Sounds gross but have you ever had a three course breakfast in the space of 45 minutes? Sleepily munching your Rice Krispies, followed hastily by daal and chapatti and finishing with fruit, cake and tea all before sunrise?
The first day of Ramadan begins today for Muslims around the world and how difficult it will be this year in high summer, especially for Muslims in Scotland where the sun hardly sets. If you’ve never had the pleasure, or otherwise, of a Scottish summer you won’t know that the sun doesn’t set until around 10.30pm and rises around 3am eek!
This is great if you’re a kid trying to dodge bedtime but not great if you can only squeeze one meal in the permitted time frame between sunrise and sunset. I have mentioned previously on the blog that I am non-practicing and also that I live and work between London and Delhi and so have managed to dodge Ramadan many times. The thing is I am back in the UK and will spend a month at home in Scotland and although my mum won’t force me to keep fasts the emotional guilt will hang heavy.
Of course I worry for my mum’s health as she grows older and I will be obliged to keep that last fast before Eid: my mum insists that Eid will not be halal without it and that I won’t enjoy Eid dinner – there’s an incentive. I will moan and groan and stay in bed for as long as possible and I won’t receive any brownie points from God due to my bad attitude but at least my mum will be happy.
Good luck to all of you this year you’re going to need it, especially those of you with small children – you’re mad!
Bubbly
