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October 2023 - War effort
Two of our grandchildren are in the army in non-combat positions. We are proud of the actions of our family who are devoting their time and efforts for the relief of those affected by the hostilities. Here are just a few examples.

Our cousins the  Shavits who live in the south near the area of hostilities spent a week with the Ron family in Herzliya. Dani is organising collecting supplies and money. Moran is in charge of the war effort for foreign citizens (many of whom were also killed) and Mikhal is helping with the over 500 foreigners living in their area. Zoe is entertaining children from affected areas and Lotem is doing robotics activities. Limor,  together with her  colleagues in the Egged bus company,  is distributing much needed items to those in need. Ilay and Amit are hosting 3 friends,.

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October 2023 - Attack by Hamas.
We are in Riga and the news of the attack by Hamas is very disturbing. We hope our friends and family are safe. Mikhal Segoli's sister Naama and family were visiting son Moran when hostilities started, and when a siren sounded they all went into the special strong room. Naama's husband Moishik, who is a yoga teacher, did yoga exercises with the family in the strong room.

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September 2023 - Dinner at the Klotnicks with Raphael and Tamara Cotton

Raphael Cotton, son of my late cousin Cecile, is visiting Israel with Tamara his wife. They  are a lovely couple and have been staying with us for a few days. Tamara has a cousin who also lives in our building.  We went for supper to relatives Joel and  Beryl Klotnick in their sukkah  As usual with the Klotnicks the food was excellent and the company wonderful. See Matz and Hershovitz/Levy family trees.

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September 2023 - Lunch with the Cartoons
We were delighted that Selma and Lennie Cartoon could join us  for a sushi lunch from the sushi shop near us. We have known the Cartoons for many years but don't see them often enough. Lennie is a cousin of my late Aunt Malia (Weinronk) Levy.

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September 2023

We had a very pleasant dinner at Yam 7 Restaurant with bridge friends Finn and Ann Wardi from Finland and Jan Kamras the President of the World Bridge Federation.

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Rosh Hashanah September 202
On the first evening of Rosh Hashanah we celebrated at the home of daughter Vered and Aviv together with the Eilat Levy family. The Segolis joined us for the second night for a mini family reunion. (see here).
As usual when the cousins get together  they play the game of  Talisman which never seems to finish.

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September 2023 - Friday night dinner

On the first Friday night after our return from our Morocco visit the Segolis and Rons joined us for supper and had to listen to accounts of our Moroccan trip.

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August/September 2023 - World Bridge Championships

There are 3 categories in the World Bridge Championships: Open, Women, Seniors and Mixed. I am proud that the new Women's World Champion is Israel. The team consists of 6 young women who overcame challenges from 23 other countries.

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September 1013 Vered with friends from school days.
Daughter Vered Ron met with two friends from her school days who are visiting Israel - Simona Gringart from Australia and Patisa Rasmussen from Denmark..

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August 2023 - The Tournament Directors at theWorld Bridge Championships

August 2023 - Another KFC

To add to my collection of family and KFC all over the word: In Marrakech Morocco at the train station. and next to the main central square Jamaa el-Fnn

Here are links to some previous family KFC visits
Beersheva Israel,  Wuhan China, Brasov Romania, Moscow Russia, Shenzhen China, Mongolia and Istanbul, Berlin Germany, Belfast N.Ireland, Prague Czech, Madeira, Wroclaw Poland, London., Nicosia Cyprus, Sinai Egypt, Netanya Israel and New Delhi India.

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August 2023 - The Segolis visit Bulgaria.
Moran and family has a fantastic visit to Bulgaria. This is what Moran whatsapped us:

We went as a family with my sister-in-law’s family for a week's vacation in Bulgaria. We let our children choose what to do. I was happy that they chose to do a 4 day trek. The weather was good (a bit cool and cloudy for me - but the others loved it, the views were beauti,ful. and the cabins were basic with an amazing view.

It's great that the older children still want to spend time with us – especially on hikes.

After the hiked we spent two restful days at a luxury chalet and a day at a Water Park and a short visit to Sofia.

We visited the natural History Museum. It was exciting and we were proud of the kid’s knowledge of and interest in the animals.

There are more pictures on the pages of Maayan, Lotem and Zoe.

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August 2023 - A visit with Hans Reijzer






While I was in Veldhoven for the World Youth Championships (see here)
Doreen spent part of the time in Amsterdam, where our good friends the Reijzers live.
Hans' children, their spouses and grandchildren make sure that a least one of them
visits Hans every day.

When Doreen visited Hans, Ezra Reijzer and his wife Rivka ordered Indonesian takeaway
for dinner

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August 2023 - Albert Cuyp Market, Amsterdam

After the bridge event in Veldhoven  I joined Doreen for a couple of days in Amsterdam. As usual my highlight of a visit to Amsterdam is eating haring which I did a few times at the interesting Albert Cuyp market.

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August 2023 (1962?)
When we lived in Durban (South Africa) the Durban Jewish Club was the venue for nearly all Jewish activities. Cultural shows, weddings, 2nd night passover seder and much more were celebrated there. Doreen and I had the reception for our wedding there, and my father was for a time the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Club. The Club was very popular with Jewish youth, especially the f courts. Unfortunately, due to the dwindling Jewish population in Durban the Club no longer exists.





Our good friend Maureen Fain sent us a picture taken
 well over 60 years ago of Doreen in tennis outfit
 at the courts of the Durban Jewish Club.

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August 2023 - our produce
During the time we were away, our garden didn't have a vacation and  continued growing but unfortunately we couldn't enjoy the fruits of our efforts. But the next best thing was that daughter Vered Ron and family came to our house and picked the ripe produce which they thoroughly enjoyed. All was not lost for when we  came back for the 3 day "interval" we found and enjoyed  another ripe papaya and many ripe mangoes and some avocados. Well eat a few and the Rons will enjoy the rest.

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August 2023 - WBF Youth Championships

The World Youth Bridge Championships take place every second year. There are five categories from Under 16, Under 21, Under 26, Under 26 Women, Under 31. The opening ceremony was impressive with the 36 countries dressed in their country uniforms.

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August 2023 - A short visit to Utrecht

While I was busy with bridge at a bridge championship in Veldhoven, Netherlands, Doreen took time to visit the city of Utrecht and was surprised to find a place that was a pub 6 days a week, and on Sunday was a church with services

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Yet more KFC's - including Netanya!
The fast-food chain KFC is opening branches in Israel. As KFC is my favourite fast food restaurant I was delighted that there is now a KFC in Netanya a 10 minute drive from our home. Of course I couldn't wait to go there, together with half the population of Israel who apparently also like KFC. The staff was a bit overwhelmed but we managed to receive our meal without too long a wait. Doreen's salad came without a fork or spoon (sorry we don't have any) so we returned it but the rest of the meal was good. As always, the family looks for KFC's in the various countries they visit and send me photos - the latest from Moran in New Delhi India.

Here are links to some previous family KFC visits
Beersheva Israel,  Wuhan China, Brasov Romania, Moscow Russia, Shenzhen China, Mongolia and Istanbul, Berlin Germany, Belfast N.Ireland, Prague Czech, Madeira, Wroclaw Poland, London., Nicosia Cyprus, Sinai Egypt

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July 2023 - Papaya trap
Our papaya trees are bountiful this year and there are tens of papayas waiting to ripen and fall down. Unfortunately we will be away and most of the papayas will fall into the street below and splatter. So we designed a papaya trap to catch the falling fruit. So far, one two been 'trapped' (see the first one below).  Some will fall while we are away- daughter Vered will be happy to come and pick those up.

We scoured the neighbourhood for discarded wood  and building the trap was a joint venture - it may not look the prettiest but it should do the job.

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July 2023 - The Nathans visit the Ginsbergs


We received some photos from Melodie Nathan the daughter of Doreen's cousin Lucille Melamed.
 We haven't had much contact with them for some time so we were very pleased.
Melodie and husband Mark and daughter Gabriella were in London and, especially Gabi, enjoyed
the London sights and experience. (see picture below) .

In London they visited Melodie's aunt Wendy Ginsberg and family and this was the first time that Gabi has met these relatives.

On our trip to London earlier this year we also enjoyed a visit to the Ginsbergs.


See: Nochimoviz/Nickel family tree.



Ryan and Natalie Smith, Melody Nathan, Wendy and Dave Ginsberg,
Hillary and Hillel Weintraub.

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uly 2023 - March to Jerusalem

We are proud that our daughter Vered and the Ron family are taking part in the March to Jerusalem to protest the government's undemocratic attempt of "judicial overhaul".

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July 2023 - Wimbledon Tennis

Daughter Vered was invited to Wimbledon to watch the final of the Ladies Championship.

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July 2022 - Moran treks in India
Moran and two friends visited India where they went on a few treks.

Moran writes:
"We delayed the start of our 8 day trek by one day due to a storm.
Today we drove to the start of the trek but the road was blocked due to a rock slide. We waited about 4 hours till they moved the rocks."


"We went on an 8 day trek, starting at a beautiful valley (Markeh Valley) that has a flowing river in it. We had to cross it many times.
We then climbed to the mountains, that were snow covered. The weather was good but it did rain a bit. "

Micky told us that Coral World Bahamas was sold and after suffering damage in hurricane Hugo in 1989 was abandoned. It is now a well known rusted structure and a favorite object of drone photography. You tube has many aerial clips, for example here and a professional looking video here where what's left of the bridge to Coral World from Arawak Cay can be seen.

  A visit to Del' Ara Pacis (Read Doreen's column)