Refugees for ever

Last night we went to a Durham Theatre Company production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Gala Theatre.
What a reminder!
It was heartbreaking to see a downtrodden people struggling to maintain their identity; even the kind and open-minded one (Tevye) suffers - perhaps the most as the traditions he's used to gradually get eroded because he cares more for happiness than status.
The sense of being down-trodden deepens as the Tsarist constables attack the Jewish people more and more often.
Finally the Jews are thrown out of their village and that whole region (in the snow, in our production).
Remember, this play was set in 1905.
I should have enjoyed the production, but it was so good that I got caught up in the sentiment. How many refugees are there world-wide? How long have they been without a country? Or for example in Gaza strip, how many are living in temporary accommodation because they've been forced off their own land? Which reminds me - how the tables have turned! In 1905 it was the Jews who were persecuted. Now it seems the Zionists are the persecutors.

Time Flies

Doesn't time fly when you are having fun? Zimbabwe issued the first hundred trillion dollar note in the world, then finally admitted defeat and accepts foreign currency for transactions - not a moment too soon after teachers went on strike saying it cost more to get to work than they received in salary.
Christian Aid continues its work. And I continue my training. Running out in the dark evening tonight evoked clucking thrushes and startled sparrows - "I heard the footsteps, but didn't know humans could move that fast". I even ran past a deer that had come to browse on the road side.
It's a delight to be out running. It's a delight that we have the security to be able to go out running in the evening, and the healthcare to be fit enough.

Preparing to run a marathon

The weather's getting colder and nastier, demands on my time are getting greater as we near year end, and yet the marathon on 26 April is getting inexorably closer.

My gym subscription is coming to its own.  If the weather is OK (eg Saturday, and last Sunday) I can put in an 8 -10 mile run at a pace faster than I'd expect to run a marathon but steady enough to ensure I have the stamina to just carry on twice the distance again.

Yesterday (Sunday) it was not so nice, so I was able to go to the gym and combine aerobic workouts on rowing machine, climber and cycle with muscle building.
I won't let you down.  I'll be fitter than I was at half my current age, better able to do the distance safely and I think I'm on target to beat 4 hours.

Don't let Christian Aid down - Sponsor me generously

Training building up for the marathon

An hour run plus an hour gym workout (including lots of cardio and some agility work) on Saturday plus 9.1 miles today running with Richard (I was talking all the way so not a very fast time); preparing for what I hope will be a sub 4-hour marathon at end April.
Best book still Stu Mittleman's "Slow Burn" - I've lent my copy to Richard

Peace in our time

Like so many, I was delighted when President Obama took office, and immediately began putting right the wrongs.
I'm so disappointed at the US stance on Israel "The United States will never abandon Israel". Under the Clinton administration, for a few short months, US appeared not to back Israel and they immediately began discussing peace. The Israeli government and people are not fools - they will attack if they think they can get away with it (big bad George or Dubya to make sure nobody retaliates) but they will live in harmony if they don't think they can. Lets hope Sen Mitchell can broker a deal that works, though i don't see a return to pre 1967 borders imminent [this is a personal opinion and is not necessarily the opinion of Christian Aid, who usually shy away from expressing a political opinion]

Winter Running

It's wet and cold outside. I often don't want to go out. And I remember when younger deciding "better to suffer for 6 days afterwards (from not training) than for 6 weeks beforehand (training)". Isn't it sad - I'm not that young any more and to attempt a marathon having skimped on training would be foolish and put others to inconvenience.
See me run in the rain. See me shiver. Shiver shiver shiver. See me slip on the mud. See my torch run out of batteries.
Then I remember why I'm doing it. At least I have a house, a warm shower to come back to. Food to restore my strength. Respect from friends, family and work colleagues. The people Christian Aid helps have often had everything they have worked for taken away - through natural disaster or through politics. The people of Zimbabwe didn't vote for Robert Mugabe, they simply want to live in their own village amongst their own neighbours and get on with life, and they have a right to expect to do so without interference - government is doing nothing, so charities have to. The people of the Gaza Strip had land and industry, but they've been forced back into a barren corner of their former territory. Then what little they have (each other - that's about it) is threatened as troops shoot indiscriminately at civilians claiming they are shielding militants.
Give generously - please!

USA abstains from Gaza Resolution - Yippee!

It's a real blow to Zionism! We've seen 60 years of unchallenged aggression, of Palestinian people (and other Arab nations) attacked and their land plundered/ stolen, force back into the unloved corners of a fantastic rich land they once occupied.
God might have given the Promised Land. But exactly where did the borders lie? How much of that promise remains after so many transgressions by the 12 tribes? What about the exhortations to welcome the 'stranger within your gate'?
USA has abstained! It's a million times better than a veto. Aggressors watch out, Big George isn't backing you up any more - now might be a good time to patch things up with your neighbours.