Author: nhpureandsimple

My name is Nahla. I am a wife and mother of three children. I have been living in the UK for so many years. My first degree is in English Language. I also earned two Master’s degrees; one in Religious Studies and one in Creative Writing. I started blogging because I love reading and writing; both are more than hobbies for me. I read to learn, to understand, and to improve myself. I write to tell stories, to express my views, and to share my thoughts. I hope you enjoy my blog, and thank you for visiting.
Just writing

An accident

nhpureandsimple

 

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Accidents happen;  at home, on the road, in the air, everywhere, and people usually panic, fight, yell, swear (probably), or be friends (sometimes) as a reaction to the unexpected clash and the physical or financial injuries.

In real life, we rarely do feel anything appealing about accidents; it’s something happen without any intention or expectation. We panic and react in different ways, but it’s hard to realise the significance of any disaster even if it was just broken glass, until late.

But, in books, the dramatisation of fictional accidents makes the story more exciting; for example, a car hit a cat on the road, and the driver pushed the accelerator down to the floor and disappeared.  Another car stopped, checked the cat, and the story goes on telling the journey of the cat, the hero, and the villain.  ‘that was a good story,’ some people will admit at the end of the book, when they realise the significance, the message, the mistakes, and the necessary precautions.

Fiction entertains and also gives a message.

Take care,

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

 

Just writing

The umbrella

nhpureandsimple

 

 

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”Never forget the umbrella,” was the first advice I got before moving to the UK which was a long time ago.

We moved in the summer, and I’ll never forget how the weather changed all of a sudden. In the beginning, it was warm and sunny, but later, at night, it started pouring and didn’t stop for two days. The umbrella broke after a few minutes, and we got a new one, or more than one.  Over the first year, my husband and I always kept an umbrella in our bags, though we knew it was useless and wouldn’t stand long. A few months later we forgot about it and rarely got any.

The umbrella was just a piece of advice to make sure you get ready for changes, but it was not for any protection. Once we understood and used to the new place, we found out the route for protection.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

2+2

nhpureandsimple

 

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I was just sitting, thinking about something to write when 2+2 just came to my mind.

2+2= 4, and this answer will never be different, but these days things seem more confusing.

A person might pop on on TV, social media, or anywhere and argue for hours, for example about Cain and Abel, and says that Cain was not evil and didn’t intend to murder his brother. He will explain the psychological, philosophical, or whatever, and the interviewer will keep nodding.  But, the story in the holy books will never change; Cain was evil, jealous, and arrogant. He planned the first murder in the history of humanity and killed his brother.  So, no matter what s/he talks, Truth can never change and 2+2 will always = 4

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

Eyes to the sky

nhpureandsimple

 

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The Sky is mysterious, so deep, so beautiful.

Look up and see this marvellous creation.

Look up, and watch the clouds smile and dance or even weep.

Look up and watch the sun rises and sets.

Look up, and your eyes muscles will relax, your mood will change.

Look up and pray.

And, be thankful for living such a day!

These are my thoughts for today.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

 

Just writing

Names in fiction

nhpureandsimple

 

 

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The more I read, the more I realise that the characters’ names play an important role in stories. There is a special moment when characters introduce themselves, and when others respond. When the name has a significance, this moment becomes exceptional and impressive.

In real life, we, sometimes, pause and stare at the person introducing himself or herself, and feel something special, real, or odd about them.

One day, a friend was telling me about her sister’s newborn baby;

‘Shadow was doing so and so,’ she said, and I asked whether her sister is living in the Uk?

‘No,’ she said.

‘What’s the baby’s name again?’ I asked.

‘Shadow,’ she said.

‘Why your sister gave her baby an English name?’ I asked.

‘It’s Shadow, the Arabic name,’ she replied.

I couldn’t help laughing because Shadow in Arabic means the birds’ singing, the pronunciation is different, slightly, but it spells the same as the shadow in English.

It is interesting to play with this similarity of names in Fiction, isn’t it?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

 

Just writing

The ultimate sophistication

nhpureandsimple

 

 

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Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Leonardo DaVinci

We might agree or disagree with this view, but this depends on how we understand it.

I read this quote on a photo of two old neighbours, talking together,  in a place that looks like an old rural lane. I wondered how can simplicity be the ultimate sophistication, but the photo explains a lot because not all people can appreciate such a simple life.

Simplicity is not a simple process; it’s sophisticated. To sit on the road to talk with a neighbour and feel such peace,  just like the two women in the photo, requires a simple way of being.

Simplicity is one of the writing techniques or a recommended one, but a simple piece can also be the most sophisticated.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

Just writing

Usury

nhpureandsimple

 

 

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In Islam, usury is forbidden. It’s an unfair deal to exploit people in need and lend them money on the condition that s/she will pay back double or ten doubles.

But what if usuary was not about money?

I’ve just read this quote by Shams Tabrizi;

“Usuary is permissible in love. So, when one gives you some love, give it back double.”

Or more!

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

Just writing

Writing

nhpureandsimple

It has been four months since I posted anything on WordPress. I’ve really missed it and missed visiting and reading others’ blogs. It looks like I haven’t signed in for ages, but, sometimes, other priorities take all your time.

Today is raining heavily, and thunder is expected in midday, but it’s not cold.  So, the rain was the motivation, the inspiration to sign in and write something, but not about rain.

Today, I remembered an Arabic proverb about a lazy woman always likes to get help without lending others a hand with anything;

‘Pour me some of this fresh milk,’ the woman said, but she didn’t get any container.

‘Shall we pour the milk into our hands or any of the bowls you left on the shelves in your house,’ the neighbours replied.

In other words, how we can help if you didn’t give us a hand.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

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Just writing

Oat soup

nhpureandsimple

 

Image result for oat soup

 

Hello everyone. It’s been ages since I posted anything, but sometimes one gets busy with other things or a bit lazy.

Today it’s about my oat soup. It wasn’t my recipe, to be honest; I watched a Youtuber cooking it and decided to try. It’s good to try but not so much when you’re fasting. But, why not?

These days we are fasting the month of Ramadan. We usually break our fasting with dates, water or juice. Then we started with soup. By the way my boys sometimes ( or always)  didn’t follow the same order, and started with the main course.

Ah, back to the oat soup, it looks delicious on Youtube but turned into a totally different thing on our dining table at Iftar time. Untouched. All the soup was poured back into the pan, and today I’m waiting to see if the birds in the garden will have a different view.

Do you like Oat soup?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

PS the photo is of course not mine. It’s on google, but maybe next time, next year,  mine will be yummy.