#274 - Days without Number

Making pooris

Yesterday was something else. We drove to the Mournes, had a short walk around Spelga, ate at Castlewellan and then went for a walk around town. The weather ... well... the weather was the best weather which Ireland had to offer. Sunny and clear and cool - the perfect autumnal evening.

Then we got the boys and headed back to the house to make pooris - which was so delicious. I now know how to make pooris!!!!! Also, the best raita with Clandyboye yoghurt, and delicious potato and pepper curry made with nothing but mustard seeds and ginger and onions. I must start making the Hari Krishna food again. It just resuscitated my longing and love for that.

Then the conversations with Prema and Emma - it was so lovely and flowing and it was so interesting that Prema and myself were really not approving at all of the new hijab covering movement which has taken place in Kerala and Singapore. I did say though that I did ask a friend, did Singaporean women cover up now because they didn't feel a belonging to Singapore? It was a disenfranchisement to Singapore and it was a way of saying they were part of a Muslim sisterhood across the world? Because that I understand.

I guess it started by talking about gender and homosexuality and how it was not an Asian thing to be homophobic because we have always acknowledged the multiplicity of gender and sexuality. Even the Hindu gods demonstrated that. But the new Christian and Muslim fundamentalism was now smothering our traditional Asian acceptance. That was how it segued to the wearing of the hijab. There is an annoyance from women of my generation - feminists of my generation - which have an irritation about the hijab which liberal Western women do not have. They are far more accepting of it.

Perhaps the hijab is a reclamation - the hijab itself, like the word 'nigger' - previously a word that was used to belittle and oppress has now been taken up and used - like the word bitch - to empower women. Yeah, so what, I am a bitch - what's wrong with that?

Sisters forever

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Ten hours later...

Well Prem missed her flight because she got the time wrong and she was able to book her flight using her phone and using google apps. Just like that. She sat down, in Belfast, pulled how her phone, and looked for flights from Belfast to Bangalore. The app pulled up the combinations and using her bank in India she was able to pay the flight people and she submitted her name - and just like that she was on another flight.

I was incredulous. I said, I know all this is possible, but when I think back to booking my flights in the past... you called up a travel agent and then you told them the dates you wanted to travel. They looked it up and called you back and gave you the dates and prices and they were far and few between. Then if you MISSED a flight, you had to wait the next day to rebook the flight. You definitely weren't travelling on the next flight out unless you were some sort of VIP. And here was Prem, just typing away, into her phone all the requirements and the next thing we knew she had rebooked, for CHEAPER and she would get money back because her flights were Business Class and she was rebooked on Economy.

Such is reality now. Astounding.

Anyhow, I got back at 9.30, dropped Oisin off to karate, went back to the house to clean up, truth be told there was nothing to clean up because I had cleaned up loads already. Ghin was doing his homework, then playing Xbox. I fell asleep next to him, exhausted from all the cleaning on Thursday night, hanging out with Prema which was wonderful but tiring, and then we came home for a short while. We then went shopping for the week, got everything we needed, and then I fell asleep for a short while after watching Brooklyn 9-9.

Then is was 5 pm. And time to think about the week ahead. There is a Staff Development Day on the 30th which is a Monday.

When I look back on this week, I think of how quickly and also how much was packed into it. I have dropped a few things I was meant to do on account of Prem arriving, but that's ok. What I realised was how much I knew Northern Ireland, how much I loved this place, how amazing Northern Ireland had become and how amazing Northern Irish people are. In fact, how amazing Irish people are, full stop. Possibly, because it is still such a well kept secret, there aren't many immigrants here. Nevertheless, it is now more varied and cosmopolitan than ever and people are so so nice. Today at ASDA, standing in the queue, I was chatting to a woman who was smiling at me. She was a writer for the Newtownards Chronicle and did the gardening section. I told her I taught gardening in school. She was so delighted.

Amazing how quickly the light is fading.

Yesterday I ran around Ardmore - taking the Croft Road through to Carliston Road and then Princess Gardens and back up to Ardmore. I was astonished that it was so easy. All the running I had been doing has paid off. I am fitter than I have ever been in a very long time.

I also more prepared than I have ever been for the winter - the falling darkness. The routine now is such a familiar one to me. As we wind the light down, the speeding towards Christmas takes up a notch. I don't care very much for Christmas, but the people here, they are utterly nuts about it. In fact it is too too much.

I am trying to get a fix back into the routine. What should I do next? There is so much to be done. Lessons to be planned, house to be cleaned, laundry, etc... it is just busy. The great thing though is that I have cleaned Ma's house from top to toe. I hoovered, organised, dusted. It looks so great. I am now there in the looking after of it. It is back on track.

Right - life is magical really. I need to think about what takes place next and then put things into my diary. I also need to write a bit more. I can feel that. Lesson prep will begin at 8 pm and go on till 9,30 pm. So I have a couple of hours to get things back in order. I'll start with the car. I really missed my run today but I was too tired to do it. I did run on Saturday though, so I am really proud of myself. The routine is now wake at 4 am, write, run and then get ready for school.

Yes, Days without Number - in a good way.