Category Archives: Joy

10th April 2024: A Very Special Day – Eid al-Fitr

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Eid_al-Fitr_prayer,_Suleymaniye_Mosque,_Istanbul_-_Aug_30,_2011

Foreword: This post will be brief. The reason being this is a day celebration within Islam but my knowledge and perceptions are woefully inadequate to give full respect and value to its meaning. The reason for this post however is Universal. To Reach Out In Respect To Neighbours . Therefore for any readers who are Muslims my apologies for anything I may have missed, mis-understood or simply made an error on, these were unintentional. 

To those of us who are not of the Islam faith, Ramadan has passed a month of fasting, reflection and also community. Eid al-Fitr is a holiday of the breaking of the fast of Ramadan. The dates involved are decreed with reference to the Islamic Calendar. Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon (there are conditions when the following day is applicable- my lack of complete knowledge on the subject restrains me from trying to give details) . Therefore the date is not one specific day say like 4th July, or 25th December. In fact if you should Google the Celebration you will find some hits which shows 9th – 10th April. 

As I understand it, there are variations on the celebration, taking into account Communities, Customs and which aspect of Islam is adhered to. Suffice it to say like many a holiday there would be a gathering of family, community and joy.

Therefore let us firstly wish our neighbours, friends, fellow communities members who are celebrating Eid al-Fitr a peaceful, happy, joyous day. Let us respect their right to do so. Let us respect their belief which brings them to this day of celebration. Let us not waste time and spirit over the matter of who believes what or not believes what or why. This can easily lead to sin and damage. Let us be of open heart and generous wishes. 

And secondly in more solemn mind. Let us all think of those Muslims in Gaza, The Sahel region of Saharan and sub Saharan Africa, Sudan, India, China, Rohingya in refugee camps, Syria to name but a few regions where there is suffering, the burdens are heavy and maybe celebration of this day is at best very sparse at worst impossible. 

May we keep on Hoping for better times. Even when the evidence seems to suggest otherwise.

I conclude with a simple wish: May Your Eid al-Fitr be well with you and yours.  

A New Hope (follow up to : Good News Came Visiting Us)

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Sunrise

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Well there’s was a washing line we never thought we would see again, or Sheila thought she would be pegging out- never mind it was a damp, soggy day new baby clothes had to be washed and aired prior to sending through the post.

This was the wonderful image which greeted us somewhere around 3am BST Friday 13th.

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Our granddaughter Kath’s experience was reminder that pregnancy and labour are no walk in the park, and that women have courage and fortitude men can only dream about. Basically she was struck by Pre-eclampsia

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-eclampsia/

And went from low-risk to high-risk in a matter of hours.

Our daughter Meg accompanied daughter Kath to the hospital and then had to go through her own trial of being a fully-trained and experienced UK Midwife who had to stand aside and let other Midwives look after her daughter (explanation of the status of Midwives in UK at the bottom of the post*). There was some friction there, but Meg kept her cool and Thank God the night watch midwife knew some of Meg’s colleagues and they were on the same page. Kath was told the options and without a blink asked for the Cesarean delivery. She had already given such precise answers to a doctor’s questions they asked if Kath had medical training to which she replied, simply ‘My mother is a Midwife’.

Thus little Harper Mai (pronounced ‘May’) Fawcett made her entrance into the world.
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A little later, and still trying to work out just where she is, but ‘de-squashing’ from the newborn effect.

And this was the photo I was sent by Kath last night. (Seriously Cute Factor Warning……)

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Final snippet: Birth Weight 8 pounds 4 ounces.

Good News Came Visiting Us

*This is the official UK NHS page for those interested in the career of midwifery (Any UK midwife’s reading this are of course allowed to make any acerbic comments based on their experiences- not so much with the ‘ladies’ as Meg calls them- but with the System they have to work with)

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/midwifery/roles-midwifery/midwife

Good News Came Visiting Us

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Sunrise

At 0.10 BST 13th October 2023 we became Great-Grandparents. Our eldest grandchild Kath gave birth to a baby girl. A reason why I didn’t mind being woken up between 3am & 4am. We decided when we first heard of Kath’s pregnancy we were keeping this ‘under wraps’ until the birth.

Like all babies, she is of course a sweetie to look at. Mum looks tired but very happy and proud (Sorry folks. No photos because I don’t have permission from parents – I didn’t ask at this time- didn’t seem the right thing).

Another Chapter, another alignment. My daughter Meg is now a grandmother, our daughter Clare becomes Great Aunt Clare and our son Great Uncle Ash. Kath’s brother will become Uncle Jim. They will all be very protective. And one year ago Kath’s partner Tom was going through life, single and with no commitments- The Suddenness of Life eh?

We are great-grand parents. Something a while ago we were actually discussing if such a thing would ever happen. Life eh?

Many of you as part of Life will have experienced similar joys and also painful losses. And yet. And yet…

And yet this post would not be truly genuine if this news was not against the backdrop of the thousands upon thousands of families around the world mourning the loss of their ‘little ones’ through many avoidable events. Going through anguish and pain most of us cannot comprehend. Think of them.

Meanwhile I am quietly happy. I am proud of my granddaughter Kath. I am also grateful to her for bringing some sunlight and hope back.