A Perfect Weekend....

Of course perfection in an absolute sense only belongs to the Hereafter, but I mean this in a poetic sense that my weekend was perfect.
Of course sitting hear now I could think of few ways that it could have been improved, but all things considered, it was near enough.
Lesson for you all: DO NOT LISTEN TO THE MOANS, GROANS and complaints of your TEENAGE SON about how he doesn't want to come with you, and how his broken ankle hasn't healed yet(although he was running around fine on it last weekend) and how he can't stand long journeys etc...etc...
You are his parent, you know what's best for him. End of story.
I was invited to give a talk in Abu Bakr Mosque in Nottingham on Saturday evening, so bundled three of the kids onto the car (including the above teenage son), along with mountain bikes.  Being world cup final weekend the roads were not nearly as full as usual, which made the whole drive relatively painless.

Star no. 1. Nice journey.

Although the talk was not massively attended, the attendees were attentive and enthusiastic. It was also one of my favorite topics, "The Importance of Giving Dawa." The question and answer session was also very constructive. After the talk the kids were really hungry (OK so was I) since we'd been traveling all day and so we went to the second best kebab shop in Nottingham, Chapati Junction.
After that we headed back to Hamza's pad and some of the lads follow us, and we sit and talk about Dawa the pros and cons of different martial arts systems (Hamza is well into them.) Teenage son argues that they are all rubbish and has wrestling match with Hamza, but begs him not to use his martial arts!? (Do teenagers realize how they manage to contradict themselves like ten times in twelve minutes?)

Star no 2. Nice talk, nice meal, nice brothers, nice fight, nice sleep......

We're up by 8:30am, after a basic breakfast and head off to Stafford to meet Ed, who is going to show us round "the Chase." First we drop into Tescos for munchies and drinks, and then were off to the Chase via  Mamouth Lifestyle to hire Ed a bike.

Now those of you who know me know probably know that mountain biking is one of my passions. Before we can actually start the ride we have two flat tyers to fix, and one of them proves very difficult. The tyre is so thick and heavy that its almost impossible to get it off the rim, and once its off its a mission to get it on again. In the ensuing struggle the inner tube gets a pinch flat and we have to start the whole process again! The whole getting ready lark takes a good hour, but in fact its all part of what mountain biking is about.
Teenage son meanwhile hops on bike and tries a pre-run from the top of the hill, and completely fails to see a ditch, but somehow amazingly avoids a major crash, but scratches himself up. He cusses the bike, and set his agenda for the rest of the day. Every time something goes wrong the bike is cussed, although the bike is excellent. even if it has seen better days.
The ride starts with a long but easy climb and soon opens out to wide open vistas.

The climb is followed by a cracking descent the end of which has us grabbing at our breaks and scrabbling for traction. Bilal (son) looses it and takes a second tumble. More bike cussing!

Nothing is too hilly for too long in the Chase, which is good and bad. You don't climb for too long, but then you don't descend for too long either. Kids can't seem to understand a simple concept that in order to go down you have to go up, and the ups and downs need to be equal. All this brings dreams of lift assisted ascents in the Alps. Myself, I like to earn the descents.

After a wonderful flowing hillside trail followed by a short sharp drop we head up into the forest of pines and wonder at the beams of sunlight dappling over the bracken through the trees.

This is mountain biking at its best. A fine day, not too hot, in wonderful country side with great trails that get the pulse going. What other sport gives quite such a combination of exercise, skill, adrenaline rush, and awesome vistas and the fresh air of the great outdoors?

Star no 3.

The day hasn't ended though, in fact the best is still to come. We stop off in the visitors centre for some baked potato lunch, and then hit the Garry Fisher red route. This is composed of technical single track, and is just superb! Ed is being brilliant and sticks with the girls and lets me and Bilal steam ahead. We wait at the end of the trail section and listen to the cries of delight from the girls.

Star no 4! The smiles on their faces say it all!

We go through five or six sections of these trails, some roller coaster like through head high bracken and others knitting their way through tight packed pines . Bilal, who didn't even want to come, now does not want to stop, but the girls, as much fun as they are having are getting tiered, and Ed can spot it.

He takes us to another Forest Centre, and leaves me with girls and heads of with Bilal to get the car.

We manage to get our foot into the cafe door as it's closing, but as the till is closed have to spend £10 on ice creams, crisps, drinks and chocolate. We munch our way through it and watch Adam, a teenager from Stoke perform some trials wizardry as he hops up onto and down from the benches.

We chat about out our bikes, rides, injuries and adventures. I try his bike which I can hardly peddle! Adam is moving on to freeriding and has it with jumps and doubles and trials. Me, well, I know that I'm beyond that anyway. Freeriding is  the buzz word(s) of mountain biking to which many aspire to but few really reach.

I'm just happy to be out on the trails, enjoying the air, watching the kids enjoying themselves and chatting to fellow bikers.

Star no 5.

Yep, its a five star, top marks Perfect weekend.

Thank you Allah!

check out the photos

Comments

[Zimarina]

I can't ride a bike

:'(

I got to a tricycle and never progressed from there- can you do jumps and doubles and trials and freeriding on a tricycle?

ARG comment:...only if you want to break you neck!
Anyway Zimarina, its never too late. I'm sure with your determination and athleticism we'd have you hucking 10ft drops in no time...
http://www.leelikesbikes.com/wp-content/093005elliottdrop.jpg

[sakinah]

title:mountain bike 16/7/06 Sunday

Wow, I saw the pictures you guys ride mountain bike. It looked so great. But I am a bit scared!!. Isnt it scary when you went up and down the steep with the bike. I hate to see any one of my bone get broken!!! How can i get use ridding a bike if there are a lot of steep hills. can girls do it?

ARG comment: Those pics were of my girls 9 and 11, but yes it is a bit scary. Like anything you take it step by step, and no, it's very rare to break bones, but expect scapes and bruises. Just say bismillah.....

[sakinah]

will you lend me a bike if i join the trip with you guys?at the end of the trip i will return the bike together with a chocolate bar specially made from New Zealand.

ARG comment: sis, if you live in New Zealand, you already have the BEST mountian biking in the world there! As for chocolate, then the best is from Belguim...just down the road from us. So we'll come to you for mountain biking in NZ and we'll bring the choc from Belguim...deal ;)

[Nuraini]

An Alternative Way of Communicating with our Children
Communication skill tool is built on the premise that each and individual is a unique person. It is often applicable to build trust between
parent and our children. Hiccups such as groans and moans are normal process of our childrens expression when there are beginin to adjust physically, socially to a new environment. These learning curves are their developmental process which are different to each an individual children. Therefore communication skill is important to build trust and friendship to our teenage children, irrespective of their gender, cultural background and religion.
The phases of these skills are applicable in sequence:
1. Be good and active listener to our childs complaints or consent (show our consent verbally and non verbally-body language)
2. Be sympathetic to their feeling (don't hurt their feeling by abruptly giving answers which they may seemed don't like it- use words and physical expression that show we are with them)
3. Once trust is created between the parent and teenage child, we can proceed to the next phase. Guide the child to explore the answers, possibilities of the outcome to complaints or issue. By this, we are not giving our answers and as well as encouraging them to be responsible to their complaints or issues.
4. Orientation phase, where we could advocate and mediate much easier once trust is built on.
Obviously we need more time, energy and patience and doas to Allah to help us always. This tool is based on research finding on promoting their wellbeing and trust between parent and children.

ARG comment: May Allah reward you for that excellent advice Nurani!

[Faisal Ibn saif-Allah]

As-Salaamu'alaykum

Indeed it was pleasure to have Bro Abdur Raheem green and his kids in Nottingham for the night. The talks was Good and the brothers and sisters gave me positive feedback and want me to invite him again which Insha'Allaah i will do.

Abdur Raheem kids Masha'Allaah are great kids and we had a good laugh with them and i think they too enjoyed.

it was good to chill with Abdur Raheem till fajr and just chat abt da'wah, Islaam, Martial arts(which i dnt like talking abt) and even atar (perfume) but sadly Abdur Raheem didnt like the 1 i had and said it was "typical" (thnks bro).
After Fajr i was dying to sleep but Bilaal would not let me sleep until he told me a story abt Jinns and i was like "bilaal im closing my eyes but u keep telling me, im listenin"

Bilaal was telling me some stories n he kept nudging me when i dozed off! but alhamdullilah he got tired and gave up. HA HA HA!

anyway i can cay much more but i gta go home!

jazzak'Allaah kher Abdur Raheem

Enjoy!

oh btw Hamzah is the black brother and the asian 1 is me...Faisal Ibn Saif-Allaah.

ARG comment: Faisle, may Allah reward you for that great contribution. Sorry I got you name wrong in the photo, although you didn't mention it! oops!

[Umber]

Masha'Allah seems like you all had an excellent time. The pictures are excellent and it looked like the perfect set to contemplate on the creation of Allah. I always find it so amazing when visiting places like where you went or the peak district that these are areas not so far from busy London and if we only stopped dreaming of the tropical holls abroad and learnt to appreciate the surroundings Allas has blessed us with we would be much happier insha'Allah! May Allah grant you many more weekends like this Ameen

ARG comment: Very true! Lessen your footprint. One longhaul flight takes up a whole years worth of carbon emissions!
Blighty is a really beautiful country. Peak district, Lake disctrict, Brecon Becons, Snowdonia, Malverns, Cotswolds, North Yorshire Moors, not to mention the awsome Highlands. That's just the "big ones". Then a mere 45 mins from London you have the Surrey hills, another half and hour the South Downs...Get out and see this historic, wonderful country!

[Yahya]

salam, no time sorry, please could you give ur thoughts on this lebanon israel business. hope ur well n that.

ARG comment: I've have avoided that on purpose and am not going to use this blog to comment on what's on the news. Firstly because in the heat of things you can't see/understand clearly. Secondly what is fact and what is fiction. The new we get is what the people who run it want us to hear and see, and its all designed to make us react in a certain way. We need to step back, keep quite and think. Only after time things become clear.
My Allah help, give patience and victory to His true slaves. Ameen

[Yahya]

Ameen brother. I wasn't talking about what's on the news though, I was refering to the acctual matter. I, for want of better word's, would be interested to know anything that you can tell me about it, as I think the only thing I have heard in relation to this that is not from the media is how it's 'them stupid shia, 'Hesobola''. Inshallah I should have access to the internet again now. May Allah make it beneficial, to me and you. Ok, ive just decided, im gonna try and make you smile. He he (you dont need to humor me or anything, inshallah I should derive cheer from my little escapade). Right, atempt no. 1:

Hangman. As in hang a man (here, man referes to a person of either of the 2 sexes) whilst he is alive, untill he falls into a state of death (i.e. the absence of life) most commonly due oxygen depravation or the snapping of the neck. However, in this instance I am refering to the popular game, played mainly by children, in which one player draws a series of lines (like so: _), each representing a letter, number or punctuation device above which they write the corrisponding letter, number, punctuation device, once it has been correctly guessed by the opposing player. Once said player thinks they know what word or phrase etc. the lines (_) represent, they then procede to relate to player 1 their suspicion. If correct they win. However, in Yahya's rules, if incorrect, they loose one 'chance'. In Yahya's rules, player 2, has 6 'chances', each represented by part of a 'stick figure' (i.e. 1 head (similar to 'O'), 1 body (similar to 'I'), 2 arms (similar to '/' and '\') and 2 legs (similar to the arms, only around double the arms in length)). This 'stick figure' is drawn on the edge of a 'noose' (similar to 'l'), attached to the 'gallowes' (similar to '_I_¬'). A 'chance' is also lost if player 2 incorrectly guesses a letter, number, punctuation device. Once all 6 'chances' are lost, and all 6 pieces of the 'stick figure' have been drawn, the figure is deemed 'hanged', signifying the defeat of player 2, and the word is revealed by player 1.

N.B. DIAGRAMS NOT DRAWN TO SCALE. THE ORDER IN WHICH THE 'STICK FIGURE' IS DRAWN IS USUALLY HEAD FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE BODY, FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT ARM, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT ARM, FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT LEG, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT LEG. THE GAME IS USUALY ONLY PLAYED IN JEST. THE GAME IS USUALY PROCEDED BY A CLUE FROM PLAYER 1 RELATING TO THE WORD, PHRASE THAT THE LINES (_) REPRESENT.

Right then, i'll be player one, and erm... anyone who is not me can be player 2. I'll take all of you on. An' what.

*CLUE: AN ACT, NOT A PHYSICAL ACT. SIMILAR TO THE ACT OF BEGINING SOMETHING, IN THE SENSE THAT YOU BEGIN TO DO SOMETHING, IN WHICH SOMETHING CAN REFER TO ANYTHING, BUT THE ACT OF 'BEGINING' IS STILL PRESENT. WORD IS WRITTEN, 'TO _ _ _ _', AS IN 'TO BEGIN', IN WHICH CASE 'BEGIN' WOULD BE THE WORD IN QUESTION*

_I_¬
.....I (6 'chances' left)

Incorrect guesses: none

Word/phrase: _ _ _ _

Begin.

Do not feel obliged to respond. If you do not want your blog turned into a virtualy playground, simply dont approve the comment. If hangman's not your thing...