My flat

I haven't blogged in a while... as usual..............

But I thought I'd give a quick update of what's happening to lil' ol' me...

I've bought a flat. Actually to be accurate I've bought half a flat under shared ownership scheme (where I buy a portion and pay rent on the portion I do not own)

Of the half I do own, 90% of that is mortgaged with the bank....... So in reality I actually own only 10% of the flat (and if include the money I've borrowed of my mum and sis.... well I own about -10% of my flat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Oh well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I moved in on the 22 June and so far I have bought no furniture - and the furniture I have I have scrounged of friends - hey I own less than 0% of a flat... I can't go out and splash money on luxuries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(This was meant to be a positive update but in reflection............. ah well... c'est la vie)

I've been a little busy!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiya fan club.......

I haven't blogged for a while (I won't apologise as clearly I was doing important stuff).........in summary



I've bought (and moved into) a flat under a shared ownership/equity scheme.......


I've been to Bratislava and Dusseldorf.........


I've read three books (Freakonomics, As Used on the Famous Nelson Mandela and Tescopoly) which I want to write about


I've bought a new phone....


I've worked my butt off at work...





It probably doesn't sound like much... but believe me its been enough...........

Mothers day....

Its mothers day today, and I'm ashamed to say that I feel like I've been a bad son!!!



This is not a post about me forgetting its mothers day and not getting my mum a gift.



Its more about me taking my mum for granted and not paying her any attention. I do constantlt tell me mum I love her, but I don't feel like I follow this up in actions. I don't keep her company when she's alone. I'm always late when I know she's relying on me.... and worst of all I think I put others before her.



I always say to myself I'm going to be better... let see if I change...



I LOVE MY MUM!!!

Its that time of year again....

....when people start to ponder over their useless lives, regret the things they've done and make futile resolutions which will last all of one week....

People up and down the country will be looking at their bank balances, relationships and waist (or lack of the first two and an excess of the third).

People will be sitting back and making resolutions in a attempt to become better...

So, hey, why should I be left out!!! I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring!

So here's my attempt at making a futile gesture.... (in no particular order)...

1. Become a better muslim - both in terms of practising what I know and learning more.

2. Look after my health - do more exercise (gym, badminton, football, kickboxing and squash).

3. Save more (become a tight @rse scrooge - some people already say I am one).

4. Do more for myself (go out more, see more friends).

5. Look out for number one (say no more to people and yes to me).

These are fairly general, but they are more a statement of the peron I want to be.

Lets meet in a year's time to check the progress.

Merry Crimbo

Hi Guys........

I haven't been able to blog from work.... cos they actually expected me to WORK...

But finally, I have brought my PC down to London and I can start blogging away at leisure... The cheek of some people is beyond measure!!!

But anyway, this is my Christmas present to the world.... enjoy!!!!!!!!!

I'm back

Yes that's right... the prodigal son has returned... the one and only is back in town.... The prayers of all my loyal blogfans have been answered.... The slickster is back in action... i've come out of retirement to entertain those whose lives are blighted by boredom, to inform the uniformed, to dazzle the stars, to rescue those poor souls crying out for hope... (ok maybe i'm getting carried away... ) Whether this comeback will see me rise like a phoenix from the flames or crash and burn like a boxer making a comeback having eaten one kebab too many... let me know if i've still got the magic... or whether i stink like a rabid dogs backside!!!!!! Sit tight. Continue plundering and pillaging. I am annoyed I have had no reports of your plunderous exploits.

The search for me..............

Before anyone gets excited and assumes that this post is going to be some deep and meaningful comment regarding some inner soul searching etc etc... I'm sorry to dissappoint you but its not!

While sitting at work bored, I was thinking about how I'd find information out about peope I know on the net... then I wondered what information was out there regarding me and how easy it would be for people to find me...

So i decided to try a mini experiment... I typed my name (Salim Suleman) into Google to see where I would rank....

And to my surprise........

The first entry referring to me was fifth in the list, it was my blogger.com profile!!!!

I also came in at number 39 with a listing on my old schools ex-pupils directory (Roundhay School)!

And the final entry I found was at number 149 - this was actually from a 10km race I ran in 2000. I came 347th (out of 364 in a time of 1hr 1min and 12 seconds). This was actually a good result for me as I had broken my leg a few months earlier.

I might try this search on other search engines and then post the results here.

It would be interesting if you guys did the same and posted you're results here in the comments!

(Oh and for you're information other famous Salim Suleman's include music producers. gangsters and guerilla warfare commanders!!!).

My Hajj (part 2 – The Journey there)

I’ve tried a fair bit to put into words my experience on the Hajj… but no matter what I say I can’t quite get the words right!

Anyway, I’ll start with the actual journey…

One thing to explain first is that to go on the Hajj, you need to go as part of a group. There are many agents out there who organise groups and assist you throughout the journey to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible and to ensure you complete the rites as best as you can and provide advice and guidance. To this extent they are more than just tour operators and are more religious guides.

The group I went with was Dome Tours and would like to thank them for making my journey smooth and pleasant.

Everyone I’ve known always says that Hajj is difficult, but to be honest, while it was physically demanding I would say that it was not the least bit difficult. Allah removed all obstacles from my path and provided me with assistance at every stage - everyone I know did their utmost to help my journey go as smoothly as possible.

Anyway, to the journey….

The group organised a coach to take us from Regents Park mosque to Luton airport at 4am. A good friend of mine (Najam) dropped me off.

Now picture the scene… young asian guy…. standing outside one of Europes largest mosques at 4 am…. in the British capital…. all alone….with a large suitcase and rucksack…. What happens next!!! Well I get stopped and searched by the police… now I’m not complaining, they were pleasant and friendly and I had no problems. Its just in hindsight its pleasantly amusing!

At the Luton airport we had no issues and we went through without a problem. We were then given a choice of putting on out Ihram (specific clothing to be worn while completing the hajj and umrah). I decided to put mine on at this point as I didn’t want to struggle on the plane. The Ihram (for men) consists of two pieces of white cloth, one wrapped around the waist covering the lower part of the body and the other over the shoulders – and absolutely nothing else. Once in Ihram certain restrictions apply (i.e not allowed to apply perfume, not allowed to propose) – the reason for these restrictions is that the Hajj is a journey for Allah and certain worldy things become forbidden.

Once on the plane I started talking to the other “Hajji’s” (people who are doing the Hajj). I made a fair few friends with EVERYONE being polite and more than helpful. Sharing and giving advice and gifts. The reason for this is that people were trying to earn as much reward as possible from Allah and everyone’s god consciousness had been raised.

Arriving at Jeddah International Airport, I was prepared for a long wait…. We had been warned that it can take upto 14 hours to get through the airport… (Around 3-4 million people going through the airport in a short period of time).. but we were out in less than one!!!1.

Once through I expected a long wait for coaches (again told it could take a fair few hours to get the coaches again, these arrived in less than 2.

Then began the journey from Jeddah to Makkah. This took around two hours. During the journey we were all say a prayer repetitively (saying O’Allah we are coming)… we had to have a number of stops on the way to hand our passports in……

Eventually we reached the holy city…..

I’ll say more about what happened next soon… so stay tuned!!!!!!!!

A hero falls

In all movies, the hero has to fall, to fail in some way. Nobody likes a show-off.

In bad movies, the hero rises in ridiculous and predictable ways at the last possible moment.

In good movies, the hero rises in ways that make you think.

In great movies, the hero never rises.

I am one great movie.

This is how great I am....

I can win a game of Connect 4 in three moves.........

There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures I allow to live.....

A Handicapped parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to me and that you will be handicapped if you park there.........

I once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!".....

Time waits for no man. Unless that man is me....

I don't shower, I only takes blood baths....

When I go to donate blood, I declines the syringe, and request a hand gun and a bucket.....

I can divide by zero....

When taking exams write my name for every answer... you'll come top....

I have... the greatest Poker-Face of all time. I won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoloy card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game UNO....

I grind coffee with my teeth and boils the water with my own rage.....

I once ate an entire bottle of sleeping pills. They made me blink....

I can touch MC Hammer.....

I played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won....

etc etc etc

MY NEW MOTTO

I have a new motto in life....

...its from the movie HEAT....

"Never get attached to anything on the street that you can't drop in sixty seconds flat when you feel the heat around the corner."

Those who know me will know what it means and why!

Happy Birthday to me.....

It was my birthday on 8 January... while I was away on Hajj...........

and a grand total of one person remembered........

With most people its not an issue... but with others...............

It just goes to show.........................

Ah well c'est la vie......................

I'm back.............

I have returned........ I have completed the journey of a lifetime... the hajj (islamic pilgrimmage) to Makkah....

I have returned with a bald head, a beard and a sun tan so some of you may not recognise me......

There's so much to write so I'll do this at the weekend when I can put more time to it.........

Hajj preparationa and forgiveness

Insha-allah (good willing) I will be going on hajj (Islamic pilgrimmage to the holy city of Makkah) tommorow, I have the following message for everyone who knows me and to whom I owe any apologies.

I would like to ask your forgiveness for anything I may have said or done to you. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me for anything I may have done. This is the rule of His Divine Court that forgiveness is not granted to the oppressor until and unless the oppressed forgives him. Allah Almighty has empowered us regarding "Huqooq-ul'Ibaad", violation of which, will not be absolved until we forgive the violator and the aggrieved pardons us, in case we have violated the other's rights. Please forgive me if I have ever hurt your grace, faith or heart, backbited about you, or hurt you in any way or violated your rights.

Please find it in your heart to forgive me.

Hajj

I have some excellent news.... Insha-allah (god willing) I will be going on Hajj at the end of next week...

Hajj is the islamic pilgrimage to Makkah and Medina (in Saudi Arabia) and is an obligation for muslims who are able to go and can afford to.

There will be around 4 million people there.. so it might be a little busy....

If anyone wants to know more about Islam or Hajj just drop a mail.

A realisation

I've had a realisation, a heart felt, serious thought of things to come.

Every now and again, you see life staring at you from a far, the people you’ve known and cared for move on in one way or another.

The events in your life have made you the person you’ve become. Your calloused attitude keeps you hardened from the bad events in your life and your inability to trust keeps you safe from your many enemies.

You realise that your “one man army”, full of hate against the world attitude isn’t getting you very far but letting your defences down to make life easier isn’t worth the trouble that it brings. Your inability to bond with people pulls you ever further away from everybody.

You also realise how each day seems to take an absolute lifetime to get through.

You’ve lost family, friends and relationships have broken down without any idea as to why.
The people you care for the most has no idea and it tears at you.

You realise you have no direction in life, even though you have more of an idea than most. Making something of your life just means a hell of a lot more to you than some; therefore it worries you every single day. The pressures of succeeding drive you forwards but also downwards.