Still cold

My bird-of-paradise in bloom

 The storm has slowly moved off this afternoon ... but not in the coastal areas. It's still very cold, about 11 degrees in the afternoon. And the skies are gloomy and dark. I managed to have a good night's sleep despite the 4 degree weather last night, mainly because I'm corona negative. My mind was at peace. I'll try and sleep early again tonight. After all I'm on my Christmas holiday. I deserve it.

Forecast is still continuing rain for tomorrow. It makes throwing out the garbage an unpleasant affair. I have to dress up extra thick to avoid catching a cold, then lug huge sacks of garbage down the road several times as I can't manage to bring all the sacks at the same time.

Today I got back to work. The backlog wasn't too huge. But my only cataloger who is doing his civil service in my library will leave on Saturday. So it was stock-checking what he did and how to continue from there. My biggest problem is now to find someone to substitute him. With the pandemic in its 3rd wave, no one is likely to come from abroad. I'm stuck for at least 6 months before any light will shine for a new volunteer.

Hanukkah ends tonight. Now perhaps the crowds will disperse and chances of a 3rd lockdown be avoided. If we can just keep it under control for 2 weeks, we might still be able to celebrate Christmas. Fingers crossed.

Storm

Rainy day

My test results were sent by an SMS message via cellphone. I am covid negative! That lifts a huge burden off my back ... because of my breathlessness which the docs say is probably due to my asthma. So I still have to take extra precautions not to get infected. Yesterday's infection rate shot up to 2800 and though the govt. had promised a lockdown when it reaches 2500, the govt. is as usual hesitant to impose anything. Shopping malls have warned they will not close. Rabbis warn that synagogues will not close. People warn they will go out all the same. So we'll expect token restrictions and night curfews which no one will observe and the police will not enforce. More people will die ... and who's to blame?

Now that the UAE and Israel have agreed to recognise each other, israelis are flocking to Abu Dahbi ... so many that Pandemic experts predict each day a rise of 200 imported infections when the tourists return.

Break from the storm

What a storm we had yesterday evening. Lots of thunder and lightening and very strong winds. Rains were sometimes heavy, sometimes drizzle ... and it lasted all night till this afternoon. Temp dropped to 6 degrees and the highest at noon was 11 degrees. Tomorrow will continue this wintry weather. Mind you I think it's great ... that's what winter should be, isn't it? Now if only it snows. 7 Years ago today it snowed for 3 days ... one of the heaviest and earliest snow we've ever had. Anyway it's a good opportunity to rest and sleep. No student is coming to use the library in this storm. Blessing in disguise.

Covid testing

Long line for covid test

 Today is the day ... covid testing day. I planned to go up to the Clalit clinic up on Mt. Scopus but one of my librarians told me there's a special tent set up at the carpark opposite the clinic that does the tests. Further queries informed that it's a drive-in test ... no walk-ins allowed. Just as well ... I got our janitor to drive me there. 

The drive-in test opens from 2pm to 8pm. And when we arrived at 2pm the queue was half a km long down the hill. We were number 22 in the queue. Once the operators were ready and opened the tents, things picked up quickly. Within 10 minutes it was my turn. The guy was very kind and gentle. He asked if I spoke english and explained what he would do. Then the swabbed my throat and my nostril, excusing that it's uncomfortable. Well it wasn't. It was very quick and I felt only a little of the swabbing. I would have thought that a frontliner would be stressed and rude ... after hours of repetitive work to huge crowds. But this guy was very professional. I thanked him for his great work. 

My turn soon

I don't have any symptoms of covid except for my breathlessness. But I thought it's best to go for a check and be sure. Now it's waiting for 48 for the results. And I have to stay in my room in the meantime. Just as well. I will catch up with my studies. There's a major thunderstorm rolling in right now and so staying in my room is the best choice. Forecast predicts 3 or 4 days of heavy rains, strong winds and lots of lightening and thunder. 

New week

Sunrise on Sunday

A dramatic weekend. Saturday I was called up by the engineer renovating the museum on the ground floor saying the roof is caving in because the library above is too heavy. Well the workers shouldn't have removed the supporting pilasters, should they? I had to move several thousand books from the affected room. On a Saturday when none of my librarians come to work, it was a frightening task. Luckily I had the help of 2 students and 1 librarian whom I called back for emergency. We managed to empty the room in 2 hours but I had several asthma attack due to the dust.

Sunday was spent catching up with studies after Saturday's emergency evacuation of books. Managed to write 2 pages in 8 hours ... with alot of reading and citing sources. Another 4 pages to go. Hope to do another 2 today ... though it'll be difficult. I'm going to do my covid test this morning and then we have a lunch gathering of librarians to thank a volunteer leaving this Friday, and also to celebrate Christmas in advance.

The weather has warmed up to 19 degrees during the day but forecast is for storms today. I'm wondering how I'll walk up the Mt. of Olives to the clinic to get my covid test and walk back. That's a good 5kms ... and it's difficult enough for me to walk with my breathlessness, now I have to face a thunderstorm as well. Let's hope for the best ... I might be able to hitch a ride.

Crisis

 

Green papaya salad and 
char kway teow

This morning I went down to our chapel for Mass only to find we were barely 5 concelebrants out of some 30+ living in the house. After the Mass in the sacristy, we were told that most were in quarantine because they were in close contact with a father from another monastery who is now tested positive for corona. They had gone to join the reparation Mass at Gethsemani and then at the ordination Mass of 3 deacons. Now they are suspected but not tested yet for the virus. I was told to be very careful so now I wear even the mask at home. What a disaster. I've decided to isolate myself i my room for the next week because I might be having symptoms of the virus ... cough, breathlessness when walking or climbing stairs. Everyone tells me that's me usually because of my asthma. True. I might becoming paranoid.

I went up to my office 1km away to gather all my books so I can work in my room for the next week. The 2 satchels weighed over 5 kgs and I had a hard time carrying them back. But I made it. Only a little breathless and no pain in the chest despite climbing the hill. Good sign ... a covid victim would not have been able to do this.

Christmas tree at
LaSalle College

One consolation. My Thai student cooked green papaya salad and pahd si yew (thai char kway teow). It was very delicious ... especially since I hadn't eaten anything all day, just rushing about to finish all my work and trying to get home. I missed eating thai food because I don't go to Tel Aviv anymore to buy food from my favourite thai restaurant. It's the food closest to home.

The huge Christmas Tree at the La Salle College inside New Gate has been installed. A sense of Christmas ... despite the raising infection rates. The govt has backed down from the nighty curfew so everything is back to normal. Very strange. If in any other country, the law would have been enforced immediately and forcefully. Here infections are around 1800 a day and things are still open and relaxed. Unbelievable.

Sunny day

Busy market day today

The reaction from yesterday's inoculation is over. I had a slight fever and pain in the joins so I stayed in bed all day, drinking lots of water. Buddy and JJ accompanied me ... Buddy sleeping on my shoulder and JJ sleeping on my knee. It was a quiet day and both birds knew I wasn't feeling well so they played less than usual. 

The night's are still very cold, around 6 degrees but the rain has stopped. In fact it's very sunny today. It might be as hot as 17 degrees ... but indoors always feels very much colder. The stone buildings - as required by Municipality law, all buildings in Jerusalem must be of stone - retain the cold. That's good for summer but not for winter.

Today I've gone to work. The streets are very busy, Thursday being the market day for jews and muslims. A whole row of bedouin women are seated along the steps of Damascus Gate selling veggies, fruit and fresh crushed olive oil from the October harvest. Now that winter is upon us, we expect winter fruit like persimmons and passionfruit. 

We're still not sure if there will be a closure or curfew during Christmas. Tonight begins the 8 day jewish feast of Hanukkah and they managed to force the govt to keep the shops and restaurants open in the night. They're discussing allowing people to visit each other till midnight during the feast. But christians are a minority here and no bargaining power ... and because Christmas is centered in Bethlehem in the Palestinian Territories which now is under full lockdown, I doubt the govt will relax anything for us.

The corona vaccines have arrived in Israel yesterday morning. The plan is to vaccinate 60,000 each day till the next batch arrives. That of course means for Israeli citizens. As foreigners here we'll probably get a whiff of the vaccine maybe end of 2021 or early 2022. That means being vigilant all the time. 

Off to the doc

Clalit clinic

It rained heavily late last night till morning. The streets are clean but very slippery. The air is crisp and is pleasant to go out walking ... but the skies are heavy with dark clouds. It might rain again this afternoon.

I went to the Clalit clinic this morning for my appointment. It was my first time. Luckily the mother of one of my librarians offered to drive me there as she lives close by. It's up on Mt. Scopus where the University is, the northern range of the Mt. of Olives  ... and the roads up on the mount are in disarray because the govt is building a tramway from the City below to the Hadassah Hospital situated in the University. Impossible to park. I dropped off and went to register myself. Everything in arabic ... and in lots of dialects which I have difficulty understanding. The screen wasn't working so I had to strain very hard to hear my number and which room to go to.

The doctor was very nice and spoke english. It was a short visit ... one quick jab and all was done. I was doubting if she gave me enough of the vaccine because it was just jab and finish. Anyway she told me to stay in the waiting room for another 15 mins to wait if I get an adverse reaction before going home. I felt ok after 10 minutes so I went back home. The road home is about 3.5km steep downhill and on a Spring or Summer day it would have been very pleasant. 

Anyway Clalit is one of the huge medical insurance companies in Israel and they run their own clinics and emergency rooms. There are also private doctors who register with Clalit so we can also go to see them. I just need to check out what my policy includes ... like dentistry, physiotherapy etc... I saw in the clinic a department for acupuncture as well!

The govt backed down on its night-time curfew plans after a backlash from the public. Instead the opposite has happened ... they decided to open shopping malls, museums and open markets! It's like if you want to die, be my guess!

And yesterday saw a massive ultra-orthodox revolt in a Jerusalem neighbourhood because the govt wants to build a tramway across their area ... and the residents don't like it. Several people including police were injured.