What a month!

When I last posted my blog we had just started our quarantine in England. Five days later we took an early release test and were free! We were initially still restricted by the rules as to what we could do, so went on a lot of walks with the family. Malcolm managed to get permission to visit his mother in Heathlands in Manchester where we also manged to have a distanced catch up, outside, with Malcolm's brother. Overall it was a very good trip to the UK and we managed to see most of the family and many of our friends - albeit a very chilly trip. We had a lovely breakfast the morning after Pesach with Emma and Barry although as you can see below we had to wrap up warm. What I couldn't capture on camera was the snow flakes that started to fall during our breakfast!

The highlight of our trip was, without question, three days before the end when our middle son Ben proposed to his girlfriend Tali. They've been together for several years so their engagement wasn't a shock, but we weren't expecting it on this trip so it was a wonderful surprise. We managed to fit in a celebratory drink with Tali's lovely parents although I must admit we forgot about social distancing!

It's always hard to say goodbye, but it was made easier knowing how much the Covid situation was improving both in Israel and the UK and also with the knowledge that our oldest son Alexander would be making Aliyah four days after we got back. Gila had not seen Alexander for 18 months so, despite the fact that his plane arrived at 4 am, she went to meet him at the airport. His escort wasn't very happy when Gila intercepted them on the way to his taxi, but still took a picture of them! Having had one vaccination in the UK Alexander took a blood test to see if he had sufficient antibodies to enable him to be released from quarantine. He didn't, but there are worse places to be in quarantine!

We spent most of the following fortnight keeping Alexander company, no hardship, but had prebooked a tiyul(hike/trip) in the Modiin area. This was a tiyul with a difference, called Nature'n Nosh, led by Joanna Maissel. For two hours she guided us through the flora of the area explaining what was edible, what you could eat raw and what was poisonous. From carob and almond trees to what looked like weeds, with the history of the area and biblical references added in it was an interesting and enjoyable trip. Ending with a picnic of wild produce it was a great way to spend a morning.

This is a month of remembrance and celebration in the Jewish world. Out of necessity there are air raid warning sirens all over the country. On Yom Hashoah, when the Holocaust is marked across the world the sirens are sounded across the country for a minute's silence. It gave me goosebumps to hear the sirens knowing that the whole country had come to a standstill with even drivers pulling over to the side of the road. This is repeated a few days later on Yom Hazikaron, when Israel's fallen soldiers are remembered. As Israel has, and has always had, National Service for all 18 year old girls and boys, and a month's National Service for all under 40's every year, this is an extremely emotional day and the sirens sound again. This day is immediately followed by a night and day of celebration, Yom Haatzmaut -Israel's independence day. Although we have always joined communal celebrations in England our first Yom Haatzmaut as Israelis was spent quietly at home. As Alexander was still in quarantine we satisfied ourselves with a barbecue and watching the fireworks on the beach from our balcony. We also hung our flag with pride from our balcony along with most of the rest of the population. The next celebratory event was Lag B'Omer, although this year it was marred by the tragedy in Meron. It's one of the strangest festivals because it's basis is in religious mysticism, but it is celebrated by all secular Jews across Israel with bonfires and barbecues. We went for a walk and saw dozens of bonfires, but our favourite was the large group who had set up their tables, chairs and barbecues on the kerbside, oblivious to the traffic!

Staying in with Alexander has given me the time to finish my mural and make a start on my mosaic, which i'm really enjoying

Almost over night the weather has changed from Spring to Summer and the days are significantly hotter. We have 13 lemons on the lemon tree and the pomelo tree that appeared to have died over Pesach has sprung back to life. Our lovely balcony is finally complete, the last two elements finishing it off perfectly - an almond tree and a mango tree!

And finally.....after only a month Alexander has found a flat in the Florentine district of Tel Aviv. He and Malcolm have both matured since he was a teenager living at home so it's been lovely having him staying with us, but it's also lovely seeing how excited he is about his new place.