Miss Kolka

If Hamas is a dangerous terrorist organisation, it must be said that they're not very good at it.

As the spokesperson for the US government condems attacks on Israel by the Islamic movement in the palestinian territories, Washington only asked Israel to "avoid civilian casualties in Gaza". Until now Israel has only rarely responded to  any demands or followed international resolutions not to attack civilians or occupy certain territories. They do just what they want. And the world watches without ever interfering. The EU and UN are completely useless. Everybody waits for the US to mediate - bad luck, Bush is leaving and he was busy eating his turkey, while Obama is dealing with planning his first response to the financial crisis and also wanted to spend his last christmas as non-president with his family. So no one was on call that day. Do we (other countries and the EU) sit by out of guilt? Will we ever get over the second world war? Yes it was terrible but its time to stop the nonsense, the palestinians have suffered enough.

The big joke is that the "evil terrorist" organisation has killed one person in rocket attacks, which is yes sad but what is it next to the 300 casulties the Israeli have killed, and more than 600 injured on the Gaza strip? How is it defendable, even if you do not get along with your neighbours, that you go out with intent to kill its leaders? Tell me where in the world political leaders are OPENLY accepted death targets? Whether we like it or not, Hamas is a political force in the palestinian territories and they won, may I remind you, democratic elections in 2006. So why is it acceptable that Israel can try to kill its leaders like Khaled Meeshal or Ismael Haniyeh?? It already assassinated the founder of the organisation, Sheikh Yassin in 2004

The main argument for the air attacks are that Hamas did not renew the 6-month old ceasefire with Israel a few weeks ago. A bit of a joke since Israel had in the meantime maintained some of its attacks on Hamas members and a blockade on Gaza for months. The situation there is already dire,  there is almost no electricity, medicine, fuel or even food and a big military power drops bombs all over without any warning. And still, we just watch it happen.

The hamas leadership has now called for suicide attacks on Israeli targets - which is not the way to go of course - and should not be defended - but these people are already in such misery and they dont seem to be able to speak to one another, so negotiating seems completely impossible.

SO sad. It reminds me of an episode of the West wing, where Martin Sheen tries to mediate between the Israelis and the Palestinians. An extremely difficult task and the differences well represented, an image close to the truth and somehow there seemed to be some progress made. Well the writers of the West Wing series managed to write history before it happened in the presidential elections, maybe they should also be consulted for any future summits held by the new power in place after January 20th?

and waiting, and waiting.

In the meanwhile a new year is creeping up on us.

What do we wish in the new year?
I want a healthy baby, a good night's sleep once in a while and exciting adventures in other countries.

Let 2009 be all that 2008 wasn't.

The day yesterday finally came and went and we are relieved. Everything seems to be going fine, the baby is ready but the strange itchy thing will be closely monitored at the hospital from now on and until the birth. But when will that be? Impossible to know but a little something tells me we wont have to wait too long.

In the meanwhile, all christmas cards have been sent, christmas gifts have been wrapped and we are getting ready to have a lovely christmas eve with my dad and Lise. As usual the food will be exquisite and plenty of wine on the table, that is for all but us, babylicious and me. But we'll enjoy it none the less - give me tasty food and good company any time and Im happy. Hope Pan will like it, this being his first Noel abroad and away from his family.

And for christmas day we've also planned to have some yummi stuff, such as duck with apples, alot of "Sild" or harengs we found in the delicatessen shop "autour du Saumon" and my grandma's wonderful Cartron chocolates. This combined with old christmas movies and we are set for the waiting.

Merry christmas Everyone.

Let me say it again. 0.35%. That doesn't sound like a big probability. Well that is the number of pregnancies in France that suffer from a problem in the 3rd trimester called Cholestasis. A rather rare liver abnormality that if left untreated can be hazardous for the baby - although research does not confirm that and actually little is know about the disease at this point, although it seems to be more common in some places that others (for example in Scandinavia where 1-2% of pregnant women suffer from it) - Its main charasteristic is an unstoppable itch for the mother-to-be, and both the itch and the liver function can be treated with drugs. But it often means that labour has to be induced early, or from 37 weeks to not risk the baby health. In rare cases, women can wait until the full 40 weeks. And the only cure to this is the birth - then the condition disappears by itself. Hmm.. so lets say between 0.35% and 1% - what are the odds?

Well little probability, but enough since I got it.   

Weird, Tomorrow is our date, 37 weeks, that we have been waiting for for so long. Where I thought I could finally run up stairs and just do any things that pregnant women do at the end of their pregnancies. But it seems that we will be challenged once more. Lets see what the doctor says tmr.  

Only a few days left until I find my freedom again! Until I loose it to motherhood that is :)
But that's not a problem. I just can't wait to walk down the street and not worry if these cramps that Im feeling are normal or something actually to worry about. From tuesday on, Babylicious can come whenever it wants... Im ready, baby daddy is ready, the bags are ready and all we want is to get to know this little person soon.

Also I don't want to have to wait until the 13th of january! Or even the 22nd (some doctors say that they will actually wait THAT long before anything will be triggered). That seems like forever. I won't have any nice advent calendar gifts to open anymore and PAn will start work again on the 5th of january.

So baby, if you please, don't imitate your mom and be late. Its not polite.

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