Continuation...

  ... so after the questions we were told to come back at 4pm for the visa and to go pay at a different booth. We paid in cash only, I find it very strange that they dont take cards there, and then left to wander around for a few hours until it was time to come back to pick up the visa in my passport.

We took the tube to hyde park, which was only a few minutes walk away we were told after swiping our oyster card, and wandered over to Kensington mosque to pray Dhuhr. Then we walked over to hyde park to play with the camera and relax on the grass, we had tons of fun that day alhamdulillah. We played for awhile and then it was time for asr.. we stayed in that area as there was a mosque close by.. ok so it was a mosque that hubby didnt have the best experiences with but it was a mosque and he was able to pray in congregation alhamdulillah.. that was the important part. After Asr we leisurely strolled back to the Embassy to pick up my visa, sitting inside the marqee waiting for the official people was quite interesting.. I was obviously the only non pakistani there until a pale girl walked in (and by pale I mean she was caucasian in a nice way) who actually came to pick up a pakistani passport much to our amusement and nosiness ;) So we eventually got it, yes its in my passport.. still questionning why they need 2 photos with the application yes the actual visa has no image ;)
After that we wandered back to the park for more photos before maghrib, it was so nice to get out and about just the two of us out of the usual four walls, we do miss that.. we used to spend all our time outside before we got married. We prayed maghrib and was about to make our way through the park to walk up to Edgware Road, then out of the blue I got an unusual photo call asking for someone who was obviously not me. When I told the caller they had the wrong number the lady on the other end told me she hadnt and asked for my name. When she called back I asked my husband to answer it, after which he began a long conversation with this person and when he got he he quickly told me we had left our marriage certificate at the embassy. He ran back there while I quickly walked ;) before the building closed at 6pm.. alhamdulillah we got it back much to my embarassement *blush*
Then we made our way back through the park to walk up to the arab quarter of London on Edgware road for cake :) There is a particular shop that we used to frequent alot in our pre wedding days, which sells good cheap halal meaty food for hubby, yummy spinach fatayer for me and delish chocolate for us both with good mint tea ;) yummy!! mouth watering just thinking of it all. We sat for awhile, had chocolate cake and mint tea, took a few photos, chatted about the day still not believing that they didnt give us the marriage certificate back and how much of a hassle it would have been if we didnt get it back that day. After announcing that we were both nicely full we decided to head home :)

What an adventurous and much needed day out in the capital masha'Allah
Ammena

Pakistani Embassy

On Tuesday we took a trip into central London... for a day out, a chance to play with the new camera, go to a cake shop we used to always go to when we spent more time in London, but generally with the main reason of getting my visa for Pakistan. I was looking forward to spending the day away from the house in the sunshine with the husband :) so everything else was really an added bonus
We got to the tube station around 0930 and got the tube straight to the embassy to get that done first, it was easy enough to get there and easy enough to find with the big Pakistan flag flying high in the breeze. We were pointed in the direction of an outside marqee to fill the paper work, now that was an experience!! Standing in the dirty marqee with a littered 'carpet' surrounded by intolerable children, sympathetic gazes, 'knowing' looks (I say 'knowing' because I really dont know what they thought they knew) and a language I can not understand. After being made to wait in a smaller queue we were told I couldnt get the card we were initially told to apply for :( so then we waited in the much longer queue, hubby had to go to the desk for a form as we didnt bring any because I didnt know what visa I was applying for. We got the form and I filled it in while he waited in line, got to the front of the queue and the 'helpful' (note the sarcasm) man told us about the photocopies needed and sent us away... we didnt have any cash, so I had to run to the cash machine while hubby waited in the line and paid 30p each pfff.. I told him to walk straight to the front of the queue to give it in, there was no point in waiting. After a few huffs and stares he gave it in, only for it to be given back and told to go into the main building to give in the application form and pay for the visa :) We walked into the building, a security guard told us something in urdu my husband laughed and told him in English that I didnt speak the language, he carried on and let us in. Apparently he had said 'its ok, carry on' in Urdu lol.. he was just asking us to open our bags, which I didnt cause I didnt know what he was asking... good security eh? as I pointed out to hubby later on, noone wants to blow up the Pakistani consulate in the UK lol
We sat in the open room waiting for our number to show on the tiny digital screen while a certain child ran around saying 'hi buddy' to everyone which was cute at first, until he punched my leg and stood on the ledge behind us and started lightly spitting our way. Needless to say hubby asked the mother, who was sat in the corner playing on her mobile, to keep her child to herself. That amused me ;) Finally we were called forward, gave in the documentation.. there were a few english questions but then she stopped talking to me and spoke urdu with the husband.. it wasnt until I heard 7 years masha'Allah that I knew she was asking about me being a convert.. a few questions followed 'how did you learn about the religion?' 'was it through your husband?' apparently she asked him, was it because I fell in love with him... I went on to tell her I converted before he was even thinking of coming to the uk.. that made her smile but it just gets to me sometimes... I feel very vulnerable when people ask of my conversion, Im opening up alot to tell them and they always want more details :( Allahu alim Im sure they dont mean it to affect me in that way.

Anyways, home time... will finish this up soon insha'Allah

The interview

So I managed to get the assessment and interview down for the same day, turned up at the place quite early and took the test in about 10 minutes. It was 'which spelling is correct', 'put these names in alphabetical order of surnames' and 'do these sums' Well needless to say, I passed alhamdulillah and was given a time of 1540 for my interview.. I had to go for a tour at 1430 so it left me with about 3 hours to kill in Kingston (upon Thames, not Jamaica) But before that let me tell you about the girl who I pestered before even turning up to the interview on the phone and while I was there :) Her names Batool masha'allah, I so wanted to salam her on the phone but you never know how people will react to that.. anyways, after the assessment she took me to see where I would go for the tour and interview, she also showed me the prayer area in the hopsital (pic 1) we chatted about islam, me being a convert (her mums a convert married to an Iraqi masha'allah) so already Ive met a muslim, saw a few around the hospital, and found out where to pray alhamdulillah.
Anyways, I went into the city... its actually pretty big and I didnt even see all of it.. I bought some tops from Primark that are kaftans with some beautiful embroidery on (I got a black and blue one in the same style as Amtullah's abaya Hind :D ) for a fiver each, I bought 2 one black one cream. I got an ice cream, with a flake and strawberry sauce.. reminded me of the ice creams vans that used to drive down the roads in Liverpool :) Eventually I wandered back to the hospital, I went to the prayer room that Batool had told me she never sees other girls in there, to have to wait for a mat while 2 sisters prayed masha'allah. And one of them was a new muslim, or getting back to her deen cause she had papers on the floor for what to recite... bring back memories? :D It made me smile to see them.. so I prayed then went for the tour (boring!!) 10 minutes long when it was scheduled for over one hour long!! So I turned up to the interview really early but it was ok cause they were running late and although I got there about an hour early, I didnt go in for probably an hour after I should have or maybe a little less. I had the interview, I thought it went well, until i realised how dodgy i was sounding by all the random comments I was making... yes I was tired!! 'can the money go to an overseas account?' 'I was going to bring both passports!' yeh i know.. terrible eh? I hope it didnt spoil my chances insha'allah. They said I would hear back next week sometime, so please remember me in ur duaa... it looks like an amazing place to work and I really just need to get something soon.
On a more sombre note... my uncle passed away this evening, Inna lillahi wa inna elehe rajeoon, as you all know.. it wasnt a shock, but it doesnt make taking the news any easier. It just reinforces a whole lot of feelings in my head at the moment, for good? I dont know.. Allahu alim I just wanted to share that with you. Im not looking forward to the next few weeks I can tell you that. Anyways.. Im leaving you with a few others pictures I took over these last 2 days.. had fun with Rainbow and a mutual friend aswell as my pal Mina... :) pics on my pic blog :P hehe

Its been a long time...

To the tune of Aaliyah from one of her first tunes :) please note.. this isnt how Im feeling, I just thought of the title and instantly thought of the beginning of this song.
So yeh, its been awhile.. Ive been around, not really doing much but around. Its been a quiet and boring weekend, I spent some time in the garden mowing the grass and planting a tree for my grandad. Its in the most randomess of positions and looks like a twig sticking out the grass but its where he wanted it so Ill leave that to him. I didnt really do much else yesterday, took a walk to the shops to get some fresh air.. did I tell you the weather was stunning? I wore my new skirt (the crinkle silky one from LTS, love it!) Today I did a little more although not much.. my dad came over bringing my sister, her little boy and my brother too so was good to see them :) I got to play with my nephew and was pleased to hear that he recognised me and knew my name.. it always pokes me deep when I realise that a child I should see lots of doesnt know my name, which is what it was like for Matthew when I first came back to UK. I got to chat to my bro for a bit which was nice, and when everyone was leaving it was nice to get a kiss and hug off them both :) always makes me smile to think they still see me as their 'sister' when I was never there as they grew up, which I do regret but Allah has a greater plan for me. I went over to the shops.. again (and didnt buy anything, again!) but I did take these shots on my walk over.
My football team got through to the finals of the FA cup tonight :) so maybe thats why Im feeling a little better.. although according to my punky still feeling unloved, noone wants to talk to me or give me cuddles.. well maybe not they dont want to, just noone is here to do it
Ive got an assessment next week for a job in Surrey so remember me in your duaas ladies please.. means Ill be in London for a wee while :) travelling down tuesday and leaving wednesday... flying visit I know, but has to be done.. and as I dont really have anywhere to stay I dont really want to impose on people. The girl who offered me a bed is so generous masha'allah.. its what puts my faith in the ummah back up there.. Ive met her once, dont talk to her on msn, email, blogs, phone or text... I know her through a good friend, thats the only connection but still she didnt think twice about offering me a place masha'allah.
So tomorrow I will be organising a small bag for me to take down insha'allah.. and for tonight, thats all from me :D take care peeps.. peace and salams,

Home!

Well, Im back in the north Im not too sure where home would be right now :) Ive always been asked where I class home as after travelling around so much, to me home is where Im going at the end of the day. It isnt about who lives there, or what materials I have there, its just about where I feel comfortable to be going to when the day is finished alhamdulillah. I had such a good week with princess Ines shes wrote about a few things that we did while I was there. We went to the Sno zone in Milton Kenyes, halal sweetie shopping in Asda, Wagamama in Brent Cross shopping centre. I met up with Mina for a few hours we did East London mosque for dhuhr and asr, pizza hut, La veil (we were both not impressed sorry) and lots of chit chatting, shes a good sister masha'allah. I met up with another sister Sarah (no blog) from my forum and we chatted over several drinks in a few coffee places, we (ok I) even saw Neil Morrisey walk past Pret a Manger (guy from Men behaving badly) What else did I do? hmm... the snow really messed up things, but was nice to see.. oh yeh I had an interview for a job at a school on thursday would have been perfect but Allahu alim it wasnt meant to be, so now Im back again looking for jobs. I picked up a car on friday and drove some family down to Oxford to visit my sick uncle in Hospital, hes even worse than we originally thought and since I saw him the saturday before. Hes on a ventilator and the infection is still very strong in his chest, I just pray he gets better soon insha'allah.
Ive also come to a few conclusions and decisions about my private life and how things are going on in my blog... there are certain areas of my life that will be mentioned less on here, you probably wont even miss it.. but for my own safety, protection and pleasing of my creator I have to and I know you all understand.
Here are some pictures to leave you with :)
1. Baker street tube station, the Sherlock Holmes picture is actually made up of mini shadows of the same pic, its cool :D 2. Way to Sno Zone 3. Wagamama 4. Largest Indian temple outside of India (this is the story I got off Ines, dunno whether its Sikh or Hindu) 5. Snowman the girls made, arms courtesy of Nadia hehe 6. Sno Zone 7. Check out the snowfall against the block of flats 8. Bus ride from Brent cross

NW10

Just a short one to say Im having tons of fun with the snow (maybe not directly but oh well) and with the girls, but I really dont think I will ever get used to being called 'auntie' but masha'allah it sounds so cute coming from the little ladies :D Ive got some cool pics so far masha'allah.

Im here

In London... photos will follow in a few weeks but be sure I will enjoy my break down here :)

To clarify

it wasnt my birthday the other week.. my bday is in May I dunno why that was picked up on but all I can say is.. not 28 just yet! Subhanallah girls, after complaining Im getting old, then you go and add another year so quickly ;)
To let you know where I am if you dont see me for awhile, so Im going down to London tomorrow insha'allah.. Ill be leaving the house around 730 insha'allah, Im not taking my laptop and although she has a few computer stations in her house Im hoping that I will not give in to the temptations, there are many more things to be doing down there. Plans: snowboarding, film & food, visit to hospital to see my uncle, might get the chance to meet up with Mina or Jana or UmmiHabibati insha'allah :D (remembers to text Jana) what else? maybe a trip to a museum, Im going to be a good tourist this time and make the most out of my week! Ive also got an interview in West Sussex on Thursday, so remember me in your duaa girls. Then Im back up on Friday, picking up a car, staying at my cousins that night and driving back down to my uncles Saturday morning to sort out his house for when hes released from hospital.
Photos to follow :D

Bungee jumping

So Ive added this event to my facebook, I have to raise 200 pound through sponsorship to be eligible for it and well I want to know if I can raise the money before I actually enter and dont get anything. I would like to raise more... but at least the 200, Ive already been offered a fiver, so thats just 195 left to raise for these people who are trying to help our youth in UK.

So the question is... will you sponsor me? and how much?

Would you pray for Palestine??

So my girl Nora has written a post about getting those of you in and around London, UK for a 24 hour prayer virgil for Palestine. Would you be interested? All you need is a prayer mat & a bottle of water for wudu :) If you cant pray there are jobs that would need your helping hand too insha'allah. So please... comment on the blog and let her know your opinion on the event insha'allah

Hyde Park mosque

1 & 2. Breakfast 3 & 4. upstairs in the masjid
So Im now back in Liverpool, which obviously means that I left London today. I went out for breakfast with the sister I have been staying with, shes working 12-8 this week so we got up around 9am and went across the street for croissant & hot drinks at a cute little place called Raoul's which was nice. Then I went back to the flat sorted out my bags more, gave her a hug, let her leave for work... packed a little bag of food then set out. Got the 414 bus all the way to the London Hilton hotel (hyde park) and walked to the masjid... Thats when I saw it, signs saying they were doing renovation in the womens area so its closed Monday - Thursday.. I could have cried!! What was I going to do? So I stood outside, I got talking to one of the workmen (well he started talking to me!) about Islam none the less.. tried to tell me that I was wrong in thinking that I possibly understand the trinity, apparently that knowledge is only given by God through the Holy spirit! Anyways, I was stood outside when one of the workmen came outside and sort of muttered something to me. The initial workmen said to me 'sorry, did you want to go inside?' I was just nodding my head like... ooh can i? hehee.. so they pulled my suitcase in and were trying to find the guy who had mentioned it (he was praying) I spotted a sign for a 2nd prayer room upstairs, so I wandered upstairs, which was pretty big.. I was impressed, oh but let me tell you what the workman told me... they are making the ladies prayer area bigger downstairs by at least 1 room (if you know the layout of the mosque) maybe even the 2 rooms insha'allah which would be really nice to see next time Im down insha'allah.

So now im back with my family. Yes my khimar has come off but I still have hijab in my heart and I feel that my iman is stronger while Im here with my family. I have to fight stronger to do things here and God knows what is in my heart.

Short and sweet

1. the new 2nd cup :) well maybe not as nice as the white hot choc or the hot apple cider, but beggars cant be choosers now! 2. Edgeware Road 3. My local food eatery... I like the girls here and they even gave us free cakes the other day when I bought some to bring home for Nashwa :) masha'allah

So Im sat here looking at a few links for the job interview I have today.. I have interviews today and tomorrow... insha'allah will see what happens.. Im a little nervous to be in hijab for interviews, although I was when I started my last job in Canada.. I just pray that it isnt an issue, and if it is.. well its not the job for me!! Allahu alim.

Anyways.. short and sweet, event though I should prob leave in 20mins Im thinking to leave early. I have to pick up my tickets at the train station and get some money out to pay for the taxi at the other end... more money to pay out!! but insha'allah it will be worth it.. I was looking at flats just outside cambridge the other day (my interview tomorrow is just north of the city) and I found 2 bedroomed places for around 650quid a month which I was pleasantly surprised at.. maybe a 1 bedroom will be enough for now though.. will see, I have to stop getting ahead of myself! ;)

Peace and salams,
Ammena