Hey all,

What can I say about Ramadan? Before this month began we were all wondering how each of us would cope with the long hours and the ‘stress’ of it all but luckily everything went well. I miss it already!

Anyways, on numerous occasions, I was asked ridiculous question regarding fasting and Islam from my pathetic and ignorant goray colleagues [luv ya really!] such as:

So you can like drink water and nothing else, right??
No nothing.
What really?? No way?? You can die if you don’t drink water everyday, you know!
Whatever, well if you see me passed out in the corner someplace then please do give me some ......

I’ll try and not eat in front of you – don’t want you do get any ‘urges’
Do what the hell you want
Yeah, but like if I want to eat an apple or have coffee – out of respect I will walk away or eat under my desk ....
Don’t be silly, I’m not gona pass out or drool at the sight of you eating!!! (fucking hell!]

I’m fasting also today [Hindu friend – no offence to anyone].
That’s good
Yeah, we can only have fruit and drink water all day! I mean can you imagine!!! How will I survive??? OMG!!
Ermmmmmm, so your NOT fasting then ..... ??
No, I am
Okaaaayyyyy, whatever – keep it up(!)

What about newborn babies??
What bout them?
How can their survive all day without any milk???? OMG, that’s just like soooo cruel!!
Ermmmm, eh?? What on earth you going on about?
Well, children need milk, they couldn’t possible be expected to fast!!
WTF are you going on about?? No, babies and small kids are not expected to fast ... *shake head .... Sigh .... More shaking of the head*

And the most absurd question I was asked ....

So, N .... What about sex?? You going to miss it?
Excuse me?? Did I hear right??? What are you going on about? What bout sex? *fuck sake*
Muslim people are not allowed to have sex like for a month, right?? Not eating is one thing but Sex ... Come on, mate ..... Now that’s just WAY to cruel .... !!!!!!
*My reply?? Well, what I really wanted to do was give them a slap and a good shake saying you pagal goray’s but instead I said*
Not that’s it’s any of your bloody business but number one - I am not having sex (towbah towbah (",) ). I’m a Muslim woman, what kind of gyal do you think I am????? *tut* and number two - Why don’t you get yourself a book about Islam and read the fasting section and see what the hell we Muslims can and can’t do during this month!!! I give up!

Funny though! They sure did keep me entertained!

Most of my non-Muslims friends made the effort of not eating in front of me and a couple actually kept some fast's with me [ well, 2 ], which was a really nice gesture I thought! Mind you they only lasted until 3pm or so but awwww bless them!!

Now, as for Eid ....

I received a few texts’ from my non-Muslims mates saying … ‘Happy ede!!!’ – well, they do try, I give them that, lol!!


Anyways, that’s enough of insulting my poor friends. I really do love them but sometimes ... Jeeez they really do your head in!!!!

As if you didn’t know enough about me already ....

1. FIRST NAME
N****
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was actually - named after a certain late famous Pakistani / British pop singer
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
I can’t remember!
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I do actually! When I was younger I would often win handwriting competitions at school. At uni when I used to make notes during a lecture – trying to re-read them after would be a mission! Now at work I am told constantly that I should really have been a doctor .i.e I write like a doctor!
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT?
Don’t really like ‘lunch meat’, but if I’m really hungry then a spicy chicken burger from Maryland’s will do the trick!!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I probably would.
7. DO YOU JOURNAL?
Does blogging count?? But yeah I used to keep a dairy throughout my teenage years.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yeah
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Not in a million years! My couz bro did it while he was in Greece and although he totally loved it, the pictures of him after the jump told a very different story...
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes – that’s all really. I like my cereal bland and with no sugar!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Only when I’m wearing trainers, otherwise it’s usually a zip [my boots!]
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Mentally, yes. Physically, not so much.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Raspberry Ripple!! Yum!
14. SHOE SIZE?
Between 4-6 [UK size!]
15. FAVOURITE COLOUR?
Black!
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
That I can be a complete bitch and a mardy arse when I wana be!
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
No comment
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
No, not really – what would be the point of that!
19. WHAT COLOUR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black ‘Nike’ Joggers & bare footed [in my bedroom]
20. LAST THING YOU ATE?
Chips!
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Justin Timberlakes - Sexy Back
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?
Red & black
23. FAVOURITE SMELLS?
Stella McCartney’s ‘Sheer’ – Got hooked on it the moment I smelt it ... I never looked back! Love it!
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My bro
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO.
Hmmm *sigh* eyes
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Got this as an email from a mate, so yeah I like!!
27. FAVOURITE DRINK?
Anyone who knows me will know that I adore only one drink [apart from good old H20!], which is Irn-Bru!!
28. FAVOURITE SPORT?
Football, Tennis & playing badmington
29. EYE COLOUR?
Light brown / hazel
30. HAT SIZE?
The only time I’ve ever wore any kind of ‘hat’ was during graduation and even then the frigging thing wouldn’t stay on my head!
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No
32. FAVOURITE FOOD?
Pizza, chips ... You know, any kind of food that isn’t good for you!
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scary - each time!
34. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black tank top
35. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter
36. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs, I guess
37. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
Strawberry trifle
38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Nothing at the mo
39. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Nothing special – just a plain black one.
40. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV?
I watched ‘Torchwood’, which considering is a spin-off of ‘Doctor Who’ & I don’t like watching, it was pretty good.
41. FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
Silence, lol!
42. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Ooooh, not really bothered – Beatles?
43. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME.
Pakistan
44. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?
Playing the dhol!
45. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
In a hospital, in Leicester, UK
46. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
From an email.
47. NEWEST THING YOU'VE TRIED?
Newest thing?? What a question – I guess it would have to be ... nah, I cant think of anything!
48. ONE THING YOU'D CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF.
Everything!
49. WHO DID YOU LAST SEND A CARD OR LETTER TO?
A birthday card to *B* ..... and a Eid card for bro & sis in law
50. WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT?
Mecca, New Zealand, Las Vegas, Dubai [To see what all the fuss is about!] Karachi & Islamabad [To shop!] etc etc

Ok, that was interesting …… Try it

Bye for now.

Eid Mubarak to everyone .....



...... Will update blog soon ....... Miss it!!

Can you believe it’s been over a week now since we first started fasting?? Where did they time go? It zoomed past! The beginning of the 2nd week of fasting has now begun and for me each day just keeps on getting better and better.

Initially though, the first few days were a challenge. I was mentally and physically prepared for Roza but was unprepared for the actual scale of how one would feel keeping a long fast whilst at work. For 2 days the time seemed to drag – every minute felt like an hour, each hour felt like a day. It was tough. As for praying my namaz’s, primarily the first Taraweeh - again I was ill-equipped for the aches, pains and stiffness I would go through for the following few days. I am ashamed to admit that I have not prayed my Namaz’s in a very long time – so I deserve every pain.

Anyways, today is the 9th Roza and all is well. Aches and pains - gone. Feeling tired, feeling nauseous and lazy – gone. I am feeling calm, relaxed and well just happy. [ Apart from eating at Sehri - I will never get used to doing. Eating so early in the morning, and when I mean eating .... I mean whatever I can force down my throat! ]

This morning, I begin reading the English translation of the Qur’an that I purchased a while ago but remained untouched until today. Hopefully this will give me a better understanding of what our Holy book truly means.

How is everyone else’s Fasting going? I would love to hear from you guys! When did all begin fasting? Saturday?? Or Monday?? Which just seems ridiculous to me! Why can't all the Muslims of the world just begin the month of fasting and celebrate Eid together – I know it’s all about the sighting of the moon for whichever part of the world you are and blah blah blah ..... but still!

Moving on, it is only 1pm and has gone absolutely pitch black in my room at this precise moment. As I type there is a ferocious ‘storm like’ weather – raining incredibly heavy [ seems like hail stones! ] with a mixture of lighting and thundering!! Scary! lol

I brought myself a new mobile phone recently. It’s the new(ish) Sony Ericsson W700i with a variety of cool features including a Walkman [ I was going to get the W800i but the nice guy at Carphone Warehouse told me that both phones are exactly the same in every way apart from the camera feature. Apparently the W800i is a little better than W700i – and a lot more expensive! ]. Anyhoo, I’m still coming to grips with the features!! The only crappy feature being the games – a big disappointment! lol.

Blog will not allow me to upload pictures at the moment [ frigging crappy thingy!! ] but you can find a picture of the phone here, that's if you are interested!

At work they have prepared a ‘prayer room’ i.e. a box room but nevertheless a room, for ‘us Muslims’ during this month. I thought that was pretty cool. Even though I don’t pray my namaz’s at work, I have made a few Muslims friends that I didn’t even know existed at my workplace. All in all cool!

What else can I say? [ You see, I’m trying to make up for the times I haven’t blogged!! ].

A small update on my cousin sister, S – she just came back from her honeymoon and came to see me last night. She looked well and happy. I am genuinely pleased for her.

S actually came to say ‘goodbye’ before she left for her honeymoon a couple of weeks ago & on that same day we bumped into each other in town and made ‘small talk’ while making our journeys home [ she came ‘home’ for a few days, as Pakistani girls do once there are married for like a week or so ]. Hmmmmmm seems like someone is trying to get us ‘back together again!’.

Anyways, I must now leave. It is nearly Zohar time and hopefully I want to go back to reading the English translations of the Qur’an after that.

Take care.