Rex R.I.P.

Rex  2000 - 2014

Rex, aka Mr. Dog died this morning. He was my best and most loyal friend. I remember bringing him home as an 8 week old puppy ... chubby and clumsy bulldog who fell into the dustbin when the shop owner left him on a table to get his certificate. Rex seldom barked and was very intelligent. He was trained by a police sergeant and obeyed hand signals from a long distance, like when I'm 3 storeys up and he down in the garden. Just one hand signal and he obeyed. He never touched his food until I gave the command to eat. But being so intelligent, he can be quite stubborn and try to get round me when he wanted things his way. He was always very clean and did his business at the farthest corner of the garden without me teaching. Rex was a very strong dog but in the last few months he grew thin and weak from cancer. A brave, obedient, loyal friend.

My best friend

Another cold Sunday

Beautiful clear sky at 5am before
the rains returned

It's very cold ... 7 degrees at the lowest in the night and 14 degrees during the day. There was a constant drizzle throughout the day and showers in the night. But at about 5am we had a break from the rain clouds and had some clear skies. But only for half an hour. Then the clouds and rain returned.

And yesterday was again another day without violence. The rain and cold is a marvelous peace keeper.

Yesterday I had to go to the supermarket to buy broccoli for the canaries and Yossi's petshop for birdseed. It was a miserable walk as the sky was grey and gloomy, and the drizzle would not let up. The roads are dreadfully slippery and I was scared of falling. The City was unusually quiet ... few people in the streets, cafes were empty, even the park hadn't its usual dogs playing with their owners. I think in such a weather, the best thing to do is sleep.

Grey skies, drizzle and empty parks

Workload is as normal - hectic and nonstop. Been working late into the night as well so I actually missed twice Ah Ling's invitation to have medicinal soup at Mandarin's. I should make time for that as it does me alot of good. The asthma has been very bad under this weather but I've got over the cold. Other people around are still down the cold. Mother Teresa's sisters have asked me to buy flu and cold medicine as they and their patients are also sick with the cold. That's alot of medicine for the 3 communities in Nablus, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. I bought US$1000 worth of medicines but still have more to buy. Will do so this afternoon if it doesn't rain.

Rain

The City walls built over virgin rock
after a night of rain

Today has been pretty uneventful as like yesterday. Police presence was reduced and no sign of tension. And there were no incidents outside of Jerusalem too. That's probably because of the rain and very cold winds. Today's highest temp. was 12 degrees. It's keeping everyone indoors. And that's a blessing ... I always say rain is the best deterrent for violence and terrorism. It's God using nature to put people under control.

Well the weather was good for the plants. But not for the birds. The wild sparrows and doves are cold, wet and have no food. We leave a few pieces of bread under the lemon tree for them, and I leave some grain for the canaries and finches on the ground too. Mr. Bird stays in my room during the night, and the canaries have been transferred to a smaller cage and kept inside the school. Only the finches are left in the large cage out in the courtyard because they have nests and eggs and I can't transfer them. But they're cosy ... each couple snuggle inside their thatched nest lined with jut and cotton wool, so its quite warm.

A Trappist monk seen at
Musrara open market.
What's he doing outside his
monastery 35 km away?

So far this week I've been working 18 hours a day ... a total of 7 days, sleeping a maximum of 3 and a half hours each night. I am utterly exhausted. Preached a retreat this morning. Have 2 more to go. Major changes in the library system that I have to direct and in fact create. Had to organize an impromptu exhibition yesterday morning for a group of visiting Israelis. So much going on ... I'm losing control of reality. Am very very confused and tired. The mind is lost and the body is breaking down. But people's demands can be very cruel and selfish ... perhaps I should just be like a sparrow and fly away ... cold, wet, hungry but happy to be free.

Quiet Friday

car-by-car stop and search

Today Friday saw a strange calm in Jerusalem's Old City. There was heavy military presence but there was no riot or trouble at all. Instead rioting and skirmishes took place outside of Jerusalem in the Territories like Kalandya, Hebron, Ras al Amud. So life went on as usual until just a few minutes ago when stun grenades were fired outside our house. I could hear the sporadic explosions all the way down to the Austrian Hospice and Damascus Gate area. Also inside the Al Aqsa compound. But now everything is silent again. I guess it's too cold for riots. Meantime I saw in East Jerusalem a draconian car-by-car stop and search roadblock. The traffic was held up and tensions were rising.

And it is cold. 8 - 12 degrees each night with rain and strong winds. I was wrapped in a t-shirt under a pullover over a thick hoodie with scarf and woolen beanie ... and that was just 7pm. I've been working 18 hours a day for the past 5 days. Sleeping only 3 and a half hours. Am totally exhausted. And to make things worse, municipality workers are repaving our road ... from 9pm to 3am. Jackhammers, pneumatic drills and bulldozers directly under my window. It's a nightmare for everyone here trying to get some decent sleep.

Mini-friar on the road

On a funny note, while I was on my way out to go to work yesterday, a cute little "friar" was coming up the road. Couldn't resist taking a pic. His mum and granma were bringing him to see the doctor round the corner. Here little children at their baptism (usually 2 - 3 yrs old) wear franciscan habits ... as a token of their consecration to St. Anthony of Padua and asking for his protection.

Meantime my asthma and feet are not getting better. Probably the cold. I must wear my orthopedic shoes which relieves the pain almost immediately. Which reminds me ... I missed my appointment with my podiatrist by a week now. Oooopppss.

Synagogue murders

Clear blue skies after 2 days of rain

We woke up to the news of utter horror and even till now everyone is reeling from the shock - 2 arab muslims attacked a synagogue during morning service and killed 4 jews including the rabbi while injuring scores of others. It is unbelievable that such attacks could take place in a holy place. But it had a precedent: 2 decades ago a jew Baruch Goldstein entered the mosque in Hebron (The Tomb of the Patriarchs) and killed 29 muslims and wounded a hundred others. That sparked massive riots and several years of violence. This time the synagogue murder will definitely see revenge attacks by jews, the collective punishment of arabs by Israel and the rise of distrust and hatred between the 2 communities. These "lone wolf" attacks has been the mark of the violence this year ... unorganised, uncoordinated and not ordered by any group or organisation, just random acts of violence by individuals. And this makes it more dangerous and difficult to contain.

Ironically the weather was brilliant with lots of sun, cool crisp air and soft winds. Hundreds of tourists are returning after the lull due to the Gaza War. However if this present violence continues, we'll expect  many cancellations and Christmas will be very quiet. 

Sisters collect your donations

And talking about Christmas, the Sisters of Mother Teresa came over to collect donations as they prepare gift packs to poor families for Christmas. This usually include daily necessities such as rice, sugar, salt, oil and perhaps medicines and clothes. Today sisters from the 3 communities of Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nablus received clothes and medicines donated by Singaporean catholics via Faith Tours, and a sum of US$1730 for each community from donations by Hong Kong and Singaporean pilgrims. Thanks to everyone's generosity that will help our poor christians get by this cold winter and badly affected by the Gaza War and the present repercussions of the violence. Anyway it's still not too late for more donations if you wish to share some charity with the christians of the Holyland.

More rain

Debris at the former
US consulate

Shocking news last night, hours after the arab youth stabbed a jewish man outside Damascus Gate. News flooded in that an arab bus driver was found hanged inside his bus. Arabs immediately called it a lynching while Israeli police denied any foul play. No matter what, each side believes in its own version. Riots in the southern villages of Jerusalem where the man came from. The Old City though remained mainly untouched.

The rains continued last night, stopped in the  morning for a couple of hours then came back more heavily. It was good and we need it. However the rest of the country was not prepared and so flooding has caused damage in several areas. The former American Consulate had tree branches snapped off and this morning a crew had to clear the road from its debris and cut back the ancient cypresses.

The new pathway in front
of the Ecce Homo convent

And the rains have not stopped the Municipality crew from re-paving parts of the Via Dolorosa. The old stones worn smooth by time because dreadfully slippery in the rain. The Municipality is paving one side of the road with rough limestone slabs for tourists to walk safely. It starts at the Austrian Hospice and last night they reached the entrance of Ecce Homo convent. Tonight they'll do the section between the Ecce Homo and the Condemnation Chapel. The rain is not making the work any easier but the nightly work that lasts 4 hours is pretty fast by Middle-East standards. Now the road looks weird ... one half with new stone slabs, the other with ancient stones. But then everything else in the Holyland is a hodge-podge of new and old, ancient and modern. Nothing here surprises me anymore.

Winter is here ... it's official

Rain ... at the plaza in front
of Mandarin Restaurant

Last night it rained non-stop with thunder and lightening as well. I actually wasn't aware of it as I slept quite well. It was an arab friend who called me at 3am to tell me about the storm and to go out and have a look. It was freezing cold ... 8 degrees I think ... and from my window I could see the lightening and rain. It stopped by dawn but after 2 hours the rains and lightening returned. Central Israel was flooded, cars were washed off roads and 2 persons were struck by lightening in Palestine. The newspapers have declared officially that winter is upon us.

I had to say Mass at the Armenian basilica (4th Station of the Cross) while the storm raged. Not bad as I'm able to sing some parts of it in armenian. After that I had to rush off to the City center to do an errand. Came home not very wet as I had the long plastic raincoat on. Thanks to whoever bought it for me from Hong Kong. It was very unique and everyone was looking at it and some asked where they could buy it. I should some over and do a brisk trade!!!

Just an hour ago, my Israeli security friends told me there was a stabbing near Damascus Gate in Prophets' Street. The assailant was seen running towards Damascus gate, perhaps into the Old City. I think there's going to be a massive manhunt and our Quarter will be closed off again. And yesterday there was a massive brawl in northern Israel between Druze and Muslims. 41 people were injured when a hand grenade was thrown. Turned out to be a squabble between Druze and muslim students from a school that spilled from Facebook to the village.

Hot cinnamon buns straight
from the oven

Anyway despite the cold and rain, I got to meet some of my old friends from the security at the Tunnel exit. We chatted out in the streets under the rain and cold wind, drank Sprite and laughed alot. It's the only way to keep sane in this tense situation when the manhunt was going on around us. And it was nice that Khalil our cook made cinnamon buns this afternoon. Something hot in this cold cold weather.