But its is, and always will be, Goodbye Blighty.
Sure, the name doesn’t make sense any more but it’s okay.
The tales and musings of a British man who worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but is now in England. All photos are mine unless otherwise stated.Email Me
Read my posts About Me --My Story in Pictures--Books--Diet--Saudi Arabia--Football--Mecca--Medina--My Face--Travel--Teaching--
50 Questions to Expand Your Mind--My Photography-- or Recommend me Ask me anything
Read my posts About Me --My Story in Pictures--Books--Diet--Saudi Arabia--Football--Mecca--Medina--My Face--Travel--Teaching--
50 Questions to Expand Your Mind--My Photography-- or Recommend me Ask me anything
March 1, 2012
I was going to think of a new name for this blog…
February 16, 2012
Anonymous asked: Favorite blogs? Or just some that you really enjoy or check regularly?
I think I’ve mentioned this before but I’m really selective about what blogs I follow. It’s not just that the content has to be of quality (and not just reblog after reblog) but also that the person has something to say and says it in a really cool way. The blogs I follow become so much more than the content because I try to engage with almost everyone I follow and who follows me.
So… in no particular order… here’s a list of some of the coolest blogs/people on Tumblr that I follow.
bermudianabroad - Allie is one of my best friends in real life. She’s AMAZING. Her writing is phenomenal and she’s about to embark on a really spectacular journey.
christinecs - I haven’t been following Christine for long but I love the way she writes. She’s funny and her observations are on point. It also helps that hey interest in film and books actually surpasses my own.
umalik - Usman is a great guy who is incredibly bright. His photography is breathtaking and he’s so conscientious. His posts about Pakistan always make me think and he takes time out to help/maintain good relations with people on Tumblr - like being a witness at a wedding!
mehwishxo - Mehwish is totally crazy but is hilarious.
partytilfajr - I love Osama’s blog. He’s really great. He gets asked questions about Islamic issues and his responses are really well thought out and detailed.
saraharaha - Soumia doesn’t write any more but she’s way too awesome… for a liverpool fan. Come back! My dashboard misses you!
the-peony - Jazz is officially insane. I think she’s in love with me and it creeps me out. Leave me alone! I love some of her poetry.
earthboundepiphany - Jess is awesome. Her writing is always intriguing and captivating. She’s so warm and friendly and always has time for people.
hearts-and-crosses - George is way too cool. He’s a great guy. We’ve been following each other forever.
alwaysseekingmyhappyending - Amy’s blog is like following an episode of Sex and the City. She’s a really cool woman once you get to know her.
nadia11 - Nadia is an amazing woman. She’s incredibly friendly and supportive. She’s a really good friend.
manalsmusings - I am constantly surprised and forever impressed by Manal and how she articulates her thoughts and feelings. This woman has an incredibly bright future and I would love to see how it develops for her.
comptinedesmorts - Hussnain always has fascinating insights. His story is really cool and I always enjoy reading his posts. He’s one of the few people I follow who posts a lot of pictures but I love the style and look of the pictures he selects for his blog.
faineemae - Ainee is the ultimate bad-ass hijabi on Tumblr. She’s an inspiration for so many people here and I’m always glad to see her on my dashboard. It helps that she’s totally famous too.
jumana - I love Jums! She doesn’t blog much any more but she’s a true friend and is endlessly awesome.
alexroach - Alex… Where do I start about Alex? Alex is amazing. He’s so, so hilarious. His writing is phenomenal. He’s a former comedian who is currently teaching English in Indonesia. When he first followed me I checked out his blog and I realised that I read through 50 pages of his posts. I was crying with laughter at some of the posts. You owe it to yourself to follow him.
There are so many other wonderful people who I follow and who follow me too. This list is, in no way at all exhaustive. I know for sure that I’m missing out names of wonderful people and wonderful blogs but I have to limit it for the sake of brevity. I follow way too many women.
There are a few blogs who have deactivated that I miss on my dash constantly. It’s such a shame because there are thoughts and ideas that used to be shared that I don’t see any more. It’s too sad. I really do miss them.
January 26, 2012
thehalalpeniswhisperer asked: I really enjoy your blog, and came it across it from Ahmad's blog (kosmosis). Your experiences are fascinating, and I'm also quite interested in teaching in some capacity for a portion of my life.
Thank you for the compliment. It’s so cool that you found my blog and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my ramblings.
Its’ so easy to teach English language abroad. If you want any advice or information I’d be more than happy to help you in whatever way I can.
January 19, 2012
I should be studying…
but I can’t bring myself to start just yet.
I’ve been thinking a whole lot today. It’s strange because it’s like I have all these things and opinions within me but it seems like I need other people to bring them to the surface for me. I feel like I need people to help show me a path.
Anyway… I was made to think about the way I make friends with people - real and online. I’ve been made to think about this blog and the way I write about things. I was made to think about the person I am and the person I have it in me to be.
I think that the direction of this blog will change again over the next few weeks and months. I remember when it first started I’d write just one long post a day and it wouldn’t be all that personal. I’d write about stuff that was happening or my thoughts on one thing or another.
When I went home for the summer I started to write a lot more about my personal life. I started to write a lot more posts but shorter posts. You got more of my personality but less depth - less essence.
I put a lot of myself on this blog. I share a whole lot of my life but not all my life. There are so many topics that interest me that you would never realise from just looking at my blog. There are so many things in this world that fascinate me that you’ll never know by just reading this blog. I think I’m going to start writing about some of those things. I’m going to start writing about philosophy and art and music and literature and politics and sport and the news and academia and everything. I’m going to make this blog smarter. I’m going to put more thought in to the posts I write. I’m going to actually start editing posts instead of publishing them right away. I’m going to ponder and think and be more critical of the world I live in.
I want to be more creative. I want to be expressive.
I think all this will come at the cost of my personality being limited in expression but you’ll see other sides of me. I think it’ll be exciting. I’m smiling just thinking about it.
I was thinking of the kind of person I am to those of you who I’ve started to talk to through tumblr. I’ve made relationships that have changed my life. I’ve made relationships and friendships with some really interesting and fascinating people through tumblr and I’m so grateful for that. I don’t know how that’s going to change when I go home. I’m already finding it difficult to reply to people’s ask messages and emails. I feel like I’m a terrible friend but it all takes too much time. I have a feeling that part of me might be curtailed. I hope I’m still able to make time but I don’t know how it’ll be.
Regardless of how I want this blog to change and how it will change, I know that tumblr is a part of me. My blog is a part of me. Every post reflects my thoughts, my hopes, my feelings in one way or another. As long as I stay true to that spirit I feel like I’ll still enjoy writing here. I still feel like I’ll have something that you guys will enjoy reading.
I’m coming up to a pretty big milestone of followers for me. I never thought I’d reach it but you guys still keep following me and I’m so grateful for each and everyone of you - even if I don’t follow you back. I’m not going anywhere but I think I will be changing a little bit - hopefully for the better.
January 13, 2012
I want to start making more video blogs
Do you have any suggestions about the things I should talk about or would you like to hear me rant about anything specific?
January 8, 2012
Blogging has been really weird for me recently
I’ve felt the quality of my posts deteriorate so much. I used to have so much to say, you know.
I was looking through my archives today and every post used to be long and detailed and full of information and now it’s though I write a few sentences or a couple of paragraphs and that’s it.
I think the way I blog and my reasons for blogging have evolved a lot. It certainly ins’t what it used to be. It’s kind of ironic, though, that the less I enjoy blogging myself the more people follow my blog.
I’ve had a few awesome people follow me recently and the community on tumblr is what’s keeping me here right now.
Thanks for making tumbr awesome, guys!
January 6, 2012
epicfuntime asked: Iv been following ur blog for maybe 2 weeks now, nd its amazing, jst to let u know i look up too u :)
You’re AWESOME! Thanks for this message.
I’m not trying to be an attention seeker or anything but what is it exactly that you look up to? You really shouldn’t look up to me!
December 28, 2011
pbrsmash asked: also we had been planing the trip before Aleppo was bad.. I will wait now. I wanted to say tht I love love your blog one of my favorites Salam Jackie
Salaam! Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I’m sure you would have had a great time in Syria if it wasn’t for the horrible state the country is in. It’s so saddening.
Thank you so much for the blog love. I really appreciate it. You have no idea. There have been so many times where I’ve just wanted to give up but it’s the love I have here that’s kept me going. Keep visiting :)
September 4, 2011
shathaw asked: Salam:) your blog is really interesting blog i enjoyed scrolling it down, i was searching about saudi in that search tag then i found the blog i read about your days in Riyadh and that when i found it interesting i mean its interesting to read about peoples immersion about riyadh and living there um generally suadi ,also the -50 Questions to Expand Your Mind- the answers were really good ones and helped me a lot answering i can say most of the , yeah also Eid Mubark i hope it went well
You’re awesome! Thank you for your message. I write about Saudi - and the things I get up to here - a lot. Of course, I write about other things too but not as much. Riyadh is a very unique place and I don’t know how I feel about being here (even though it’s been 11 months!).
Those 50 questions were way too cool. I answered one everyday and really enjoyed them. You should work your way through them on your blog!
Eid was good, thank you. Alhamdulilah, I’ve just got to stay focused on the good things in my life!
August 31, 2011
lost-andnotyetfound-deactivated asked: your posts/pictures of Mecca make me really miss it lol. love the blog, its so interesting and fun to read. would appreciate it if you followed back, thank you :))
I’m glad that my posts and pictures about Mecca evoke such strong emotions in you. I’m touched that you’ve said such nice things about my blog. It really means a lot.
I’ll have a look through your blog.
August 30, 2011
Anonymous asked: im reading through your blog (i love it) and i just came across the bit where you were wondering at which point you stop hoping and praying. its important to remember that some of Allahs greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. Hang on in there, whatever happens will be for the better.
Thank you for the love again :)
Ahh… that post. I don’t know how I feel about that post. You’re so right about the gift of the unanswered prayer. In sha Allah, it never goes to waste and what I don’t get in this life will be waiting for me in the next, alhamdulilah. It’s not that I stopped praying in whole, just about one specific thing.
Everything is from Allah. The good and the bad.
I wish all anons were like you! :)
July 28, 2011
comptinedesmorts asked: Been following for a while now - Awesome blog! Tres interessant :)
It’s cool that you commented! I’m being spoiled with all the love around at the moment.
Your blog is so cool. I love the colours of the photos you post. Too awesome.
July 17, 2011
Dear Goodbyeblighty,
Salutations, good sir.
Thank you for the warm welcome back. Oddly enough, despite my absence from Tumblr, I have still managed to follow your blog. I am very impressed with your adventures so far and hope your stay back home is only temporary, thus not depriving us of more tales from the world.
Thank you so much, Alex. I always look out for your blog on my dashboard.
I’m only back home for another 10 days so I’ll be back in Saudi before you know it. I thought being at home for only 30 days would be too little bit it seems all right so far.
July 4, 2011
June 25, 2011
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