A good friend and colleague and I once had a conversation over lunch about our gobbiness. We both talked a lot and were very friendly. We both fretted that as Muslim women we were not reserved enough and did not limit our conversation with men enough. In the end we both agreed that it was […]
As hubby was away Saturday and Sunday and because it was Bank Holiday Monday we thought we would spend Sunday morning as a family out in the Essex Markets and the afternoon at my best friends.It was actually a very nice morning (albeit early – we ;eft after fajr), I picked up a few books, […]
Most people think about planning their goals and activities in the context of a month, a year or even five years. There are a few people who like to think about the longer picture and plan the course of their career to retirement or even what they want to achieve over the course of a […]
I had a good visit to the library this week, the first four books I picked up were ones I liked. This blurb of this book indicated it was about the New Zealand Rugby Teams tour of Britain in 1905. Not being a mad sports fan, I usually avoid this type of book, but mention […]
Bit of a long title for a rather short post I know. Little Lady is enjoying exploring her embroidery materials at the moment. We have had a few goes at this together and she is happy to go off and try things herself now. When Little Man wanted to have a try, I immediately put […]
I have been looking for a decent solid shampoo for some time. I get very dry hair and find that even baby shampoos dry it out so that it looks like straw and takes lots off serums and oils to calm down again. In the past I have found that solid shampoo bars are a […]
We seem to have found another source of childcare for the moment, a rather unexpected one alhamdulillah. One of my cousins has come here from Pakistan to study hotel management in Plymouth. Usually family and friends that come from abroad stay with us. I don’t mind as guests are a blessing and it brings excitement […]
The Ninety Nine Names of Allah by Muhammad Iqbal Siddiqi is a book I have had for many years and have often picked up in times of need or worry. My version is covered in post-its flagging names I want to come back to or have found have helped me. Over the last few days, […]
I don’t commute into the city anymore thankfully, but had to travel to Trafalgar Square for a work conference. I didn’t like the commute much (personal space is a good thing in my opinion), but I have to admit I was excited at getting away from my desk to somewhere interesting. Even more so when […]
Assalam alaikam, I hope brothers and sisters are doing well and keeping healthy wherever you are insh’Allah. I haven’t written in a little while and in that little while, the whole world seems to have changed with the corona virus epidemic and all that I has brought with us. We have been in lock down […]
The quote for Day 16 of Ramadan from my box of things to think about is: “True devotion is for itself (Allah): not to desire Jannah and Jahannum.” ~ Rabia Basri (Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya RA) This quote is based on the supplication of the great Rabia Basri: “O Allah! If I worship You for fear of Hell, […]
At the end of last year Gorgeous finished his first full reading of the Quran. I was over the moon as was he, if for different reasons (he thought this might mean he doesn’t have to study Quran anymore – think again little buddy!) I had promised him a party when he finished and picking […]
My sister Fashionista recently found herself married for one year and decided to mark the fact with her wedding registry (As her husband put it during lunch “thank you for coming out to our wedding…for the sixth time”). We were all invited to the registry hall and for lunch afterwards and it was a lovely […]
I have described my home as being full of guests and there are various reasons for this. When I was a little girl, I lived with extended family: grandparents, two uncles, an aunt and two cousins as well as my parents and brother and sister in a big old house in east London. My grandparents […]
