Sahlab

The weather is cold but sunny. But it's not helping my health situation. Still with a splitting headache and ache all over the body. Found out I wasn't the only one. Those who were caught in last Friday's rain all have the same symptoms. I'm switching to another type of medicine.

Yesterday I was out teaching. Couldn't walk all the 2km uphill so I took a taxi. It was difficult teaching for 2 hours because of the headache and aches, and I couldn't stand. Legs were too weak. Then I walked home very slowly. Took me exactly 1 hr. Was exhausted and had terrible pain in the knees when I got home. Almost fainted twice too. Despite the constant calls that inevitably disturb me, I managed to grab 40 mins of sleep. It helped alot and I felt better after that.

My 1st shalab this winter

Was well enough in the evening to go out and say goodbye to an old friend who stopped by Israel for 5 days. We had shalab, a thick warm drink made from the roots of a certain orchid mixed with warm milk with rose water and crushed nuts etc... It's a typically drink drunk in winter here and other parts of the former Ottoman Empire.

Then it was back to sleep at home as this cold is really devastating. With so many others going through the same symptoms after being caught in the rain, it made me think if it were not in some way a type of acid rain that contained chemical/viral particles that lingered in the air after the bombs exploded last week during the Gaza war. If it is, I'll be one of the casualties and die a horrible toxic-induced death. But it's not going to stop my next sahlab!

Cold

What an almighty cold I'm suffering. The body is still aching all over, fever comes on and off, splitting headache .... the lesson learned: never ever go out again in the rain. I'm not as young as I used to be.  Awful nausea most of the time but forced myself to eat some rice on Sunday. Suffered the consequence. Yesterday Sr. Vincenta made a chicken sandwich which I like, but again my stomach is not taking food well. Still I need it because of the medicine I'm taking. I found out the medicine's side-effect is causing my sensitivity to light, which in turn gives me a headache.

Weatherwise the sun is back but it's not any warmer. It fluctuates between 14-18 degrees in the day and 9 degrees in the night. Time to bring the canaries indoors I guess. Otherwise they'll die of cold like last year.

Night market at
Damascus Gate

But life goes on as usual for the rest of the country. Ehud Barak has officially announced his retirement from politics; Likud primaries are taking place right now despite computer hitches throughout the country; exit polls show the right is gaining strength after the Gaza war, the left is tottering on one leg. The whole election thing in this country really amuses me. Only in Israel can the loser of an democratic election process become the ruling govt while the winner takes a back seat. That's what happened in the  last election when Livni won the elections with a slight lead but could not organise a coalition govt; while the loser Netanyahu struck a bargain with the ultra-orthodox and came up with a coalition that made him PM ... though he lost the elections. So why bother voting? And ultimately it's the rabbis and ultra-orthodox who are the real king-makers. Ah well ... let's enjoy the entertainment in the meantime.

Storm

Rain soaked road in
the Old City

The rains were super heavy all through Friday. Thunder, lightening, the works. I got caught in the rain coming home from dinner with Alessandro. Yesterday was feeling sick with nausea and fever. Last night the fever was pretty high while I had severe chills. Took a Dexamol and went to sleep but it was difficult. Pain in all the joints. This morning I've got a splitting headache and terrible sensitivity to light. Have to wear dark glasses otherwise the light causes a massive headache.

Meantime local politics is warming up to the elections in 2 months time. But no one is serious that anything will change. The ultra-orthodox and rightists will still hold power. The left is such a disappointment.

Violence against women is not reducing despite financial and technological progress. The problem here is religious. 19 killed this year.   http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=293312 

Thunderstorm

What a thunderstorm! The previous night was chilly and we have even turned on central heating. Then this morning the skies burst into a storm we have not seen in Jerusalem for many years. Thunder, lightening and lots of rain. It felt good.  http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=293174

The ancient stones I mentioned in the last blog entry were removed by the municipality and the pavement is now covered with ugly asphalt. What a shame. Another piece of history removed from public view. Making the Way of the Cross at the 3rd Station will not feel the same anymore.

Today I've been having acute bouts of stomach cramps. Pretty bad as I have to double up to stand the pain. And I have a bad headache as well. But it was brightened up when a friend paid me a surprise visit. He returned to Italy 4 years ago but now he decided to spend a short holiday back here and visit all his friends. Welcome back, Alessandro!

Ceasefire

At last they could agree on the wording and the ceasefire took effect from 9pm last night. It's unlikely there'll be a flare-up as both sides flexed their muscles and showed what they can do. And the poor people can get back to their normal lives ... but for some it's been tragically changed for the worse.

Digging away the ancient stones

Last night municipality workers blocked off the "square" in front of the 3rd Station and began removing the ancient paving stones, possibly the paving stones from Aelia Capitolina (c.130 AD). The municipality wants to "redevelope" the street which runs the length of the Old City from Damascus Gate down to the Wailing Wall. Hope they won't destroy these ancient stones. It'll be an archaeological and historical travesty.

Weatherwise the forecast is rain for tomorrow and Sunday. We certainly hope so.

Iron Dome picnics

The ceasefire which was supposed to start at midnight last night did not take place. The two sides cannot agree to the wording. But in effect the shelling by both sides have reduced significant this morning. Ban Ki Moon was here yesterday and then Hilary Clinton today. Things are winding down ... the rhetoric as well. In the evening there were scuffles in the Territories between local arabs and Israeli soldiers. It's meant as a show of support by Palestinians to their counterparts in Gaza. However it takes place only in the evenings when people finish their work or studies. It's not like a very passionate thing that consumes them even in the day. In effect, people just want to get on with life.

And now there're Iron Dome picnics: families pack a picnic meal, go out to the open spaces in the south and watch Gazan missiles fly into Israel and Israeli Iron Dome defense rockets intercepting the missiles in mid-air. http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=292642

Cyclamen in the library

As the weather warms up, cyclamen are in bloom. They usually do so after a sudden chill. And this year they're cheap. 20 shekels for a large pot. Someone placed a pot at our library reception desk. Lovely.

Maybe both sides of the border need shock therapy - like a sudden heavy chill for the cyclamen - to get peace blooming in our land.

End in sight

Things have quietened down in all parts of Central Israel. Only Ashdod. Ashkelon and Beer Sheva were bombarded yesterday and this morning. Everyone is talking of an imminent ceasefire. Thank goodness for that.

Sr, Vincenta at work

Weatherwise it seems to be getting good as well. The sun is up and warms the day while the nights get chilly. Yesterday several drops of rain fell but stopped after a short while. The warm day makes me thirsty and since it's season for pomegranates, Sr. Vincenta offered to make pomegranate juice for me. Yummy. Two pomegranates and one orange makes one cup of fantastic thirst-quencher filled with vitamin C.

Well it's back to studies again. I need to work extra hard this semester. But my stomach wouldn't let me. Yesterday evening suffered severe cramps and diarrhea after eating plain white rice. Maybe I should just survive on the pomegranate juice Sr. Vincenta makes for me.