Autumn

Dates on palms

As we head to autumn, the weather strangely has gone all hot again like mid-summer. 30 degrees or more. The nights are quite cool though ... but daytime is oppressive with the heat. The fruit trees are ripening their fruit for the autumn harvest. I see dates on the palm trees and pomegranates growing wild by the streets ... that's a sure sign of autumn and the Jewish New Year. In fact some shops are already selling ripe dates, grapes and guava ... all autumn fruit though it's still a bit too early. They're not very sweet too. The best fruit comes in October.

Mounted Police on watch

Security continues to be tight in and around the City. Youths are stopped and checked randomly. Streets are a lot more quieter. No one wants trouble. Life as it is, is difficult. War has made it worse. Food prices have skyrocketed. One kilo of tomatoes used to cost 3 to 5 shekels. Now it's 32 shekels ... almost US$10. People can't afford to eat normally now. Buying things nowadays are checked if it's absolutely worth buying or necessary or could be done without. Every cent is counted.  Because daily life is now becoming difficult, tensions among people are short and arguments and fights are more frequent.

There was a fierce exchange of fighting up in the north, but all is calm now. Let's hope negotiations are successful and peace returns.