Christmas Shopping

Touchwood Christmas Tree

Took another day off (again!) today. Hopefully my last until Xmas. It was a very nice day compared to the storms that lashed the UK yesterday. We went to PC World to exchange the faulty TV stick that I got as a Xmas pressie for Kevin.

Then off to Touchwood in Solihull for a bit of shopping. Surprise, surprise the parking lot were full. It's 3 weeks to Xmas by the way. We managed to find a space at our favourite place, on the rooftop. We browsed and window shopped before purchasing bits and bobs in Lakeland ( a fabulous shop) and John Lewis. Also took lots of photographs of the beautifully decorated interiors.

We'd a delightful lunch at Wagamama. We were glad that we came in early cos by the time our fried soba noodles arrived, the restaurant was packed. We enjoyed our very generous portions washed down with steaming green Japanese tea. We are definitely coming again cos we were given lots of 'buy one meal, get one free ' vouchers. :-)

I was very pleased that the British schoolteacher, Gillian Gibbons, will be released from prison. It was really pathetic to put her there in the first place. Muhammad is a very common name worldwide and it was chosen by her pupils. The school is an independent school for Christian and Muslim children and it's the Muslims parents who complained to the Sudan's Ministry of Education. Why took the trouble of sending their children to that school if they themselves can't think objectively???

Scenes of men marching the streets after Friday prayers chanting "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad" taints Islam as a peaceful and tolerant religion. Kevin and I absolutely refuse to associate ourselves with such barbaric behaviour.

We'd our usual departmental meeting and the 'remodelled library' was on top of the agenda. SH warned us not to voice our grievances aloud cos a few member of staff were called aside and reprimanded. What the ....??? Also, why where there were more computers than study spaces. Most students have their own laptops anyway. They use the library to study!!! The 'grievances' board is littered with 'critical' comments and opinions that it has become a favourite spot for us to hang around. I just love the answers (excuses?) given by Management.

What happened to the Sky Blues? They drew to Scunthorpe and lost against Sheffield United. Now, they are in debt and might be relegated??? I do hope something is done quick to save the club. I'm not a supporter but I wouldn't like the local team to just fade away.

Then there was a 'Red or Dead Friday'. The University population was encouraged to wear red for the 'Stop Aids Campaign'. Not a problem for me. Red coat, red top, red lipstick, red shoes. A matador can count on me to wave in front of a bull... What a pity they had to cancel the candle vigil and gospel singing due to the bad weather.

Also praying for a safe and meaningful pilgrimage for my aunt, Hairuslina and cousin, Mazlan. They are already in Mecca, performing the 5th pillar of Islam, the Haj. They will be among the 2 million Muslims from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and countries, all coming together in strength and humility, for Allah.