After several weeks of looking for alternative accommodation we are on the move again, leaving our lovely but tiny 2 bedroom apartment for a house with a garden. This should provide us with a very different living experience, a change from living on the urban side of town (on a main through road) to the rural end of the village, on the edge of a nature reserve.
I had some interesting encounters in Barta'a this week. More about this when I settle in the new house (and get on-line).
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Saturday, 17 November 2007
New York
Just back from New York, still jet lagged and emotionally drained from the trip, having spent 4 days with my nephew Max who was recovering from his second course of chemotherapy.
After a 12 hour flight, I arrived at Sloan Kettering the famous cancer hospital. One of the toughest experiences of this trip was the pediatric department, where Max is having his treatment. Children, babies and teenagers, bald and with a lifeless grayish complexion, some gaunt others bloated by the drug treatment, all sharing their suffering and hope. But it's the hope that's keeping these brave children and their families going. And it's hope that's keeping my sister Riva and Ed, Max's parents from falling apart.
Max had a couple of bad days and one good day during my visit. He is receiving the strongest and most toxic form of chemotherapy and while he knows its aim is to destroy the tumor, he feels it's also destroying his healthy body.
I went to New York armed with hundreds of acupuncture needles, herbal remedies and other paraphernalia, hoping to be able to help ease some of Max's suffering, but he just wanted Shai his uncle, not the practitioner. We had some magical moments together, a few tears and many laughs, some chats and just hanging out.
After a 12 hour flight, I arrived at Sloan Kettering the famous cancer hospital. One of the toughest experiences of this trip was the pediatric department, where Max is having his treatment. Children, babies and teenagers, bald and with a lifeless grayish complexion, some gaunt others bloated by the drug treatment, all sharing their suffering and hope. But it's the hope that's keeping these brave children and their families going. And it's hope that's keeping my sister Riva and Ed, Max's parents from falling apart.
Max had a couple of bad days and one good day during my visit. He is receiving the strongest and most toxic form of chemotherapy and while he knows its aim is to destroy the tumor, he feels it's also destroying his healthy body.
I went to New York armed with hundreds of acupuncture needles, herbal remedies and other paraphernalia, hoping to be able to help ease some of Max's suffering, but he just wanted Shai his uncle, not the practitioner. We had some magical moments together, a few tears and many laughs, some chats and just hanging out.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
November begins
and the heat is intense. We've just had 3 days of a winter heat wave, temperatures around 34 Celsius and very low humidity. I think this is preferable to the UK winter. Times are busy here; I started my studies at Givat Haviva (http://www.givathaviva.org.il/english/) last week. It's one full day a week of studying literary and spoken Arabic. The first day was quite tough as I am not used to being a student and the pace was dizzying.
Clare is getting a bit claustrophobic in our tiny flat, so we started looking around for a bigger place to rent, no joy so far as the typical rental contract starts in July (usually for one year).
I am off to New York on Thursday to look after Max who is starting his 2nd course of Chemo today.
Clare is getting a bit claustrophobic in our tiny flat, so we started looking around for a bigger place to rent, no joy so far as the typical rental contract starts in July (usually for one year).
I am off to New York on Thursday to look after Max who is starting his 2nd course of Chemo today.
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