Still hot

Hawkers at Damascus
Gate

 The heatwave continues to beat down on us. But luckily today a cool breeze is also blowing. Last night I had to go out and buy bread for my community's breakfast, and after 2 days in my room due to high blood pressure, it was a good escape. Crowds continue to go on their business as the wind cooled the relentless sun. Some people still wear the mask like me. But most feel confident about their vaccination and go without the mask. Unfortunately the Delta strain can infect even those who are vaccinated.

Yesterday the govt demolished a butcher's shop in Silwan village and the houses attached above. That's one of the flash points of the recent clashes. I think clashes will take place on Friday. I'll have to be careful when I go out. The last night I need is skunk water chemicals affecting my lungs.

And ... another awful thing about summer. Ticks and mosquitoes are back. I've been bitten all over my legs and back. I'm going to buy something to stop the bites at the pharmacy later today. It happens every year. 

Heatwave

White mulberries

 Another school in the center of the country is forced to closed down after the parents of one student sent her to school, when she should have been in quarantine. Now 700+ students must all be quarantined after 20 students tested positive. Other parents are mulling to sue. It's just unbelievable how people continue to flout the laws and spreading the virus ... putting other people's lives and livelihood in jeopardy. Unfortunately "Love your neighbour" is not a big thing here.   https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/BkWV8Uuh00

My blood pressure is still high ... 135/81. I don't know what else to do. I still cannot recall words when I speak and get stuck in mid-sentence. It is so frustrating. Don't know if I will ever recover from this.

Anyway no use raising my blood pressure getting upset over this. I'll get a major stroke for sure. I'm enjoying a few white mulberries that our sisters bought. They're very sweet and I love it. We're having a heatwave, with top temp reaching 40 degrees. Cold water, cold fruit is the best in this weather.

I just heard that the Courts have ordered the demolition of several arab houses in the south of the Old City for jewish settlers to take over the land. I'm sure this will lead to more clashes. 

This morning 6 of our deacons were ordained priests. I didn't go. Not while I'm still ill ... and the heatwave is over us. I'll just rest at home.

Hot day

Sunrise yesterday

Life is not going to be normal now that the Delta virus is upon us. There are over a 1000 cases now in our country, and another 60+ registered in the past 6 hours. Mask wearing is compulsory indoors but the govt is reluctant to reimpose lockdown, as it is confident of the vaccination protection. I'll be staying away from work and outdoors as much as possible. It's going to be another locked in summer like last year. On one hand I can catch up with my readings and studies, but on the other I'll miss the summer activities like eating ice cream in the mall, visiting the pet shops and going to the beach in Jaffa. What a disappointment.

My blood pressure has shot up again today. 153/80. Having a headache. I'm resting at home today. Buddy and JJ are super happy as I rarely stay home with them during the day. They can't stop playing with my paper clips.

Not sure what's happening outside today ... if the clashes are continuing in Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah neighburhoods. The heat is quite oppressive ... well over 30 degrees.  Most of the flowers and plants are dead. I doubt anyone wants to fight in this heat.

Mask wearing is back.

Bedouin hawkers at Damascus
Gate

Friday saw an emergency move by the govt. : mask wearing became compulsory indoors. It was expected to be enforced today - Sunday; but the sudden spike of infections forced the govt to declare the restriction on Friday at 12pm. Notice was given only at 10.30am so we only had one and a half hours to prepare the library. I was at one library and couldn't run back to prepare the other so everything had to be done through the telephone: plastic barriers between users and librarians had to be put back, masks had to be available for users, hand gel and Dettol disinfectant had to be bought to disinfect the tables and books. It was a mad rush. And messages had to be sent to all students and users of the libraries. 

Summer is upon us and the day temp is 32 degree. Nights are 27 degrees. It was so hot last night I could not sleep. And I wasn't the only one. I saw room lights on at 1am and even someone in the library at 3am. This morning I decided to set up my portable aircon in my room. It's needed now.

Preparing sandwiches for the 
poor at the MC convent

Summer vacation has also started but our 6 resident students have decided to stay back for summer and finish writing their thesis. The main problem hindering their return to their countries for summer is there is no guarantee Israel will let them return. The Delta variant has spread so rapidly around the world, we just cannot predict what will happen from day to day.

However outdoors remain free and  masks are not required for the moment ... but things may change tomorrow. Damascus Gate area is still packed with people, and people are confident that the vaccination is effective. However already 5 vaccinated adults have contracted the Delta virus. No guarantees in anything nowadays. Just fingers crossed.

Monster moon

 

Monster moon tonight

The moon is full tonight ... and I have never seen it so enormous as it is right now. Unbelievable.

The sun rises early ... at 2.30am (3.30am, daylight saving). The muezzin begins his call to prayer at that time. You can't sleep much in summer ... the last for prayer is 9.30pm. And people are walking about late at night talking loudly. Its mainly to enjoy the cool breeze that blows every night. Indoors get very hot and stuffy because the stone walls trap heat during the day and release it at night. I'm usually very tired after work as I come home at 8pm ... my legs are sore from walking ... but I really want to go out for a walk as well ... the breeze is fantastic. And tonight's moon is awesome!

Covid is back with a vengeance. Yesterday alone saw 145 new infections. The Delta strain is hitting us quick and if the govt doesn't nip it in the bud, we'll be back to lockdown again.

I've been very busy with work ... and I would really like to slow down as I am still not feeling well. But it seems impossible. I'm still having difficulties speaking at length. I cannot remember words. It's scary.

Another day

Mini peaches

Was feeling quite unwell today. Very dizzy and nauseous. Measured my bp but it was only 127/76 which is quite normal. There's a sharp pain on my right side of my head though. Not sure what it's all about. I stayed in my room all day. Maybe it's because I've not been eating ... I have no appetite for food these days. Linda from Mian Restaurant called me to go pick up some food. I guess I'll go ... I need the walk though the air is not fresh ... it still reeks from the skunk water the police have been spraying these few nights.

Yes the clashes have not abated but instead intensified. Last night's clash at Sheikh Jarrah was particularly violent. Many injured. I'm not sure how things will evolve this summer if this continues.

On a positive note, it's summer and many of the first summer fruits are available in the markets. Bedouin women carry them from the villages and sell them in the streets. Lots of cherries and peaches ... especially the mini variety. They are exceptionally sweet this year. I love it. I think this summer I'll eat as many different types of fruit available in the market as I can. 

Solstice

White crepe myrtle

Today the summer holidays officially begin. It's the summer solstice. One quarter pf my community flew back to Italy. Thank God. Going out is not a problem here ... it's entering the country that's now complicated though the govt touts that the airport is open to all inoculated persons. The fear of the Delta mutant virus is scaring everyone ... especially today when 2 towns saw an outbreak in schools with over 60 students infected. 10 vaccinated people caught the virus. The govt is pushing for teenagers to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Mask-wearing is compulsory in those towns. And more stringent testing will be done at all immigration points. Now that's a sensible thing to do.

Street with crepe myrtles

Summer is officially here with the solstice. It wasn't as hot as I expected. There was a cool breeze blowing all day. And one sure sign of summer is the blooming of the crepe myrtle. Many streets in the City are planted with these trees and their enormous cluster of flowers which are strongly scented have become an icon.

A 6 year old girl died in the car when her father forgot about her and left her in the car for 6 hours. This is an annual tragedy ... and this is only the first case. I'm sure more will come ... as it sadly does every year.

Some of our students are staying back in summer because of Covid problems back in their own countries. Some have started making plans on how to spend the summer here ... besides studying and writing their thesis. So this summer I'll have more company ... it could be fun I guess ... people to help me garden and rearrange the library ....