More rain

Rain

It's been raining all night, The streets are wet and slippery and the air is cold and crisp. It feels like winter. We've not had a rainy winter last year. Young children have never seen a rainstorm or snow. And it was so common 30 years ago. The climate has changed. I've experienced it.

The year is ending and we're all winding up our reports. It's a busy time. People are running from one department to another to cross-check information or get backup documents. I see our central department has even hired 2 more staff to help out.

Raindrops

I'm losing alot of my memory. This morning I had a call from our sisters asking where I was because they were waiting for me to celebrate Mass. I was already in my office 1km away. I forgot I had Mass with them. I'll make it up this evening ... if I don't forget.

It'll be a quiet Christmas for me this year. Life has slowed down alot since my operation. The heart is old and can't carry this old body around. I'll do my best to go to Bethlehem to pray for you all. It's the least I can do.

Another cold day

Cold, wet and quiet

More rain, more strong winds and temp hovering between 4 to 8 degrees. Thanks to my new shoes I can walk a little more confidently, the risk of slipping on the smooth sandstone pavement greatly reduced. My other greater problem is my heart, which finds it difficult to climb hills and steps. This morning in the rain I needed to stop several times along the road without shelter. I was wet through.

I have class at 6am and because the electric current is unstable in my house, it's unsafe to use my computer for class so I walk 1km uphill to my office where the wifi is more stable. But this morning it was very cold and wet ... and the street at 5am is very dark and quiet. I would have been a nice slow walk if it were not for class. I was afraid I would not reach my office in time. 

Damascus Gate in the rain

My memory is so bad now. I was totally confused about the dates. I was convinced yesterday was Dec 2 and had been preparing for meetings and reports. In fact I was scheduling my classes and meetings for the 1st week of December. Until I was told a few times it's still November. I need to test for dementia I guess. It's scary. Each evening I pray I reach home safely and not get lost in the streets.

In the early afternoon I heard fighter jets roaring overhead. It's been some time since they flew over the City. 

Winter

Rain clouds all day

The temp has dropped by 10 degrees. Last night was about 5 degrees and this morning 11 degrees. Winter has come. There was a short burst of rain yesterday morning and then drizzle throughout the day. Weather forecast says it may snow today in the northern mountains. All that sounds wonderful and christmassy. Except at war time, there\ll be many people roofless and without heating or warm covering. It will be cold, wet and without food. It's a terrible plight.

Waiting in the rain

On my way home yesterday night, the City Gates were all closed due to a stabbing attack somewhere around the Old City. We had to wait out in the rain and cold for an hour before the blockade was lifted and I could go home.  It's inconvenient if you need the toilet or are carrying babies to be standing in the rain and strong winds for an hour. But I can understand the necessity for it. It's not simply to prevent terrorists from escaping but more importantly if there were a gunfight in the narrow streets, we might be collateral damage. So we are kept out for our own safety.

Advent will start in a week's time and soon Christmas will be around. Another year will pass. We can only hope that we'll have peace. We'd gladly trade all the festivities and celebrations for a lasting peace.

Drizzle

New Shoes!!

A week has passed so quickly since my last blog. Can't believe it. I've been very busy meeting a dateline on a paper and there were lots of classes as well ... 5 days a week. Hardly any time for personal work. I did buy a new pair of walking shoes ... thanks to a sponsor. The ground is very slippery with dew every morning, and everyone struggles to walk up or down the road linking Damascus Gate to New Gate. Lots of people have fallen. I did ... 3 times last week. So my new shoes with good grip should lessen the risk. It's never 100% risk-less because the trees are losing their leaves and clumps of wet leaves on the slippery stone pavement just makes walking a lot harder. I still have to hold on to the railings while walking.

Full moon

This morning it started drizzling. Forecasts is for rain but here up in the mountains, it'll only drizzle. And it's cold ... 11 degrees every night. Hoodies and thick jackets are worn outdoors. And good slip-resistant shoes. The cold weather sets the tone for Christmas. Shops have already started selling Christmas decorations and gifts. But with the ongoing war, out celebration this year will be low-key. Everyone is asking if we'll be allowed to enter Bethlehem this year for midnight Mass or at least the Vigil Mass in Shepherds' Field. We're waiting for some instructions from the police. 

Meantime the full moon was out 2 days ago ... amazingly large. As the sky gets dark by 5pm, going home means I get to see the moon. It's a lovely sight ... but it reflects the loneliness that we all feel during this tragic time. T

Sunday conference

Eli holding up a scroll

My deteriorating breathing problem is becoming critical as I'm getting blackouts ... and I finally found out why. One of my medicines for my lungs ran out but I didn't realise it. I usually take it first thing in the morning in the dark so I cannot see how many dosages there are left. Turns it had been zero for some time. So I'm off to the pharmacy today to get a new one. It's expensive, US$100 for one.

Despite my situation, I managed to organise another Sunday morning conference with the local religious. I had Eli the scribe come back to demonstrate how a scroll is written. It was a fun and informative morning that ended with Mass. It's a pity that many religious stay here for decades and still know nothing about the locals and their traditions. And the locals don't know us too. I organise such talks so that both sides can encounter each other, learn more about each other and dialogue.

Conference

It also happened to be my feast day - St. Leo the Great - so 2 groups of nuns baked 2 cakes for me ... both with apples. My favorite kind of cake. Everyone had a piece during the break, and Eli then continued with his talk. Let's hope this builds mutual understanding and avoid the tragedies that we're facing now.

Noodles

 Last post I said I should be going to my medical appointment ... but with my memory ... it was scheduled 3 days ago and I forgot. Now I'll have to request another appointment and wait for a month or so. 

Wonton soup noodles

A friend - a visiting researcher from Italy who once studied at my school - came to visit me today. He's a medical doctor who's now researching on tumours. He said my lapses of memory and other reactions are the result of the prednisone that I'm still taking once every 3 days. I wish I could stop taking it but my breathing is in bad shape. Anyway we had a few hours of catching up, had a chinese meal at Mandarin's where I have not been for a long time. I asked for wonton soup noodles which is not on the menu, and Ah Ling the owner obliged. It was good to eat a bowl of hot noodles again.

I'm just feeling generally unwell with this strange illness, and people are asking me to rest and stop work. Maybe I should. And retire altogether.

Needs

Food packs

My cough is not over ... after 2 months. I might just have to start a course of antibiotics. But maybe I should see my doctor first. I think I'm scheduled for my bi-monthly consultation next week. I sprained my upper back yesterday because my backpack was too heavy. There's a dull pain on my back and right side. I can't lift my right arm. And I'm getting headaches and nausea all day. I don't know how careful I must be nowadays to avoid getting injured. It's not something you think about when you're young.

That means also buying a new pair of shoes. The change of weather means wet ground caused by dew. It's very slippery and I slipped twice already on my way to work as I'm wearing only a pair of loafers. It's scary especially when I have to carry heavy bags. The filipino community gave me a new pair when they saw my walking shoes had holes in them. However I gave both pairs away to needy persons. So now I'll have to get a new pair. Looking for sponsors.

Feeding displaced and
injured people

Our friars in Lebanon are providing food packs, hot meals and medicine to thousands of displaced people during this war. Our own friars in the south are displaced. Both churches and friaries are damaged and abandoned. The 65 families that we care for have moved up north with our friars, sheltering in our other friaries. Please do something meaningful this Christmas and share your blessings with our unfortunate catholics in our care. As M. Teresa said "Do something beautiful for God"

All Souls

Fr. Joel helping me

I went to the cemetery this morning to clean and bless the tombs of friends.  The place is on the southern slopes of the City, with lots of stairs that I find difficult to climb. Just walking there 1km away tires mw. I can't bend to clean the tombs, though I brought a bottle of water and a brush with me.

Luckily Fr. Joel one of or PhD students offered to join me, like he did last year. He washed the tomb of our Chinese friend buried there and I laid out flowers. Then we went through the cemetery blessing the tombs of Armenian catholics. I used an umbrella to help me walk and climb the steep stairs and I was very tired after 2 hours. 

Schindler's tomb

Oscar Schindler's tomb is still there with many memorial stones placed by Jews. Some are descendants of the Jews he saved. I blessed the tomb and sprinkled holy water on it.

On the way home we stopped at the Anglican coffee shop to rest. I'm not sure if next year I'll be able to do this again. My legs are all jelly and my back hurts a lot. And I'm nauseous from the strain. We'll see about next year ....