Autumn

Acorns

As the weather cools to 16 degrees at night, and very humid with lots of dew in the early morning, many autumn fruit have ripened and are on sale in the streets. Pomegranates, dates, guava, peaches and dragon fruit. It's very expensive though. I noticed the acorns on oak trees growing as well. There're a couple of oak trees in the park outside Damascus Gate and I enjoy watching them flower in Spring and the acorns ripen in autumn. We don't have squirrels to hoard them ... but there're woodpeckers who do the same job.

I've been forgetting many things .. leaving them here and there and not finding them. I expected this. It's the 2nd week as I wean off prednisone and I know these are the side-effects. And I'm getting muscular spams as well. Right now my neck muscle is sprained and I cannot turn my head. It's such a bother. Now I worry if I will lose my way home. Happened a couple of times before. I'll have to write a note and keep it in my pocket so I can remind myself where I'm going.

Fighter planes were roaring overhead all morning. The war in the north has worsened and many on both sides are dead or wounded. Our annual Franciscan feasts in Nazareth have all been cancelled. Our friars in Galilee tell us of daily missile alerts and explosions. It's tragic. 

Rain

Scurrying in the rain

The first rain this autumn has fallen. Sunday Mass had just ended and lots of people were coming out of the church when the sudden shower broke and sent people scurrying home. But everyone enjoyed it. Children were dancing and playing in the rain while adults were happily telling each other that the rains have come. It's a blessing. Let's hope it won't stop here. We desperately need it as it was a drought year last year.

A week has past since the last blog. It's been an unsettling week. My course of prednisone is reduced to 10mg and the withdrawal symptoms begin ... depression and confusion. However my breathing is very much improved. And I can walk longer distances because the breathing is better. I just cannot climb stairs. Or carry heavy stuff.

The war in the north had escalated the past few days. Our hospitals in Nazareth were told to move their patients to underground carparks. Hundreds of missiles were into the country, causing injuries. Likewise Lebanon was wrecked by attacks. It's a tragic situation. So much suffering. Maybe the rains will bring some blessings of peace. We so much need it now.

Rain clouds

Cloudy morning

It's chilly in the mornings ... very humid with lots of dew at dawn. Rain clouds blew over us into Jordan. It was so cloudy we couldn't see the almost full moon last night. But you can feel the dampness even if it didn't rain. The ground is wet and slippery. Let's hope it'll rain and snow this winter. We need it so much. Last year it didn't rain at all and the land is parched.

And the dates on the palms are ripening. Wild parrots nip them and Palm Plaza is littered with half-chewed dates and broken branches. I pick up a few each morning for JJ and Dudu to chew. 

Tomorrow will be Mid-autumn festival ... but it's of course not celebrated here. It should coincide with the Jewish feast of Sukkot but the hebrew calendar has added an extra month so Sukkot will be a month from now. I'm hoping to receive some mooncakes so at least the asian religious in Jerusalem can celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival. Fingers-crossed that they'll arrive.

Weekend

Sunset

Definitely autumn weather ... chilly winds in the nights and mornings. You almost need a light hoodie when going out. Autumn fruit are on sale on the streets .... pomegranates, grapes, olives and dates. I'm not even asking the price as prices have skyrocketed. Luckily most houses have a grape vine or an apricot tree so there's a little fruit to eat.

Yesterday there was heavy bombardment in the north, It's been quite aggressive and there's no let up in the northern border fighting. No casualties though. I thought the tensions would be reduced soon as the US warship departed 2 days ago ... and the street-block at Herod's Gate has been removed. Things are easing up ... at least for us here in the central part of the country. But many people are less optimistic than I. sigh*

Tomorrow the muslims celebrate the birthday of Muhammed. It will be calm. There'll be no violence in the City nor in the Mosque compound. That's been the trend this war. I've never seen Jerusalem so quiet in all these years of conflict as this past year. Disinterest? Fear? Hopelessness? I'm not sure. Maybe a mix of everything.

Health-wise my breathing difficulties have been eased alot with the intake of prednisone. It always works ... but like I said before, the side effects are awful. Already I've started losing my memory and getting confused. Hoping that's all I'll have to go through.

Mid-autumn

I didn't realise the Mid-autumn festival will be in a week's time. Time flies so quickly. Several asian nuns here have been asking me about mooncakes .... but because no groups have been coming up, I have no stock to give them. Pity. The number of asian religious priests and nuns have risen significantly here in the Holy Land. The West has no more vocations. 

Happy Feast day

Last Monday our Indian sisters of Maria Bambina celebrated their patron feast (Nativity of the BVM). They're all Indian. A point made about asian religious. They serve in 2 hospitals and our sanctuary here. 

There's also a growing contingent of Burmese nuns here who also work in hospitals and schools. It's a good sign. And vietnamese and indonesian nuns too. All these countries have no diplomatic ties with Israel. But because of the skills they bring into the country, they become a boon to the health and education sectors. That's a big contribution from the asian church.

My health has reached a point where I have to resort to the most drastic medication which I've been trying to avoid. Prednisone. Because it's got strong side effects on mood swings, hallucinations and withdrawal symptoms, I've been avoiding it as much as I can. But the hospital has put me on a course starting with 80mg and weaning off 10mg every 2 days. I had it. I know by Day 3 I'll be having side effects. 

Rexy

Geez catholics after Mass

I still suffer from difficulty in breathing. I'm back to using ventolin inhaler. I dislike that as it makes me swollen. But I need to breathe and for the moment the inhaler is my only help. I'll need to take out my nebulizer and use it again tonight. It's difficult to walk or climb stairs or even simply be. Every moment is choking and gasping for breath. The wheezing is so bad and loud ... I sound like the TARDIS from Dr. Who.

I was happy yesterday though because my friend brought Rexy his baby Pomeranian to stay with me for a day. He's very playful but he feels comfortable with me so I can brush his fur and groom him. I bought a new cushy toy for him ... a porcupine ... and he loved chasing it and chewing it. Then he lies down to sleep as he gets tired easily ... like me. He's my best weekend friend as he keeps me company and I don't feel so sick alone. Often as I play with Rexy I remember my beloved dogs I had before: Suzie and Duke, Trampy, Rex and Regis ...

Rexy

Still despite my health, yesterday I managed to make my way to celebrate Mass for the Geez Rite catholics. I was driven halfway there, and the other hapf I walked slowly for 40 minutes through the park. Most of them are Tigrinians, some Eritreans. It's my last Mass with them this year as their chaplain will return next week. Next week I'll celebrate my last Mass with the Konkanis in Herzliya 100 km away as their chaplain will also return from summer holidays. I'm the summer substitute for many communities. Though I'm ill I still try my best to serve them. I only require someone to drive me from one place to another as I cannot walk far or travel by bus or train anymore. 

The war in the northern border continues to see destruction on both sides and casualties. Likewise in the south, cross border bombings continue. The City continues to be tense. Police are everywhere. Mounted Police are also on patrol. Settlers attack arab villages and kill a girl. Jews continue to come and spit at us in front of my house. Is there any wonder people are afraid to come and visit?

Sick

It was a panicky day when I felt unwell 2 days ago. A choking on my throat and numb left shoulder. I know that feeling ... an angina attack. The people in the office immediately drove me to Clalit, my medical insurance clinic 4 km away. The doc ordered an ECG and other tests. after which he said I had to be admitted to hospital for more observation as I have flu symptoms plus angina symptoms. He called for an ambulance to take me to Hadassah Hospital but I refused as my insurance does not cover ambulance transport. That's US$200. So I opted to go to our Catholic hospital next door but Clalit would not release me until someone accompany me there. I had to call my office to send someone to come and the doctors here spoke with him to ascertain he'll accompany me to hospital. That done, I was warded in emergency room for tests etc... for some 4 hours. Eventually I was told I can go home as there's no further indication for worry. But that's our hospital. Not everyone agreed. Well I'm now weak and tire easily. I prefer to stay in my office as there're more people around who can help me if I need it.

Homegrown tomatoes

With tomatoes costing US$10 a kilo ... we're now planting our own tomatoes. It's a small harvest but we're happy. This morning I bought a roasted egg from the vendor in the street. It cost US$1 for one normal-sized chicken egg. Nothing is cheap anymore ... not even healthcare.