Not a good start at all. I got fined at a London station for forgetting to buy a ticket from my area. I got so wind up, that I started to cry all the way into work (dehydrated myself!) because they charged me a penalty although I was willing to buy a weekly (I really did forget). And I had to buy an oyster to top it off as I normally buy weekly ticket cards, not on the oyster

You guys have to read this - its hilarious! http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/09/zaina-bin-laden-pass-notes

Not really - have you made any Val? Taking your wifely duties seriously yet?

BOB maxaa qaniiney?

^He knows what he is talking about, he has lived through the years. But seriously, young people are more aware of their Islamic identity more than before, because we happen to live in a highly politicized environments where the bad guy is an ideology and anyone who follows it or wants to live by it. To a certain degree, I would even say young people these days are forced to choose their identity and defend it as its the topic on everyone's lips. I agree with NG in that once(or should I say if?)this wave of anti-Islamism and counter extremism goes away, people will return to how they were in the pre-taliban era. I dont think there will be much change in how people practice Islam, but there will be less focus on it and the labels (secular, extreme, liberal) will mean less and people will care about it less within the Muslim context.

No - I think of Timeless charm

Waad is cayday NG!! Thats not a random old man, thats Fritzl (sp?) - the dude who imprisoned and raped his daughter and had a number of grandchildren-cum-children with her. Uuuc!!

^You're my favourite old man!

Oh just admit it Ibtisam, you're google friendly.

I really enjoyed watching Mo Farah in the athletics this past week, and was very proud of seeing the SL flag to boot! Haterz, walk that way >>>> p.s. not impressed with the fact that he isn't married to a Somali lady though.

Prometheus, try Chinese, its placed to replace English as the lingua franca of the future . I think Arabic is a beautiful language and as diverse as French or Russian. I dont know why you would think its not? Arch - if you're good, you should have a sufficient level of proficiency within 6 - 9 months. If you're language challenged (like myself), longer.

Living in London, you've plenty of choice, depending on where you want to study/purpose/environment. If you want a structured, accredited course, I would suggest SOAS http://www.soas.ac.uk/languagecentre/languages/arabic/ Otherwise, evening, dip your toes in the language and explore kind of courses, mostly to get to grips with basic writing and speaking, then try one of the general courses for people who are either just interested in the language or thinking of moving to an arab country http://www.ihlondon.com/learn-arabic-19/#Arabic%20courses http://www.cactuslanguage.com/en/languages/arabic/united_kingdom/london.php#part-time_evening_course Or if you prefer to study in an Islamic environment, try http://www.eaisonline.com/index.html or any of the big Masjids, islamic institutes, esp around east London.

Hey Cara - how are you? I had this weird dream last night where you come to visit me and and spent every second of your visit picking on me mercilessly (with not alot of luck, if I may say so). And whats even weirder, I enjoyed it and felt like I was missing you this morning!

Xiin, naga hor dhaqaaq, you're usually sensible laakin maanta your comments are a nuisance. This is one time I sincerely wish I was in Somaliland. The election fever in the past week has been quite electric. I asked my father if he was happy, and he said 'weligayba aniga lug'na kulmiyaan kula jirey, lugna udub, so I'm a winner either way'. LoL. Well done to the people of Somaliland, and so proud of the outgoing president, he will definitely leave a legacy worthy of his good name

Do you mean to say men who use their phone alot (chat or text) get feminine with the passage of time? Quite plausible.

I havent checked in for a few days - how is it going? Dont tell me the octogenarian is leading the polls...

Obviously very high since it was censored! The word I was going for is 'walaw*eyn'. What does it mean and where does it come from?

Where does '********' fall in the cay-scale markaa?

Look at that! the word qald*an is censored! Maba u haysan inay tahay cay!

Ibts - we're not speaking ******* lang here. Did I tell you, I was impressed with your spoken Somali on Friday? No kidding! Af soomali maahine wax kale ha igula hadlin maanta ka dib! Juxa - maba bixin. I'm still here.

Its canjeeRo!

Val and Ibs - thanks for the suggestions. The pressie IS for one of you.. I'm not saying which one though . Juxa - I'll send yours through the hubby!

Salaams trollers - *yawn* I've to get a GF a present - any ideas?

I dislike the title of this thread btw 'Rants of a man pushed to debauchery and lonely life by women' - it implies blame lies with the women. AT&T, ninkani haduu naagaha ku soo xareystay been, muxuu ls lahaa baa dhici markey runtu soo baxdo? Caqli xumada iska daa ku dheh, and I would suggest in aad sheekada ka gurin Why do I get the feeling though, this is some parts of your life mingled with your imagination