Off Topic Spurlock's Ramadan Diary 2018

Yeah I know what next eid turkey?

Im certain it falls under the big B (bidah) category.

 

Going to meet a few of my mates this week, always got to open a few fasts with some homies...as usual I'll miss the vibe once Ramadan is over.

 

@Spurlock @JakartaToon

Getting harder to give fitrana or sadaqah these days.

 

I done a couple with mates and obviously last 10 with prospect of 27th night and laylatulqadr means more will be doing it

Yeah I really miss ramadhan when it's gone

 

I think it definately does...Eid is one of the things I have always enjoyed doing old skool, even up to having a mid afternoon nap because I've eaten too much.

 

Harder? How? I just give the fitrana to the mosque

 

easy to eat too much after all the fasts too. All heavy stuff, samosas, pakoras, kebabs, biryani/pilau etc

Truth be told I'm usually knackered on eid day due to the way start after staying up inast few fasts

 

I stopped giving to some local mosques as they don't give it to the right places

Some of the organisations now have to be government vetted

 

It becomes an incredibly long day...around 3pm time stands still every Eid I can recall...then gets interesting again around 7pm onwards when you start meeting the boys having done all the family stuff during the day.

 

****in ****e then...so where do I send it that is legit?

 

Don't know tbh. I know people who genuinely gave it to what they thought were need people and they got questioned if it was Syria etc

Mosques taking cuts and giving it solely to their own projects which may not be legit.

Organisations like Islamic relief abusing the money and I believe we not allowed give to them

Getting harder and harder

 

So what are you going to do with your fitrana?

 

Struggling tbh

Was thinking maybe send to Pakistan and ask relatives to give it to needy there

But again dad used to do that with zakat and it was going to people like one lady who had 3 grown sons and had some livestock so the question is was she even eligible?

I had friends who did charity runs to Syria etc but some of what I heard of them makes it hard to give them money

Wish I didn't know that, it was easier when I didn't know

 

Could send it to my aunties village via my mum...they will Defo know poor people. Will have a word

 

Make sure they fit the categories bro that make them eligible

Too many lazy folk living off handouts back there, like the woman I mentioned before. No way she is eligible now, was once but just used to getting handouts

 

Fasting hours here are 4am to 547pm so really not on a par with what you guys are doing. The money-giving thing is a big deal here and my wife's family is huge - the mother's keep an eye out for when they see the adults giving out cash and push their kids towards them. Standing joke when I am doing it is to tell them to say they want Pound Sterling instead of the local currency.

Can't get a parking spot in the malls now with everyone shopping for clothes and then all along the streets in the evening there are pop-up clothes stalls.

Zakat Fitra - I just pop down to the mosque and pay. They have a guy collecting every day now outside.
Sadaqah - we tend to do in goods as like you say its hard to know where it goes otherwise. Easy here to find people/scheme that needs help and small amounts of money go a long way. Even provided materials for a local orphanage once to build a new dormitory but bought bricks and tiles etc rather than giving them money. When our daughter was younger for her birthday party she took 20 kids from an orphanage to an amusement park for the day instead of having a normal birthday party with her mates. Very uplifting experience that was - one of the little ones just wanted to spend the whole day holding my hand and walking round with me.

 

Doing my bit to support you ... only had the "Little Burger" in Five Guys yesterday and without cheese ... no need to thank me ... It's nothing compared to what you boys are going through

 

Good job.

I thought of him when I ate my fajitas last night, I really did

 

Just heard we are at an open house in Watford for Lebaran. Mrs has sent me a list of all the foods I need to bring so as usual going to have two bags full of cakes and sweets.
Mass exodus from here starts as early as this weekend as everyone goes back to their hometowns. Jakarta population drops by millions and they reckon there will be 30million people on the move!
Its sad watching all the families left here trying to cope without their servants for two weeks.

 

Had a Ruby last night, felt a bit guilty what with all the hungry Muslims and that, so refrained from uploading pics on this thread. Went down a treat though - chicken, spinach and tomato, 3 red onions. Used Pataks madras paste, and wacked in a scotch bonnet chilli.

@Spurlock , will be expecting a recipe or two next Friday man.