 30s. It's also alot more humid and every morning the ground is wet with dew. That's making the bulbs grow ... as they think it's Spring. If it snows this winter, these early growing bulbs will die.

On Sunday the Jewish High Holy Days will begin, and already police have placed barricades at the City Gates and restricting vehicles from entering. It's a 4 week long celebration so I hope this won't cause too much disruption in our daily routine to go to work. Fingers crossed, all will be peaceful.

Goodbye Kevin

Pahd Krapao

 Tuesday evening the superior of the Capuchin friars invited me over for dinner. They have a lovely plot of land in the western side of Jerusalem ... several buildings and a small pine forest and a large farming area. It's very tranquil and quite unlike the rest of bustling Jerusalem beyond its walls. The Superior Fr Kevin has ended his term and will return to India next week. I was one of his first friends when he arrived 5 years back ... I was to preside the Mass of India's Independence Day with some 3000 indians, when he arrived and I asked him to preside instead. He has been a good friend and very helpful by allowing us to use the capuchin monastery for retreats and conferences. He even used the monastery to house quarantined religious coming from the airport. He's very generous. We will all miss him greatly and wish him a fruitful ministry back in India.

I'm still basking from the great lunch at Thai House on Tuesday afternoon ... just a simple meal of home food is all I need to make my summer happy. I had Pahd Krapao or stir fried basil with meat on white rice. It's a poor man's food back in Thailand ,,, any available meat roughly chopped and fried with Thai Holy Basil. I love it. And it's topped with a sunny-side-up egg.

The big news around the country is ... a crocodile has been sighted by Israeli soldiers along the Sea of Galilee. It might have escaped from a nearby crocodile farm ... and that area borders with Jordan. Soldiers form the 2 countries are co-ordinating in their search for that reptile.

We just learned that an Israeli NGO has hired planes to save christians in Afghanistan. Very magnanimous. The tensions at the Gaza border seem to have subsided after 4 bights of bloody clashes. Up north there is no news of clashes with Syria or Lebanon. Maybe things are getting better. But next week begins the series of Jewish High Holy Days that stretch a good 4 weeks .... anything can happen.

End of summer holidays

Near-empty beaches

 Yesterday was the last day of summer holidays. It was a miserable summer to say the least ... I worked as usual every day like the rest of the year. But yesterday I was determined to do something special ... even if it were only 7 hours. The whole of 3 months summer holidays squeezed into 7 hours .... which was a visit to Jaffa and eating my favourite Thai food in Tel Aviv. I had to leave early early at 5.30am and reached Jaffa's St. Peter's Church at 7am just in time for Lauds and Mass. The chinese sisters had tagged along with me as they too start work today.

After Mass we walked along the beach for a good 4 kms. The sun was shining but a lovely cool sea breeze was lowing. I needed it. My asthma yesterday morning was so bad I nearly blacked out twice. The beach front was relatively quiet ... very few people. Usually it would be packed with students on the last day of the holidays. But Covid infections had hit 11,000 a day ... the highest per capita in the world. People just avoided going out.

Empty beach front

We then walked another 1.5km to my favorite Thai restaurant where we ordered Tom Yam, Pahd Thai and Pahd Krapao. It was a leisurely lunch and we chatted alot. At 2pm we returned home, to avoid the terrible traffic jams that begin at 3pm. It was a nice ride and I fell asleep along the way. Still there was a little traffic jam here and there ... and our return trip took 2 hrs instead of 1.

Well ... today school starts. I had to run between the 2 libraries to make sure everything was going smoothly. The Green Pass system is in operation for all libraries so I must make sure the rules are being observed. It'll be another 12 months efore I get to enjoy my next "summer holidays" which will be no better than yesterday's ... only a couple of hours.