British

I once spent a couple of weeks as a visitor in an open plan office, and the chap at the nearest desk was Muslim. The time I was there spanned the week before and the first week of Ramadan. We were all busy with a project, and in the first week people ate at their desks, bringing in food from home or local outlets. When Ramadan started, that all stopped. People went elsewhere to eat, or had big breakfasts and worked through. It wasn't a big deal - it was a mark of respect, and nobody was 'forced' to engage with any of it, we just wanted to.

The Muslim guy said he was the only one at home being observant, as his wife was pregnant, and his older mother and young children were exempt.

Tuliptree

petra

SueDomin
You’ve explained exactly the same problems two friends of mine who both worked in Saudi.
It drove them nuts 😩

And yet they lived there ….

And Muslims live here.

But why not live in a Muslim country where they can happily observe all religious requirements and are not surrounded by non-believers?

westendgirl

I think the comment about Dr Michael Mosely was extremely unkind and as Tuliptree said , unfair.
Have you ever fasted, Oreo? If you did you would see what effect it had on you, which is probably not quite the same as it could have on me. I am very sure that those who do practise fasting have the experience to to do it safely.Why do you think people should n't drive ?

I’ve fasted a few times over the years, not for religious reasons. I felt great, actually.

Interesting and informative thread. Quite enlightening in some ways. I don’t see it as divisive at all, depends on one’s point of view.

Facts have their place, but then again so does a sprinkling of levity…

MissAdventure

I'm not sure what direction the threads going, as is normal these days.
Instead of a discussion, its more like an episode of university challenge.

Yes, using only verifiable facts, empirical data and massive research please state your answers without deviation or repetition, what possible reasons can you give for… voting Lib Dem/ wearing a red hat/ eating sourdough bread!

foxie48

"I understood being British and living in a progressive society, with equal rights for all encourages free thinking so let us just be." from the opening post.

Yup, I agree with this. If people want to follow a faith that requires them to fast, that's fine with me. If they want to invite people to join them as guests, that's fine with me. If someone accepts the invitation and shares their experience, that's fine with me. If someone doesn't want to fast, that's fine with me. I'm all for "free thinking".

Yep me too 👍🏻

westendgirl

I think the comment about Dr Michael Mosely was extremely unkind and as Tuliptree said , unfair.
Have you ever fasted, Oreo? If you did you would see what effect it had on you, which is probably not quite the same as it could have on me. I am very sure that those who do practise fasting have the experience to to do it safely.Why do you think people should n't drive ?

I am on weight loss injections- thought it was a good idea to set off on a long journey with nothing to eat.
But half way to my destination I had low blood sugar, heart palpitations & ended up coming off at a wrong junction going to goodness knows where!
Just had a massive panic attack as I was completely lost.
I think if I had a good hearty breakfast my concentration span would have been a lot better.
So goes to show that eating nothing all day is no good for you if you need to be concentrating.

I was going to wish you well. I wont now

Tuliptree

I thought PMs could be used for well you know PMs about meeting up. Makes me wonder why that’s not happened.

Well, thats spoiled my fun.
I was planning to fill the thread up with all my ailments.

Thank you Cossy and Westendgirl.
I've also been invited to Hanukkah celebrations too. Delicious potato pancakes fried in oil, lots of games, great company and fun 😊

I thought PMs could be used for well you know PMs about meeting up. Makes me wonder why that’s not happened.

"I understood being British and living in a progressive society, with equal rights for all encourages free thinking so let us just be." from the opening post.

Yup, I agree with this. If people want to follow a faith that requires them to fast, that's fine with me. If they want to invite people to join them as guests, that's fine with me. If someone accepts the invitation and shares their experience, that's fine with me. If someone doesn't want to fast, that's fine with me. I'm all for "free thinking".

MissAdventure

GrannyGravy
I've an important date coming up at my favourite place, soon (the hospital I've not had a good word to say about!)
If they don't finally kill me off, I should hopefully be up and about at the same time as the traffic easing.

We could have a smooth run to meet up and have a chinwag.

Oh yes please 🙏🏻

The unpleasantness comes from the way some posters express themselves.

Cossy au-pairs, now that’s a rabbit hole in our family, I will tell you over coffee one day…

GrannyGravy
I've an important date coming up at my favourite place, soon (the hospital I've not had a good word to say about!)
If they don't finally kill me off, I should hopefully be up and about at the same time as the traffic easing.

We could have a smooth run to meet up and have a chinwag.

GrannyGravy13

Cossy good post.

We have dragged our offspring round the world, they have been used to different cultures from an early age.

They have friends of different faiths and cultures, all are beautiful human beings.

Coupled with their schooling, as I worked full time and had a spare room, each school year we had an au pair.

Mostly worked out (bar a couple of disastrous), all from Europe and almost all of them came from different countries, having quite a large gap between child one and two, we ended up with au pairs for many many years.

Children had no real choice but to learn about other countries and their traditions.

Our last two became our good friends, although they left us 15+ years ago, we have WhatsApp’s and photos of their own children now!

Tuliptree

petra

SueDomin
You’ve explained exactly the same problems two friends of mine who both worked in Saudi.
It drove them nuts 😩

And yet they lived there ….

One of them was put under pressure by the MOD.
The other one was there purely for the money.

I'm not sure what direction the threads going, as is normal these days.
Instead of a discussion, its more like an episode of university challenge.

MissAdventure

I don't see anything unpleasant in it all all.
Religious people observe certain customs.
Good for them.
There's nothing wrong with not being the slightest bit interested in joining them for a day.

That is not the direction of travel on this thread

MissAdventure

I don't see anything unpleasant in it all all.
Religious people observe certain customs.
Good for them.
There's nothing wrong with not being the slightest bit interested in joining them for a day.

I would join you for a day anytime, traffic problems permitting 👍

Yet another divisive and unpleasant thread.

I don't see anything unpleasant in it all all.
Religious people observe certain customs.
Good for them.
There's nothing wrong with not being the slightest bit interested in joining them for a day.

Cossy good post.

We have dragged our offspring round the world, they have been used to different cultures from an early age.

They have friends of different faiths and cultures, all are beautiful human beings.