Rain again?

Our roses

The temp has dropped drastically today. It was only 6 degrees at 5am this morning. Dark rain clouds cover the sky and the forecast is for rain. The strong wind is very cold. I would enjoy the rain if it does come this afternoon. We didn't get quite enough of it this winter. As I hardly go out anymore, I don't mind the weather. At least the plants will get a watering. The roses in my little garden on the terrace are blossoming very well.

There's been more killings ... not interracial violence but gangland mafia clashes. A teenager was shot dead in the Highway while 2 others injured just a few km south of the Old City. There's been alot of gangland violence lately. Innocent bystanders get shot for no reason.

My hands and feet are still swollen despite all the diuretics and feet on a pillow treatment. Last night I had terrible pain in my right toes. Don't know why. It certainly wasn't cramps. It was a nerve thing. Anyway it's over and I hope it doesn't happen again.

Summer

There was a massive demonstration last night in Jerusalem of rightwing supporters for the govt overhaul of the judiciary ... 200,000 the newspapers say. Tensions remain high as right and left challenge each other, though they have not clashed. Israeli soldiers continue to raid the northern refugee camps in Jenin, Nablus to capture terrorists but faced with local resistance.

Umbrellas at Capitol plaza

I hope summer won't be ruined by all these upheavals. It's been 2 years since the lockdowns and this summer will be the first to be rather normal. Last year many people and places were recovering from the effects of the lockdown and were not fully functioning. Any violence would set us back. It's already a promising summer, with temp going up to 28 degrees. 

My left hand and feet are still swollen. The diuretics are not working. Walking to and from work is an ordeal. Yesterday while I stopped and rested at Palm Plaza, a passing nun asked if I needed help or call an ambulance. I told her I was alright. Just needed to stop every 100 meters to rest ... though yesterday I was very faint as well. Another nursing nun came to visit and told me it'll take many more months for my body to get used to the post-op situation. The heart is worned out and no longer functions like it used to, so my whole body is affected. I mustn't push myself as the heart cannot take it ... an angina or heart attack is just round the corner.

Cold

Yesterday there was a car ramming attack injuring 7 people in the busy open market of Mahane Yehuda. A day previously there was a stabbing attempt. This uptick of violence comes as Israel celebrates Memorial Day today ... remember its jewish citizens killed by arabs. This year the govt refused to let arabs join in the celebrations to remember arabs killed by jews. Sadly the country remains deeply divided as the country prepares to celebrate Independence Day tonight.

Cold and windy nights

Meantime we're reminded that t's 10 years since the Syrian and Greek Orthodox bishops in Aleppo were kidnapped. We pray for their release soon. 

At Damascus Gate the Ramadan lights continue to shine though the feast is over. Crowds continue to flock into the mosque to pray ... los of foreign muslims from France, England, Indonesia. Police continue to stop and search young arabs in the streets, provoking hatred. It's very humiliating to be stopped and searched in public. 

The nights have suddenly become very windy and cold, though the day is pleasantly warm. I've been lending out jackets to visiting friars who didn't bring enough clothing.

My feet and hands continue to be swollen, making walking and wearing shoes difficult. I had severe dizzy spells and nausea yesterday, with chest pains. And I feel very exhausted. I need to sleep more.

Video

Ramadan ended unexpectedly a night ahead. The cannon fired 5 times but rather erratically so I couldn't recognize it as signaling the end of Ramadan. But when I saw the crowds in the streets below our house packed with people, I knew Ramadan ended. Here's a video of the cannon firing a missile to announce the end of the fast ... it's very very loud. 

My fever has stopped but I still have no voice. My eyes didn't get totally red so the doc said we can consider it as not XBB. Not 100% sure but that's ok with me. My longstanding problem is swollen hands and feet. It's difficult to wear shoes. And though I need to walk (I'm taking double dosage of diuretics), my feet hurt after a distance.

There's been sporadic violence in and around the City but all in all it was relatively calm this Ramadan. Well let's hope the rest of summer will be just as (relatively) calm. 

Surprise

St. Paul de Chartres
sisters praying the WoC

It was a wonderful surprise when the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres from Sydney and Brisbane came to make the Way of the Cross. I've known Sr. Anne Catherine and Sr. Angelina for well over 20 years. All the other sisters are young Vietnamese missionaries whom I don't know. I remember their lovely convent in Mossvale, and Goldie their lovable golden retriever. But it was also sad to hear that most of their other sisters and our common friends have since passed on. Anyway it was very good to have met them.

Two rapid tests have shown negative results for Covid but the doc warned that these kits may not be able to detect XBB. My throat is still sore, no voice, fever and slight reddening of the eyes. I still wear the mask outside my room. This has been very disappointing since tomorrow is the end of Ramadan and I really wanted to walk around Damascus Gate and see the festivities before it ends. And even taste the Ramadan goodies which will soon stop being made. Now I'm stuck mostly at home, watching the festivities happen below my window. My feet and hand are still swollen. The medication is not working. And I still suffer from chest pains. 

There was no report of violence or clashes yesterday. That's a relief. However the israeli protests against the govt's bill to control the judiciary continue into its 16th week ... with no sign of it abating. Soldiers refused to report for service when their leader was dismissed. This is the tactic of the govt: remove anyone who opposes the govt. This has only led to more public outrage and civil disobedience. The country is leading to another implosion.

XBB

250,000 worshippers at Al Aqsa

 Last night was Laylat el Khader ... the muslim feast in which commemorates God revealing the first words of the Koran to Mohammed. Also the night when God decides the fate of each one for the coming year. This was the Al Aqsa compound was packed ... 250,000 worshippers were said to have gone there to pray and spend the night. There was alot of noise and festivities in the street below my room. Very noisy. And Israeli soldiers were also under my window as well. Talked very loudly.

Same day the jews celebrate Holocaust Day. Sirens blared last night at 9pm and today at 10am. Solemn moment to remember the 6 million jews killed by the Nazis. But also lots of Catholic and protestant priests, nuns and pastors. Lets not forget Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Titus Brandsma, Maximillian Kolbe and Edith Stein.

There was a stabbing attack yesterday, and this morning a shooting that left 2 jews injured. An Arab teenager was killed in an Israeli raid. Israeli news are showing the spitting assaults on Christians. Several jewish friends came to show solidarity and proposed various plans like speaking to the Mayor and holding talks with politicians and religious leaders. They have good intentions and really want to see various groups living in peace.

My feet and hands are swollen again. Am on double dosage of diuretics. Walking is difficult for me ... even wearing shoes. I fell down the stairs a few days ago. Now one of our Indian sisters has Covid XBB. Red eyes. And I think I caught it from her because we were in the sacristy preparing for Mass. She refuses to be quarantined. I have a fever, lost my voice and eyes are red at the sides.

Anti-christian hatred

It's Easter Monday and everyone goes to Emmaus to celebrate the apparition of the Risen Lord to the 2 disciples there. 

My feet are swollen since yesterday and I can barely wear my shoes. My finished my course of diuretics so I need to go back to my doc to see if I need to continue my medication. Walking is difficult for me and the clinic is at the Zaharah neighbourhood bordering Mt. Scopus. 

However there's a sudden spike to violence with several people killed on both the jewish and arab sides since yesterday. Syria and Lebanon have bombed northern Israel while Gaza bombed the south. Israel bombed Damascus and Gaza in return. Clashes continue every night in the Al Aqsa mosque ... I can hear it from my window. Jews come to our house to spit and curse us since yesterday when we celebrated Easter Sunday. Our neighbours have been recording their travesty and evil yesterday.