Not so Happy New Year

We have very good friends who live is Beer-Sheva (Israel). They were featured here.

The "Mum" was my first PhD student when I was so green I had no business having a PhD student. We muddled our way through, and her thesis was fantastic. We have become friends as well as colleagues, and she was one of a small band of people responsible for Foxy's successful gestation. Yes, I actually forced her to inject my arse with progesterone during a conference. What a trooper.

Anyway, she reads this blog but does not comment because she does not think her English is good enough. You will see that she is mistaken. She has agreed that I can blog about her recent experiences...it really brings it home to read a first-hand account from someone I know & love:

We haven't started so well this new year. I am not sure if you are aware of what's happening here in Israel right now. Since last Tuesday, the Hamas has expended their activity and has started sending rockets from Gaza to Beer-Sheva too. On Tuesday night at 21.00 for the first time, we had an the alarm in Omer (where we live), and *husband* and I had to pick up *our daughters* from their beds and run with them to the shelter. Luckily we have a shelter in the home (which is being used as a storeroom). The next morning we had one rocket who fall in Beer-Sheva 10 min from our home. This time there was no alarm before it felt (the rocket fall on a nursery in Beer-Sheva, which was luckily empty). At 9.00 another alarm, we ran again with the girls to the shelter. This morning we got the message that all schools and nurseries will be closed. At that time we didn't really understand how severe was the situation. We took the girls with us to the Uni (which apparently was still opened). After few more rockets falling in Beer-Sheva (one on a school), we went back home. At night after putting the girls in bed, *husband* and I watched the TV. Suddenly, at 22.00, we heard a huge explosion. In fact, the entire house moved... This was the first time that I really worried. The bomb came with no alarm to warn. This time, the rocket fall in OMER (!!). I started packing and decided with *husband* that I'll take the girls the next morning to my parents' house in the centre of Israel. At midnight we had another bomb... This was the first time in my life that I was so afraid that I had stomach-aches. I was afraid mainly knowing that the alarm system is not reliable. I lied in bed, gave a kiss to *husband* and told him "Happy new year". It was midnight of the 31st!!

Well, the next morning we left for few days. *Older daughter* was SO tense and afraid that I had to convince her on the way to have a chocolate. Can you believe that!!
On Sunday we came back. The alarm system was taken care and seem to be more reliable. It is relatively quiet now. We had one rocket yesterday. Nothing yet today...

At these times it is easier being younger and less cognitive developed. Interesting... When *younger daughter* tells me "mummy, I am afraid", *older daughter* tells her" you don't have to be afraid. mummy and daddy are taking care of us, and if the alarm is on, we go to the shelter". What we say, is what she accept. It is easy for her. *Older daughter*, at the other hand, understands better the danger. She is worried. I think that slowly, slowly she manages to feel that overall, having a shelter at home, and having us around her all the time, she is safe. I hope so...

I have been myself in this situation for some time. As I do my clinical work in a city called "Ashkelon", which has been bombed for few months. But, it is completely different when you have you children experienced it. This is the most painful for me.

I hope this war will finish in peace negotiations. Both sides suffer a lot. As you can see, our family has entered this group now...