Inspired by Digital Niqabi, I will be wearing the badge (on the right) in support and in prayer for ther innocent people who are suffering in Gaza.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Archive for » 2008 «
28
December
I started writing this post, and then scrapped it… and then restarted…. and then scrapped it. This is my third attempt…. and the reason why I have scrapped it twice is not because I don’t know what I want to say… I’m just not quite sure how to present it….
Half way through the year, I lost something very precious. The person who I loved so dearly decided that we were not going in the direction which was possibly destined for us. If you are reading this today, I just hope, wish and pray that Allah gives you the patience with someone else. I know it took a while for me to get stable on my two feet, for us to try and gain some stability, but these are the challenges that we face in everyday life. Sometimes you win…. sometimes you don’t. Maybe it was not meant to be for us, and inshallah we can have happier days going forward.
At work, I started the year with a few challenges – good ones. I was given responsibilities at work which I did not expect at the end of 2007. The year is ending very positively on this front too. There is always a stigma, a label which us Asians attatch to ourselves, especially in the Western side of the world. I think Russell Peters put it well in the sketch below. Asian people (read Indian and Pakistani folk) will always complain how hard it is to get ahead in a non-asian work environment. I have worked in a majority Asian environment to know that the thinking of our people is screwed up. Our types love to complain, moan, bitch…. there aren’t many of us who just get on with it. Keeping that in mind, I think the ‘wins’ which I have enjoyed this year reflect the amount of hard work which I have put in. I can hope and pray that the next year is as just to me as this year has been!
2008 was also an eventful year on the international scene. I think the second half of the year was unpredictable at the start of the year. The 3 things which stood out for me were:
- The Olympics in China – I think these will be impossible to match for a very long time. The organisation, and the spectacular nature of the games was very very impressive.
- Obama – I first heard about Obama when he was elected into the senate in 2004. Since then I have been sporadically following his progress, and really got on the bandwagon once the democratic primaries got underway. His election has been by far the greatest and most historic event which I have witnessed. His victory in the presidential elections was the “man on the moon” event for my generation.
- The international financial crisis is by far the black swan which nobody expected to see. It’s impact, the duration of its unwelcome stay, and it’s consequence is impossible to predict. I do think that this one can be ridden out, but is it possible for billions of people to make the changes which can help us get over this catastrophe?
This year is also very important for me because, finally, I actually committed to blogging, and have made some good and interesting friends on this journey. I want to once again thank the 4000+ people who took time out to read what I have written over the last 7 months. Blogging has brought a sense of relaxation for me. It has also inspired me to think further outside the box, explore new ideas, and take part in discussons which were previously out of my realm. Every thought, view and opinion is some sort of motivation to write better and move up a level.
2008 has been an eventful year for me. I think, consistently throughout the year – be it at a personal level, progression in my career, or day to day life; I think it would be very fair to say that the year has dished out many life changing tests and the curve ball has been thrown at me very frequently. Quite how many I hit out of the park – well that is to be seen. I have grown as a person this year… I definitely sense a level of maturity within myself, and hope that I can take that somewhere.
I was thinking a few days ago… I havent really kept and worked on any resolutions over the last two or three years. I know that when I have a focus or something motivating me, I have had good, successful and fulfilling years. I think it’s time I thought about where I go next year…. A new direction, or dimension may be on the agenda…. only time will tell! 
I know there are still 3 days to go in this year, but this will be my final post for 2008. I guess I want to spend the remainder of the year reflecting on where I want to go in 2009.
How has your year been?
*Alvida – goodbye in Hindi and Urdu. Elvide in Turkish (I think that is how it is spelt).
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25
December
I picked up this meme from Mars, and unlike other meme’s I had to think about some of the answers. I feel miserable at the moment (in bed with flu), so this one cheered me up…. have a read… and why don’t you have a go to? YOU *pointsatyoulikeuncleSam* have been TAGGED!
Part One:
Name: Cookie Monster
Birth date: July 7th (in the early 80’s)
Birthplace: Birmingham, UK
Current Location: London, UK (close to the heart of the 2012 Olympics location – wooot!)
Eye color: Dark brown
Hair Color: Black
Height: 172 cm (5 feet 8 inches?)
Righty or Lefty: Righty, but self trained lefty… well for everything except using a knife!
Zodiac sign: Cancer the Crab – why would you want to be anything else?
Part Two:
Your Heritage: Started in the UK, then the Middle East, then East Africa, then Middle East, then UK, and hopefully the Middle East in 2009…. oh – and my family comes from south east asia…. I am a bedoin… of sorts…..
The shoes you wore today: Beach slippers…. I am in bed with the flu….. wait… why am I wearing slippers in bed?
Your weakness: Chocolate….. no Lasagne.. no Chocolate… no….
Your fears: dissapointing my nearest and dearest, and most importantly dissapointing myself…..
Your perfect pizza: mushroom, chicken, and the tomato base on top of that…. yumsies!
Goal you’d like to achieve: Upto 4 years ago, I have always been told that I have so much promise, but don’t perform to my capabilities…. well, thats changing, and one day I will hit the peak that is expected from me.
Part Three:
Your most overused phrase on AIM: aha… (as in I am listening, keep taking….)
Your first waking thoughts: Physically I wake up at 6am…. at 11am I start thinking “I should really wake up now….”
Your best physical feature: You tell me 
Your most missed memory: My first kiss with the person who I have been the most craziest about in life so far…. it was just something else…. (summer 2006)
Part Four:
Pepsi or Coke: yuk!
McDonalds or Burger King: No really…. YUKKKK!!!!
Single or group dates: SINGLE!!!! Group dates are a baaaaaaaaaaad baaaaaaaaaad idea!
Adidas or Nike: Nike…. cos it will let me just do it! 
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Ice Teaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (umm, I guess Lipton)
Chocolate or vanilla: hahahaha – ok this is a stupid question! (and its chocolate of you can’t figure it out!)
Cappuccino or coffee: Cappuccino
Part Five:
Smoke: eugh…. hate it! Thank heavens for the smoking ban!
Cuss: used to F and B every other word at university, now it’s reserved only for the roads and highways….
Sing: It’s better that I don’t!
Take a shower everyday: Only on the third tuesday of every month, if the sun is shining…… (what sort of question is that…. ofcourse I shower everyday!)
Do you think you’ve been in love: yes
Want to go to college: Got that t-shirt baby!
Liked high school: LOOOOOOVED IT!
Want to get married: Yup….
Believe in yourself: Most Def!
Get motion sickness: Don’t be silly, i’m a bedoin!
Think you’re attractive: Brad Pitt gets jealous of me….
Think you’re a health freak: I love my food…. ofcourse not!
Get along with your parents: Yup!
Like thunderstorms: The most beautiful experiences ever! We used to sit on the corniche in Dubai, listen to the thunder and watch the lightning on the horizon…… happy days….
Play an instrument: I wish I did…. I would love to play the guitar….
Part Six: In the past month….
Drank alcohol: Eugh…. nope!
Smoked: eugh eugh……. nope nope…
Done drugs: I used to OD on caffeine tablets (legal) and then stay awake for all but 2-3 hours in the final year of my degree…… it was for a good cause!
Made out: Now that would be telling
Gone on a date: Yes…..
Gone to the mall: umm… yea….
Eaten an entire box of Oreos:YESSSSS!!!!
Eaten sushi: Last week – Yes!!! and I lovesssss itsssssss!
Been on stage: In 2 plays in high school…..
Been dumped: Nope (phew!)
Gone skating: Yes, and hopefully again in Jan ‘09!
Made homemade cookies: Being the cookie monster – it’s the one thing which I havent done! (doh!)
Gone skinny dipping: Nope! As much as I love the water…. I am scared about fish… well you know…. feeding on the bait…..
Dyed your hair: Once yes – I was Blood red for charity…… it looked horrible!
Stolen anything: (gonna steal Mars’ answer) – no, except hearts….
Part Seven: Have you ever….
Played a game that required removal of clothing: nope… 
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: I get paranoid if I am not sane and stable – so nope and will never happen!
Been caught “doing something”: Ofcourse not…. ‘cos i’m goooooooooooooooooooood!
Been called a tease: *shamelessly* Yes
Gotten beat up: By my brothers – yes
Shoplifted: Once, when I was a 13-14 – yes…..
Changed who you were to fit in: Now why would I do that?
Part Eight:
Age you hope to be married: 437…. (it would have been a long wait….)
Names of children: (I don’t know why but….) Maittha, Huda, Safa, Misbah, Humeira, Ismail, Abyad…. One of these…. Something Arabic for sure…
Describe your dream wedding: Something riddiculously simple – totally not a typical Asian wedding.
How do you want to die: However it is meant to be….
Where do you want to go to college: As I said – got that T-shirt!
What do you want to be when you grow up: You calling me a child?
What country would you most like to visit: New Zealand…. because it is beautiful…. and on the other end of the earth….
Part Nine:
Number of drugs taken illegally: Nada
Number of people I could trust with my life: it used to be 4… now down to 2….
Number of CDs that I own: Loads!
Number of piercings: None…
Number of tattoos: Not into body art, so ZERO!
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: I don’t know… don’t get enough time in the day to scour through each article
Number of scars on my body: a few… i’m almost a walking talking accident…
Number of things in my past I regret: I always think/wish that I did slightly better at uni (maybe 5% better)…. but life has turned out pretty decent with what I have achieved, and I am thankful and greatful to god for that!
Why don’t you tell us more about you?
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23
December
Ooh ooh ooh! I feel quite happy today – I never expected to reach 100 posts, let alone 100 posts within my first year of blogging! I don’t know why, but I am almost like a little kid posting this
Even before I started blogging, I read and followed a lot of blogs. However, since 29 May 2008, I have found many more bloggers who write incredible stuff, and have to a certain degree acted as inspiration to me during those times when I have struggled to write anything, or when I have been trying to pull through in difficult times in life. So to celebrate this 100th post, I have picked 10 of my favourite blogs out of the 70 or so blogs which I try and follow.
These are the Cookie Monster top 10 blogs of the year (in no particular order)…. (as adjudicated by the cast of Sesame Street).
Chances are I’m going to hell for this
The Inner Workings of a Media Junkie
From the “Stupidest” corner of my mind
Commiserations to who were not in the list this time round. Do let me know if you should have been in my top ten; maybe I am not currently following your blog, and this the opportunity to increase your readership too!
The “winning” blogs were chosen because not only are they entertaining, but also because I find at home in these blogs – as if these folks were my closest friends. For the winners, the award for each of you is one of these…. Enjoy the cookie, have a great 2009, and keep blogging!!
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21
December
So, I was at home again all of last week, I strategically took my last remaining holidays of the year so that I worked on xmas and new years week, but because the office and the client base would be very quiet, I could amble my way through the remaining two weeks of the year. This year has zipped past very very quickly, and I think I will do a recap post plus a new years resolutions post pretty soon!
I spent my week catching up with lost friends, reading some books which I have bought over the last few months, and cooking! I have been trying some new dishes, with generally satisfying outcomes. Nobody has been ill at home because of the food, so I am sure I can tick some check boxes for that!
My mom was in Leicester last week; she was helping out my cousins who had a new addition to the family! We went to pick her up at the weekend, and during the course of the weekend, I encountered the strangest behaviour from one individual who is living in civilized society!
I have a 14 year old cousin… lets call him dumbassP. Now dumbassP is the son of my Mom’s brother, and is staying with my Grandparents at the moment because his folks are currently away and are back next week (they have gone on pilgrimage – Hajj). dumbassP is pretty clever at school and was pretty decent at sport etc. He however has a HUUUUUGEEEE attitude problem – lemme explain as I saw from my experience at the weekend:
- When we reached on Friday, he was sleeping upstairs in my grandparents’ house. When he woke up and came down at about 10pm, he stood and was staring at us as if we were aliens from out of space. It took one of us to greet him before he said anything resembling a word. (No respect for elders (don’t spin the situation that he just woke up – this kid is a jackass!))*
- My grandma gave him the options for his dinner… he inturn wanted burgers for dinner and told my grandma in a very demeaning way to make them for him. (Still no frigging respect for elders) His parents are constantly of the view that food shouldn’t be wasted, so it’s annoying that this little twit behaved this way.
- He brought his food to the living room (even though he was told not to), and started chewing loudly and eating. (WTF!) When he had his soft drink, he slurped his way through the drink. Finally, to polish up his act, he kept burping out loud with every sip of the soft drink that he took. My younger brother told him that it was inappropriate to behave like that, and if he was going to behave like so, then he should atleast not do so amongst a group of people. His response to that was a long cold stare at my brother.
- Every time he coughed or sneezed, he didn’t cover his mouth/nose.
- When he walked, he dragged his feet on the carpet, not lifting them once.
- On Saturday morning, he woke up in the morning and saw me using my grandads PC. He swore at me for using the PC when he wanted to.
- He turned the music on his mobile up to the highest possible volume level and walked around everywhere with gangster rap blaring out of the phone. Some neighbours came over to my grandads for a bit with two of their younger kids; the lyrics were in line with “I’m gonna fuck you bitch” and “I ain’t taking motherfucking orders from a bum fucker”. What in gods name would possess a human being to behave like so – I really don’t know. The little kids were old enough to pick up the lyrics, if they would understand it – well that’s another story. No matter what dumbassP was told, he just ignored it like the person telling him doesn’t exists.
The thing is, he does this in front of his parents (well – when he does leave his room, and is not glued to the Internet or a games console). My worry is that this is not an isolated case. If you look at kids within that age range today, you will see the exact same behaviour everywhere. I really don’t understand what is so appealing in fast food. I don’t know why people need to walk around with their mobile phones blaring loud music. More over – WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO LISTENING TO YOUR ADULTS AND GROWNUPS? What would make a 14 year old think that he knows it all, and can do what he wants?
I worry for the current teenage generation (atleast in the UK). I guess this says a lot about the society in which we are living at the moment. The fact the parents of these kids do not recognise these issues and/or are not trying to do anything about them, says a lot about the parents. I mentioned a few posts back that I was out shopping and all I could hear was kids screaming for stuff and parents screaming back at them that they could not have whatever they wanted. I am no parent, so I don’t know to what extent my views are true, but I really feel that a lot of people have forgotten how to raise their kids.
* In the indian/south-asian community – this is the first thing that you are taught. Someone younger always shows respect to the older person (regardless of any issues between them). Greeting (like saying salam alaykum, or shalom, or hi) is simple or basic manners which even a kid a couple of years old will demonstrate.
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- Can remove fat from raw meat better than my butcher…. (I clean up other peoples mess…)
- Have a (bad?) habit of surprising people with what I am capable of – I am a trump card, if you may! (I am reliable in any situation…)
- Say yes to almost anything I am asked to do…. (I am a grafter… and possibly stupid…)
- Leave a good first impression… (I always leave a good first impression )
- I do not shy away from controversy; I have an opinion on everything…. (I understand a situation, and am generally ready to deal with it instantly)
What would you guy put on your CV that isn’t already there?
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18
December
I saw this list of accomplishments/ activities/ experiences on one of my favourite blogs (Crystal over at chances are i’m going to hell for this) and here is my rendition of it….
Those in bold = done
Those in italics = really really wanna do
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo – 10th grade, for my music GCSE
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb- does a lion cub count?
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset – BOTH!
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors – India
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud – This was GREAT FUN!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business – I sell stuff on Amazon and eBay… I make some money
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone – kinda – it’s not quite broken, yet fractured
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous – Mohammed Azharuddin, George Boateng, Tobey McGuire
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant
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15
December
I was on the road all weekend. My primary objective was to meet my Aunt in Birmingham (with whom I lived for 6 years), visit my dad’s uncle who is in hospital after suffering from a serious stroke and is not very well at all, catch-up with some university friends (also in Birmingham), pop in at my Grandparents place in Leicester, and then try and head back home before Monday. I left London at 6am on Saturday morning, and got back in by about 1am on Sunday morning.
I woke up at about 9am on Sunday to the news that the wife of one of my second cousin went into labour overnight, and the result was the latest addition to our ever growing family! Now since the parents of both husband and wife live abroad, and the mother and baby came home from hospital the same day, my cousin’s wife would need a hand around the baby and the house for the first few days (they have a 6 year old as well). Since there isn’t anyone else available (work etc), my mom and I drove back down to Leicester, and she will stay there the week.
I drove this many miles between 6am on Saturday and 10pm on Sunday…..
(That’s a very grainy 570.6 miles – or approximately 950 kilometres)
But it was totally worth it, because I held my little niece when she was less than a day old My cousin grabbed this pic while I was holding her. My other niece is sitting besides me….
Anyone who knows me on a personal level will tell you that I love kids, and I am one of the kids amongst them (physically the biggest, mentally the youngest). I don’t know why but for the first time, I felt all grown up and father-like as I held Zahra. As tired as I was with all the travelling…. that one moment, as I held her, was one of the best feelings that I have had in a very very very long time!
How was your weekend?
(some more pics for you guys to ooh and aah )
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14
December
We had our company christmas lunch last week on Tuesday; a company briefing preceded the lunch. Now let me explain the structure of our organisation – essentially we are a group of companies trading under the “same” name; all of us provide various types of software to the Financial and Insurance arena.
Now the guy who runs the European operations stood up and gave us an update on how the organisation was doing during these troubled times. In brief – revenues were up, profits were down (as a group), and our company was the only one in the whole group which was making any money.
So, when I saw this Dilbert cartoon strip, I had to post it! You could even say that Scott Adams was in our company briefing!
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13
December
What makes...
A person lose their self respect.....
What makes......
Someone lose the belief in life......
What makes........
Arrogance a great attribute.......
What makes............
Love a toy to play with......
What makes........
trust in a person a questionable object.....
What makes.....
the soul so dark, that no light ........
............ can bring it back to life again....
Some people never change....
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