Sludge

Damaged trees

 The weekend was time for thawing the snow. Despite the temp rising to 8 degrees, there're still lots of ice that have not thawed. And everywhere you can see the damage done by the snow storm. Lots of damaged trees ... broken branches and even toppled trees. Municipality workers have been cutting them up to smaller pieces and stacking them in street corners so as not to obstruct the traffic. The streets are very slippery with black ice and I'm extra careful going in and out of the streets. Life has gotten back to normal. Street markets have reopened, offices also. Schools have also started classes.

Sludge in the streets

The govt has decided to relax restrictions during this 5th wave of Covid infections. Rumors are going around that masks will no longer need to be worn, and Green Pass system will be abolished. But only this morning the govt has extended for another week the Green Pass system. So I'll only believe when I see govt notices on the media saying restrictions have been lifted.

The forecast for the rest of the week is rain ... which is probable because the sky now is dark and very cloudy. And I just heard that Later in the next weeks, another snowstorm will hit us again. If it'll last only a week, then I don't mind. I just don't want to shovel the snow from the terrace if it snows for too long.

Meantime I'm recovering from the hospital and trying to stay away from crowds as the Omicron is spreading too rapidly. Already 2 in my house is infected. So I stay in my room whenever I'm home. Otherwise I lock myself in my office all day to avoid being in contact with people. What a way to start the Lunar New Year.

After the snow

Walking in the snowstorm

 The snow disappeared as quickly as it came. Now the streets are full of sludge, muck and black ice. I almost slipped twice on my way to work. Drizzle continues to fall and the temp is 2 degrees. And the wind continues to be very gusty. Sky is still gray and dismal. But people are back in the streets though many shops are still closed. Street hawkers have disappeared. Public transport has resumed. By the weekend, life will be back to normal.

Apparently yesterday the arabs took advantage of the snowstorm to riot. They wrapped stones into snowballs and threw them at cars in several towns and villages and roads. Police had to be called in and made some arrests. It never happened before.

Anyway we'll wait out this cold spell and hope the Spring flowers will start blooming next week.

Damascus Gate

Frozen fountain

Snow!!!

Heavy snow storm

 The drizzle yesterday evening suddenly broke into a rainstorm with hail and by 9pm snow began to fall. It was light and flaky. But by midnight it was so strong there was at least 3cm of it on the ground. Thunder and lightening also accompanied the snowstorm.

People went out into the streets to play. But I stayed indoors. The start of snow is always with sleet and ice which I dislike. It was freezing cold. Minus 1 degree leading to munis 2. However I planned to go out at 2am when the ice and sleet stops and the snow is dry. 

Snowplough in action

At 2am I went out and the snow was thick. Out at Damascus Gate, youths were throwing snowballs at Jews going home from prayers at the Wailing Wall. It was tense. I avoided that by going around to the eastern staircase. The snowstorm was vicious ... the wind was gusty and whipping up the snow like pebbles hitting you. Lots of cars were cruising about to snap photos.

Got home at 3.30am quite wet and cold. Went back to sleep after celebrating Mass at 4.30am. It was too cold to do anything else. Thunder and lightening continued till sunrise. And the snowstorm abated by 7am.

Mt. of Olives in snow

This morning the sun came back up and started melting the snow. The wind and cold continue though. Snow melted in many areas but there are still many spots where the snow is thick and refuse to melt. The Mt. of Olives is still covered in snow. Amazing sight. 

Well tomorrow the temp will rise and things will get back to normal by the weekend. So our winter fun is over. The Chinese New Year is round the corner, marking Spring. A new year begins, a new season begins. Let's hope it'll be better than 2021.

Palm Plaza

Damascus Gate

All ready

Snowplough is ready

 The winter has hit us. Its been drizzling all day but the winds are very gusty and the temp have dropped. Right now hailstones fall occasionally which is a sign of snow coming. Forecast says it'll snow at midnight and thereafter till the morning.

Last night the Municipality has placed a snowplough at the Jaffa Street crossroads. They're seriously expecting heavy snowfall. Schools closed at midday and offices closed at 3pm. The fear is ice forming on the roads, causing traffic accidents. So all public transport will stop later tonight and people are encouraged not to drive their cars. Everyone is told to stay indoors and keep warm, and prepare for power outages. And of course to listen to the news regarding the latest weather updates. Last week when the temp fell below zero, many people's boilers burst when the water pipes froze. Hopefully everyone else has learnt a lesson and keep their taps dripping tonight.

I'm planning to go out in the early morning to see the snow. It'll be fun. But I'll have to wrap up.

Lull

Damascus Gate in the drizzle

 The storm had abated a little yesterday. It was mainly drizzle throughout the day and night. This morning it stopped drizzling and the air was crisp and clear. By noon the sun was shining brightly and it was quite warm ... 8 degrees. I took the opportunity to bring loads of clothes, beddings and medicines to the MC sisters in Bethlehem. The forecast is heavy rains from tomorrow onwards and I won't be able to bring those bags of donations traveling to Palestine in the rain.

So the warning is a winter storm is bashing most of the Mediterranean countries with a cold shockwave. Greece especially in its islands are covered with snow .... something very rare. Turkey is facing a fierce snowstorm which has closed its airport. And tomorrow it'll blow over into our coast. Though no snow is expected, the rains and possibly hail will force the temps to drop below zero again. I'm considering buying a 3rd heater as the present 2 are not sufficient even for now to warm up my room. Today is the lull before the storm. 

Empty street in the rain

Meantime there seems to be relative peace in the country and its borders. Extreme cold tend to do that. Also there'll be fewer crowds in the streets and restaurants so infection rates are expected to fall. Yesterday recorded 83,000 new infections. A 4th dose is already underway here. Children between 5 to 11 are being vaccinated. And newspapers are talking about a 6th wave being underway. But the cold is Mother Natures way of keeping things under control.

Rain again

Hot soup for sale

The morning was bright and sunny though very cold. It was warm enough to wear a T-shirt under the sun ... at 6 degrees. I was cleaning my room and went out to throw the cleaning water into the pots of flowers ... in my T shirt. It didn't feel too cold.

But right now it's raining and the temp is dropping to zero again. The wind is quite strong too. many of us have caught a cold because our rooms are freezing despite our small heaters. Obviously they're not enough. We're all wearing our thickest clothes and still sniffling. I noticed many also are filling thermos flasks with hot water to bring to their rooms.

Drinking hot fluids does help in warming up the body. Typically in Israel, shops offer cauldrons of hot soup for sale. They sell for 15 shekels or so per cup. And they come in many flavours ... mostly vegetable. One thing I haven't had this winter is my annual sahlab. I did want to go out this afternoon but I decided not to. Perhaps tomorrow ... I need the walk. 

The forecast is snow on Wednesday. I'll look forward to that. A blizzard is expected in the northern highlands.

There's been no major news in the country today. It's probably the cold. Nothing happens because everyone stays home.

Care pack

Huddling pigeons

 The cold weather continues will will dip further down tomorrow as heavy rains are forecast for the rest of the week. This morning on my way to work I saw flocks of pigeons huddling against the east wall of our monastery, shielding themselves from cold, wet winds from the west. Poor things. Like I said, Buddy and JJ are lucky they have a warm room to live in. I wonder if they know how lucky they are.

I received a care pack from the youths in Australia. So kind of them. There were T shirts and hot water flasks, and lots of toys for Buddy and JJ. Buddy was all excited and helped open the box ... and his favourite toy? The bubble wrap which he bit and popped. He can't get enough of it. JJ on the other hand is wary of anything new so he's keeping a distance till he gets used seeing them.

Buddy opening the pack

Covid infections have hit sky high but Israel is going ahead to live normal lives, as Japan and Singapore has decided also. I think that's the best plan, though the vulnerable must still be cared for. Certain measures must be taken to protect them.

Today we read from the news that masked jewish settlers attacked arab farmers, burning cars and injuring the arabs among other things. Read it for yourself.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-members-condemn-settler-attack-with-some-calling-to-raze-outposts/

I've just completed my work in the library and will soon walk 1km home. It'll be cold but I enjoy these moment of the outdoors. Hiding in my room for fear of catching Covid can be devastating on the mind and morale ... so it's little moments like this that I enjoy. Not being vaccinated due to my anaphylactic shock, I cannot go anywhere else, no shops, restaurants, shopping malls .... only the outdoors is permissible.

Too cold

Frozen pigeon

 Snow fell on Wednesday-Thursday midnight. It was slight and never settled. The snow melted immediately as it touched the ground. But northern Israel and Palestine saw several centimeters of snow. Mt. Hermon which is the highest spot in the country is blanketed with snow and roads leading to it are closed. 

Sub-zero degree temperatures have continued every night. It's so cold, birds are frozen to death. We found a dead pigeon in our courtyard. They usually hide in our awnings during storms, but this time the cold snap is too prolonged for even the hardiest birds. Buddy and JJ are lucky they have a warm room to live in.

Mind you, the severe cold weather has led to a stop in violence and clashes and attacks. It's always like this ... when it's too hot or too cold, nobody comes out to cause trouble. Mother Nature has a way to control human behaviour. The streets are much less crowded than normal as people avoid going out despite the sunny weather. The rains have sotpped. But next Monday it'll be back with a vengeance. We see the forecast as heavy showers and temp drops again.

Empty streets in the cold

Infections have reached an all time high, and gladly the cold is preventing people from gathering so hopefully there'll be a drop in infection rates soon.

Yesterday I had a bout of loss of memory. I had to go to the pharmacy but halfway there I forgot why I came out or where I was. Luckily a student was with me. We sat for a while and he slowly explained why and where I was going. Then we continued on our way. Maybe it's fatigue. Maybe it's the cold. Things no longer are the same for me. I must be more careful now. I'm deteriorating.

Snow?

Hail despite the sun

 The temperature has been dropping to below zero degrees, and the rains continue to beat down harshly. The past 2 nights have been 2 degrees below zero and it was very cold. Even the heaters in my room were useless. Forecasters were even warning of minus 4 degrees in Jerusalem.

Water pipes throughout the City have frozen and burst ... many neighborhoods are without hot water. Electric outages are also occurring throughout the country. Black ice have caused road accidents throughout the country. Clearly winter is always a lesson the country never learns from, every year.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/golan-covered-in-white-as-jerusalem-braces-for-first-snow-in-years/

Hail despite the sun

Right now its a hailstorm and tonight the forecasters say it will snow. I hope so. I'll probably stay up for it ... partly because it's too cold to sleep. Don't be fooled by the sun in the photos ... it's freezing cold and hailstones are bashing everything around.

I'm home now recovering after my hospital appointment. I should go see my family doctor yesterday but the bad weather these 2 days discourage me from going out to him. The last thing I need is to slip and fall in the hailstorm while recovering from hospital.

So it's mainly bedtime for me. 

Arbor Day

Palm Plaza in the rain

 The rain has continued for a 3rd day. More than a drizzle. They were regular showers ... you can the pattering of heavy raindrops on the windows and awnings. The stone pavements are cleaned by the showers. The air is washed by the rains ... dustless. Everything was preparing for Spring ... a new beginning.

Spring flowers are being sold by bedouin women at Damascus Gate. Narcissus and anemones are bound in bunches and sold for 5 to 10 shekels. They're wild flowers that the women gather and bring to the City. Today is the jewish Arbor Day ... Tu b'Shvat. The buds on the trees ought to be coming out and the almond trees should be blossoming. Since it's a Sabbath year, jews are not allowed to plant and harvest so the trees will be growing naturally this year with no burden of being pruned and stripped off its fruits.

Damascus Gate in the rain

One downside about this rainy season is the temp. The forecast is minus 1 degree tonight. In Bethlehem it'll be mins 3. Very cold ... but no snow. Disappointing. But the cold won't deter the hawkers. At Damascus Gate they put up tents and umbrellas to continue selling their goods. Life goes on ... there're families to feed. After a year and a half of lockdowns, the people will no longer stay indoors.

Rain

Heavy showers

 Last night a storm broke over the country and it's still raining today. Heavily. And temperatures have dipped to single figures. At times, gruepel and sleet were falling instead of rain. That usually is the start of snow. There's no thunder and lightening though. However the weather forecast says it'll only rain for the next 3 days. I'm trying to keep as warm as possible. As the sun sets at 5.30pm the sky continues to be bright red ... a sure sign of more rain tonight. Everyone is happy despite the inconvenience of slippery roads. We need the rain badly. The level of the River Jordan has dropped drastically after last year's 28 yr high. Well one thing for sure, some of us find this weather perfect for sleeping.

The rain hasn't stopped thousands of right-wingers to demonstrate at the PM's office yesterday night. They're afraid the govt will stop validating their settlements in arab lands, or stop expanding jewish occupation. It's a dreadful tragedy which no foreign country wants to get involved in.

Rain all day

The diet that I must keep in preparation for my hospital appointment on Monday is weakening me. I'm allowed to eat only eggs or fish and a little rice or pasta. And that's one meal a day ... it should be several light meals but no one is cooking for me. And the medication is strong. I almost fainted yesterday on my way home. My legs felt like jelly and the 1 km walk home was beyond me.

Infections today have jumped to 40,000 yesterday. The prediction according to a newspaper report is 2 million in the next 2 weeks. Awful scary.

Well it's still raining heavily and I have medication at 7pm. So I'll try to sleep early. Haven't decided what to do tomorrow but one day at a time ... no use rushing too much into the future when it's raining and offers a great opportunity to sleep.

What's happening?

Morning scene

 Infections have risen to 36 in our main monastery, and an ambulance came yesterday but I'm nit sure for who or why. The situation is out of control in the country, and the govt. hopes all this will lead to herd immunity. 

Meantime crowds continue to swarm the City. No distancing. The minimum they do is wear a mask .... but mostly for foreigner workers and people living outside Jerusalem. Locals especially the men refuse to wear the mask ... and probably they're the carriers. Kids' omicron wards are being opened as cases rise unprecedentedly. 

Clashes continue quietly throughout the country, news being overtaken by Omicron. There was a car ramming yesterday, the driver was shot dead by soldiers. Raids and arrests were made in arab villages, one elderly arab died of a heart attack. Clashes occurred in the desert as jewish groups planned to re-forest the desert but bedouins say it's taking over their land. An arab family will soon be evicted from their house in the troubled Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and we expect more clashes there.

So much turmoil, people are unsure of what to do, who to turn to. I need some time out to let things settle down. I must go for my hospital appointment on Monday but with all this chaos and covid, I'm not sure who's driving me there and who'll stay with me. Who's healthy enough to bring me there and not get me infected during the 90 minute ride.

Infections

Friday market

 Infections in our main monastery where I work has shot up to over 30. And there is at least one case in the place where I stay. I am wearing the mask even at home, as soon as I walk out of my room. Constant hand-washing is also necessary for me. I give up on alcohol gels. I think I'm developing an allergy to it.

Any walk through Damascus Gate will show you why Omicron is spreading so fast. Hawkers peddling their goods and crowds jostling without wearing masks. Weekends are even worse. I avoid gong through that area. Instead I take a long detour, half a km, to Herod's Gate to get home. It's less crowded and I feel safer.

A good friend, Fr. Romeo has just decided to go for the Covid test. He said I'll have to go to hospital soon and he doesn't want me to be infected before I get there. We sit next to each other during meals. I wish others who be just as considerate. There are some who have clearly been exposed to infected persons but refuse to be tested nor stay in isolation. 

There was an earthquake this morning in Cyprus but it was felt here. People woke up at 5.30am finding furniture shaking. A timely reminder that we're due to a massive and direct one anytime.

One catastrophe after another ... what a way to start the New Year. And the Chinese New Year is also round the corner. I doubt we'll be able to celebrate it here with this pandemic. I'm not vaccinated so I can't mix with crowds and enter restaurants. I'll spend it quietly alone.

Shadows

Shadows

 It's been 5 days since my last update on the blog. I was busy but not that busy ... the delay is due to an outbreak of corona in our main monastery. Today 23 are tested positive now. Since I lost my wifi connection in my house, I have to do all my online work in my office which is situated in the main monastery. But with the infection, I'm forbidden to enter that place. They are afraid I might catch the virus because I'm not vaccinated. Everyone there goes about in masks now.

Israel has reopened its borders and airport. Corona infections are way over 16,000 and the govt has given up controlling it. More serious cases needing hospitalisation are flooding hospitals. Experts are warning of a crash in the medical system. People like me who need non-corona treatment are put on the waiting list for 2 months. Well I hope they won't cancel my appointment for next week. I can't wait anymore.

Silhouette

Sunrise is late and sunset is early. That's winter. The shadows cast by the sun when the winter skies are crisp and clear, are amazing. Last week I saw the shadow of a bare tree on the wall of the Notre Dame Centre. Many people were there photographing it. Little marvels.

The weather is cold, as it should be. I turn on my 2 small heaters in order to stay warm. And a thick blanket in the night as I've been shivering the past few nights. I'm self-isolating before my hospital appointment so as not to catch the common flu as well. I must not compromise my health status now, otherwise my appointment will be postponed for another 2 months.

Cold dark days

5pm ... cold and dark

 It's Wednesday ... 5th day of the New Year. Corona infections here have blown out to over 11,000 yesterday. I don't know what the new national policy and strategy will be but for me, I'm taking no chances. By now everyone knows me with a mask, and with the cold I'm also with a beanie and scarf and thick hoodies. When I came out of the library once with the beanie and scarf and mask, everyone said they forgot how I looked. What a great laugh!

Being winter, the sky gets very dark by 5pm. I was struck how much the seasons have changed. The trees are all bare of leaves. Less birds are flying and singing during the day. All they do is scavenge for food to keep warm. I bought a kilo of pigeon feed and toss out a handful each morning for the turtledoves and sparrows that gather in our courtyard. Some 40 birds would wait eagerly along the walls ... and swarm down as soon as I walk away. The poor things need the food to keep warm. 

Anyway the walk home is always interesting in this dark and cold season. Everyone is wrapped up but still are out and about, the youths usually going to Mamilla Mall. Yes despite the rise of infections there is no crowd control, no distancing and especially no mask-wearing. Perhaps herd immunity is closer than we expect.

Mass at Nablus MC

Yesterday I had to go to Nablus to deliver donated clothes, blankets and aid to the MC sisters. Though its about 65km away from Jerusalem, there is only one road connecting the 2 cities ... and it winds around lots of mountains. So it actually takes 90 mins to 2 hrs to reach there. I started at 8am and came home only at 1pm, utterly exhausted from the ride. Anyway with the indian govt freezing the MC account in Calcutta, the missions all around the world are now facing financial difficulties to serve the poorest of the poor. Please help donate to your local MC mission. They need your kindness.

Holy Name

Fresh veggies from the village

 Yesterday I tried posting a blog but it could not be done. My blog blocked me from posting. So I'm going to try again today. 

Yesterday was cold and drizzly ... and today was still cold but it stopped drizzling. I've been having breathing problems for the past 2 days so I couldn't walk up to work. Our doorman drove me up to my office in his golf cart ... which was a good thing because the streets are very slippery from the drizzle. Once in my office, I had the heater turned on. My bones are aching because of the cold. The weather report says that the next 2 days will see more rain. That's good because we need the rain, but its a personal inconvenience for me.

One thing I noted was the amount of fresh vegetables being sold by the villagers and bedouins in the streets. They are exceptionally large and plentiful. That's a good sign because it means they are not expensive, unlike the processed foods which have shot up in prices. As I'm allergic to preservatives, I avoid processed foods and therefore safe on money. Fresh vegetables are my staple and I see this winter will provide me with cheap abundant food.

Despite the rising corona infection ... over 6000 yesterday ... Israel has just decided to reopen the airport and allow tourists to enter the country. It's plan is to head for herd immunity. Well that rules me out. Today being the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, we invoke it to cast off the evil of this pandemic and allows us poor folk to live in peace and under the Holy Name's protection.

New Year

Cold, wet New Year's eve

 It's the first day of 2022, and we celebrate the solemnity of the Mother of God. I presided the Konkani Mass at our parish for several hundred konkanis. It was a nice start to the new year. It started with a 20 minute eucharistic adoration. Then Mass was celebrtaed. With the Omicron infection rising to 5000 a day, everyone had masks on, even me. 

It rained all night and this morning was freezing cold. I thought of going to walk around East Jerusalem but the roads are slippery so I decided not to. It would have been a little different from the routine ... I even thought of going to Bethany to visit the garden and pet shop. But I forgot to bring my passport and there's a checkpoint  between Jerusalem and Bethany. 

Delicious dinner at the Barakat
home

Last night the Barakat family, whom I've known for well over a decade, invited me over for a New Year's Eve dinner. There was warak dawali (stuffed grape leaves) which I like very much, other stuffed veggies, roasted lamb and beef and a host of arab salads. I loved it. Their 2 sons have grown up. I remember them as little boys whom their mother brought to work as they had no babysitter. We had a nice family time, chatting and enjoying the meal. It's been 3 decades since I had New Year / Christmas dinner with a family. Usually I'm alone at home during this festivity as everyone here goes home.

Well 2022 has started. Let's see how it goes.