September on the 25th. of Ramadan

Departing summer hath assumed

An aspect tenderly illumed

The gentlest look of spring

That calls from yonder leafy shades

A timely carolling

~William Wordsworth, September~

Four days of September just went whoosh…where have the days gone? And insyallah, next Friday the 10th., here in the UK, we will be celebrating the Eid on the new moon of Syawal. Malaysia too will be celebrating on the same day. I’ve e-mailed Eid greetings to all my friends in Malaysia because I know most of them will be starting their holidays on Monday. Selamat Hari Raya, Ma’af Lahir and Batin. Remember us here in the island far, far away :-).

I’ve made a batch of cookies which was very popular in Malaysia called London Almond Cookies. I bet this cookie has never been to or seen London before. A week ago, there were 2 jars full but there’s only one jar left. Hmm…who has been eating my cookies…

I’m planning to make another Malay delicacy called wajek to bring for my colleagues next Friday. The traditional way of making this was very laborious. I’ve seen my grandparents spending hours doing this but thank goodness I’ve found the most simplified recipe on the web. My grandma is going to faint if she reads this!!! But it does look and taste the same. I’ve made this before and nobody can taste the difference, except for my grandma :-).

It had been an unusually sunny week and we decided to stretch it even longer. We were in Brandon Marsh on Wednesday because Babe wanted to capture the geese flying off for the night. As usual, I tend to spend too much time at the overflow car-park. There was soo much bird activities going on and I don’t want to miss anything.

Oh, heck…the sun was going down too fast. As we walked into the reserve, we could hear the geese squacking away. They were taking off and we have missed them. Oops…sorry Babe. We continued our walk towards the Carlton Hide and saw a lone Common Sandpiper feeding on the island. Then we’d a very lovely surprise when this water-rail came out from the reeds to feed. It was getting dark but we huddled quietly watching this lovely bird feeding.

On Thursday, the children returned to school. It was also the bin collection day so huge trucks blocking the road. On-going road-works at Gibbet Hill and now road-works along Beake Avenue which equals to AARGH…. After a few weeks of free-flowing traffic, it came to us as a shock. And the university students were not even here yet!!!

Another lovely sunny evening and Babe told me that there were  traffic queuing exiting the University. We decided to leave a bit later and checked out the pond opposite the Digital Lab. A lovely sight greeted us. The water-lilies have bloomed. Aren’t they gorgeous?

I wasn’t feeling too good yesterday. My tummy was misbehaving and I thought it might be a dodgy yoghurt that we’d the night before. But Babe was feeling ok so it must be something else. I just sat quietly trying to finish the Official Publications that was piling on my desk. Thank goodness I managed to last till 4.30pm.

Babe thought another evening walk might ease my tummy. I’m glad I did cos it helped. And there were also lots of things to photograph that distracted me. We were greeted with this Great-Spotted Woodpecker on his favourite perch. We often see them flying around the reserve and then perching around this tree and pillion.

We arrived too early and the geese were already resting on the banks. It was either they were roosting here for the night or they might fly somewhere else when the sun goes down. These birds were never predictable. Luckily a flock of Snipes kept us occupied.

It had been a long day for me so we decided to leave early. As we walked out of the reserve, a flock of long-tailed tits played hide-and seek with us among the bushes. They were moving line astern from tree to tree. Don’t they look delicate? But I can assure you that they were quite gregarious and noisy but utterly delightful. What a lovely sight to end the day.

It was also Laylatul Qadr this week. The month of Ramadan was a period of spiritual training wherein Muslims devote their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah (SWT), and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive harder in the last ten days of Ramadan since the Laylatul Qadr could be one of the odd-numbered days in these last ten (the first, third, fifth, seventh or ninth)

Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Power, marks the night in which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by Allah (SWT). The Quran describes this Night.

“We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrail) by Allah’s permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!” (Surah 97)

To all Muslims, may the Mercy & Blessing's of Allah (SWT) be with you, your family, and friends during this auspicious Eid and continue to be always, and May Allah (SWT) have accepted all our prayers during this blessed month of Ramadan.

May your year ahead continue to be filled with a healthy, wealthy, and prosperity life, and May you have a Joyous and Spirited Eid Mubarak with all your dear ones, including people of all faiths and humanity, filled with Love, Peace, and Happiness .... Amin