Crib statues stolen!!!

The empty crib at the 2nd
Station of the Cross

Someone stole the statues of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus from the crib in our Chapel of the Flagellation (2nd Station of the Cross). CCTV showed a woman taking the statues ... then making the sign of the cross!!!! Holy devils!!! On Christmas!!! In a Sanctuary of the Holyland!!! At the 2nd Station of the Cross!!!! It only confirms that christians can be as greedy and thieving as anyone else ... only it's worse because they steal from their own Church community. Usually its the greed for money ... and we've had our fair share of thefts, threats and extortions. But stealing Christmas statues??

The whole week I've been suffering from severe asthma attacks. I practically sleep only 2 hours a day as the rest of the sleeping time I must sit upright or walk otherwise I suffocate. Am totally drained each day. Absolutely miserable.

Anyway thanks for all the stuff some of you sent over - downcoats, timtams, charger, soup packs, clothes etc .... Also to Rose Chiu, RISE, The Little People, Clara Siu, Fr Simon Li, Jonice Hui, Hessler, Irene, Yvonne, the Cavero family, Cecilia Wong and family, Paulette, Katie, Martin and Jenny, Angeline Tang ... everything received with gratitude.

Sombre Christmas

S'pore group bringing their gifts
to Mother Theresa's sisters

One week offline ... due to an overload of work. Christmas came in a frightfully cold night. Celebrated Mass at an altar facing the desert in Shepherds' Field. Nearly froze to death. The country was mainly flooded with asian tourists and pilgrims. A Singapore group (Faith Tours) brought alot of medicines and stuff to help the poor during Christmas. Another Hong Kong group visit the Holy Family Hospital (Nazareth) and also brought many gifts for the poor. It was a pilgrimage with a difference ... especially during Christmas.

The Shanghai group visiting Holy
Family Hospital

Yesterday was Holy Innocents' Day ... fasted and prayed for Syria's peace as promised. A relatively severe earthquake in Turkey was felt in northern Israel. Scary. Missiles have been fired into Israel both from Gaza and Lebanon. Israel responded heavily with bombings. A bomb aboard a Tel Aviv bus exploded but only several people were injured. The week was very tensed throughout the country.

So Christmas week passed ... less euphoria and frivolity than usual ... but the sombre mood helps to remind us that the Christ child was born to die on the Cross. In every Christmas, there's a little Good Friday.

Fast and prayer for Syrian christians

Jericho desert in snow

The snow storm was so powerful it actually snowed even in Jericho. I can't believe it! Friends over there took several pics of the desert covered in snow! I hear even in Egypt it snowed real bad ... the pyramids and Sphinx were covered in snow. Incredible.

But now that the storm is over, we're still enjoying fantastic sights in the sky each morning and evening. The other evening I managed to catch the setting sun just behind the Holy Sepulchre. The rays splashed through the crystals of the cross that stands over the smaller dome of the basilica, making it glisten and glimmer. Utterly beautiful. Right moment, right angle ... stupendous.

Crystals on the cross of the Holy
Sepulchre sparkle in the sunset

Mr. Bird has been boarding in my room these few days as temperatures dropped below zero. He's alot better now ... no longer biting me. And I didn't trim his feathers so he can fly. He enjoys watching the computer ... the images fascinate him. Then he walks all over my bed or sits on my study light while I type on my computer. But when sleep time comes, he gets grouchy. He wants the lights off. And if I leave it on, he starts his grouchy litany: beginning with clucking like a hen, then cooing like a pigeon, then whistling exactly the same way as I whistle at him. A great mimic. By the way he's an albino Indian ringneck parakeet ... so he's colour blind. He knows how to push open his cage door and usually he comes out and sits on top of his cage to sleep. While he's fun ... I still prefer having a dog. But I don't have the space for one.

Mr. Bird watching the
news online

Christmas is certainly closing in as shops begin to sell their tacky decorations, blasting carols out into the streets. It's the once in a year chance for arab christians to stand out as a minority ... and they feel very proud. Sadly in Syria, christians will have an awful Christmas. Rebels who have overran christian villages are now prohibiting crosses to be displayed, church bells from ringing ... and this is nothing compared to the burning of churches, bombing of schools and killing of christians. Bishops and nuns are kidnapped, priests are beaten and tortured. It;s a crime. But no one is condemning them. Instead the US and Europe continue to support the rebels in their brutal christian persecution. On the feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec 28), I'll be fasting and praying for these christians. I hope you'll join me.

Normality slowly returns

The temperature is creeping up towards 9 degrees today. But it doesn't feel like it ... rather it's like zero degrees. everyone is still in thick winter clothes, hats and hoodies. The streets are dreadfully slippery with black ice and sludge. Definitely no fun.

Spectacular rise of the moon

But one thing good about this rare snow storm is it cleansed the sky. Now we have spectacular sunrise and sunsets, moonrise and moonsets as well! The sky is a splash of pastel colours every morning and evening. Stunning. The air is alot cleaner - very unlike Shanghai. An early morning  visit to the outdoors and drawing a deep breath will hit you with a sharp intense blast of cool clean air into your lungs. What an experience! No dust, no sand ....

My 1st sahlab this winter

And another good thing is sahlab is back. It's the thick gooey starchy beverage made from an orchid root, mixed with rose syrup with nuts and whatever tossed on the top. Nice and warm ... the perfect comfort food for a very cold winter. I believe it was originally a turkish beverage popular in the Ottoman Empire. Had my first sahlab 2 days back .... just needed it to keep myself warm.

We're hearing rumours that another snow storm is on its way but all official weather forecasts say it's not true ... the weather will warm up over the next 2 weeks. Christmas will be bright and clear. Chilly but what is Christmas without the cold?

Snow over

Moon tonight

The snow storm finally blew over. Lots of destruction everywhere. Fallen trees and electric poles, abandoned cars, roads caked in feet of solidified snow. The PM came on air to call for all depts to help relief the City. Bulldozers on the streets clearing debris and snow. But still thousands have no electricity. Municipality workers cutting trees, pushing cars etc....

The sun was up and this evening a lovely full moon rose over a rosy sky over the Mt of Olives. It was cold and crispy. I was out in the streets talking to my security friends. Been a long time since I spoke with them. We saw this beautiful moon over an incredible pastel sky. Everyone began taking photos.

Being Sunday I was out with the prof. to do our 6km weekly walk. It was slippery in the streets. Lots of black ice. As I only wore sneakers (bad choice ... but 3 other pairs of shoes are all wet due to snow shoveling), my feet got wet real quick. Came home 2 hours later and Sr Vincenta kept telling me to go change my shoes or I'll get sick. She was right ... I am sick now. And worse, my heater broke down. So it's going to be a very cold night tonight. Luckily I still have a few heat packs left.

Izik my security friend
all wrapped up in the cold

I decided one thing - snow is NOT nice. I dislike shoveling snow ... it's backbreaking and cold. But forecast is another storm is brewing for next week. Yikes ... feel like buying a ticket a getting out of this country.

Mr Bird is staying in my room these few days. It keeps him warm. But he's been very inquisitive ... he loves the computer - the noise and colours fascinate him. He can fly now and wanders all round my room checking things out. He's pretty spoiled now ... gets great food, warm room, plants to munch (my poor potted plants) and computer to entertain him.

I hate shoveling snow 

And this sudden cold snap is great for the bulbs especially the tulips. They're all springing up. And the seedlings are stronger in this cold frame. Lucky them ... they don't have to shovel snow.

Damascus Gate in melting snow

Ben Yehuda Mall in tatters -
fallen trees and awnings

Independence Park in snow

Snowmageddon

A bluish air this morning

Last night's snowstorm was certainly frightful. It's nicknamed "Snowmaggedon". The whole City was literally frozen. Half the City (New and Old) was without electricity and left in the dark and cold. Most palces were under a foot of snow. All public transport stopped. Trees and branches snapped under the weight of the snow. Many roofs were leaking. Schools, shops and offices were closed. Govt warned everyone to stay at home.

Joe our maltese student
helped to open a drainage
for the melting snow

This morning the whole landscape was an eerie blue. Very silent after the storm. The sun was barely on the horizon before it was smothered by the bluish fog. Surreal.

I was very cold. Two heaters were not enough as temperatures plunged to minus 4 degrees. I spent most of the morning (from 6.30am!!!) shoveling snow from the 2 terraces above the library. Water was seeping into my office. It's backbreaking work. Then there was a meeting ... walked out to Notre Dame for the working lunch, then back to my other office, then back home. Then it was more shoveling of snow till it got too cold. Some of our solar panels have been smashed because of the heavy snow.

I've decided snow is no fun at all .... it's awful and awesome. And I don't want to shovel snow anymore.

Warm inside the library but a raging
storm outside

Mushy streets that make
walking very dangerous

Solar panels break under
the snow

A feeble sunrise

Massive snow storm

Library roof in snow

Snow the past 36 hours have stopped the country in its tracks. It went down to -1 degree last night. We never had so much snow in the past 10 years and definitely not before Christmas. Now news tell us that right now the storm is picking up and it will be 3 times bigger than yesterday. Temperature dropping to -4 degrees.

I spend 2 hours yesterday and 3 hours today shovelling snow from our roof. Back-breaking work. I was wet through. 3 pairs of shoes wet. 2 hoodies and 2 pairs of jeans. Had to do it because water was dripping into my office. The weight of the snow is too much for our roof. Tonight's storm is expected to last through tomorrow. Snow shovelling will be worse. Am not looking forward to it.

Geraniums snowed under

The sisters courtyard 

A penguin in the snow!

Sisters' convent in snow

Lovely flaky snow

My lemon trees

My rose bush

Another view

Library skylight

The City in white

Antonia Fortress
(Omariyya school)

City in white