Summer

Quiet empty streets

The weather has stabilized and it's feeling more like summer now. Day time is up to 28 degrees and nights are 18. Tolerable. The sun rises early at 4.45am and sets late at 7.15pm. It certainly feels like summer.

For some reason the streets are quieter than usual. Not sure why.

All eyes are on the conclave. Everyone's an expert ... until the white smoke bellows. 

It was a long week. So many things to tie up. Sunday I'll be admitted and Monday 8am is my operation. We'll see what happens.

1st Communion

Overcast skies

The weather has absolutely gone haywire. Yesterday in the south, which is mostly desert, a severe hailstorm and rain beat down so heavily the desert cities were flooded and the waters flowed downwards through the desert flooding desert roads and covering the desert in water. Videos of the phenomenon are going viral. There's one showing the roads covered in hail. Unbelievable.

Then today it started drizzling here in the City. There's a very cold wind blowing and the sky is very dark. Drops of rain keep falling, but not hard enough to become a proper shower. Just drizzle. It's so weird. I didn't bring a thick hoodie with me when I came to work, so now I'm freezing in this cold.

1st Communion

Yesterday was 1st Communion in our diocese. Parishes and chapels throughout the diocese had children dressed in white receiving the Sacrament during Mass. I'm very glad there're so many of them. It shows that the Church is still alive despite the dwindling numbers.

The bruises are still on my arm and hands. It's not going away. And I'm still easily exhausted. I had to go to the pharmacy to buy medicine. It's not too far, 200m at most. But the walk there was very difficult as I did not feel well at all. 

Low energy

Devastated forest

We're in shock as we saw videos and received news reports of a missile hitting the airport. Of course no defense system is 100% perfect. And of course it did not damage any building, plane or tarmac. Still hitting the road for alighting passengers is close enough. And this has scared everyone. The airport is closed for the time being. It's a wake up call that we should never be over-confident or complacent.

Meantime yesterday night I had to go back to Herzliya to celebrate Mass for the community there again. That's 90 - 100km away depending on which route you take. In any case you still need to pass by the fire razed forest around the Latrun area. The air is still reeking of burnt trees and wildlife. If the summer months continue to be this dry and hot, we can only expect more fires like these.

Razed forest

Yesterday bruises appeared on my left arm and hand for no reason. I was sitting in the car on the way to Herzliya when I realised the hematoma were appearing. This morning I went to my medical insurance clinic. Dr Thaer my GP said it's due to the blood thinners I'm taking. I'm not convinced. Let's hope it won't affect the op. All I know is I'm tired easily and cannot concentrate. I fall asleep alot. It's just very low on energy. I'm feeling exhausted all the time.

Fire

Fire approaching Emmaus

A massive forest fire in the central plains destroyed part of the Trappist monastery and the convent of the Beatitude religious in Emmaus-Nicopolis. Such was the intensity that we could smell the destruction here in the City 30 km away as the smoke clouded the sky.

And to make matters worse, there was the worst sandstorm to hit the country in 30 years. For 2 whole days the sky was yellow and sand was everywhere. Elderly and people with respiratory problems had to stay indoors. And the winds were extremely gusty, blowing down structures and anything not nailed down. And this sandstorm fanned the fires to spread rapidly throughout the forests. There was so much devastation.

Desert sand on our terrace

Last night as I headed to Herzliya 90km away for Mass and return, I had to pass through the highway in the midst of this catastrophe. Some small fires were still burning and fire engines were back and forth, ambulances also. The air was thick with the stench of smoldering trees. I developed a sore throat as a result.

Back home our terrace was covered with desert sand. Flower pots, chairs and tables were strewn about by the very gusty winds.

Let's hope the weather will cool down a little and the fires get quenched by the heavy dew that should fall during this period.

hot and cold

Olive flowers

So many things happening between the last post and today. Obviously the papal conclave is the main topic on everyone's lips. I don't believe we need to speculate. Whoever will be, will be. 

The weather once again is swinging in extremes. Today the heat hits 31 degrees ... but in the morning it was only 12 degrees. You're never quite sure what to wear, and if you do it's always easily removable add-ons whenever needed.

Pomegranate flowers

This crazy weather period between Easter and Pentecost - 50 days hence pentecost - is typical. There're desert sandstorms as well as the last rains from winter. And both phenomena are required by the trees and plants in this season. The olives, pomegranates, dates etc need the desert wind to pollinate. But the wheat and barley need the rains to make starch in the grains. However the desert winds are bad for the grain as it will dry up, and the rains will wash away the pollen of the flowering trees. So the crisis during this 50 days is real and tangible. It will determine food or famine for the rest of the year.

After lots of delays and complications, my heart procedure is finally scheduled for May 12. Not sure if Insurance will pay for everything. I'm busy discussing with Insurance this week. Hoping for the best.

Roses

My pink rose

The sudden fluctuation of temp from 32 degrees to 8 degrees the past week has done something strange to the roses. They've produced enormous blooms. Not just min growing in pots but everywhere else as well. Each flower is larger than a fist. Amazing. But the scorching sandstorm right now dries up the delicate petals and most end up scorched by evening. What a pity.

However there are numerous blooms that come up nightly so this month will be a rose month!

My red roses

Yesterday was Holocaust Day and the sirens sounded at 10.30am I think.  I was deep in the library which is quite insulated from noise outside. But I did hear something. Next week will be Remembrance Day followed by Independence Day so lots of celebrations in the country. I guess my operation will be done after those feasts.

The papal elections will soon take place after funeral and burial. While there's lots of excitement and speculation, the important thing is to think about the good of the universal Church and not national pride. I have 3 classmates who are cardinals at the conclave ... and frankly I pray they are spared the burden of responsibility of the papacy. 

Sandstorm

A fierce sandstorm is blowing for 2 days now. The sky is yellow and a stifling heat is suffocating the air around us. And worse, it ignited a huge forest fire 15 km outside of the City. Ash and the smell of smoke is choking us even inside the City. We had expected a drought and extreme heat this summer because there was hardly any rain in winter. And now it has started.

Cardinal Bychok and our Patriarch in the center

This morning our Patriarch presided the memorial Mass for the pope. A surprise - the newly created cardinal and the youngest cardinal to date, just 45 years old - was present and concelebrated the Mass. He's Cardinal Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church. And there were a dozen visiting bishops as well from around the world.

I think after the Mass the cardinals and our Custos flew off to Rome. It's a pretty rushed affair as the papal funeral is on Saturday.

I've not been feeling well and finally after seeing my cardiologist, it's confirmed I had an angina attack. I'll be having a surgery soon.