A New Chapter

As my sons verge on the cusp of entering the world of work, this signals a change in my circumstances. No, I am not planning to hang up my own working gloves – they’re going to stay on for as long as I can. What this pending change means for me is that I canContinue reading “A New Chapter”

Converging Lives

For a world where we can live in relative harmony and to understand one another better, I am convinced that people need to connect and converse more. Bigotry and intolerance are invariably born out of ignorance and dogma. Although there should never be any compulsion to agree with the other side, or feel the needContinue reading “Converging Lives”

Family Reunions

Families come in so many different forms and sizes. This weekend was all about coming together, both for short and longer term periods. I went to collect my middle son from university which he has finally finished. So, for now, he is going to be at home with us whilst he makes plans for hisContinue reading “Family Reunions”

Marriage: To Arrange or Not?

As my sons move through their lives and complete different milestones, so too do they reach new ones ahead which are yet to be accomplished. Right now, I am waiting for them to secure jobs in their respective fields and then insha’Allah, further down the line, think about marriage. This seems to be the naturalContinue reading “Marriage: To Arrange or Not?”

Small Consistencies

As I grow older so too do I feel the grip on life is becoming less tenuous. That’s not a morose observation but actually a liberating one. I’ve come to understand the battles I need to let go of and the result has been that I feel lighter mentally. Concurrent to this is the knowledgeContinue reading “Small Consistencies”

Escape to the City

It’s a strange irony that I have recently found myself actually enjoying heading into the big metropolis that is London when many people would do anything to avoid it! It’s not something I do often so the opportunity, when it arises, to venture into the city is one I now relish. I know I feelContinue reading “Escape to the City”

The Benefits of Being Busy

It’s one of the salient pieces of advice I was given a few years ago as I was struggling to come to terms with my new life. “Keep Busy.” Not only has staying preoccupied with my current daily chores and tasks helped me remain focussed on my present life, rather than the past, it hasContinue reading “The Benefits of Being Busy”

An Albanian Adventure

In keeping with the promise I made to myself, I have just returned from a short trip to Albania with my sister and niece. When others asked, “Why Albania?” my reply was that I wanted to go to a place which none of us had visited before and was also within our budget. It turnedContinue reading “An Albanian Adventure”

Money Matters

I wonder how many people would read this blog title and see the word ‘matters’ as a verb rather than its intended meaning as a noun. It makes all the difference and would influence someone’s perspective of me. If read as a verb, I suddenly become this greedy person fixated on making money to satiateContinue reading “Money Matters”

Hubris Miasma

To all absentee parents out there.. How do you do it? How do you manage to swan off and live your selfish dreams without compunction? How do you live in material and emotional comfort knowing you have abandoned a past life? How does your conscience rest easy knowing you took care of yourself without lookingContinue reading “Hubris Miasma”