Extreme cold

Empty street at Municipality Square

It's possibly the coldest day today this winter ... even though it's 8 degrees. Weather forecasts all say it's extremely cold ... and it really is. Lots of people are wrapped in (artificial) fur hats, hoods and earmuffs. Most people are wearing gloves and scarves. It is unbelievable. And this bitter cold winter is hitting Europe hard .... even in the Greek islands where snow seldom if ever falls. The world famous sunny beaches of Mykonos and Santorini are snowed over. Incredible pictures are being posted on the internet of snow throughout Greece.

Yesterday we saw one of the worse terrorist attacks ever in Jerusalem: a truck ramming into a group of soldiers, killing 4 and injuring 15. It had all the looks similar to Nice and Berlin. Horrific. It is difficult to identify such attackers because they seem to work alone ... and intelligence is not available on non-organised acts. Let's hope this is the last. It's not coming to anything positive. Everyone is a loser.

Don't be fooled by
the bright sun - it's
freezing cold

Tel Aviv has lost it's iconic fountain at Dizengoff Square. This Square is above the busy roads below and had become a landmark to the White City (the local nickname of Tel Aviv). Many people went to take photos of it before it was demolished yesterday afternoon.

Healthwise my shoulder still hurts very much. I guess the cold is partly to blame. My 2 small heaters are insufficient and I'm using 3 blankets to cover up at night. The asthma is not as severe but I still have attacks everyday. I was in a bit of panic the other day when I ran out of Telfast (my allergy medicine) and the only pharmacy opened at that hour had no stock of it. Next time I'll have to buy several boxes to keep as reserve so that if they run out on a public holiday, I won't have to panic.

Epiphany

The chinese sisters have now been officially gazetted in the Diocese of Jerusalem. They are now an official part of the Holy Land mission, and they come under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. That's good news ... all possible because of your support and prayers.

Basking in the sun at Damascus Gate

The sun is up again but the wind continues to be bitterly cold. It is however great weather for a walk. I noticed the Spring bulbs are all sprouting vigorously in this weather ... especially the tulips. They need this cold snap to get them going. Despite the cold, lots of locals and tourists take advantage of the sun, basking along the parks and steps of Damascus Gate ... eating a falafel pitta, drinking coffee and of course, updating their Facebook.

The case of an israeli soldier shooting dead a wounded arab terrorist has divided the country. It's another moment of the israeli implosion ... and this time it is very serious.  The military court found the soldier guilty of killing an incapacitated criminal but the opposition to the verdict was/is not only loud but dangerous. Locals feel the soldier should be exonerated, and there had been incitement of violence against the judges, the govt. ministers etc .... Justice stands second place to nationalism. To the nationalists, the soldier is a hero. In response, a demonstration was organised to confront this violent implosive nationalist movement. Former military chiefs rally support to defend the Defense minister and judges are given security guards. As expressed by an official, the worry is not just about the safety of govt. officials but about the whole country, where it is heading when the judicial system is not independent but should tag along popular demands. Event the PM has supported exonerating the soldier, implicitly  expressing displeasure with the judges. The country is torn apart and violence is incited by jews against other jews. This is a sad prelude to further disaster.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4904425,00.html

Another must-read article on this subject written by a parent:  http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/i-will-not-turn-the-other-cheek/

Grandma's bowls from a bygone era

Leaving aside this ominous saga in the public domain, personal life continues trudging along. Yes there were a few hours of break for Christmas and the New Year, but even then I had gone to work in the nights. There has not been one day that I have not worked ... which tells you how much there is to be done. My sciatica and right shoulder continue to hurt ... much more these days because of the cold. The past 2 nights were quite sleepless due to the pain. But one consolation: my cousin can on a pilgrimage and brought me some memos of my grandma: a few porcelain bowls from which we as kids used to eat from whenever we were at her house. It's nice to remember the old days and keep the memories.

Back again

I've been having problems uploading my blogs the past few days. Don't know why. Anyway things look like they're back to normal again so hopefully today's blog gets uploaded.

Ethiopic rite Christmas Mass

Today the Orthodox churches are celebrating Christmas. It's usually a week after ours, because they follow the Julian calendar. That means it falls on our Latin rite Feast of Epiphany.  Bethlehem therefore is double crowded with latin and orthodox christians ... all celebrating Nativity mysteries. Security has been extra tight as a result ... both in Jerusalem as well as in Bethlehem. Israel is touting itself as having the tallest Christmas tree in the Middle East, and christians having the greatest freedom to celebrate their faith. Well, yes and no. Lebanon is much more christian ... with some 40% of the population as Maronite Catholics. There they do not have rabbis banning christmas trees or carols or lights because it's idolatrous; but neither do they have muslims threatening to chop off christian heads if they celebrated Christmas. This year in Israel and Palestine, many muslims came to see the christmas lights, taking photos and generally having fun on this holiday. Secular jews too are doing the same.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/watch-christmas-in-israel-25802

The Custos in mitre

I was at our Jaffa community today to help out at the Epiphany - Christmas celebrations. First there was the Ethiopic Catholic rite celebration which was very colourful and different. Huge traditional drums were beaten, the choir was dancing in rhythm to the chants. Fr Medhin the celebrant had a wonderful voice that wove between the mesmerising haunting chants of the people. Later I went to our Ukrainian Catholic Mass further down the street. It was equally crowded as the Ethiopic Mass. The Unkrainian catholics follow the Byzantine rite which is very restraint. But their chanting is very harmonious, usually in 4 voices ... which sounds a lot better than Greek chanting.

I noticed in some photos published in our circular newsletter of the Custos presiding at the Christmas Mass in Bethlehem. He was wearing the mitre for the first time I guess as Custos. That's because the Custos has been the ordinary of the Holy Land ever since the Patriarch fled when the muslims conquered the Land 700 years ago. Though not consecrated as bishop, the Custos functioned as one until only 100 years ago when the patriarchate was re-established in Jerusalem. However the secular powers (both muslim and jewish) continue to recognise the Status Quo which deems the Custos as the ordinary of the Holy Land, so the Custos retains the privileges such as wearing the bishop's mitre and pectoral cross.

Midweek

Damascus Gate this morning ... wet

The bright cold weather yesterday turned dark and gloomy today. It even started to drizzle ... and continued to drizzle right through the night. I had to go to work up at the other library at 5pm but climbing up the hill was difficult. The streets were so wet and slippery ... I was in constant fear of falling and breaking a limb. Now if that's scary ... coming home downhill is a nightmare. Everyone I met along the road was walking gingerly, holding on to handrails when there were, others holding on to each other for support.

Inside Damascus
Gate: hawkers brave
the drizzle

This wet weather has caused some minor flooding in the Old City. Drains used to being dry for 11 months a year ... for the past 10 years, are stuffed with dirt, garbage and grime. Rainwater cannot flow through so flooding occur in the streets. This evening Municipality drainage teams are opening the drainage manholes, cleaning and flushing out all the stoppage so rain water can flow as it should. Problem is they leave the manholes opened right down the street ... in the night, where in our Quarter the street lights are very very poor. I'm just hoping no one falls into one ... especially the little children who play in the streets. It's a tragedy just waiting to happen.

We're expecting colder weather this weekend. Tentative forecast is 2 degrees minimum and 8 degrees maximum. Sunday would see lots of rain and graupel ... perhaps snow in Bethlehem. But please ... no snow in Jerusalem. I'm not ready to shovel snow from the terrace.

The oil spill off Singapore waters is a catastrophe. You read about it in other countries but now its on Singapore's shores. No more swimming, no more seafood, expect a lot of sea life to die. I wonder what the S'pore govt. is doing about it.

Feast of the Holy Name

The New Year begins with a series of strikes here. Today teachers from secondary, primary schools and kindergartens have gone on strike over their salary. It's been a very very long dispute and we're not sure it'll be resolved. Then tomorrow bus drivers are on a whole-day no-work strike. This will affect the entire country ... especially soldiers travelling long distances. Let's hope everything gets resolved.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4902129,00.html  and  http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Egged-strike-planned-for-Jerusalem-Wednesday-477253

Wet, cold night

The weather is still freezing ... between 4 to 9 degrees during the day. Tonight it'll drop to 2 degrees I think. It drizzled all night and the skies, even in the night, is a heavy grey with rain clouds reflecting the street lights.

Last night Johannes invited the 5 of us chinese out for an early Chinese New Year dinner at Mandarin Restaurant. He's retuning home for the celebrations in a few days time, and Sr. Marie Ann will also be returning next week. It's been a very long time since I was at Mandarin's. The food is still good but the prices have gone up. The cooks are still the same but the waiters have changed. It was nice to get together as a chinese catholic community. Everyone is usually so busy, we have little chance of meeting up. In the cold wet weather, the hot "lao huo" soup, dumplings and rice were very welcome. Thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact I think I ate a little too much. Had to go for a little 2 km walk to digest the dinner. The streets in Ben Yehudi Mall were crowded with people despite the drizzle. Of course one fear at the back of my mind was slipping on the wet smooth paving stones. I almost did fall on my way home but I managed to catch myself. The younger guy in front of me was less lucky.

Despite the rains, the Sea (Lake) of Galilee remains well below the red line. It's not good because in a few weeks the raining season will end and drought will be declared, and water prices and taxes will rise. It's the poor people who will suffer most.  http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Lake-Kinneret-water-level-remains-remarkably-low-477275

And one sad news for us asians ... the creator of Lao Fu Zi cartoons died yesterday. He was 93 years old!

2nd day of 2017

Divided skies

It's barely 5 degrees right now at 1.30pm. The sun is shining brightly but the wind is so cold, it's freezing. The sky was strangely divided into 2 parts ... the south was sunny but the north was covered by dark clouds. It was ominous ... like a premonition of what 2017 has in store for us. Light and darkness in a battle ... the line was very clear in the sky. Terrifying sight to see.

Israel and Palestine continue with the working week ... the western New Year is not celebrated here because there's the autumn Jewish and Muslim new years. As a result, most christians who can afford, go overseas to celebrate. That ranges from going to Tel Aviv or Eilat, to Greece and Turkey where New Year is celebrated. That happened to the christian 18 yr olds - israeli arab christians - who were injured (one killed) in the Turkish club 2 nights back. Christians are targets of these muslims whenever they celebrate their feasts ... it's like shooting fish in a barrel. Easy targets because they're all gathered together in one place, all dressed unlike muslims, They're too easily identifiable.

Yesterday Haaretz newspaper carried an article about the wild mynah birds that have suddenly flourished in our parks. It was something I noticed in the past 2 years. They're invasive and destroy the local fauna. In fact they are so agile and intelligent, they have reduced the crow invasion by eating their their eggs and nestlings. That was what the crows were doing to the local birds. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/science/.premium-1.762316

Emoticon flipflops

And another bad news for the new year: Israel is deporting children of migrant workers; they may be born here and educated here but they have no status, so they will be deported to their parents' home country which the children know nothing about, nor relatives whom they know.  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/in-israel/local/children-of-foreign-workers-to-be-deported-25648

Sounds like a bad start to 2017. Well to add a smile despite it all, I saw  in Jaffa Street a tiny shop selling emoticon flip-flops. Very cute. Couldn't help laughing when I snapped a photo of it.

New Year's Day

Sunrise on New Year's Day

2017 has started ... I'd wish you all a Happy New Year ... except that I'm pretty cynical. Each year  that I've seen has been no better than the last ... with the same problems or even worst. But lest I dampen the spirit, let niceties be and "Happy New Year".

For starters yesterday I had a bad allergy reaction. I was offered a chocolate which I reluctantly accepted because most chocolates contain some race of nuts. Though I was told there are no nuts in it, just one bite and out came a hazelnut cream soft-centre. I spat it out immediately but damage was done. My hands were swollen and itchy, and so was the rest of my body. Eyes were red and swollen, tongue swollen and I couldn't breathe. Luckily there was a seminarian who stayed with me for a while. Being Sabbath and also Hanukkah, getting a taxi to hospital would have been a very big hassle and expensive. I took my medicine and Epipen ... and the reaction slowly faded in 4 hours. And Coca-cola was a big help too. What a way to end the year.

Jaffa Gate and the hanukkia

Anyway I was in my office till 10.30pm when I felt much better and could safely walk home alone. It was very cold ... about 3 degrees. But I decided to walk instead to Jaffa Gate to see the lights of Hanukkah and perhaps fireworks at midnight to welcome the New Year. There was a large crowd of tourists, locals and ultra-orthodox jews in the Jaffa Gate Plaza, watching the audio-visual on the City Wall. There was also a giant hanukkia at the Gate.

I remained there till midnight, hoping to see the fireworks that are usually stationed at Sultan's Pool down in the Gehenna Valley. Many other people were waiting as well. But nothing happened. This year there was no fireworks. Everyone went home disappointed.

As I was only just recovering from my allergic reaction, I walked home very slowly and cold. That was when I felt very cynical. Nothing good has happened to me, not last year, nor the years before, so why should the new year be any different?