Pilgrimage Day

Amazing to know that I'm quite good at cooking Pad Thai, Tom Yam and a couple of Thai dishes. Problem is I can't eat any of it. A thai lady came to taste and said I did it just the way she likes it - not too spicy and sour.

Anyway the rigours of Lent are in place. Every Wednesday one of the sanctuaries commemorating the Passion of Christ celebrates solemnly a Mass where the Gospel is sung in 3 parts by 3 voices (bass, tenor and alto). Today it's our Chapel of the Flagellation. Incense and candles everywhere. Next week it'll be the Condemnation chapel next door. These celebrations are known as "pilgrimages" whereby the local Church makes a pilgrimage to one of these sanctuaries during its feast to proclaim solemnly the Gospel event that took place there.

The vomiting, pain and diarrhea has passed today. I'm feeling better but tired.  Need to rest but some people are pushing me to study ... which I guess is good. Thanks for the medicine - Ramona and Kath.

Sadly one of our best actors Juliano Mer Khamis was murdered in Jenin a couple of days ago. He's of arab-israeli descent and his roles serve as a bridge between the two cultures and peoples as his real life portrays. When will senseless violence end? Today security was very tight in and around the City. Soldiers in every corner. I wonder what's happening as I've not received news about imminent violence in our area. But I'm not staying around to find out.

Delphiniums at last

Los more greetings and well-wishes even today. Yesterday evening Benoit's (the HK Sem. College group is sponsoring his studies) dad came over and brought a huge birthday cake. Of course I couldn't eat it, so I gave it to the workers in the library and kitchen to share. They were very happy. And the HK group came yesterday with some pieces of cake as well - very embarassing because they started singing the birthday song in our courtyard while other groups were making the Way of the Cross.

In the evening I had a lovely simple dinner of Sashimi with a very good friend. That went well and didn't upset my stomach. After that we walked up the hill Ketef Hinnom opposite the Old City to see the lovely sight - the ancient City walls all lit up. It was something I have never seen despite all the years here.

This morning woke up at 3am to prepare to go to the airport because the Singapore group was arriving to bring stuff over for me. It was raining and very cold. Met with their guide Anton whom I knew for some 20 years now and we chatted while waiting for the grp to arrive. The two baggages weighed some 18 kgs - heavy ... and I' not supposed to carry heavy things for another 2 months. Had to do it anyway. Took the shuttle bus back and walked some distance in the rain before getting some help to carry them back home.

Got back at 12.30pm and got terribly sick - nausea and dizziness and vomiting. Still feeling sick.

Anyway to cheer up, I finally get to see Gigi's delphiniums (besides the TimTams!!!)

That's Gigi's youngest daughter Jane Frances with the delphiniums.

A photo of the delphiniums with the delightful girl.

Thanks

Sincere thanks to the Hong Kong Fr. Fan Group and Singapore Faith Tours group for their generosity in helping out. Also to the following: Theresa Lim, Lena Tan, the Tse family, Susannah Chua, Paulette, Yvonne, Irene, Angela Lee, Agnes Chiu Lee, David Lin, Rose Chiu, Tse Ling Ling, May Yu, my mum and sis, Chris Chua, Daniel and Vivien Lee, Ramona, Kath Malone and many others. Received all your gifts and medicines. Will be praying for all of you for your kindness.

April 4th

Thanks for all the well-wishes and greetings on this otherwise cold, wet day in Jerusalem - they were a bit of sunshine ... and for the delphimiums freshly cut from the garden by Gigi that I will never get to see; and the card from Hessler who's always attentive on such details (nice lilac colour I must say), and the delightful ecard from Kris and .... everything else.

I decided to have a full breakfast (so far it's only been half a cup of milk which makes up my main meal) this morning - being the 5th Monday after the op. Yes, I managed to borrow some money to treat myself (if you haven't yet know, I was totally bankrupt the last 2 weeks) for this breakfast - had boiled eggs, half a sausage, a couple of pastries, coffee and fruit ... and everything came out almost at once. My stomach isn't ready for food yet. The managers of the restaurant (at Legacy Hotel) whom I know well, insisted on treating me to this breakfast (so I didn't get to pay after all). All the cooks came out to greet me as well. Too bad the free breakfast had to be thrown up so soon. Wasn't a very nice gesture of appreciation ... but I hope they understood my health situation.

Will be spending the rest of the day studying as usual. And for the many requests for funny videos, here's a couple more to celebrate April 4th. Enjoy!



Dialogue translation:

man : hi i'm here to pickup Som (my girlfriend) thinking about going to the temple.

dad : (look at the wheel) i'll tell her.

(after drive off and take off the disguise)

man : adults these days are sure easy to fool.

dad : ...(look at the wheel)

narrator : the wheel speaks for itself.

and finally

4th Sunday of Lent

Jet fighters have been flying overhead the whole morning - even right now. Must be bombing Gaza again. The City is still tense and under Red Alert. Soldiers and police are stationed at every corner. But the weather these few days were excellent and lots of people wanted to go out and walk and picnic, so things are a little confusing: with uneasy light-heartedness masking the fear of a terrorist attack.

The forecast is cold and wet again the next few days. That also means more people getting sick as well. The temperature has fluctuated too much.

The past 2 days have been much better for my post-op pain. If I haven't yet mentioned, I've lost 8 kgs so far and looks like more is on its way. Need new clothes now as everything looks like a sack thrown over. I've still got 2 more months before I can go heavy work, but actually I've already been moving some things around when no one is available to help - that could be the cause of the terrible pains I've been having.

Today's Gospel reading is very long. It's the healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam. That's less than a km. south of our place. Right now the place is full of conflicts as the once arab territory is now taken over by the Israelis. If you know the political situation of Siloam right now, you would appreciate the question of the Gospel regarding true eyesight and faith.

Earthquake!

Yesterday afternoon an earthquake of 6 on the Richter Scale in Crete (800 km away) shook Israel as well. Terrifying moment for everyone - and the newspapers and govt. institutions are all asking if the country is prepared for a major direct hit which we are all expecting. Don't know if it's linked but our Internet service were all haywire yesterday afternoon.

And it was a Friday of deaths. Innocent UN officials killed (beheaded) by Afghani hoodlums and rioters. Israel bombs Gaza and kills 3 who were suspected of plotting kidnappings of Israelis in the coming Passover celebrations. More killed in Syria and Libya.

Despite all this, I managed to spend 6 solid hours working on my paper without a break. Totally exhausted by evening. Will try and spend today doing the same.

April's Fool

March is gone, April is in. A quarter of the year has flown passed. There's nothing much happening here because April Fool's pranks haven't caught on in this part of the world.

Anyway here's sharing some videos to tickle your funny-bones on April Fool's Day.