Passover, personal anniversary's and life in general.

I recently made myself a promise that I would blog more, I haven't done so for age and I feel like I should, even if its a bit of nonsense.

Anyway we've reached the end of Passover here in Israel, because of the way it fell though instead of 7 days which is the normal for Israel, we had 8 days like in Diaspora, so just like everyone back in England, I'm stuck eating crumbling cardboard for another day.  However if you don't care about the holiday and have done the bare minimum, its back to normal food from last night or even before.  Most stores here in Israel during this week have cabinets and shelves taped off because they won't sell the normal stuff and only Kosher for Passover, but out of curiosity last night while walking home I popped into AM:PM and unsurprisingly all the cabinets are back in business and people were buying bread.

I don't have an issue with anyone who doesn't observe or keep the Chaggim, its your own choice, for me while I'm not the perfect Jews, I still want to do the right thing.  So for the last 8 days, I've used plastic knives and forks, plastic plates and instead of my usual dinners, gotten slightly creative and also buried Matzoh in anything I could find to get rid of the bad taste.  Matzoh it looks like crackers, tastes like cardboard and goes everywhere.  I think after every meal I've had to sweep up the remains of my dinner because it goes all over the place.

Usually I go to England for Passover, spend time with the family and take a break from Israel for 10 days, this time I'm here and its been okay, I've taken time away from work and relaxed.  Also managed to enjoy a meal or two in Kosher for Passover places which I have gone too when its not Passover, nice to have a menu catering for this week.  Mikes Place nearest me went Kosher a few months ago and I was delighted when I was in the area last Tuesday to be able to go in and have a Burger and Chips Kosher for Passover... sadly no Beer to wash it down... not available because of Passover.

Anyway Passover is done for another year and moving on, I've had a couple of personal anniversaries in the last week.  Last Sunday was 4 and a half years since I made Aliyah, and yes some things still have not gone my way and I'm still working on things but I'm getting there slowly, but surely.  I'm also celebrating over 15 months in my current job, which is the longest I've been in a job and also a hell of an achievement, (people who know me, know what my office is like will understand why its an achievement).

Otherwise I haven't had much chance to socialize as a result of busy work life.  Hoping that will change and I'm also having to plan for moving in a months time as my year is up and I want to move as the rent is going up and I don't want to have to pay the increase, so I'm on the hunt for a new place, hopefully big enough that I can have visitors over to hangout and my Parents to stay.

Its all going good at the moment for the most part, hope to catch up with you all soon, in the meantime I bid you שבוע טוב.

House guests, parents visit and everyday life

Well its been a while since I blogged and I apologize for that, been distracted by other things of late.  But I am here now and its been a busy few months for me.

I shall start with work, for the most part nothing has really changed there, did have a 3 week period where I was pretty much the sole person in my department, which meant I was doing a lot of extra hours and not having much of a life outside the office which wasn't fun.  Still maybe my pay packet will reflect the hard work :-).

My apartment has seen two guests staying with me for the last month and now it feels very quiet here.  Although not having to make sure one of the guests has food and water, is entertained and taken out around Tel Aviv is nice and the other is Kiki... (sorry Dad).  Seriously though its been a nice change of pace looking after Kiki for 3 and a half weeks for Kylie while she was on her honeymoon and certainly having the company whilst been extremely busy at work was great.

My Dad stayed with me for a few nights as my parents and sister have been here in Israel for 10 days and due to the nature of how they ended up visiting for ten days, my Dad had to stay with me for the first 3 days of their trip, before they moved onto Jerusalem and then to Netanya to stay with my Uncle Edward and Auntie Laurette.  They've had a good time and are now at the airport waiting for their flight back to the UK and Storm Katie (or whatever its called).  I will miss them as I don't know the next time I will get to the UK but I will speak to them soon.

Apart from all of that, I've had time to hang out with friends and see people so its been pretty good time, just continuing to go along with the flow of life.  Anyway I hope to blog more than I have lately and speak to you all soon.

Where is the outrage?

Where is the outrage?

So with 2016 less than two days old a quiet Friday in Tel Aviv was shattered by a gunman opening fire in Dizengoff, killing 2 people and injuring others before running off and bringing about a manhunt around Tel Aviv to find him.

While the rest of the world was recovering from celebrating New Year's Eve and the start of a new year people in Israel were being killed or injured in a unforgivable act of evil. Was it breaking news on the media; did people across the world look at the Internet or their TV and think what terrible news, what a horrible thing to happen and what a way to start the new year?

Where is the outrage?

We all sat and watched the news coverage of the events in Paris a few weeks ago and the outpouring of sympathy and outrage of a terrible evil act from a world united in shock; but what makes yesterday any different to Paris? Is it that only two people died and a few injured, or is it that it's Israel and no-one cares?

Where is the outrage?

Have people become so jaded and cynical to the news reported here in Israel that it no longer bothers them?  Is it a case of what did Israel do now? The fact is all life is sacred and no family should have to grieve for losing someone in this evil manner. I am outraged that no-one seems to give a damn, when we live a world that is big enough for everyone. In 2016 can't we make this the year that words work and we learn to live in peace.

Israel and the Media

Israel and the media

After the horrible and tragic events in Paris it's been a week of
extensive media coverage on every channel, every newspaper the World
over has dealt with this awful event. Yet in amongst the stories there
is once again the tired old cliché of blaming Israel for it.

Most of those pointing the finger are harmless people posting on
Twitter or Facebook, either genuinely believing what they have read or
just hoping to provoke a reaction. It does not help that comments made
by Politicians make their way into the press and fan the flames of
hate towards Israel at a time when the headlines should be 'we want
peace and we stand together'. Instead the press through poor wording
or just stupidity seem to turn the anger towards Israel.

Many times I have read headlines about a Palestinian being shot by
Israel and for some people that is enough for them, they don't read any more
and hear the full story, the reason why they were shot, they just
assume once again evil Israel is picking on the Palestinians.

What can be done to change this, even social media seems to be
anti-Israel. Last month Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas claimed
that Israel had executed a 13 year old boy after he and his cousin
stabbed two people. Israel acted quickly to show this was a lie, but
how much damage was done by his statement to the media, how many more
people saw Israel as child killers?

The truth is in war, the media; social and printed is a more powerful
tool than weapons. It can make people believe anything and do far more
damage and that is more scary than anything a gun can do.

Four years and still standing.

Well it’s a little delayed but nearly 2 weeks after my 4 year Aliyahversary; here it is my latest blog post. I actually spent about 5 minutes contemplating what the title would be. I suppose the four years is obvious but the still standing is me referring to the ups and downs I've had over my time here.  I honestly wonder with some of the setbacks I've had since I made aliyah, why haven't I gone back to England.  It’s easy to say it, easy for me to do, just pack up and head back to the UK where I have family and friends and I'm fluent in the language.  Honestly I think it’s just stubbornness or a desire and a belief that despite everything I can make this work, that I can build a life and in a few years I will be able to look back and say that was my challenge and I went through it and have come out stronger.

Am I a stronger person than I was four years ago, I'm not sure, I would hope if you’re a member of my family or friends reading this and you can turn round and tell me "yes" that the person I am today is not the same person I was when I left the UK.

Anyway moving away from my little contemplation, what has been going on in the last few months?  Well all the Jewish Holidays that are usually part of September and October have been and gone, it was nice for the first time since I came here that I was able to spend Rosh Hashana with my family, with my Uncle and Aunt and one of my cousins and his family, which is something I've not done since being here.  Not saying that the friends I've spent other holidays with is not nice, but this was a different kind of nice.  Also having very short weeks at work because all the holidays were during the working week a big plus :-).

Work is fine itself, like any job it is either very busy or quiet which is good, but sometimes I would settle for somewhere in-between of very busy to not so busy.  I've actually been helping train a new English Typist alongside my fellow typist Samantha, one thing I've realized is I'm not a patient person when it comes to training someone and I can't remember how I was when I started in this job, but I hope I was a good student for you Sam. We're actually helping our boss prepare for a meeting overseas which is where the busy part is, after that it will be quiet for a couple of weeks and then back to busy and then back normal levels.  I've also found time to help the other departments, it’s kind of fun to learn new stuff in the firm I'm working at, though it mostly is preparing emails and in some cases filing papers in the storage area.

Socially probably because of the festivals it was a bit quiet, I've been out and about and had some laughs with friends, birthdays and just nights out which is good, it’s still my intention to get my social life going better than ever and any of my friends here in Tel Aviv who are reading, feel free to drag me out of the house when your off out :-)

I've also had chance to celebrate with friends as they got married in the last few weeks.  The first will be forever memorable because of the vehicle the 10 of us were travelling in decided to break down and we as a result missed the Chuppah and the starter :-(.  Still we got there and I got to see friends from Ulpan and dance the night away... and then go into work on Friday morning with a little headache....... 

The second wedding was my friend and former roommate Kylie to Yuval which if you have seen the pictures she looked amazing. Disappointed they didn't bring Kiki as a part of the wedding party, but having lived with the little devil, I can only imagine the chaos she would have caused LMAO.  Still a very nice wedding and again nice to see friends and also it brought one of my best friends from England to Israel for the week, so I got to hangout with her and take a break from work.

So that's what I've been up to, it’s all good.  4 years here and I'm still standing, still working away to carve a life here, I knew it would be a struggle but I'm going to keep working on it.  Maybe one day I will actually be fluent in Hebrew... anything is possible.  

So to my friends and family here in Israel, be well and stay safe and to my friends and family back in the UK, don't be strangers. 

Birthday Blog

Well as promised and almost two weeks on from my birthday, here is my latest blog about my birthday, life in general and the last year.

So keeping people up-to-date with things, I've really settled into my new place, even got myself a tablecloth to make the table look pretty and I've had house guests and visitors which is nice to have and see that people like the look of my new apartment.  Honestly can say I enjoy being here, its just the right size for me on my own, the neighbours keep to themselves so I have my little island of quiet in the big city of Tel Aviv.

Work is fine but generally quiet apart from my regular duties, I've expanded my knowledge by working with other departments including trademarks and also spent 4 days looking for a restaurant in Panama City, Panama for my Boss for a dinner he wants to hold when there is a big conference there in November... so I got to search Google and check out the restaurants in Panama City.  For all you that are Kosher there are Kosher places to eat, so you can now visit Panama City :-).

As for my Birthday which is part of the title here.  It was a good day, with the exception of having to go to work LOL.  Apparently most of the women in my office can't believe that I'm 38 as a few of them asked how old I was and when I said 38 were pretty much like 'no, seriously how old are you?'.  Then I had dinner with friends at UNO in Tel Aviv which was a good and fun evening and had a late birthday celebration at Mikes Place with friends at the beginning of this week which was fun.

Generally the year since my last Birthday has been good, a lot of changes and a lot ups and downs, highs and lows.  I changed jobs during the latter part of 2014 and sadly it didn't work out and for a brief period I was probably at my lowest as I strongly considered that when I came home in March for my cousins barmitzvah that I would not come back to Israel, but before that happened I found a new place to work and I've settled and except for somethings I enjoy the work and the people, but when people warn you before you start that you should not work there... then its probably a good idea to listen and I didn't but I knew I didn't want to stay in the role forever so in some ways its giving me the push and keeping from getting complacent and too settled in this role.  Unless a better position in the company is offered and retraining is involved I don't see myself staying on.

Living wise things have changed I've gone from living with a roommate, something I've always done from the day I went to University, to living on my own which is a very big change, but I think at 38 its something that has been a long time in coming and as mentioned I've had visitors and house guests including my parents visiting and giving their seal of approval.

Socially the year has been a bit of a jumble, part of the problem being the bad patch at the beginning of the year and then working a lot of hours in the new job that I've had days when I've had to cancel plans.  But I've gotten out and about, made friends and had fun times but probably could have done a lot more and I hope the next year I'm able to do more having moved back towards the centre of Tel Aviv.

Generally it has been a good year I feel, could have been better in a lot of ways but life is what you make of it and as I approach the 4th year anniversary of being here in Israel, I'm still here fighting to carve out a good life for myself and I know that I'm going to succeed, even with bumps along the way.

Settling in

Hey all, been a while since I posted and I thought I would catch people on everything that has been going on.

Well work wise everything is fine... well if you call working 6 days a week Sunday to Friday fine. Unfortunately when you are the only English Typist in the office for most of July it seems that's the only thing the office will do, work you harder and expect me to like it.  But seriously my colleague has been off doing exams so for most of the last month I've been working a lot of hours which again would be okay if I was busy but for my actual responsibilities it has been quiet, so I've found other work within the firm helping out in other departments and learning new things.  I'm not sure how much use it will be, but certainly beats being asked do I think I work in a Pre-School by my boss because I have nothing to do.... oh and for the record the answer is 'Not every day, just 4 out of 5 I think that!!!!

Socially it unfortunately hasn't been anything to write about as with working so many hours I've not had time to really get out and about.  I've managed the odd one or two nights out and even hit the cinema a few times to catch up on some of the summer films but I've had a slightly quiet July socially.  Though I have been joined by one of my best friends from England for the last week and the next few days so I've had some fun evenings and I'm sure I'll manage to get out and about more in the next few weeks

The apartment after the first few weeks finally has everything I need to treat it as my home, though I'm still thinking I need a couple of things to add to it, the question is do I actually need them and should I get them.

Ooh almost forgot at beginning of July I had my first house guest and I'm pretty sure you saw the pictures so I don't need to tell you who it was, she was a a well behaved house-guest who cleaned up after herself and didn't decided to use my fan as chew toy and then look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth when I got annoyed with her over it... still always nice having her around... yep I quite clearly have become a dog lover.

Anyway not much else to report, hope there will be something else big the next time I post, but for now, catch you on the flip side.