Final days of Holiday and back to Israel

Well as I write this, I'm actually been back in Israel for 3 days now. It felt a bit weird coming back after being with my family for the 1st time in nearly 7 months and the 1st time back in the UK in 10 months and I it wasn't until Friday night that felt a bit down as a result. Still I got over it and I'm now back to my cheerful self... okay cheerful, got a cold and coughing self but still I'm back to semi normal.
Well the rest of my holiday was quite busy and fun, On Monday I spent the day with my parents and it was nice just to spend the time with the 2 of them. In the evening I travelled to Warrington where I met up with my friend Steve and we went to this Chinese Buffet Restaurant we had used to go to when I was still in the UK and in the North. Always nice to catch up with a friend. Then Tuesday I spent with a friend who visited from London and we just strolled around Manchester city centre, browsing in shops. Tuesday evening I had my one and only home cooked meal and for those who read my status it was prepared by my Dad and not my Mum. Wednesday was another day with my parents where we did a bit of shopping for me to bring some stuff back to Israel, include chocolate digestives. After lunch we went to the National Football Museum in Manchester City Centre and it was pretty cool as there were mentions of my hometown club and hopefully soon to be back in the Premier League Hull City... although who ever had the idea to use the Hull City Tiger Print Kit for one of the displays, should really have known better. The Picture of me with the kit is on Facebook for those who don't know what I am talking about.
Then finally as a family we had dinner in one of the local restaurants where the Burger I had was so big I had to actually eat the burger without the bread around it... yes it was that big. And then it was home to relax for a few more hours before getting up early to catch my flight back to Israel. The flight itself was uneventful, though it landed late due to delays in Manchester, but it was nice to be back in a warmer country after the cold temperatures of England for a week. I hope that I'll be back though in a few months as it will be Cousin Roberts Barmitzvah.
Anyway having been back, I arrived in time for Purim. Now my own experiences of Purim mostly in the UK are that pretty much most young children and a few adults will get dressed up for the Megillah reading at the local synagogue. Here in Israel it’s a bit different with pretty much everyone participating in dressing up over a few days. In this case from Friday to today, with a street party in Tel Aviv where there were various costumes including I believe Bob the Builder, Mario and Luigi, a variety of Supergirl, Wonder Woman and the odd Smurfette, one of whom I managed to get a picture of. I even got into the spirit at a party on Saturday Night, see below. There are also a few pics of people dressed up on my Facebook if you care to have a look. It’s actually quite fun to see everyone dressed up and having fun, it’s almost like the 3 days are an excuse to let go and just have fun for a few days before everything returns to normal
Well that's everything for now, hope you have enjoyed reading and I hear from you all soon.

A Wedding and a Packet of Salt & Vinegar Crisps

Well it’s Monday morning and my holiday is already half over, but it’s been a pretty fun and busy few days already. I flew into Manchester on Thursday night with a little delay due to the flight into Israel being delayed, but I was still here in the UK for around 10.30pm which is only a slight difference in time from its original landing and the flight itself was pretty good, was able to relax and read before arrival. Upon arrival being greeted by my parents and sister I was presented with a packet of Salt & Vinegar Crisps which unfortunately are not available in Israel so nice to have something different. Also I was given a jacket more suited to the weather in the UK as I only came with a thin jacket more suited for warmer weather.
Anyway Friday was a relatively quick start to the day as I visited an Opticians to have my eyes tested... the verdict is I can see! After that it was a quick lunch and off to Hull for the wedding of the year my Auntie Brenda to Harold. Pretty much most of the family stayed in the same hotel so it was good to reconnect with cousins I've not seen for a while.. though a couple of them I'm not sure if they really knew who I was, having been so long since last I saw them. After a lovely dinner with friends and family Friday Evening, it was back to the Hotel to relax and rest.
Saturday came and we went to the Shabbat morning service at the synagogue my parents had been members for many years. It honestly felt strange to be there as it’s the first time I've been to this particular synagogue in nearly 6 years. After the service and a nicely provided Kiddush. My sister and I headed for the KC Stadium to see my beloved Hull City play. I have to say I was apprehensive about watching City, knowing how lately they haven't been on top form. However I had one thing going for me in 6 of my last visits to the KC Stadium Hull had won each game and I wasn't disappointed as they secured a valuable 3 points in our fight to return to the Premier League.
After the game I managed to catch up with an old school friend who I haven't seen in many years and after catching up it was back to the hotel to relax with my family and enjoy good conversation. Sunday came and it was Wedding time, the service was conducted inside the synagogue and was lovely to see, pictures are of course on my Facebook page. Then it was back to the hotel where a lovely lunch was put on, followed by speeches and I even got a special mention as I'd come all the way from Israel to attend. After photos and everything it was time to call the weekend to an end and I'm now back in Manchester relaxing. Still have a few days and a few plans of things to do, so it’s not all going to be sat on my laptop or couch. But for now that's all from me.

Two Days to Go

Well it’s a short blog entry today, nothing major to report but two days to go till my week’s holiday. I'm looking forward to seeing family and having a break from Israel. I feel like I need the recharge after some frustrations, so it’s good to be heading back to the UK, though I am not looking forward to the weather... plenty of warm clothing.
Though actually I want to see a bit of snow, it’s a been a while since I've seen it so would love to see snow one more time. Looking forward to having crumpets for breakfast and going to Millies Cookies and real fish and chips :-). Oh and seeing my family as well LOL. Have been wondering about extending my trip in England, but I realise I've got a lot of things to do here in Israel so I do need to come back, otherwise I would stay for another few days. Maybe I'll change my mind when I get there.
Oh and big news I've decided I'm moving to Rome and putting my name in the hat for the vacant Pope position. I reckon I can do the Job...
On that humorous note, I hope to speak with you all soon and keep following my blog. UK people I'll be on my English mobile from Thursday night till the following Thursday, feel free to drop me a text/call and we can catch up. If you don't have my English number anymore let me know and I'll send it to you.

I'm back to Blog

I know you’re all disappointed I've not blogged in a while, but really it’s because there hasn't been anything to report. Every day at the moment feels the same, though I am counting down at the moment.
Counting down to what I hear you ask. Well I am off to England next week, just for a week to visit my parents and family and attend my Aunts wedding as well. Also most importantly I'll be going to the KC Stadium to see my first Hull City game in nearly a year, so I'm hoping for a win. As a result of this trip I'll be visiting Jerusalem the night before to pray for a safe flight and that when I visit the KC Stadium Hull take the 3 points :-).
Apart from that I'm currently apartment hunting and while there are plenty of apartments available its finding one that has roommates with it as I feel living alone might not be that good for me. Yes I can say having my own place and the ability to do whatever the heck I want is a good plus, but I think I would get a bit lonely if I didn't have other people around, so I'm looking to find somewhere either to move in where people already are or find other people who are looking. I fortunately don't have to worry about it too much as I have until the end of March before I have to leave the place I'm in. I do have to say I've been a little spoilt by the place I've been in as it’s such a nice apartment, but hopefully I will find something just as nice and where I am happy to live.
Other than that, I'm actually very tired at the moment; think I've had a lot of stress and it’s now catching up to me. So having a week in the UK will probably very good for me. To any of my UK friends, if you want to chat to me, I will be on my old English number, feel free to drop me a line and say hi. Anyway for now I'll end and hopefully blog again next week.

Nothing to Report really

Well it’s been another week and yes I promised to blog a bit more often, but there is also only so many times you can say there isn't anything going on. Since I last posted the election has been and gone. I have to say voting is a lot different to the UK, apart from the obvious holiday day so people will come and vote. Instead of the usual paper with the candidates names on and putting a little X next to the name and putting them into a box. Here its slightly different, imagine the television show Countdown and it’s a bit like that with the different parties on pieces of paper with Hebrew letters in front of you and you have to choose the one you want to vote for. Not a case of one from the Top, Middle and Bottom, but a case of one from wherever the party you want to vote for is!!! Then it’s just a matter of putting the slip of paper into the envelope and putting it into the ballot box and hey presto you have voted
Apart from that, I've started to browsing apartments for myself, I'm thinking that Tel Aviv is the best place to go as that’s where the social life is and maybe I can actually find that there. Also started walking a bit more, done a couple of two hour walks over the last few days and feeling more determined than ever to lose some weight.
Sorry it was so brief; hopefully the next one will be longer and more informative.

More changes to come

Hello everyone, hope your all well? I'm doing okay, just getting over a cold at the moment, probably down to the bad weather from a couple of weeks ago. Nothing much to report except as I knew or expected I will have to find a new apartment from the beginning of April. I have time which is good but everyone knows how quickly time flies, still I'm not going to get to worried or panic just yet, though I admit last night I was a little worried.
I've actually already started some work towards it, even if it is just mentioning to friends and asking if they know of anything of anyone who is looking in the Tel Aviv area. I'm determined to get this sorted as fast as possible, rather than have it creep up on me suddenly and find myself scrambling to take any apartment. Hopefully something will turn up and it will be as good and as reasonably priced as the apartment I've been in for the last year. Watch this space for further information and developments.
Not much else to tell you tomorrow is a holiday as its Election Day here in Israel and I have to say I think that it’s a great idea to have a day off, even if it is a bit strange to do so. But from a point of view of if you’re working a long day and your tired, the last thing you want to do on your way home is go and vote when you would rather go home. So having the day free to vote is a really good idea.
Apart from all that it’s pretty quiet here, nothing in particular to really report of interest. I am however counting down the days to something I've been looking forward to for the last 6 weeks, can't believe it’s nearly here. Anyway hope to read some comments and hear from you all.

Driving and Feelings of Isolation

Well so far this year I've seen some pretty epic driving here in Israel. As in epically crazy... early in the month I saw a car pretty much refuse to move until a JCB moved first, while other road users pretty much went round the JCB. I think this went on for at least 5 minutes with the driver blasting his horn and the JCB eventually moved. Then today I've seen possibly the oddest thing I've seen in a while. Now feel free to argue with me on this point, but when most of us are driving if we go past our turning on a road and there is no one around we will either do a U-turn as soon as possible and go back or if we're able reverse and take the turning. Not so with the driver in question today. He went past the roundabout and then reversed back over the roundabout to the 1st section of the road, then went round the roundabout into the street he wanted, I know what you’re thinking nothing wrong or strange with that, it’s the fact that after reversing he could have turned right into the road, but instead chose to go round the roundabout and down the road he wanted. Just seems to me a little bit crazy to do it like that.
And finally I was walking to the supermarket when I saw some lights coming from behind me and turning around there was a Motorbike behind me on the path, I know they do this in England, but here it seems like they don't care about rules of the road or pavement. It’s almost as if once they pass their test they figure lets drive how we feel like and yes I have a licence to drive here, still believe I will drive as I did in England and like my Mother says going slow may take you longer to get where you’re going, but going faster and having an accident means you’re a long time dead.
At the moment I'm finding things a little tough and while I'm committed to making Israel work, I'm feeling very isolated from people both here in Israel and back in the UK. I'm not getting at anyone at all; it just feels like that I don't hear from people unless it’s a comment on a status or something I've shared. It would be nice to hear from people just to have them text or message me and ask how things are going.
Okay I had my little rant about how I'm feeling, now to finish on a song... okay I won't sing I don't think we want the rain back in Israel. But seriously I'd like to wish my Mum a very Happy Birthday for Friday as I won't get the opportunity to speak to her on the day as she and my Dad are off on a cruise. So Mum Happy Birthday or יום הולדת שמחה אמא של. Hope you have a great day and a great holiday and I will speak to you soon.