Equinox II

"No food or water or sexual intercourse. From first light until sunset.
It will be enjoyable to share the breaking of the fast with someone."

I copy this from an email from a Muslim friend of mine - he works at the same place and is a very nice guy. I agreed to fast alongside the pupils for one day for a variety of reasons:

1) to get him of my back - it is best to be honest about these things and he politely asked a few times. Were it not something I'd already contemplated though, it'd have been a no,so this isn't really a true reason but is partly!
2) purification: my body, being slightly ill, being at the end of a long week/month/6 month period - thought it best t bring everything back to basics.
3) awareness - I informed the rest of the staff at my school about Ramadan without truly appreciating fasting. I vaguely recall doing similar when I was younger - a sponsored thing - but this is not raising any money - just thoughts and contemplative resources. Some people do not get food or water in a day. To make myself aware.
4) appreciation: let me not deny the bonus of getting respect from the Muslim students from them going "ooh, Mr Y, you're fasting..."
5) something to do - not being flippant though - it is rare that something new comes along to challenge me, to make me think in a different way.

Gulps remainder of water.There I will do my best to eat no food [quite easy], no drink [harder] and have no impure thoughts for today [er...]

Watch sunrise somewhere - thinking the Greenwich park - make it truly "I am here at the start of the day worldwise...."

Shower, shave, purify. Will write tonight when I have/can.
Insha' Allah?