Morning began with Prayers; next Good Morning Greetings from Two Men, my Oreo Cookie Guys. When lunching at the Fouquet’s, the marvelous French restaurant at the Abu Dhabi Louvre I joked with the staff.
Me: The three of us resemble an Oreo cookie. They are both Black and I am the White in the Center.
They: (Much laughter)
I did, by the way, buy lunch. But it was worth every cent as great fun was had by all. .
But then this morning turned serious, as had been my intent. Inspired by a woman on Instagram from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (of all places) I began a Ramadan Journal. I had purchased a thick book from the Abu Dhabi store that printed my business cards (again) so I was prepared. The first page: This Journal Belongs to Fatimah. Then, My Intentions which are listed. Not sure that I will share them all but the first one is to Memorize the Qur’an. Earlier that morning I compared my ‘versions’. I have one paper back version and two on the iPad. I chose one on the iPad as the English translation is ‘advertised’ as being Clear, Easy to Read, Pure in Modern English. My announced decision to memorize the Qur’an has met with mixed reactions.
Me: I am going to memorize the Qur’an. Going to begin during Ramadan.
They: Are you going to memorize it in Arabic or in English.
Me: You must be joking. If I memorized in Arabic I would not know what I was memorizing. As you know Allah is All-Knowing so He certainly knows English.
Men, particularly men, think they are all knowing and in their superiority attempt to ‘guide’ me. There is no sense in arguing with them, I said cheerfully to an Emirati man who had graciously served S.A.D. and me tea at the Yas Mall.
Me: I disagree with you on that matter but there is no sense arguing with you. Thank you so much for your hospitality. I do hope we meet again.
He promised that he would have his sister, a physician, get in touch with me to arrange for a vaccination booster shot. They are forbidden to all those who do not have an Emerita I.D..
She has not. I subsequently decided that the Emerita man is a Satan, promoting a version of Allah not founded in the Qur’an, thinking I was ignorant of the tenants of the faith. My clear English version of the Qur’an begins: “When you read the Qur’an seek refuge with Allah from Satan the outcast. He has no authority over those who believe and trust in their Lord. His authority is only over those who follow him, and those who associate others with him. (Verses 16:98-100). So there! So there! So there! That is a phrase from my Vancouver (2017-2019) days, said most assertively. The ‘Satan’ was tempting me with something most desired but upon discovering that I was not following his wicked ways, he abandoned all efforts to assist me. Well, even if he had a sister. Satans are not known for their truth telling. I have no way to get in touch with him – he promised to call me. I do not even know his name. Probably Muhammed, everybody is Muhammed – their bins are different, that is how one tells the difference. Find it most ironic that the Muslim name of Rashid is Rashid as that was the name of the father of the Ruler of Dubai and also the name of the Elder son, brother of the Crown Prince of Dubai who died rather mysteriously of a heart attack at a young age. I am most happy with my Muslim name of Fatimah – it rather suits me and is the name of the Prophet’s daughter and the name of the mother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nuyen. She is a fine woman, featured in this blog. What you do is type Sheikha Fatima into the search engine of the blog and find the February 11, 2022 version. Read it, if you have not already – if you have then reread it. (Hahahaha). This I found most interesting, her son Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces had a mother that was active, extremely active, in the UAE and would travel on diplomatic missions with her husband. However, her son has married a woman who does not play, an active role in the country nor seems to travel with him. He has only one wife unlike the Ruler of Dubai, unlike the Father Emir of Qatar. I do find this rather interesting, just me I guess.
So life may be making a different turn yet again. Rather accidentally found this information on the Internet. It is now possible, if one is a member of a Commonwealth country to obtain a six month standard visitor visa. So I could return to the UK and stay for six months. I had not ‘finished’ with the UK when the expiration of my student visa required me to leave. I could go back, particularly to Scotland, my ‘native’ land. Several people have indicated that they would love to have me in their midst again. I do meet all of the criteria as you shall see.
“A Standard Visitor visa allows you to travel to the UK for leisure, business, or private purposes and stay for up to six months. You can extend this to 11 months if you’re receiving private medical treatment or 12 months if you’re doing academic research.
This visa costs £95. In some cases, it’s possible to apply to extend this visa if you need to stay in the UK for longer. However, the cost of an extension is £993.
You can apply for this visa as long as you can prove that you can support yourself for the duration of your stay. You will also need to provide a current passport or valid ID. Additional documents may need to be provided, depending on the purpose of your visit.
The visa is also available as a long-term visitor visa, however, you will only be able to stay for a maximum period of six months at a time. You’ll need to prove that you’re only visiting and not living in the UK on each visit. Costs for long-term visitor visas are:
£361 for two years;
£655 for five years;
£822 for 10 years”
“There is also a short term study visa that lasts for six months or less. The visa can be granted for up to 11 months if you are aged over 16 and studying an English language course.
The cost is £97 (or £186 for an 11-month visa). You need to be able to show evidence that you’ve been accepted onto a UK course and prove that you can support yourself financially. ll also need to provide a valid passport/ID and accommodation details.”
So perhaps it is back to the drawing board – an idiom explained on a prior blog but shall be again. It is saying indicating that one’s effort has failed, and one must start all over again: Used in a sentence “The new package we designed hasn’t increased our sales as we’d hoped, so it’s back to the drawing board”
I suppose more about what has failed, but perhaps not. It is best to move on and not look back.
The attached photograph is Alexis (Dryburgh) McBride with my face painted like the Scottish flag. I am ready!! Hahaha
A Strange But Productive Morning; Beginning a Ramadan Journal; Intentions During Ramadan; Memorizing the Quran; Satans In Our Midst But Revealed to Be; Back to the Drawing Board Defined; Six Month UK Visa a Possibility; Face Painted as Scottish Flag
Morning began with Prayers; next Good Morning Greetings from Two Men, my Oreo Cookie Guys. When lunching at the Fouquet’s, the marvelous French restaurant at the Abu Dhabi Louvre I joked with the staff.
Me: The three of us resemble an Oreo cookie. They are both Black and I am the White in the Center.
They: (Much laughter)
I did, by the way, buy lunch. But it was worth every cent as great fun was had by all. .
But then this morning turned serious, as had been my intent. Inspired by a woman on Instagram from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (of all places) I began a Ramadan Journal. I had purchased a thick book from the Abu Dhabi store that printed my business cards (again) so I was prepared. The first page: This Journal Belongs to Fatimah. Then, My Intentions which are listed. Not sure that I will share them all but the first one is to Memorize the Qur’an. Earlier that morning I compared my ‘versions’. I have one paper back version and two on the iPad. I chose one on the iPad as the English translation is ‘advertised’ as being Clear, Easy to Read, Pure in Modern English. My announced decision to memorize the Qur’an has met with mixed reactions.
Me: I am going to memorize the Qur’an. Going to begin during Ramadan.
They: Are you going to memorize it in Arabic or in English.
Me: You must be joking. If I memorized in Arabic I would not know what I was memorizing. As you know Allah is All-Knowing so He certainly knows English.
Men, particularly men, think they are all knowing and in their superiority attempt to ‘guide’ me. There is no sense in arguing with them, I said cheerfully to an Emirati man who had graciously served S.A.D. and me tea at the Yas Mall.
Me: I disagree with you on that matter but there is no sense arguing with you. Thank you so much for your hospitality. I do hope we meet again.
He promised that he would have his sister, a physician, get in touch with me to arrange for a vaccination booster shot. They are forbidden to all those who do not have an Emerita I.D..
She has not. I subsequently decided that the Emerita man is a Satan, promoting a version of Allah not founded in the Qur’an, thinking I was ignorant of the tenants of the faith. My clear English version of the Qur’an begins: “When you read the Qur’an seek refuge with Allah from Satan the outcast. He has no authority over those who believe and trust in their Lord. His authority is only over those who follow him, and those who associate others with him. (Verses 16:98-100). So there! So there! So there! That is a phrase from my Vancouver (2017-2019) days, said most assertively. The ‘Satan’ was tempting me with something most desired but upon discovering that I was not following his wicked ways, he abandoned all efforts to assist me. Well, even if he had a sister. Satans are not known for their truth telling. I have no way to get in touch with him – he promised to call me. I do not even know his name. Probably Muhammed, everybody is Muhammed – their bins are different, that is how one tells the difference. Find it most ironic that the Muslim name of Rashid is Rashid as that was the name of the father of the Ruler of Dubai and also the name of the Elder son, brother of the Crown Prince of Dubai who died rather mysteriously of a heart attack at a young age. I am most happy with my Muslim name of Fatimah – it rather suits me and is the name of the Prophet’s daughter and the name of the mother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nuyen. She is a fine woman, featured in this blog. What you do is type Sheikha Fatima into the search engine of the blog and find the February 11, 2022 version. Read it, if you have not already – if you have then reread it. (Hahahaha). This I found most interesting, her son Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces had a mother that was active, extremely active, in the UAE and would travel on diplomatic missions with her husband. However, her son has married a woman who does not play, an active role in the country nor seems to travel with him. He has only one wife unlike the Ruler of Dubai, unlike the Father Emir of Qatar. I do find this rather interesting, just me I guess.
So life may be making a different turn yet again. Rather accidentally found this information on the Internet. It is now possible, if one is a member of a Commonwealth country to obtain a six month standard visitor visa. So I could return to the UK and stay for six months. I had not ‘finished’ with the UK when the expiration of my student visa required me to leave. I could go back, particularly to Scotland, my ‘native’ land. Several people have indicated that they would love to have me in their midst again. I do meet all of the criteria as you shall see.
“A Standard Visitor visa allows you to travel to the UK for leisure, business, or private purposes and stay for up to six months. You can extend this to 11 months if you’re receiving private medical treatment or 12 months if you’re doing academic research.
This visa costs £95. In some cases, it’s possible to apply to extend this visa if you need to stay in the UK for longer. However, the cost of an extension is £993.
You can apply for this visa as long as you can prove that you can support yourself for the duration of your stay. You will also need to provide a current passport or valid ID. Additional documents may need to be provided, depending on the purpose of your visit.
The visa is also available as a long-term visitor visa, however, you will only be able to stay for a maximum period of six months at a time. You’ll need to prove that you’re only visiting and not living in the UK on each visit. Costs for long-term visitor visas are:
£361 for two years;
£655 for five years;
£822 for 10 years”
“There is also a short term study visa that lasts for six months or less. The visa can be granted for up to 11 months if you are aged over 16 and studying an English language course.
The cost is £97 (or £186 for an 11-month visa). You need to be able to show evidence that you’ve been accepted onto a UK course and prove that you can support yourself financially. ll also need to provide a valid passport/ID and accommodation details.”
So perhaps it is back to the drawing board – an idiom explained on a prior blog but shall be again. It is saying indicating that one’s effort has failed, and one must start all over again: Used in a sentence “The new package we designed hasn’t increased our sales as we’d hoped, so it’s back to the drawing board”
I suppose more about what has failed, but perhaps not. It is best to move on and not look back.
The attached photograph is Alexis (Dryburgh) McBride with my face painted like the Scottish flag. I am ready!! Hahaha
