Sharkiya in the kitchen

Lake Kinneret when you approach from the North East side

Yet another time I had the privilege to meet her. When you climb over the hills and she all of a sudden reveals herself it is a breathtaking view. She looks quiet and innocent at first glance, but she is unpredictable and deceivable. Lake Kinneret (aka Sea of Gallilee, Lake of Gennesaret or Sea of Tiberias) lies 200 m below sea level. It is bounded by hills, especially on the East side where they reach 600 m high. These heights are a source of cool, dry air. In contrast, the climate directly around the sea is semi-tropical with warm, moist air. The large difference in height between surrounding land and the sea causes large changes in temperature and pressure. This results in strong winds dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills. Lake Kinneret is small, and these winds may descend directly to the center of the lake with violent results. When these contrasting air masses meet, a storm can arise quickly and without warning, and small boats caught out on the sea are in immediate danger.

A young woman, native from Tiberias, drowned not so long ago. Both she and a few friends were driven out towards the middle of the sea by the strong wind. They managed to save her friends, but she was the last one and when the wind even ripped her from her air mattress she had with her, she was lost, and her body was found a few days later. She was not even a tourist, but could be expected to be aware of the dangers... Yoram is brought up in Tiberias and his grandmother has crossed the lake swimming numerous times in the old days, but you have to know how the wind moves. In the morning an East wind called "Sharkiya" moves down from the Golan side and moves over towards Tiberias, and in the afternoon the wind turns the other way. So it is a crucial choice on what side you go into the water!

A friend of ours that also practices aikido lives with his family in Kibbutz Ortal in the Golan Heights. The Kibbutz is beautifully situated on the plateau with Mount Hermon in the background, still with some snow on the top. We were invited for a barbecue and some cherry picking, since they are ripe now. We put chicken wings, steaks, meat balls, sausages and skewers on the grill and had potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad and more on the side... Simple, but delicious and A LOT of food! After eating and drinking we took a stroll around the kibbutz and went to the cherry orchard and filled a bag with huge, red and sweet cherries.

Both kids ate properly for once. They are both extreme picky eaters and even though that is a phase every kid goes through (or at least tries), in this case the boys are spoilt. Both mum and dad asks them what they want to eat for every meal, and don't hesitate to prepare two different meals for grownups and kids, which of course results in them wanting nothing. They are also stuffed with crappy snacks in between meals, like sweet yoghurt drinks, chocolate desserts and candy. When they get some real food down it is only some meat and white carbohydrates. I don't know when they saw a green vegetable the last time and according to rumours they don't "like" fish...

I know Yoram might kill me for writing this on the blog, but he knows my attitude and I believe that he sees that things need to change quite a bit, and I don't mind helping him by being the "evil" bitch. I also told him that whenever we get kids of our own, I will never accept such food routines. So, might as well get used to it now!

Today Yoram left Goshen to the vet on his way to work for a makeover. They will go through her skin and clean her ears clinically and give her more Ivermectin. She looks better in the fur and she is happier, so I think we are on the right track. We have found a cheap hypo-allergenic feed that we will get for her. It is so hot today, also indoors, but I don't want to use the air-condition just yet, since I hate the dry air it creates. However, I am drinking water like a horse. I am completely alone at home today which is very nice after an intense weekend with the kids. I think I will have a fresh salad for lunch, without complaints!