Two more days of respite

Another cold cloudy damp day. Housework after breakfast, and work on next Sunday's Sway, adding in a photo of Fr Andrew, and Bishop Mary's announcement of his appointment, before cooking lunch. Then a walk in the park, in which I only needed my brolly for one five minute shower. Cold wind and rain have stripped bare the largest most mature trees. Younger ones for the most part are still covered with brown or golden leaves. Such a contrast to how it was the week before last.

The fourth day of hostage exchanges in Gaza is going according to plan and hundreds of aid lorries are entering during this temporary cease-fire. As the day went on the likelihood increased of a two day cease-fire extension with hostage exchanges. Some of the Israeli hostages are not held by Hamas but by another Palestinian militant group called Islamic Jihad. Hamas admits that criminal gangs also took advantage of the breach in the Israeli border defences, not only to plunder but take their own hostages. How they will be persuaded to hand them over to Hamas when the time comes is anybody's guess. What it does show is the lack of unity among Palestinians fervently opposed to Israel and bent on exterminating them.

When the ceasefire ends, full hostilities will resume, and that means aid lorries will either cease or reduce to a trickle. The need will far outweigh the supply in this desperate situation. Yesterday and again this afternoon the weekly BBC 'Food Programme' looked at the impact on food supplies of the siege in Gaza, but also told about Gaza's cuisine. The region is richly fertile, and doesn't need to import all its food. Some of its cuisine is celebrated for its creativity. It seems there's a tradition of using all kinds of weeds and thistles in making tasty veggie dishes, with its origins in the diet of poor people, similar to many Spanish and Italian dishes. As Jeremy Bowen BBC's chief Middle Eastern reporter said, even when burdened by need, suffering and conflict, victims find comfort in being reminded of food they love and are proud of. 

This evening I drafted a letter in support of Basma's asylum petition, relating the story of her entry into the life of St German's since the summer for the benefit of her asylum lawyer. I also watched another episode  of Rocco Schiavone, before finishing the day.