Just Sayin'

I’m quite certain everyone’s heard this nursery rhyme before at one point or another. For those of you who haven’t, it goes something like this: Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after. Now, here is an ‘extended’ … Continue reading →

With the horrible transition of weather from bad to worse to worst, from stifling heat to scorching heat to blistering, furnace-like heat, here is a flashback that dates back to 2008. This incident took place during a hot summer day, in Music class, after the air conditioning had stopped working, and continued to not work … Continue reading →

Has it ever occurred to you that what we label as mental could in fact be synonymous to different? I have thought of this a great deal since reading Paulo Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die, where he touches upon this issue. The book conveys an interesting perspective of how no behaviour displayed inside a mental institution … Continue reading →

OH MY GOD, THIS IS SO HARD!!! This was absolutely the most challenging drawing I’ve had to do yet, and God knows how much more challenging it’s going to get with the remaining paintings. It is also my least favourite. I could not bring myself to like it. I feel like it is a total … Continue reading →

So, this was another straightforward piece to draw for me. I’m not going to go into details of the process, I don’t want to sound redundant. I was actually going to wait on this one and post it with my next drawing, but like I said in my first post, sometimes life just happens, and … Continue reading →

The Son of Man must be one of my favourite paintings by René Magritte. As is The Treachery of Images, well known as the pipe image (or is it?). The famous painting that portrays a pipe with the following painted below it: ceci n’est pas une pipe (translated to: this is not a pipe). So, I … Continue reading →

Immediately after publishing the last post describing the challenge I had decided to take on, I felt dread. I honestly did not believe I could pull this off, and I felt a tad foolish for talking about it so publicly and making such a formal announcement as that only leads to disappointment. It’s bad enough … Continue reading →

So, here’s the thing – A little over two years ago, I found out, quite by chance, that I had a particular artistic skill. I don’t know where I got it from, as I did not think I had an artistic bone in my body. This skill is quite particular in that it comes with … Continue reading →

This is not a fluke. I actually discovered the fastest way to weight loss. No, I am not kidding you. The information you will find in this post is all very factual, and has been proven true and effective. Dear readers, the fastest way to losing all that weight you’ve been wanting and trying to … Continue reading →

Alright then, back to this Valentine’s Day business! This time last year, I was quite angry (you can check out that post here) and rightly so! But fear not gentlemen, I promise not to go into an all-male rage this time around. Before I start, I want to clearly state that I am neither against … Continue reading →

I missed out on a very important post last year! But fear not, as I am here to make amends. Yes, I realise I’m about two months late, but I am going to use the old adage “better late than never” as my defence here. Back in November 2012, I was absolutely delighted to receive … Continue reading →

Here’s an interesting story for you today – and aren’t all near-death experiences interesting? I will try not to hype this up too much, but it was the most terrifying moment of my life. As such, I feel it deserves to be documented. In order to get the full picture, we’ll need to back up … Continue reading →

Hi, *awkward wave*. I know I have been MIA for quite a while, in fact, since I left my job way back when. I hope no one’s held it against me. I could sit here and go through all that’s happened since, but I’d rather focus on the here and now. I will say this: … Continue reading →

To me, Ramadan is what New Year’s is to a lot of people: The family gathering around the television sets anxiously waiting for that announcement that declares tomorrow or the day after Ramadan, all of us getting up to give each other hugs and to congratulate one another on the occasion, putting up the Ramadan … Continue reading →

On June 14, 2012, I had finally submitted my letter of resignation after one dispute too many with my line manager. I remained to serve my one month notice period, and was determined to leave on good terms. I put all my efforts into avoiding any altercations with my boss, or anyone else in the … Continue reading →

A conversation with a friend today really resonated with me. She said, “Death is invisible in big cities.” She then went on to describe how life was like when she lived in a small village in Cyprus. When someone died, the whole village knew that person, and they all attended the funeral to pay their … Continue reading →

Originally posted on Beyond Compromise – الثَّوابِت:
United Arab Emirates – It was 1948. A mass exodus of refugees occurred. Alarming radio broadcasts announced that the British army had turned over the country to European Jews and they in turn pronounced the land the State of Israel. As Arab armies interfered, they urged the people to…

I had quite an argument with my parents today. But we all get into arguments with our parents. One could even say it is a normal and common part of growing up and learning. I will not go into the details of the argument, nor the reasons behind it, as I am not here writing … Continue reading →

Love is meant to be one of the most powerful words in the English Language, but it has long since lost all intensity and meaning. Where it was once used to express a powerful bond between people, it is now used to depict mere appreciation. I think it’s fair to assume that everyone’s been through … Continue reading →

I was born in the Middle East. I grew up in the Middle East. I hold a Middle Eastern passport and I speak the Middle Eastern language. My parents are both from the Middle East and their families as well. I, however, do not consider myself a Middle Eastern. To be part of something, one … Continue reading →

This is a brilliant book, and an important one. A phenomenal novel set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962, narrated by three main characters: Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, who is fresh out of college and back at her parents home where she discovers that their maid of twenty-some years, Constantine, has up and left without informing her, … Continue reading →

It is Sunday morning (or Monday – depending on where you live) and your alarm clock goes off. You are so exhausted. You hit the “snooze” button. Once. Twice. You think five more minutes as you turn over in bed. It is time to get out of bed. Your eyes are barely open as you sit up. … Continue reading →

  And if you thought that version was good, then wait till you hear this acoustic version of it:   You know when a good song comes out, and you try to catch the lyrics so you can Google them and find out what the song is? Then you download it, listen to it, and … Continue reading →

I was informed today that my blog was one of many to receive the Kreativ Blogger Award. I have to admit, I was extremely excited, and the teeniest bit proud of myself, when I received the news. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cecile’s writers for passing this award on to … Continue reading →

To Whom It May Concern, You may agree that Valentine’s Day is an invented holiday and Cupid just a mythical creature. In fact, I assure you that Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday aimed at making tons of money out of dispensable commodities such as hallmark cards, teddy bears, perfumes and roses. However, be made … Continue reading →

As people get ready to embrace their loved ones, purchase those dozen roses and heart-shaped chocolates, and express their affection; Palestinians are having to go through barbed wires, checkpoints, walls, army jeeps, settler colonies and laws that prevent them from being with the ones they love. This year, Valentine’s Day pays homage to all of … Continue reading →

Tonight, as I stay up unable to fall into this thing they call ‘sleep’, I’ve decided to post reviews on several books I’ve read recently. It just occurred to me, why is it that we are constantly falling? We fall in “love”, we fall “asleep”, we fall “ill” etc. What is it about the word … Continue reading →

A couple of questions to get you thinking and whet your appetite: When did religion become so important? And more importantly, when did it become a labeling mechanism? Doubtless some are already expecting the worst out of this piece. Others are probably preparing their retorts and retaliatory arguments. Perhaps there are those who are already … Continue reading →

Not long ago it was that I was adamant I would not be caught dead blogging, tweeting or updating statuses. As it happens, I know a few people who are still assailing me with their “I told you so’s” today. I still remember sitting on a number of occasions, my nose at an upwards angle, … Continue reading →