More rain

Curry rice lunch

 What a very cold day! It rained all night and all morning! The highest temp today was 8 degrees. Dark rain clouds however were pushed out by a bright sun .... but the cold wind continued to blow. I had the heater on the whole day. Tomorrow it's forecast to rain again.

The coastal city of Nahariya was flooded yesterday because of the rain. The river Nahariya runs through the city and it overflowed. It's so bad the mayor s calling for State aid while declaring an emergency. Strangely we haven't heard of floodings in the desert. Perhaps the lockdown has prevented people from wandering in the desert so no one knows what's happening out there.

The Sea of Galilee rose by 3.5 cm so the rain must have been quite heavy up in the north. And Mt. Hermon is snowing so that's a sure sign the temp is very low.

I've been feeling very sick this morning. No fever but was very giddy and disoriented. I thought I might have to go to hospital. I rested all morning to avoid falling and injuring myself ... and it was the right decision. Towards noon the Sisters of M. Teresa called to say they were bringing lunch over for me. It was very nice of them. They made basmati rice and chicken curry ... and that gave me back some energy. I studied for a couple of hours while Buddy and JJ accompanied me on the bed. They slept all the time. I guess the cold is making them lethargic.

Israel bombed Gaza after 2 missiles were fired into Israel. The tension in the south is not good news. The govt is dissolving and elections are due in 7 weeks time. Such tensions only cause a sense of insecurity in the public. And with the rising infection rate of corona, nobody feels safe. 

4 degrees

Storm clouds early this morning

A very cold and windy day. It didn't rain during the night but the temp. kept falling. Today though is bright and sunny but as forecast, a strong cold westerly wind is tossing the country about. Being Sunday, I usually throw out the garbage at 5am so I'd be free for the rest of the morning to clean my room and prepare my laundry for washing tomorrow. Carrying the huge bag of trash from kitchen out to the public bin down the road was very cold. I was shivering though I was wearing a thick winter jacket. Even now in the afternoon with the sun shining, it's very cold and I must have the heater on. I can see the 2 palm trees opposite my room in the Omariyya School buffeted by the very strong freezing wind.

JJ sleeping

I still don't have a fever, can smell and taste ... and my sore throat comes and goes. I'm becoming paranoid. I've diarrhoea today ... which makes me even more panicky; but I think it's because I'm eating cold food from the fridge for the past 2 days and keeping the leftovers in my room for dinner. Some of it were spoilt. But I don't want to leave my room so that's the best I can do with meals. 

Today's news say having immunity from Covid doesn't prevent one from being a carrier and spreader. That's bad news. And a rabbi who had had 2 vaccination shots still contracted Covid ... showing that Pfizer vaccines aren't 100% preventive. And now just out, the Health authoritiesjust said that those who fatty liver are 40% more at risk of dying from Covid than healthy people. I have a fatty liver. All these are making me even more paranoid. 

Most of my time is spent studying and reading. And Buddy and JJ will fall asleep, one on my lap and the other on my shoulder. That's peaceful and I try not to move so as not to wake them up. Other times they'll be hyper-active, playing and screeching and eating. They can be quite a handful. Still I enjoy their company as I have no one else to mix with during my self-isolation.

Winter is back again

Sunrise

 Yesterday registered 10,620 new infections. 44 dead in 24 hours. The British and S. African mutant strains are spreading rapidly in the country. There is a silent panic throughout the country. The govt is mulling an even stricter lockdown. Hospitals are on the verge of collapse. The streets are deadly quiet. A dreadful sense of foreboding looms over the land. At the same time, 2 million vaccinations have been given. A little triumph in a bitter situation.

Yesterday our sisters went to get their vaccinations and tomorrow another 8 profs and students will go. Docs are still telling me not to risk a toxic shock. Just stay in my room and stay as safe as possible. I take my temp every hour and for the past 5 days it's been between 36.2 and 36.5 so I guess I'm good. Except that most of our students infected never had a fever. They lose their sense of smell first. I can smell and taste. Every hour I'm eating something to test my smell and taste. I'll be putting on 5 kgs this week for sure.

The rains came again last night and temp. fell to 4 degree again. Today we had a few moments of sunshine but mostly it was heavy rain clouds and very strong cold winds. It'll continue till Wednesday and Spring weather might start to creep in. I hear some almond trees in the valleys have already blossomed. That's a sure sign Spring is round the corner. Chinese New Year must also follow soon.

Well I'm in isolation so I can't take many photos except sunrise over the Mt of Olives. So here's a pic of this morning at dawn over the Mt. of Olives.

No symptoms

Sunrise today

 Some of our guys ... over 60 yrs have gone to get their vaccinations. It's the leftover Pfizer vaccines which if not used by sunset, will get thrown away. Good luck to them. So far today I can still smell and taste, my sore throat is gone. I've been drinking hot lemon-honey all day and night, and my phlegm problem seems to have gone. No more choking and coughing in the night. Still I'll isolate myself till Saturday to make sure I have no corona symptoms. It's really scary.

Still the infection rate yesterday was 9000+, a 3rd day in a row. Not a good sign despite the almost 2 million vaccinations done.

It rained hard last night for several hours. Enough to clean the air and water the dry ground. The forecast is for thunderstorm today ... but now the sun is shining brightly though the wind is quite cold. Maybe winter decided to come back. Let's hope the rains come back tonight.

The police have been doing night duty on the ancient tower of the Antonia Fortress opposite my room. They got 2 huge spotlights on and a policeman is constantly flashing a very bright flashlight around, and into my room every once in a while. It's just like the Intifada days. It gets me nervous and I can't sleep. Imagine a powerful light shining through your window every few minutes. Anyway I don't know why. Maybe it's because of the bombing in Syria and the recent stabbings ... the general tensions in the region. They sure aren't enforcing the lockdown, so they must be here for some other reason.

Fingers crossed

Near empty
street to the Holy
Sepulchre

 There was a stabbing attack in Hebron a few hours ago. The terrorist was shot and wounded. Earlier in the day, Israel bombed the eastern border of Syria near Iraq. That's very deep inside syrian territory. It's all very troubling .... we wonder what will happen in summer.

Infection rates yesterday remained at 9000+. However almost 2 million citizens have been vaccinated. That's one quarter of the total population ... the most successful vaccination programme in the world. But a lot has to done about the lockdown ... how people disregard the law and get away with it. The police promised to be severe in enforcement but we don't see any of it. Ultra-orthodox schools continue to function in broad daylight with impunity. 

It's my 2nd day in self-isolation. I've a sore throat and a headache ... but I don't have a fever and I can still smell and taste. I hope I didn't catch the virus. I'll surely die because of my asthma and other health issues. It's getting scary. It's prayers and fingers crossed from now on.

Chores

Sr. Ekaterina
this morning

 A very sunny day. And I thought I could begin my self-isolation with some reading ... but even that luxury is denied. I was called to go to our Printing Press because there were books to collect and bills to pay. And a student Sr. Ekaterina - a russian orthodox nun - needed an article for her thesis. So I had it photocopied and brought it to New Gate where she can to collect at 10am. After dealing with all that needed to be dealt with, I quickly rushed home. I don't want to be out for any longer than I have to. The new strain of covid is deadly and very infectious. I don't intend on finding out.

Once back home, I brought the boxes of leftover food to my room. It'll be my nourishment for the next few days. I have white rice, stewed potatoes and carrots, and roasted chicken. I won't starve. Instead it looks like I'll be putting on more weight. Lockdowns are dreadful for weight-watchers. I hope to keep my mind off food by reading more books. And playing with Buddy and JJ. Both boys had just taken their baths so they're sleeping under the sun by the window. That's a little moment of peace for me.

sunrise today

Infections have hit 10,000 victims yesterday. It's a crisis situation and most people are heeding it by staying indoors, getting tested and going for their inoculations. That's good. And the 2nd vaccine has arrived ... by Moderna. The 1st by Pfizer is not too trusted locally. Not enough tests were done and people are afraid of side-effects. Pain in the arm and drowsiness are the common complains ... and drowsiness is dangerous because there are people who drive to and back from vaccinations and sleeping at the wheel will cause accidents and more deaths. The irony of it all.

From our terrace I can see how bright and beautiful the Mt of Olives is today. I wish I could walk up to the peak and view the whole of Jerusalem as well as the Dead Sea and Jordan. But there's the lockdown. I'll make up for it once the lockdown is over. 

Warming up

Our oranges

 There was a major clash in the southern coastal city of Ashdod today when police tried to close down a jewish religious school that defied the rule to close. There were running battles and I don't think the police stood a chance as they fear the religious, social and political power of this ultra-orthodox group. The ultra-orthodox community may be a minority group in Israel but they wield disproportionately immense influence. We can see the lockdown will never succeed totally because of this defiant group which makes up about 16% of the population.   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SkfSY3KCv#autoplay

Infection rates have fallen to 5000+ but serious cases requiring hospitalisation rose. I think it's because of the British and S. African mutant strains that are very deadly. I'm going into isolation because a student who's positive came to the library twice last week to borrow books. Though I always had my mask on and served the library users with a plastic barrier between us (required by State law), I still feel uncomfortable about being so close to an infected person. So far I don't have a fever and I still can smell and taste.

The weather has turned warm now ... about 19 degrees during the day. Spring flowers have started blooming even though officially it's still winter. I can't make out what's happening to the weather. No sign of rain let alone snow. I've had to water the plants twice already because it's too dry. Many bulbs have wilted. They usually have the rain and cold to help them grow. Anyway forecasters say it'll get windy and might even rain from Thursday onwards. I hope so. Itll clean the air so it would be so dusty and my asthma can stop.