One week to go...

In a foul Monday morning mood, I keep imagining it’s Ramadan and gage how I’d cope with the tube situation, foul moods, withdrawal symptoms, headaches, hunger pangs, dry mouth and general edginess, but that sounds like a regular day for me…hmmm

I remember some wannabe-preachers advising I am not allowed to brush my teeth or shower because it alleviates the suffering and that is apparently wrong because if you’re not suffering then you’re not fasting or worshiping because our religion is the religion of hardship and suffering, what else? Am not allowed to nap? That’s right, you’re not allowed to nap, and you’re supposed to work and continue with your day as per normal;

So why do Muslim countries make allowances and adapt work and school times so they finish between 2-4pm? and they seem to decide when we fast and when we stop fasting based on someone who presumably has a telescope and has allegedly sighted the moon, whereas we don't really have a say in it because it's always cloudy here so we follow Saudi Arabia or Ghadafi, whichever is easier.

We practice Islam in a non Muslim country (time not adapted), fast the best part of 18 hours (if you include sleeping night time because you’re not allowed to nap during the day), you smell coffee everywhere you go, especially on your walk from the station to the office when you walk past Starbucks, Café Nero and Costa followed by Prêt a manger and the smell of freshly backed croissants, lunchtime in the office is an array of foods, your senses become very heightened and you can’t even escape to the gym for fear of collapsing on the treadmill, by 4pm you want to slide on your chair and slip into a coma, colleagues always think you’re snappy because it’s Ramadan (whoever gave them this idea?) even though you’re smiling and talking very quietly in an attempt to save energy.

Truth is, I am dreading it, I dread it every year, I dread the first day migraine, dry mouth, incessant yawning and the tiredness but then by the end of week 1, I get a new lease of life and start feeling the detox working, and wish it would never end. 

Better get a few workouts this week and lay off the caffeine before Ramadan starts.

Things to do before Ramadan

-          Start the decaf and lay off the cafeine, nicotine, alcohol and so on...

-          Go to the gym at least 3 times this week

-          Freeze gym membership for a month

-          Stock up on Paracetamol

-          Find out which way is East so I can pray at home (I know, terrible but at least I do my best)

-          Dig out a more conservative summer wardrobe

-          Call mother to get the recipe for Chorba AGAIN

-          Think about writing Ramadan diary for blog

-          Get into the groove of Ramadan, i.e brace yourself and look forward to loosing 5 kilos

Dz-Chick: in Ramadan mode…already