A general update (Friends and Family)

I hope this post will be lighter on medical details than the more recent ones. Basically nothing has changed I'm no better but no worse either. The medical appointments continue and different specialists get added.

I'm still basically not working or rather not working at all. But trying to stay positive and succeeding (some of the time).

Olive (our cat) is a joy albeit sometimes an irritating one, when she wants food or attention but she makes my life so much better.

My thoughts are turning to the HHDs, but as I'm not working I don't have anywhere where I'm leading so will need to sort out some place to go to attend synagogue.

Back in June I had a very pleasant summer holiday with mum in Dunwhich and got to spend a little time with my big sister Rosie which was great because I don't get to see that much of her.

I'm paying more visits back home or at least trying to.

And this weekend just got I got to spend some time with Laura and her husband Stefan when they were visiting London, its wonderful to see Laura and great to meet Stefan who is lovely, witty and charming.

So this is an up-beat post, which makes a change from how this blog has been for the last four years. I'm still struggling health wise but if not getting better I'm not getting any worse. And am coming to accept the new situation.

I'm also continuing to study Talmud both Daf Yomi (and the regular (daily) study is certainly improving my skills) and with my two chevurta: Tina and Francesca.

So all in all. Even if things are still difficult I'm feeling more emotionally okay than I have in a long while.

Second Lech Lecha vist

I have just returned from my second lech lecha visit. This time it was to Herefordshire to a small Liberal Community based around the area in the Malven hills.  I wasn't feeling all that well so I found it rather difficult.
My sermon went well, there were challenging points but I was prepared to deal with any possible fallout so that was okay.  The community has a mini-scroll so it made reading rather hard. But all in all I am pleased with how things went.
I am currently very busy with things to do for Monday so will have to go and get on with them soon. I am reading Torah at school on Monday and have a mini-essay to write.

Last week I was very worried for my friends in New York and across the Eastern Seaboard. I have heard from the new and everyone was okay, Laura was safe in Virginia although she was stuck for a few days and unable to get home for a few days.

Now on with the rest of November.

TW3

Hey boy am I glad that this week is over, it was not a fun one. Started with getting my Hebrew exam result (On my birthday) and it was the worst mark I have ever recieved in any subject for any exam at any level ever! So that was a fabtastic start to the day. Then I had the its my birthday but I am miles away from home, thing going on. I am also finding October to be a stressful month, I knew that it was going to be, because of various things al happening at once but it doesn't help to know. We have also had two tiyilim this week: One was a walking trip around a distict of Jlem called Rahava, up near George the 5th street. And the next day as part of Biblical History to Tel Aviv to Tel Gerzer and a musem. So I am very tired indeed. I had a nice quite party for my birthday as befits a 32 year old but it was fun and a bright spot in an otherwise pretty horrid week. I am going to do some cleaning and Hebrew homework (now there is a surprise) before heading over to Laura's for shabbat. Hopefully next week will be a bit better. fingers crossed. BTW TW3=that was the week that was.

Long time no posting

So sorry that I have left it such a long time with out posting anything. A whole month and a lot has happened. Most of it Hebrew work :)
My classes are going well, I am not sure that Modern Hebrew is going as well as it could be but there you go. My other classes are History of Zionism, Second temple History, Biblical History, Biblical Grammar, Bible and the Israel Seminar and I think that all of them are going okay. I as have two Teruma projects and so far I am enjoying both of them. We have also had the Yomim norim...the days of awe. I found these good but homesick making at the same time. However Yom Kippur is amazing in Jlem the streets are free from cars and full of people walking home after Kol Nidra. And of course childern on rollers and bikes.
Then before Succot the streets are full of people selling lulavim and etrogim...amazing!

Laura and I then went to England...I stayed with Mum and Dad and after one night Laura headed off to London...I went to the dentist (So yeah no tooth pain!) and went down to see Laura in London for Monday and little bit of Tuseday. We met up with two of my very best friends (Daisy and Mandy) and did some sightseeing, which is something that I wouldn't normally have done and it was nice to have the excuse so to do.
Then it was back home and off to synagogue of the evening of Simchas Torah...lots of dancing and singing. Before we fly back home to Israel...It was nice to be back in the UK and to get a chance to chatch up with at least some of my friends (I will have to met with more next time) and to speek with both my big sisters and to see my little Nephew and Rebecca. Am now back in the hussel and bussel of Jlem and the stuff of life (bills and buying household stuff) and work. But hey in a few hours its shobbos! I will try and post againg before too long but no promises.

Brake

My short brake is almost over, which is a shame but i am ready for the term to begin for really, and it will be very nice indeed to do something other than Modern Hebrew. In fact we do lots and lots of things so i am going to be rather busy. We start tomorrow with Israel Seminar and then things go on from there.
My hoilday included quite a bit of cleaning, which isn't too bad because I quite enjoy it and the flat needed/needs it. And getting ready for semester tomorrow. But I did get to hang out with Laura, we went to the Old city, which I hadn't really been to the whole time I've been here. (I know I have gone to the Kotel twice, once on Tish ab Av and once with women of the wall) but this was a propper trip we did go to the wall again. And around the Jewish area and then the Shuk and some of the Muslem part and finally the Chirstain section. Before we headed to King George the 5th Street and did some book shopping. Today I am just resting and doing a very little cleaning. Although I did have to get up early to go for my LD Hebrew lesson Yossi says that I am getting better but I am still finding it very hard work.

A short brake

At the end of the Ulpan and before we start our Fall Semester (which looks like it is going to be both interesting and very hard work) we have a short, and I mean very short brake. Friday is Friday here, although it is filled with the stuff of life: Cleaning and wahing and generally getting ready for shobbos, this Friday was quite stressful because we had to going down town to try and sort something out, which cut into what little time we actually had. The Vice Prinicle of our College was in Israel so he came to Friday Night dinner to see how we (all the LBC Students were doing and to general say hi and make sure that we are getting everything we need.), that was really nice and we had a plesant meal together earlier we went to Kol HaNeshamah, and I went there the next day also for Shabbat Mornng. In the evening Laura came over and we had the traditional Saturday night meal (leftovers) and we had a fun evening I have persuaded Laura to learn chess. (I love chess) and we had our first game. We also went for an evening walk, not far but we got some beautiful views of the oldcity, from two directions. And then today some more cleaning of the apartment (Which is looking really raher nice at the moment.) And later I will do some work before heading out to meet up with Laura again.
I am starting to really really love it here and to appericate quite how lucky I am to be here. Although I will almost certainly need reminding of that at a later date when I am struggling to keep my head above water workwise. But at the moment all is good and things are going well. :)

Exciting times

Well another Jerusalem Shabbat is over, and another week of kita alef is about to start. I am now hafeway though my Summer Ulpan course and i think that it is going really well. This week a group of us went to Sir Hadasha (a Modern Orthodox) synagogue in Emek. I really really enjoyed it and think that i will probably go back there to do Kabalat Shabbat. We had a really nice Shabbat dinner at our flat.
I feel that I am getting the hang of being in Israel in general and in Jlem in particular. But it does have a habit of fooling me into thinking that I am back in western Europe and then reminding me that No I'm not I'm in the Middle East.

But i don't know why I am going on about this when the big news is that I am now going out with a wonderful young woman called Laura. She is in my kita (class) for modern Hebrew and is going to be a Cantor. Its early days, but it certainly makes being away from home in a strange place much nicer.
We have only had a couple of dates (0ne was for sushi). But its great and exciting and I'm really happy. :)

We are having a heatwave here so it was 104 degrees F. Today which didn't make for a great shabbat shalom. Hopefully I blog more oftern, but cannot make any promises.