Leicester Writer’s Annual Dinner

I’ve been busy tapping away to meet the Brit writer’s Awards deadline in a few weeks. It's hectic and trying to keep with the family chores too! My daughter Eemaan wants to enter the competition! Great! Our chances of winning will double!!!lol!

Attended the Leicester annual dinner last Thursday and had a great time catching up with old friends. There are some gifted writer’s in the club but for whatever reason some of them have not yet been published. You listen to them read each week and think why??? Yes, it’s tough! What really gets me is how strong and positive they remain. It helps you to keep going. I hope I can take it on the chin when I have to send my book out!

My film script, the BBC and Nick Griffin

Ok! In case you’re wondering what I’ve been up to? Well, I’ve finished my film script and sent it off to the BBC. So, this is when the real drama begins. I will be sending it out to other agencies, but I wanted to see what kind of advice I will get from the mother of all live broadcasts! I’m about to do a piece for the British Writer’s competition and perhaps, Muslim writer’s Awards. My eldest Eemaan has just turned thirteen and managed to meet the deadline for ‘My voice right or wrong bursary. I hope she gets it Insh-Allah!

Talking about the BBC...Oh dear! I watched Question Time last night. What can be said about Nick Griffin??!! I believe the BBC was right in allowing him on the panel. It exposed him for what he really stood for! He was mixing with the big boys now and they wiped the floor with him last night. His views were not just outdated but highly embarrassing. We’re living in the 21st century! Not colonial times! As the Asian gentleman rightly pointed out to Nick Griffin and his cronies they should all be shipped out to Antarctica to live their lives!

A premature Nobel win for President Obama?

As much as I would like to think President Obama deserved the Novel Peace Prize. I can’t help but wonder if he was given it prematurely. What with the war in Afghanistan, Palestine, and so many other unresolved issues around the world. He still has so much to prove as said in his famous speech `change’ is the way forward.

Perhaps it would have been wiser to have given it to one of the other six worthy nominees. Dr Denis Mukwege dedicated to helping rape victims of Congo. Saima Samar working for Afghan families. Greg Mortensen a humanitarian, Piedad Cordoba, Wei Jingsheng and Ghazi bin Muhammad. After all, they're risking their lives, helping people and delivering promises all without political motives and millions of pounds in the bank.

September?

In case you’re wondering what I’ve been up to the last month. Don’t panic! I’m still alive and writing! It’s the fasting, Eid and getting back to normal life that’s kept me away from the blog. I’ve nearly completed my film script too. So, it has been an extremely busy time for me.

I have some good news to share about Eemaan (my older daughter’s) winning story. Apparently, the judges of Leicester Libraries were so impressed with her work they sent it on to the Literature Development Officer at Leicester Council. It was done so in the hope of getting something further set up for young writers of Eemaan’s age. Hint..hint maybe a young people’s creative writers group. After all, the East Midlands is renowned for its writers.It’s so exciting to watch my daughter develop this interest. I hope she continues because who knows she may one day win the Man Booker Prize!!! She’s already up for nomination by her school on a Creative Arts award. Just watch this space!!

Ramadan and Winners in the Family!

It's our blessed month of Ramadan. We follow the lunar calendar to decide when Ramadan should begin. We’re going into the summer months for fasting and you learn to cope with the sudden change in eating habits. We begin fasting before sunrises and break it at sunset. Yes, can you imagine getting up at three in the morning to eat and breaking fast close to eight in the evening? I shouldn’t really complain as there are plenty of people around the world who can't break their fasts, which does help you to keep going. Ruqayyah my youngest has managed to keep three off her own accord. We are on our eighth fast and there are twenty two to go!

Besides the fasting, I've got some good news to share. Eemaan and Ruqayyah (my two daughters) decided to enter for a fantasy story competition run by Leicester Libraries. Guess what? They both won first prize! With no help from me, Eemaan had to do a story with graphic illustrations. She did a story on pirates with sea demons and sea dragons etc...etc. She's a good artist and I'm so proud. Ruqayyah had to draw a fantasy library of her choice. She has a great imagination. I wonder where she gets it from?

Walking with Dinosaurs

While I was down in London, I was lucky enough to get tickets for the arena spectacular of ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’. The BBC documentary series- which has been seen by over 700million people worldwide- the production is one of the largest and most acclaimed shows to come out of Australia. They are holding a series of shows at the O2 arena throughout August. It was amazing to watch talented individuals like William May who is the artistic director, Scott Faris director, Warner Brown script writer, Sonny Tilders creature designer, bring these huge dinosaurs back to life. It is definitely high-end stuff.

I came away from the show feeling well informed and excited to learn more about pre-historic life. In my school days, I used to find Evolution studies boring. But, this show has made re-think my understanding of the topic. Learning about theTriassic period (245-208 million years ago), the Jurassic period (208-144 million years ago) a time when Stegosaurs and Alloraurus existed. The most interesting part was the Cretaceous period (144-65 million years ago) a time when Torosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus- Rex roamed the world. It was mind boggling stuff! Before you say it, yes, it's great material for my fantasy book!

I did have concerns about the show. I wouldn’t recommend taking young children. The sounds were loud and the dinosaurs pretty believable. It scared my six years old niece, but she insisted on staying till the end. The steep steps were my other main concern. I didn’t think them suitable for young children. Funnily enough, I saw an older woman weeping outside our entrance section. She hadn’t realised how steep the seats were going to be and couldn’t sit through it. If you’re thinking of going please do check with staff if the seats are suitable for young children. Otherwise, it's a brilliant show to watch!

Tate Britain

I spent a week visiting parents and family in London. It didn’t take my kids long to get bored and pester me to venture out to central London. Both of my daughters, Eemaan, and Ruqayyah are into art. It was the most natural choice to visit an art gallery, so, we headed for Tate Britain situated in Pimlico. The good thing about London is there are so many free places to visit. Do your homework right and you’d be surprised how much fun you can have.

I’m a writer not an arty person, so, I did find some of the art on display quite bizarre! Especially, some of the modern stuff and I’m convinced my daughters stand a good chance in making it into art world! LOL!

Before you think me arrogant let me explain what was on view for the public. Bicycles with a bit of concrete slabs were displayed in the first few room of the modern section??? Exactly! Is that art? I don’t know. Another strange example was a cabinet display of medicines. No joke! It looked like we were about to be served in ‘Boots!’ Am I bad? No offensive to the art world but it was hilarious.

The part I enjoyed was doing creative art in room 17. Forget kids, parents were just as enthusiastic and competitive to show off their artistic streak. I don’t think my son, Ahmad, thought much of my attempt to make him a boat. Yes! I have to admit it was lame! LOL!