Heat is on

A 70 yr old woman set herself on fire and is in serious condition. I think she's the 10th or 11th victim of the govt's social inaction on rising prices and the people's inability to maintain a normal life. Now if this isn't a wake-up call for the govt, then I don't know what is. But then again, the Israeli govt is a expert on these things .... ignore the problem and it'll soon wear itself out. Or as the late former PM Shamir said "Let's see who blinks first".  Sad because this time, the "enemy" is the israeli citizen.

Fires have broken out in the Carmel region and around Jerusalem as well. The heatwave is beating strong and not letting up. I guess more fires along the summer months.

7 Kook - built by chinese

And if that's not enough, I get the feeling anti-foreign feelings are slowing shifting from africans to asians. Good example - the two huge condominiums in HaRav Kook street. All built by chinese. They get the job done and get paid accordingly but locals don't like that. So? beat up the chinese I guess. After all they've already beaten up africans.

Back again with a headache

Heatwave in Tel Aviv

The splitting headache has crippled me for the past few days. Moran my physio tells me it's due to a misalignment of my feet, legs or hips. We've been working on it the past few days. Hurts like hell. The headache has been slightly alleviated but not gone. And the heat is not much help either. 40 degrees of stifling humid air. While Tel Aviv looks beautiful, the heat and humidity has driven people away from the beach ... well, the invasion of jelly-fish also plays a big part. So my headaches lingers on .....

I guess stress is also a big element in my headache. Workers still appear and disappear ... and I spend the entire week waiting for nothing to happen, canceling appointments etc... waiting for workers that never come. It's an impossible situation. No wonder nothing ever developes in this part of the world ... we remain living in a desert. Only thing that will ever get the locals moving is a war. So let's hope one comes up soon. There's talk in the streets that after Ramadan, there'll be a major war in our region. I know of a few workers who would benefit from the war.

Dinner at Mandarin's

And in the evenings when I have some private time to rest and apply medication, there're social obligations. Friends come to visit, professors want to go out .... it's just one long day of running around because we're just down to 4 guys in this house (3 are over 70) ... everyone else has gone home for the summer. So it's work and headache. Chinese dinner with the guests sound pleasant ... ad it is, except when you have a headache that makes you nauseous.

After the Sabbath

Social protests abounded in Tel Aviv yesterday evening ... ranging from compulsory military enlistment for ultra-orthodox jews to the rise of VAT (up to 17%) and prices of daily foods (up and over US$1) to the imminent war with Iran. Jerusalem saw a much smaller gathering of protesters.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=280059  and  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/thousands-of-israelis-take-part-in-separate-social-protest-rallies-in-tel-aviv-1.455923

Bulldog encounter with porcupine

And just when we think we have so much to complain, there's this bit of news of a poor doggy ... you have to see this.  Compared to her problem, we have nothing to complain.   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19124242

Maher the Olympian

Maher the judoka

What a surprise this morning to see my friend Maher on CNN. He's an Olympian representing Palestine in judo. Imagine that! His shop is just round the corner and we work out in the same gym. We meet every morning ... but he never said he was going to the London Olympics. Anyway I hope he does well ... it's not a matter of medals, it's simply being there and representing his people. Real proud of him. I'll go talk to his brothers later today. http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2012/08/02/inside-the-middle-east-judo-palestine.cnn?iref=allsearch

Meantime my viral infection is clearing up. There was a moment of relapse but things are more stabilised now. Stopped taking optalgin and am letting my bronchial system recover from the asthma. Managed to go visit the pharmacist and checked that everything was ok so I don't need further medication. Just lots of rest and liquids to recover.

Full moon over Mt. of Olives

The full moon is up and it casts a fantastic light over the City during the night. Magical, haunting ... hanging over the fairy lights of Ramadan. Despite the beauty of it, I'm spending this entire week in bed resting, and reading and writing as much as I can. But I get terribly distracted by the Olympic news. After all, I've got a friend who's an Olympian competing in London 2012.

Asthma

So it seems 1 in 12 athletes in the Olympics suffer from asthma. Nice to know I'm not alone.  http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/healthwire/olympic_athlete_asthma/2012/08/01/465956.html?promo_code=EE9E-1&utm_source=triblive&utm_medium=nmwidget&utm_campaign=widgetphase1

I am the vine ...

Still recovering. The diagnosis is a viral infection. The fever and cramps returned last night, not as severely as before but painful enough to land me back in bed. I stopped taking optalgin as it wrecked my respiratory system. I could only take shallow breaths as my lungs seemed to have collapsed. That of course meant less oxygen and therefore headaches, dizziness etc... This has been a dreadful week. Time to reflect on death.

And don't forget, at my funeral, the Intermezzo must be played.

Homegrown vine

But before death comes knocking at the door, here's a lovely sight on this earth: a grapevine with ripening fruit. It's still early on the season. The best grapes come in October. My friend's mum heard that I was ill and she made mloukieh which is a broth made from certain leaves, eaten with rice. It's clean, pure and healthy. Had two helpings, which for me was actually a total of half a dinner plate. No more appetite. I should weigh myself this weekend if I've lost more weight. Anyway the grapevine was in her garden and she gathered 5 bunches for me. Though common here in our parts, it's pretty rare for most of you - to have a grapevine in your garden. I got me thinking about John's Gospel "I'm the vine, you're the branches ... if you abide in me and I abide in you, you shall bear much fruit". I wonder if I've borne much fruit as I head toward the cemetary ....

The harvest

Paco guards the vine

Recovery

Another israeli dies from self-immolation. This time it's very sad ... a disabled soldier who couldn't get aid or rehabilitation rights from the country he fought for. Sad. I think it's the 9th case in 4 weeks.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=279626 

Cameraman filming the
bazaar at Damascus Gate

While this saga of fiery suicides continue, the muslim end of the City is still in the midst of the Ramadan fast. Having to fast over 15 hours a day due to the longer daylight hours, and with the heatwave beating down, there're less violence than we had expected. Too weak and hot to start a fight. But the women are full of energy when it comes to shopping. The bazaar at Damascus Gate is packed with women from all around the country, buying up all kinds of stuff ... made in China of course. Makes a good movie, all this frenetic women activity in the bazaar and Suq.

My fever has subsided pretty quickly after taking 40 drops of optalgin. Unfortunately I didn't read the fine print - not good for asthmatics. It triggered a strong reaction that kept me wheezing and gasping. Asthma throughout the day. But without the optalgin, the fever and pain come back immediately. What a vicious cycle. My chest is very painful as the result of the wheezing ... and I can't walk the distance to the doctor's or pharmacist's so I'll have to wait a couple more days till I'm stronger. Feeling faint and headache still. The stomach cramps ended yesterday but this morning it's back. It'll take some time for recovery.

Meantime here's an interesting article on the church's relation with jews - a positive perspective for once.  http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/the-jewish-converts-who-sparked-the-vatican-s-bid-to-end-church-anti-semitism-1.454961