Happy Halloween

The Japanese knotweed of festivals aka Halloween descended upon us again. It is an authentically pagan festival, about the links between life and death, the struggle between light and dark. But lately, it has become a sales pitch. Spook -related spending in the UK has risen 10 fold in a decade.

At work, we decided to join in the fun and dressed in black, with lashings of red lipstick, long red/black nails and skeleton accessories. CC even made a cardboard crypt and put it in the staff room. A broomstick was left dangling by the stairwell. Finger (pardon the pun) food was distributed. It was great.

I continued the mood at home. We'd 2 luminous skeletons dangling in the house and went pumpkin mad. We'd ala-Thai pumpkin soup, ala-French pumpkin gratin and Moroccan pumpkin royale with couscous for dinner. There was still half a pumpkin left which I'm going to make into pumpkin muffins and pumpkin aloo. I bet Kevin's glad to see the last of that pumpkin. Until next year...

The library too was decorated. The University's resident artist, who is from Romania, Dan Perjovschi (b. 1961) had decided to brighten the stairwell with his artwork. His graffiti-like art focusses on concepts rather than material evidence, so it was a relief to Management that these could be painted over once the Remodelling Project has completed. Let's hope the the students won't start thinking that they too can contribute to the masterpiece.

Talking about the Project, a library tour on the first floor, the pièce de ré·sis·tance, was cancelled. Nothing was ready. The whole floor was an empty shell, sans anything. Workmen were still busy working on the walls, floor and ceiling. The noise was unbearable. Someone compared it to the London underground. The rumblings of the tube on the track echoing in the tunnel, but never arriving. I honestly feel sorry for the users.

The Sky Blues boys was kicked out off the Carling Cup when they were defeated by West Ham 2:0. We'd the unfortunate timing of shopping when the supporters were congregating at the Ricoh. The complex was alive with anticipation, football songs and testosterone. The traffic into the stadium was snaking all over the place.

I am very proud that all the autumnal photographs that we sent to BBC Coventry/Warwickshire was accepted and put on their website. Do check it out. We want to highlight that Coventry is not just a concrete jungle and we want to share and spread the little oasis that we found.

I also want to say Inna lilla wa inna lilla hirrajiun (From Allah we come, To Allah we return) and Al-Fatehah on the death of Mr D. I've only met Mr. and Mrs D once, at the recent summer barbecue. I was talking to Little D, who later introduced me to his parents. We chatted while they were busy cooking the satay. I kept abreast with Mr D's condition through Mrs D's blog. I didn't attend the funeral because I didn't know where they live and didn't want to intrude during such difficult time.

Today, Mrs D put her address on her blog and an open invitation for Tahlil prayers. She just lived about 2km from us. I wanted to attend but unfortunately, I'm off to London on that day. I called her and she remembered me. A woman with strong faith, she sounded well but sad. Kevin and I will definitely pay her a visit asap. We pray that Mr D will be among His chosen ones and that Mrs D and children will be strong to face the future. Amen.