Platinum Jubilee

A bit late posting this but Queen Elizabeth celebrated 70 years on the throne this year. There were celebrations around the country for the Platinum Jubilee. I’m not a huge fan of the Royals but I think you have to respect the Queen for doing 70 years in her duty. Here are some of the decorations that I saw on my visit to London and around my local town.

I like the fridge with the Union Jack print and the throne and crown display, and I thought the giant party popper was fun.

Pall Mall had flags all the way down and the creative streetart was done in my local town centre.

There were lots of street parties and picnics in the park to celebrate, and I’m sure everyone enjoyed the extra days off work too.

Eid celebrations

Eid-al-adha is celebrated by Muslims all around the world. It was a hot day in London this year, but my family all came together for food, gifts and games. Here’s a few photos I took to mark this year’s celebrations.

Eid-ul-Adha 2022/1443

Happy Eid to everyone who is celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. I hope you all have a great day with your families and friends, enjoying lots of nice food and receiving gifts. Taqabbal Allahu Minna Wa Minkum (May Allah accept it from you and us).

Eid-al-Fitr 2022/1443: Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak to Muslims around the world celebrating Eid-al-Fitr . I found fasting a little tough this year, but the days still seem to have sped by. I pray that Allah accepts our fasts and showers us with his mercy and blessings. I hope everyone has a day full of happiness, love and blessings as well as lots of delicious food. Lets also pray for and remember all those who continue to suffer around the world, may they find peace and ease soon and may we all be grateful for everything we have.

Anniversary

I work for a charity that works to get equality for disabled people and its their 70 year anniversary this year. To celebrate they sent all the staff a lovely cup and a brownie treat and had influential speakers come and share their knowledge and experiences. It was a nice surprise and I look forward to enjoying my gifts after Ramadan.

Double birthdays

My younger sister shares her birthday with her daughter so this year they decided to a have a shared party. They kept things simple and ordered pizza but I like how they did the decorations. One side for my sister and her pink theme and the other side for her daughter, a baby shark fanatic.

There were also 2 cakes, one for each theme. The white and pink one was made by my sister’s brother in law, I was impressed with the colourful layers. The baby shark one my sister made who has a real talent for making cakes.

Obviously I had to try some of each (and the chocolate ones too). They were all as delicious as they looked, I’m not sure I could pick one that was best.

It was a nice gathering and I enjoyed the food and company. Happy birthday to my sister and her daughter, may they both have a lifetime of good health and happiness.

Eid-ul-Adha 2021/1442

Eid-ul-Adha has visited us again. All restrictions have been eased here in England but we still need to be careful as the pandemic isn’t over yet, not for us, not for the world. The pilgrimage (hajj) in Saudi Arabia was limited to just residents again this year, but we can all mark the days as special wherever we are. I pray that the pandemic eases for everyone, that we cherish the time we have with our loved ones and Allah has mercy and bestows forgiveness on us all. A reminder to also think of those in hardship across the world and hope that their prayers are answered.
Eid Mubarak everyone, I hope you all enjoy this blessed day wherever you are. Taqabbal Allahu Minna Wa Minkum (May Allah accept it from you and us).

Eid-al-Fitr 2021/1442: Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak everyone. A month of fasting seems to have sped by this year, I hope that everyone was able to make the most of the blessed month of Ramadan. May Allah accept our fasts, show us mercy and forgive us our sins. I hope that Muslims everywhere have a day filled with family, friends and good food and let us not forget those all those across the world that are experiencing difficulties, like those in Palestine, the Uighur Muslims, the Rohingya people and those still battling with the pandemic. May Allah protect all of us and accept our prayers.

Ramadan Mubarak 2021/1442

Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims fasting during this holy month. We’ve just had an easing of restrictions here in the UK so while we are able to see family and friends outdoors we still aren’t able to fill the mosques at prayer times or gather in each other’s homes to open our fasts. But I’m grateful that we can see each other somehow, which is a big change from last year. I’m grateful that my loved ones and I have been able to stay safe and see another blessed Ramadan. I have also been lucky to have been sent some Ramadan treats from my friends which I will enjoy; a box of delicious medjool dates and a package including prayer beads, a scarf, rose scent and some chocolate.

Ramadan Mubarak, may this month be one where we can come closer to God, break old habits and form better ones, and I pray that we are forgiven our sins and that we all continue to help each other through what has been a tough year for everyone.

Goodbye to 2020

Today is the last day of 2020, a year that was unexpected and tough for so many. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted almost every person in the world this year, and I’m no exception. There have been times that I have felt I could take things in my stride and others when I felt stressed, anxious and alone. But I always like to think that even in the worst of things, there’s always a silver lining and I think I tried to convey some of these in my photos this year, whether it was making the most of places being quieter and tourist free or just being grateful for the fact that we had long hot summer which is unusual for the UK. I was also happy to have ticked a few places off my bucket list which I didn’t expect like visiting Chatsworth House, the Lake District, and the confetti flower fields. My favourite photos of the year are shared below.

With several vaccines now available, I hope and pray that 2021 will be a better one for all of us, that with a little more patience and caution we will get through this once in a lifetime difficult, but shared experience and come out stronger together. I hope that all of our loved ones are safe and that we can enjoy each others’ company once again soon, very soon. Take care everyone and I wish you all a happy, healthy amazing year ahead.