Just came back from a tour of the Kibbutz with Eva. Started in the dining room and whallah - there was Ilan Kopernika (without his accordian, but in his rubber boots). Miriam the salad lady (not anymore coz she recently had a hysterectomy and is on light duties in the dining room). Naaaaazim - oh my god, he looks and sounds exactly the same but with less hair. He has two kids now and has been at Sarid for about 13 years. Uri, the Russian cook - been there ten years and is quite cute actually! Patricia - fatter than ever, but otherwise still the same and still working in the dairy room. Amnon looks exactly the same, doesnt seem to have aged. By the way, nor has Eva.

Then we went on to the kindergarten where I used to work - oh the memories. The kids were just about asleep and Odelia was overseeing them. She looks good and sounds good. She is coming over for dinner tonight. I might go with her and her mum tomorrow into Afula while they run some errands and go the market. Food prices here is the topic on everyones lips, so when there is a cheap market, they must take advantage of it. Everything looks exactly the same, but a little smaller than I seem to remember.

Stopped by the nurses clinic and Szlata didn't remember me (doesnt matter much, coz I was never particularly friendly with her). She is a nurse there and has been waiting to get a flat on the kibbutz and found out today that she missed out so she is going to leave. This has thrown Eva into a pickle, as Eva is now in charge of all the Kibbutz Health department and doesn't want to lose her nurse and she likes Szlata a lot.

We walked down to twin and it's a frame of it's former self. The big grassy hill is gone and they gave away pieces of land to young kibbutznikim who wanted to return with their families. They gave them the land and told them to build themselves whatever. And boy have they ever. Lovely homes. One of twin is about to be demolished. The second one is a mess and Eva still stores all her junk there. Old graffitti, after our time sadly on the walls. Other accomm is now behind Twin where the caravans used to be. Only two caravans left (I think). Moved on to Scorpian which is a sad building now. Eva cleaned it out and gave it to a couple of guys on the kibbutz who wanted to house Darfur refugees, but they never got the money they needed to renovate the place and it never happened. We picked grapefruit from the tree next to the steps and sat reminiscing and eating the sweet fruit. Onwards passed the tennis court, clubhouse, cinema, library, beach volleyball court and horses to the Gitzia. They expanded it a bit, not much has changed there. Toilets are nicer.

Picked some more fruit on our way to Eva's - loquats I think they're called. Yummy. Eva has done a renovation of her home and it's much much much bigger now and very spacious. It's almost 100% complete and a bit dusty, but it looks great. She has one of the best views of the valley. She has now gone for a nap and I'm about to go sit in the sunshine and read a book, maybe do some yoga and maybe have a little sleep myself. I'm learning to slow down. It's hard for me, you know.

Last night we went to the Mo'adon (coffee shop) and listened to a lecture series about Israel's wars. Mostly old people there, but Eva and Izzy have been going so I joined them. The topic was the six day war of 1967 and it was all in Hebrew. Eva said that Haggi speaks like he's speaking to children, so I should be able to understand, but it was pretty hard. She translated some for me and I got the idea for most of it. I enjoyed it. We stayed up late talking about people and old memories.

They are supposed to be voting soon on the privatisation of the kibbutz. Eva still hasn't decided which way to vote. They need some serious management here - there is a great opportunity to do some good with the land, industry, agriculture etc here, but everyone argues like always. Same old politics, same old arguments, same old bitchiness. It's still an awesome place. We are going to Migdal HaEmek after our nap and Odelia will come for dinner and catchup. I have dinner tomorrow night with Lori and Shimon. Patricia invited me to come over... we'll see. Hoping to see Gali Chen, Nira, Gali and Micha and Ariel (who is expecting his first child). Eva and I will do a trip into Zichron Yacov on Wednesday as she has to pick someone up from Tel Aviv or somewhere. I'm just being free and easy and relaxed about everything.

Anyway, I've taken pictures of everyone so far and will try to continue to do so. Hope you enjoy my huge summary of my first day and a half.