Mona Sidiqui

Families that make us feel safe and loved are the things sustain us, the most essential and rewarding gift of life. 10/1/23

Earning a living, working hard for the betterment of society is a moral duty, as if warship itself. 5/9/22

The story in bible believed that civilisations are always confronted with challenges. 29/8/22

We travel for Romance, for architecture, for the feeling of being lost, and hopefully left some good behind. 22/7/22

Recently I've been think about selling my car, but this time, not in exchange for another one, for most of my working life I relied on a car, it's just easier for daily demands of a young family. But now while having one may still giving me more flexibility, this moment seems like a real opportunity, a small commitment to a greener and healthier life style.

A couple of days ago my younger son tells me he passed end of year university exams, mixed results, but he passed overall. He said, I just want to get the pressures of last year behind me, and look forward next year when I can be myself again. As a parent and educator, I was attempted to go into discussion modes, the results attitude matter. But I soon realised what he really needed is to feel bit of joy and encouragement, to know that he's done his best and succeeded, despite the stresses of this past year and half.

Covid has made me realise how important it is to have certain conversations at the right time. 2 weeks ago my sister in law past away, she's been ill for a while with an aggressive breast cancer, which returned after 10 years. We'd hope she's safe now, but it spread everywhere. When we first heard her news of illness, the sadness was overwhelming, she was the eldest and seems like we're coming to an end of an era. I remembered when she first arrived family home as a young bride, she was pretty and glowing, full of energy and hope. Her immediate family living in England, and she was fortunate surrounded by her grown up children til the very end. With Covid restrictions to those of us who lived in distance, like myself, kept in regular touch mainly by phone and text. Towards the end I was simply writing "Salamu" and she simply reply, "praise be to god' each day was a blessing, but eventually she became too weak to reply.

Over the last few weeks I found almost everyone speak to tells me they had enough work from home. Initial novelty of the situation when home became container for our whole life was met with both humour and despair. But after a year of various strain and stresses, the physical world of work, commerce is again opening up, hopefully, this time for good. Not everyone is rush to return, and of course, it's not everyone is fortunate to have a work. Many continue to struggling losing their job and income.

A respectful society is built on mutuality, a shared sense of purpose between men and women, both at home and outside, appreciate the beauty of male and female relationship, lies both on its strength and fragility, where no one should have to live in fear.

Sometime a complete stranger can be very person whom we wish to unload our emotions, share our deepest secrets. And I think that’s OK, I’ve done it myself in the past. Talking to stranger can come with uncertainty, but also possibilities, as so much of our lives are spent at arm stretches. We all missing our families and friends. But I also missing the experience of being around people I don’t know, share a train journey, a flight, sitting in a cafe watching people go by. The comfort of simply be surrounded by different people.