As usual in all-or-nothing Israel we’ve moved seamlessly from high summer to winter without the benefit of autumn to ease us through. At last, here's the rain we have been waiting for - and it’s not just raining; there are thunderstorms and it’s been pelting down. Although the forecast says this weekend will be cold for the time of year, we can easily revert back to unusually hot for November by next week.

It is very grey outside this Friday morning as I write, but not raining just at the moment. Do I venture out for my early morning walk (which on Fridays includes a stop to buy challahs and the weekend newspapers) and risk getting drenched, or do I take the car?

Unlike me, Laurence is paying no mind to the weather and is out cycling. He’s in training for the annual Alyn bike ride, which starts on Sunday.

It’s the tenth ride this year, and around 700 riders from Israel and all over the world will participate in on-road, off-road and one-day rides. This is a staggering figure when you consider that the Alyn ride came into being in 2000 when nine Israeli riders, including Laurence, cycled from Jerusalem to Eilat raising $45,000. Over the past decade, the ride has raised millions of dollars for Alyn Hospital, which is one of the world’s leading specialists in the active and intensive rehabilitation of children and adolescents who have been injured in terror attacks or road accidents, or who are suffering from congenital or neuromuscular ailments.

You can listen to a podcast of Laurence and Jeff Erdfarb, who has come from New Jersey to ride for the ninth time, discussing the Alyn bike ride on Rusty Mike Internet Radio via this link:
http://rmr.sharp-stream.com/marian_libor_bike_ride%28dl%29.mp3

It’s just started pouring again so that decides the car issue for me. Hope Laurence has managed to take cover somewhere.