and came back today. It’s so weird having them back after they were gone for so long.
I don’t even know. I feel like a terrible son for not being ecstatic.
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--
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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
May 28, 2012
My parents were in Pakistan for 7 weeks…
April 6, 2012
So, it finally happened…
After a month and six days… my mother and I had our first proper argument. Two days before she leaves for eight weeks, too. I really thought we’d avoid it until after she got back but I was being too optimistic.
The fight was about how I don’t respect certain members of her family. I told her respect is earned not given and that I did the bare minimum to meet my Islamic obligations to other people. She didn’t see it that way.
Anyway, things got heated and she ended up saying that I was dead to her. She kept saying things like she wanted me out of her house and she never wanted to see me again.
I just started laughing at her.
I spent the afternoon, and most of the evening, with my sister and when I got home I talked to her like nothing happened. She gave me the silent treatment but I was cracking jokes and trying my best to make her talk to me. It didn’t work fully but I’ll be talking to her again before she leaves for Pakistan on Sunday evening.
April 5, 2012
So, my brother, sister-in-law, and niece are going to Rome in the morning…
and I have the keys to their house.
They come back on Sunday which is when my parents leave for Pakistan for 8 weeks.
Should I throw a party? Who wants to come?
March 24, 2012
The best, and worst, thing about spending the day visiting family is…
The food. It’s delicious. So incredibly good. It’s bad because I eat way too much.
Seeing the family isn’t too bad either.
March 24, 2012
A beautiful day to spend with the family
It’s exactly what I need today.
One brother, two sisters, two brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, five nephews, three nieces, and me.
Alhamdulilah.
So much love.
March 9, 2012
xonly4months asked: hOW IS HOMEEEEE? YAAAAAAAAAY
Hey Tata,
Home is great in so many ways. Thank you for asking. I love being around my family. There’s so much love here and I’ve been without it for so long that it’s kind of overwhelming at times. A person thinks they’re doing okay away from family and friends for a while but it’s only when you’re back from being away that you really appreciate the small things you were missing out on. Do you know what I mean?
Everything is great and the world is beautiful and the future is incredibly bright. I hope you’re having a wonderful morning in Brazil! :)
March 6, 2012
Things I love about being at home…
- My nieces and nephews
- Real, honest-to-God, home cooked food
- Variable weather (I’m in that phase where I’m loving the rain) even if it is freezing cold
- Walking places
- The possibility of cool things to do in the evening
- Seeing women walk places when they’re not wearing abayas and hijabs (and then I lower my gaze).
- MTV:Rocks
- Watching the news and real things actually going on
March 4, 2012
It’s the first time my brother and I are watching a match of football together in a 18 months!
Tottenham Hotspurs v Manchester United.
<3
March 2, 2012
Home so far…
Yesterday was really weird. I don’t even really know how to talk about it. This isn’t my home any more. This isn’t where I belong. There are amazing things about being here like my family and stuff but this isn’t my home.
Today was much better. Today was really chill and fun. I haven’t really done all that much since I’ve been back except chilling with my family. I saw all of my nieces and nephews today and that was really nice.
This weekend… We’ll see what happens.
I’m not complaining, I promise. It’s just going to be a massive adjustment.
February 24, 2012
Anonymous asked: I for one know that I am a different anon as the last question wasn't by me. Anyway, what are your thoughts on the societal and often familial pressures on getting married. I'm a female that has crossed her "marriageable age" status and it breaks my heart at the situations I have to face. What do you think about this though? Do you face any pressures?
You’re not ManBoof? That’s a shame.
You know, I’m twenty-nine years old. I’m getting past ‘marriageable age’ as you put it. I’ve had family on my case for a few years to get married but it’s not worked out for one reason or another. The pressures guys feel is totally different from the pressures women feel and, in all honesty, I wouldn’t even know where to start on commenting about it. I’m sorry that you’re going through a difficult time. I hope it eases for you.
Personally, it’s not been all that bad since I’ve been in Saudi but I know it’s going to be worse than ever when I go back home. Time will tell how it all works out.
I feel the individual should have a lot more of a say about when they are ready and understand the actions that need to be taken when they are. Marriage is marriage. I don’t have any grand insight in to it. All I can advise is for you to stay strong and do what makes sense for you. After all, you’re the one who knows what does and doesn’t feel right for you.
February 10, 2012
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]
My sisters are sooo excitable. The main people in this video are… my brother who opens the door, my eldest sister who is the most excitable of the lot, my sister-in-law who’s excitable but you don’t see that much and my other sister who is also excitable but I don’t think you see her at all.
The thing I love the most, other than the screams and squeals of joy, is how they flip between English, Urdu, and Punjabi.
What a great video.
I’m reblogging this from myself from when I went home in the summer. I was away for nine months and they weren’t expecting me home for another month. I surprised them and the reactions are just amazing.
I can’t wait to get back to all that love.
I love my siblings more than anyone else in the world. They’re the best people.
February 9, 2012
Right now, this very second, I’m happy.
2 weeks and 6 days until I’m home. I’ve been making plans with friends from home for when I’m back and my schedule is looking really nice and kind of full. I can’t complain about that.
Home! Good old home. It’s a shame I’m not surprising my family like I did at the end of June. That would have been the best.
February 1, 2012
I miss my dad
I miss just sitting in the same room as him and not saying anything. I miss talking to him about his day at work and his life and thoughts. I miss talking to him about Man Utd and I miss talking to him about the Pakistan cricket team.
I miss giving him these huge hugs out of the middle of nowhere when we both happen to be standing at the same time and hugging him by surprise.
I just miss him.
Exactly 1 month before I see him, in sha Allah.
January 25, 2012
A new video blog where I talk about a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
January 23, 2012
I’m a terrible son
I go weeks and months without talking to my parents. Today the timer reset to zero. I woke up from a nap and my first thought was to call my mum.
I can’t remember the last time I called my parents. I think it’s been a few weeks.
It always breaks my heart when I talk to them. They’re both getting older. Mum was in an accident a few weeks ago and she’s still not 100%. My dad was complaining about his health too.
They were both so happy when I told them I’d be home in five weeks and three days. My mother asked me to bring a jai namaz (prayer mat) back from Mecca for her and some zam-zam water. My dad didn’t ask for anything. They both wanted me to just come home. I think they miss me a lot. The house is so empty with just the two of them living there now.
They’re going to go to Pakistan on the 22nd of March for two months. My cousin is getting married out there. My mum doesn’t have much family left there now and doesn’t think she’s going to be visiting all that many times again in the future. She’s not sure what to expect. I told her I was going to move out to my brother’s house when they leave. I didn’t tell her that I might not come back home after that.
Time to be less of a bad brother now and call my sisters.
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