Delicious and super pretty cake made by the amazing  Maaria

The weekend before the lockdown, my cousin got married. Lucky really as any later the wedding would have been cancelled for sure. We were worried already that there was a chance the wedding would be cancelled but alhamdulillah, it all went ahead as planned. Thinking back now, it feels like it was such a long time ago, when times were different and we took things such as the simple freedoms for granted.

This afternoon, while out in the garden my neighbour popped his head over above the fence and asked 'are you fasting today?!' I was a little bit startled because I was sure we weren't fasting - I doubted myself. Anyway, it kind of hit home then that tomorrow is the first day of Ramadan.

I love Ramadan, it makes me marvel at how easy fasting becomes. It shows us how doubting yourself can pull you back because in Ramadan, we find this strength, this amazing willpower and faith. It brings people together - ties with family as well as strangers. There is a sense of giving present in Ramadan, hospitality and openness, that feeling that we are all in this together.

Small child must be kept busy or this happens!

This is the first Ramadan in our own house and keeping small child busy whilst fasting will certainly be challenging! This is also our first Ramadan whilst social distancing. It'll be odd, very odd. Ramadan is normally a very sociable time. You drop off food to friends and neighbours, go to talks in the mosque on weekends where you'll meet a group of people - see, lot's of socialising. Of course at the end of Ramadan comes Eid. Eid involves meeting family and eating food - yet more socialising.

I don't expect that we'll be able to do that this year because of Covid-19 but at least we are all connected through technology! People are only a phone call or text away. Sometimes even a wave from the window will do!

Now tomorrow if I go out, I won't be needing my water bottle. I won't be able to snack or drink tea during the day and staying home may, or may not, make it harder. Who knows! Let's try it tomorrow.

Ramadan Kareem to all those people taking part! May this month be filled with blessings, enlightenment and mercy.

Stay well and stay safe. Remember, we are all in this together. 

I've had to update the way my blog looks because something went wrong and I had sad emoticons all over it instead of my header and what not. I enlisted the help of the amazing Stepan ... who listened to me, heard what I was saying and even more importantly, what I wasn't. He was patient and probably pretty annoyed at my really slow response time - but he never showed it!
Thanks to him, my blog has been saved and has a new look!!

If you need Stepan here are his contact details - highly recommended if you're in the market for a blog makeover!

Stepan Jakl, Bohemica Studio www.bohemicastudio.com Stepan@bohemicastudio.com

Get in touch with him, he’s great! What do you think of the new look? 

It's official. 2019 is actually over!

It's time to say goodbye. Not to my blog, although I do think that may be on the cards somewhere along the line, but to my first ever pair of Birkenstocks. That's right, shoes. You have not gone crazy, stay with me.

See, I like to use things till they are utterly and completely used, on their last leg and often beyond this. My Birkenstocks are getting there-  if it were up to me I'd probably keep them in my draw for a long time, but something tells me that I should say goodbye.

Brief History:
These were my first ever pair of Birkenstocks which I purchased in Canada in 2015. They have been with me since.

What we've been through together:

A day in Toronto

• Canada 2015 - was undoubtedly my best Canada trip to date. My other trips there have been pretty close but on this trip as a whole was amazing! I had so much fun!
• My first solo trip (as in without my parents) - We went to Turkey together and had a ball
• Malaysia 2017 - They came with me to Malaysia. Oh so Romantic.
• Work  - I have worn these to my many jobs and never ever once felt uncomfortable.
• Birth - This is one of the most important things I have done so far - I wore these to and from the hospital.