Hats Off for Summer

In this month's issue of my paper's lifestyle magazine Pulse, I was sent to try on hats for the London summer season. For some reason, my colleagues think I enjoy parading around in funny outfits.

Travelling Yentl Style

No. 37: Have a religious reformation

Shalom! I've just returned from my first trip to Israel, a press tour visiting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and had a fantastic time. I'm feeling very holy...


Here I am in my room. The holiness of my surroundings has obviously already made me more light.

These timers were in each of the rooms, so observers of Shabbat could arrange for their light to come on automatically.


Likewise, each entryway in the whole of Israel was fitted with a mezuzzah. This included hotel rooms, bathrooms, garages, outdoor markets...

Gay pride parade in Tel Aviv!

Carmel Market is a very busy place with delicious falaffel.This is Jaffa, an ancient port city. It's where Jonah was swallowed by the big fish. How biblical am I?! We drove to the top of the Mount of Olives and had a lovely view of the whole of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was my favorite part of the trip, you could really feel the spirituality and history of the place. It was very peaceful there, and very interesting to watch how the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities interacted and lived in this space that they all hold so dear.

Here I am at the Western Wall. I was able to visit it twice, once at night and once during the day, and it was a very moving experience. I left my favorite Hebrew prayer in the wall and really enjoyed standing at the ancient spot.

This is just outside the Holy Sepulchre, which is where Jesus is believed to have been buried and resurrected. We followed the path of his crucifixion, there are spots that are clearly marked as where various parts of the story took place. We also visited the space believed to have been where the last supper took place, and the spot Mother Mary is believed to have died. It was very interesting to learn about.

A video looking down at Jerusalem.

Bee-coming a Footballer

No 11: Become a pro-footballer

...Mr Bumble’s star status warrants him his own dressing room, a small corner in the stock area of the club’s merchandise trailer, and this is where I find my subject one sunny Saturday, stripped to his shorts and waving hello.
It’s not exactly a locker room full of half dressed football players, but it’s certainly an unusual situation.
Notepad in hand, I’m doing my best impression of a professional journalist about to interview a half naked bumble bee, spouting of technical questions about method, strategy and form, and ask the Bee Man if he has any pre-match rituals to prepare himself for a game.
“Well, I always like to meet up with me mates at the pub before a game. Get a few pints in then I’m ready to go!”
I like this guy already...

To read the full column follow this link and turn to page 18: http://www.totallyjewish.com/the_jewish_news/view/c-11945/jewish-news-jn-589-110609/?no_login=1

Brrr...It's Cold In Here

I awoke last Saturday to a frightening phenomenon. It is cold again in London. One week of temperatures hitting the 70s (enough to make all the Brits slather on sunscreen and fan themselves in the Tube) and we've reverted back to winter, sloughing through 40 degree temperature. I actually had to put the heater on.
In an ode to this whacky English weather, I'm posting some pics of my favorite winter moments from the past season. November through February were some of the most painful months of my life, but I lived (barely), and here is my triumphant story of ice, slush and hail:

Our first snow here was October 28. Yes, October. This does not make me confident for my chances of a snow-less June.











Unaware of how flippin brutal the cold would get, us Florida girls were pretty excited the first time the snow happened. We were so thrilled, our glasses fell off.
Becky and I had a snow fight...
It got dirty.
Snow angels in our 'garden.'
Time to make a Frosty!

Becky seemed upset I destroyed the angels for this. Ah well, all in the name of art.

Ta da! He had Coke caps for eyes!

Coke Man got a friend.
Michelle Kwan I am not, but I sure can point at stuff!

If you look in the far right bottom corner, there is a tiny snow caterpillar that I made. I'm told Martha Stewart makes them all the time, except she uses a melon baller for hers.

A Figment of Speech

# 10: Rant at Speaker's Corner

...There’s a pretty gazebo-like building across from me, the Speaker’s Corner Café, doling out popsicles and lemonade in a way that feels wholly inappropriate, as I hear one woman yell “the whores of the world will perish!” I look to be the only one around who appreciates the irony- the rest of the Brits seem to regard the scene as incredibly normal.
I suppose they are used to the spectacle. Officially christened as a spot for public speaking in 1872 by the Royal Parks and Garden’s Act, the infamous corner has been host to political tirades from notable enthusiasts like Karl Marx, Lenin and George Orwell. And now, a nice Jewish girl from South Florida...

To read the full column follow this link and turn to page 21: http://www.totallyjewish.com/the_jewish_news/view/c-11920/jewish-news-jn-588-040609/?no_login=1

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