Hungry?

After a long and heated debate (about 2 second) we have decided that we would not be indulging in any placentophagy. Whether sauteed, grilled, or even chopped and made into a curry.

Why have I thought of this? I remember being asked if we wanted after our daughter’s birth. I wondered why they were asking, but was a little afraid to ask. Now I know why. What’s wrong with a bit of chicken? Or even a nice steak. Or if you’re veggie, just some nice broccoli with chilli and spring onions….oh no… We need to eat each other’s bits. Yeugh!

More burning flags?

Dutch Member of Parliament (MP) Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Freedom Party, is scheduled to release a film that is critical of the Quran in the coming weeks.The film was expected to be released on 25 January, but Wilders announced on 18 January that he required at least two weeks to complete the film, suggesting a release date of 31 January or later. He is in discussions with Dutch television channels NOVA, EenVandaag, Netwerk and Het Gesprek over rights to broadcast the film.

Wilders has indicated that the film intends to portray the alleged fascism of the Quran.

I guess we should expect massive overreaction from my brethren, and of course forgetting that there have been and will be many criticisms of faith, regardless of what flavour it is.

People will believe what they want to believe. Right or wrong is a matter of opinion. But a simple principle taught to most of us as kids was that if someone bullies you, you should just ignore it and walk away. And bullies come from all cultures/belief systems/races. (In fact my kid sister still bullies me, but then she does buy me wicked presents, so its a small price to pay.)

Marriage counsellors offer the same advice, if you see an argument brewing, walk away and discuss it with a calm head later.

And of those readers who will only believe something if it comes from Quran/Sunnah, I’ll paraphrase:

If you get angry, sit down. If are still angry, lie down. If you are angry still, go and perform the ablution.

Usually the second of those works for me….Have you ever tried to be angry while lying down…not only do you look and sound ridiculous, I end up going to sleep as I’m so knackered nowadays!

Digestion complete in 8 weeks

We went for our 32 week checkup for baby No. 2 last week. All fun and games as we walked through torrential rain and walked dripping into the Women’s Wellness unit at Barnet General. The sight must have been impressive as the looks we got clearly said ‘Do you not have umbrellas where you come from?’

Anyway…I then had to go straight out into the rain as we had forgotten our notes at home. One hour later we went through an examination which was farcical, but more on that later.

So why digestion? Well when we found out we were pregnant, we had to stop Ruqaiiya from jumping on her Mum-Mum’s tummy.

‘Why?’ came the reply.

<cue much umm-ing and aah-ing about whether to discuss birds and bees with a 3 year old>

‘Oh! Did Mum-Mum EAT the baby?!??!’

<we both issue a sigh of relief as the answer has presented itself miraculously!>

‘Yes! That’s right…Mum-Mum ate the baby!’ we both cried.

Thereafter follows 9 months of constant reprimands for Mum-mum along the lines of ‘You should not eat babies Mum-Mum. If you are hungry you should tell Papa and he can make you something to eat. Like chocolate.’

So, given the baby has been eaten, it will be fully digested in approximately 8 weeks meaning that the nesting instinct has kicked in…and I feel the next few weeks may involve a little DIY.

Characterless?

2 Euphemisms I came across in my life for prostitutes are:

“Woman of Ill Repute” and my favourite “A Characterless woman”

So when I read something about prostitutes in Bangladesh (who are not really discussed in polite circles, but I guess that is the case in every country), I wonder whether these euphemisms apply.

The first probably does because it is effectively a judgement on the reputation of a person and that is always external to the person and how they are perceived. And despite what corporate culture says in the West, perception is not always reality.

However as for being Characterless, I would say the only reason it is true is because the women’s characters are probably beaten out of them, either physically or psychologically, but basic manners still exist. These womenwill welcome people into their lives and offer them something to drink. But they themselves readily admit that life in a brothel is not all that its cut out to be, despite how some working girls portray themselves in the West today, i.e. the ‘fictional’ Belle de Jour.

Wow!

Its been a long time since I’ve been writing…but finally after a few months of constant busy-ness (surely that has to be a word!), I am getting a little time to put electronic pen to paper.

Got a pressie from darling sister over the Winterval holidays*….one of these.

This means that I have promised that I will upload at least one picture to Flickr every day this year. Will be adding a Flickr feed soon.

Oh and baby number 2 is due in about 8 weeks. Time to look at environmentally friendly nappies.
*As Christmas is so obviously not politically correct. As a Muslim I honestly couldn’t give a rodent’s bottom about what its called, but I might as well pander to the PC crowd and also any Right Wingnuts who think Muslims eat babies.