Today was a new day. Not like every other day is new. It was a particular kind of new. The kind that comes across once every few years - if you're lucky. The ones that bring new beginnings.
It was a new day and I can't wait till tomorrow.
A blog about the This 'n That's that I encounter. Which can be anything really. So, if you don't understand some blogs - it might be better just to leave it : ) My thoughts are sometimes a puzzle for me as well! - Naila Ghani Chaudry
Today was a new day. Not like every other day is new. It was a particular kind of new. The kind that comes across once every few years - if you're lucky. The ones that bring new beginnings.
It was a new day and I can't wait till tomorrow.
I'm not sure if other women 'celebrate' the day they started wearing hijab. And if they would, it could probably be categorized as bidah (=innovation in religion).
That being said, I do take a minute every year to remember the day I started wearing hijab. It was the evening of April the 29th, that I stood in front of the mirror trying some scarfs on - like I have done so many evenings before. Trying them on this way and that, until I found a style that suited me. The thing different this time was that when I looked at myself I could still see me. That might sound weird, because who else was I expecting, right? Still, this was how I felt and concluded there and then that a hijab was a part of me and my identity. I remember how thrilled I was to take the step, how clear it was that this was something that belonged with me, and how much I wanted to do this.
I knew that I might chicken out if I'd let it stay there, in the try-outs of my room. To ensure that I was going through with it people had to see me wearing it.
The next day it (conveniently)was a Dutch holiday, Queensday, and that meant that everyone would be at the fair. I was bound to bump into people that I know, and they would see me wearing hijab. And confirm me. It would make it more real, and that is exactly what happened. Though, looking back, my hijab was confirmed with the first step out of the house ~ the people were just a motivation to literally take that step.
Every year since I reflect on what this hijab means to me, and go back to that core of the why and how I'm wearing one. And every year it makes me happy and proud and it motivates me to become a better me. The imaan is boosted once again.
Happy Hijabiversary to me!
..feeling quite done with microblogging (read: Twitter)
Re-learning to express in > 140 characters.
.
I'm not a writer
I just like to write
I'm not a writer
And that's allright
I'm writing left
I'm writing right
I'm writing in the day
I'm writing in the night
I write about rights
I write about sights
Not about flights
Just the things on my mind
I'm not a writer
I just like to write
I write when I like
And that's my right
.
Those who know that I like the game ‘World of Warcraft‘ may not be surprised that I‘m looking forward to the next expansion of the game.
Tho, that‘s not what this post is about. The expansion that I‘m looking forward to is the one of my family. We are expecting another baby, hooray!
Insha‘Allah, the baby will arrive the beginning of August.. in the middle of Ramadan, Subhan‘Allah. I like that.
With 2 months left, things are getting hectic (as they always do when things are due). The typical feeling of “so much to do and so little time to do them“. With the extra problem of being too tired to be frantically on and about, just don‘t have much energy left to be hectic.
Enough about me, back to the baby. The big question is of course the gender.. will we have a girl this time, or will we be blessed with three sons?
Both options are very exciting, and I wonder how it will affect our family life.
And of course “it doesn‘t matter as long as it‘s a healthy child“, right.. we‘d be happy anywayz, but it still does matter!!
I just hope that I don‘t have to wait for too long now.. 2 months.. :)
Do I really mean mosquitoes?
As in ...bzzzzzztt bzzzzzzttt.. *sting* *ouch*.. ?
And do I really mean ode as in praise?
Not death or curse, or anything else that inflicts them in any way?
Don't get me wrong, all my life there has been this hate-hate relationship between us. And we've had some heavy battles in this war, like the Great Battle of Summer 2007.
It was epic!
I just can't say they're nasty little buggers anymore. I have to let go the hate. And this is why.
Only recently did my son ask me, why there were mosquitoes. I gave him the standard religious reply
'Allah (SWT) created everything with His Wisdom, and we should respect every animal... nature..ecosystem..good muslims..etc etc.'
But the truth was that I could NOT figure out WHY there were mosquitoes.
I couldn't tell my son that I've been wondering that for ages myself, why are there mosquitoes?!?!
I couldn't tell my son what I deeply wished for the mosquitoes .. a kid shouldn't hear that kind of language.
So what changed in these last few weeks, that made me hate them less.
That made me even appreciate them.
That made me thank Allah(SWT) for his Mercy. And perhaps even the gift of mosquitoes.
..Alright.. not gift,.
This is what happened. I was too tired to hear the alarm buzz, while it was time for Fadjr (morning prayer). The mosquitoes in my room came to aid and buzzed instead, along with some itchy stings to make sure I'd wake up.
And like this,.. the Fadjr salah was saved and I understood their purpose.
It's quite beautiful, really. Thank you mosquitoes. To you this ode.
..No need for 8 mosquitoes in the room tho ..
First the happiness that fills you up, when you see the ‘plus‘-sign on the predictor, when wanting a baby. The thoughts of how the near future may look like. The wondering of the sexe, and what names might suit him or her.
Then the worrying and the ‘what ifs‘. Without a confirmation you can‘t be sure. And the long wait until the docter‘s appointment.
Meanwhile a backache here and there, and very suspiscious, the lack of morning sickness. Memories uncover and similarities are found with that first pregnancy. The one that turned to be a sad story, because of the unexpected turnout of a miscarriage.
And so it was again. The same event, but a different exprience. This time I was not only prepared, I had already come in peace with the former miscarriage. Also I wasn‘t childless anymore.
Still, to be able to rationalise doesn‘t mean you can‘t be sad.
Then there was the hospitalisation. I didn‘t like this bit the last time, so I wasn‘t looking forward to this. But it all went better then expected. I wasn‘t feeling sick of the narcotics and I wasn‘t bleeding, nor having cramps. After an hour I was already being released.
Going home and looking forward to seeing my happy and healthy kids. Appreciating more what I have, and if possible, loving them even more.


It was the excitement that tired him out ;p
The Pizza was too exciting as well ..
High up in the weel!
Now this is graffiti that I like!
Going down ;)
Cheerful workers @ Hamley's (the one in red)
Before ..
.. & after
This is Naila Ghani, reporting LIVE from the BBC ..