Ceasefire???

Well after a week of high tension in the region, it appears tonight there is a ceasefire. Though having read stuff on Facebook I've heard that the ceasefire wasn't an hour old and the rockets are flying into Israel again, and Israel is showing restraint, which is more than I feel I would. Coming from the UK I've never had to deal with this kind of thing, sure I was in London when the July bombing happened and I've seen on the news when the IRA struck, but I've never really lived it, never felt the hint of panic the moment sirens started. It is something that I really would like to never happen again, but sadly I don't see the peace lasting and I'm sure soon again I will be hearing the siren and heading for the safe room in my apartment or a shelter. In total in the last week I've been to the safe room twice and on another occasion over the last week to a Underground garage near a cafe I was having lunch at with some friends. If your reading this, your probably thinking, you have a british passport, why not come back to the UK and honestly I've had friends say that to me and I will be honest, the thought has never really seriously crossed my mind. I made the decision to come to Israel to start a new life, I knew that things like this happened and could happen, but still I came. I want a new life and I have it, slowly and surely, friends, work etc and yes there is the shadow of danger hanging over the country, but I refuse to live in fear, to run away at the slightest trouble. Because if I do, then they win and I don't want to let that happen, I want to live my life and I will continue to do so. Am Yisrael Chai

Interesting Times

There is an old Chinese Proverb/Curse that says 'May you live in Interesting times'. Certainly the last few days have been more than a little interesting. And if you don't know what is going on, I urge you to look at a paper or the news and see just what is happening... though sometimes seeing the news or in the paper only tells half a story. The reality is it feels like a dangerous time to be here in Israel and I've had someone ask if I am going to return to England and as I said to her, I won't run away in fear and I won't live in fear. I will carry on as usual living my life, maybe with a bit more of caution and being more alert, but for now its Keep Calm and Carry On as Usual. Hope everyone is well and I hear from you all soon

Driving Test and Geeking out with fellow geeks

Short post again today, nothing really major to post and tell you about. Hung out with friends, gone to work. Had a driving and lesson been told that next week I will have my driving test.... think after the last year I'm more nervous about the driving test than anything else and that includes making Aliyah. Been told my instructor will pick me up at 6am and I'll have my test around 8am, so by the time most of the UK is tucking into their 1st cup of coffee of Sunday I will be hopefully a qualified driver here in Israel. And as for the geek thing, recently attended a convention type event here in Israel and in the next couple of weeks there has been a Doctor Who event arranged which I will attend, so that will be very cool, nice to mix with Israeli's who share a passion for something I like and also something very British. Maybe I will meet a Geekette :-) Otherwise its all very quiet, hope you are all well.

Driving Lesson

Hey all, short update for the day. I've decided I want to write a bit more in my blog, try and do more than one post a week. Well been an okay day today, had another driving lesson today, this time instead of driving in an automatic, I went back to manual. The reason for this is if I pass on an automatic I can only drive an automatic, but I drive and pass on a manual car then I can drive both. So anyway I had my lesson and it went okay, but I think both myself and the instructor agreed I need one or two more lessons with the manual to be good enough to pass the test, so for now my Sundays are taken up with a driving lesson at least. Don't worry I won't take lessons from the Formula 1 drivers which I am currently watching now. Apart from that I was up early and actually did what I wanted to do, which was go to the park and have a brief run round the park as well as use the exercise machines that are in the park, so it was a good way to start the day. Now just relaxing before going food shopping and then its back to work tomorrow :-(. Oh well its how I have money to buy things.

Strange Week

Has been a bit of a strange week if I'm honest, but now its the weekend. Well halfway through weekend anyway at least. Week been pretty busy on and off, saw a few friends during the week, went to Tel Aviv last saturday to see Hull City on television for the 1st time here in Israel and fortunately we won so it was a happy trip. Apart from that I hung out with a friend in Tel Aviv after the game, then Sunday was a busy day with a visit to the Dietitian and my first driving lesson with an automatic car. That went okay, but for tomorrows lesson its back to manual gears, as I've been told pass on a manual and you can drive both a manual and an automatic car, but pass on an automatic and you can only drive an automatic. So the lesson went okay a bit rusty as its been 7 months since I drove from Haifa to Rishon but it went okay, hopefully tomorrow will be fine as well. I also again went to Tel Aviv to visit friends who had been here for the week from England... they brought me chocolate LOL. So it was nice to see them and hang out for a few hours. Also managed to get out on Wednesday night and have a nice evening out as well then. As a result of the dietitian visit I made last Sunday, I am now trying to be a bit more healthy in food and exercise. Except for one night I have walked home from the Train Station every day which is about 3.4km so its a good bit of exercise and I am going to start running around the nearby park as well for more exercise. Also trying to watch what I eat and be careful as well.... okay the chocolate pizza from Max Brenner was a bit of indulgence, but I've been wanting to have it for a while so I did. Apart from that its been a standard week for me nothing really mention, just the usual. Anyway enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed the pizza