Re: BIG BED, and more on Tisha B'Av

July 29, 2001

> I don't think we could ever go back to a standard 4ft 6 bed now.

>

> Sue

have sheets and duvet covers for all size beds AFAIK.

Think about it, a standard 4 ft 6 bed gives each person 2ft 3 inches

to sleep in!

Only 13 and a half hours left to the fast! This is the easy part,

although it's hard not being able to have a drink overnight when it's

hot. But late this afternoon it gets really heavy going. If you get

a headache, it doesn't go, gets worse and you can't swallow pills for

it, my neighbour (Zevi's Mum) has offered suppository pain killers!

Our " last meal " (finishing at 8.55 pm. last night) was a sensible

affair of bland proteins such as poached salmon, salads, slow burning

carbos and lots and lots and lots of water. Yeshaya who isn't sensible

and doesn't like fish and healthy food, ate bowls of cereal, lots of

packets of snack foods, a chocolate ice cream, and drank diet coke and

water. As it was Sabbath we couldn't cook fresh food or heat

anything, or get a takeout, or he'd have had pizza and chips for sure!

Of course psychologically, the minute the fast began, we all felt

parched!

Along with the fast itself, we have other mourning things to observe

today as this *is* a fast of mourning for our lost Temple of Solomon.

We aren't allowed to wash ourselves at all, or brush our teeth, or

apply creams or makeup. We don't wear leather shoes. We don't sit on

our normal chairs until after noon time (1 pm)but only on low mourning

chairs or the floor. We don't greet each other. In other words it's

a serious sad, sticky, uncomfortable, unpleasant day.

The men aren't even allowed to study the Torah today, as that is

considered enjoyable, unless it is passages about the destruction of

the Temple. In synagogue, the book of Lamentations by the prophet

, is recited, as he was there at the time of the destruction.

My only surviving uncle, the indomitable Uncle Bertie (82 last Friday)

says to everyone he meets " have a miserable day! "

Everyone will be glad when it's tonight at 9.47 pm. when the fast

ends, although a lot of restrictions don't end until noon tomorrow, eg

eating meat, drinking wine, having a haircut, doing laundry freely,

listening to music, and having a proper bath.

Ruthie

July 29, 2001

> have sheets and duvet covers for all size beds AFAIK.

That's where we get the linen for our 6' bed in Nottingham. The size

is Super King, available in lots of designs for duvet covers, etc, as

well as flat and fitted sheets.

will also do custom-made bedlinen for bigger beds.

--

Sue

July 29, 2001

> will also do custom-made bedlinen for bigger beds.

>

> --

> Sue

Yup, our master bedroom Israeli beds in Jerusalem are 3 ft 6 "

wide,(singles) and made me fitted sheets for them. The two

pushed together fit very snugly, and make a seven foot double!

We'll be out there next Monday 6th, after our grandson's Barmitzvah

this coming weekend. I can't wait; we haven't been to our Jerusalem

house since last October; usually we manage a winter or spring visit,

but what with Tavya having Rafi, and staying with us for 11 weeks from

Jan to March, and then a trip to NYC instead of Israel in May, we just

haven't been there. Can't wait to see how our lemon tree is doing,

also the vine. Avigayil, our other " Israeli " daughter, who lives near

Tel Aviv with her DH and four kids, often uses our house for weekend

breaks and she reported that the vine was groaning with grapes this

year. Two years ago we had over 250 lemons from the tree, last year,

exhausted, it only produced two dozen or so. Our Jerusalem garden is

pocket handkerchief sized; the vine is climbing over the garden wall,

and the tree is the only big feature in the garden, and even that is

about 10 foot high. Besides those two, we have a tiny patch of lawn,

a small flower bed with riotous colours, and overflowing window

boxes on the first floor terrace outside my bedroom, all watered by

computerised system. The gardener, an extremely tanned and hunky man

called Avi, is more often than not called away on reserve army duty so

the garden is frequently unkempt.

I wonder what the weather forecast for Saturday 4th is; I have to

wear this hat for the Barmitzvah!

Ruthie

July 29, 2001