Happy Birthday Israel!

Israel is looking pretty good for 63, I have to say. As they say about the Queen, there is life in the old bird yet. Karmiel had a load of celebrations going on but I didn’t make it to any of them. The tekes [ceremony] and party on the eve of the chag started long after my little ones were snoozing in their beds, so I sent Husband alone. The following morning we exited the city and headed for a family BBQ in Bet Shemesh via another BBQ in a random park in Jerusalem. Basically, unless you are charedi or Arab, its National BBQ Day. We were told that we would get stuck in traffic but Husband cleverly avoided the main route to Jerusalem and we never hit a jam. We wished a chag sameach to the soldiers at the checkpoint and sailed in via the Gush. [Unlike the rest of the country who appeared to be trapped on the No.1. Miserable way to spend a day.]

Sitting in the park it was easy to get BBQ envy. The people next to us had kebabs, skewers of everything else, bowls of garenim, alcohol… Israelis really do know how to BBQ. Especially the sefardim. I think there must be a badge for it in the army. Anyway it was a lovely sunny day, my first Yom Haatzmaut in Israel since 1998 and it was good fun despite being slightly less wild. Well we are Israeli now, and the natives don’t go frolicking about dressed up in the israeli flag. [in fact I remember getting told off for that on my gap year, by some woman who told me it wasn’t “respectful” to the flag.] Interestingly, Israelis are far more low key than the chutzniks, preferring to relax in their freedom rather than shouting about it. I suppose they don’t have anything to prove.

Jojo, as usual, pulled in the park. Her name was Efrat, she is 3, very smily and they got along like a house on fire. Like a good mum I haven’t told any of his ladyfriends back in Karmiel about her. Best not to get involved I say. Yaron and his irrestible smile was snapped up by a man in the adjoining BBQ. I could have gone off with my book for 2 hours and I doubt anyone would have noticed.

Later at our family BBQ, Husband excelled himself by taking over the BBQing. Very manly. Shame the Israeli army don’t take you after 30.