I spent more one-on-one time with Baba today than I have since possibly 2009. Quite happily, he took me to masjid Mohamed Aly (mosque), Al-Azhar Park, and then for a…

We got our hair did, after which Heba was nice enough to agree to a partial walk home. During our walk, we received a few polite, albeit very curious looks…

It was our final day in Sharm, spent primarily by the water. But not before a breakfast at which, though we were only five people, there were 27 threads of…

Today was a great day split two ways: Hiking, and snorkeling. I am sharing only my favourite three moments, these a hard draw because everything was so wonderful – 1….

It is amazing that my aim is to suddenly get through a day without ruining my winged (above eye) eyeliner. Why? Four reasons in four days, as follows: – Three…

Formatting Note: As with yesterday, should you keep swiping past the words, you will often find more photos from the day on which the piece was published. “I look at…

Fact which I share with all family members: He is my favourite patrilineal uncle. Some while back, the Israelis allowed him to leave Gaza, and come to Cairo. Since last…

Shortly before the taking of The Sabbatical, T, my baba’s wife began planning the surprise for his 70th birthday – me. Last night, it all came together perfectly, much to…

Somewhere over Great Britain. I could have slept through her, but decided to keep her company instead, while drinking the truly shit Air Canada coffee. I am presently enjoying a…

I am sat at the airport enjoying the Christmas decorations and though it’s not yet December 1st, I am very good with this because I love Christmas and all of…

Beginning January 1, 2018, this has served as my heart-keeper. Every year, since I was a very young child, I have created and kept a journal. This year, for the…

For years, I have wanted to take my one year sabbatical. For years, I have always held off because I didn’t wish to take it without a partner, with whom…

I just told you about my summer, and the man a part of it, over this way. What I hadn’t mentioned was that we met in a more formal and…

Over the course of 3.5 months, I was involved with someone; near two months ago, we became uninvolved. Though short-lived, it was an important situation which taught me much about…

As equally as I believe that we all need to be responsible for our bad behaviour, I too believe that almost everyone is deserving of the space to make mistakes, and…

Editorial Note: Originally published on 2012/04/06. ——————– Imagine if we were swans? We’d croak when our partner died. No fun. Two days ago, I was discussing soul mates with my…

I can neither drive a motorcycle, nor identify a getaway plan were I able to motor this thing. Imagine then my sadness when I came upon it and could do…

It has been a minute since I wrote you, and for this I am sorry. I have read every single message you sent, and I thank you for your overwhelming…

Hello – It has been a minute! Thank you for all of your gracious messages that continue to filter in, and for your kind words asking after me. I am…

He and I met for coffee at Elgin Street’s Bridgehead. It was a really lovely afternoon of caffeine and conversation, and I had been over the moon to see him….

My first boyfriend was Libyan.  Here we are at Jabal al-Akhdar (Green Mountain) picnicking with our families.  Ever arguing over his fetish for jogging pants and how he soiled himself publically, we were…

Two things: (1) I am a Super Communicator and Clarifier. I go above and beyond the call of normal communication to make certain that the person before me is always…

Rumi wrote: There’s joy in my heart: I have joined my lover tonight; Finally free from the pain of our parting tonight. As I dance with my lover I pray, oh…

Last post, I promised to write something less toxic, so this is it – I have been thinking about both the personal characteristics and the characteristics of friendship itself, required to…

Preamble: I am using the feminine only for ease of writing. Do not misunderstand this to mean that men cannot be mean-girls. Being a little shit is not specific to…

A woman has been taking contraceptives behind her husband’s back. Wow. She’s come to me to ask WHAT? (I all-too-often honestly don’t understand how people function.) That you don’t want…

At Chai Latte Diaries, a man wants to marry more than one woman. His wife has already said she will divorce his sorry ass if he does; she’s come to…

A very unpopular subject this week about an often silenced conversation r- Muslim women being involved with non-Muslim men. We all know the ruling, but I focused on our freedom…

Last week, I was discussing the challenges of being a single woman in today’s world. We talked about what lessons should be taught to daughters and to sons and from…

If you met someone who lived in a part of the world you had never considered moving to, would you cut your losses or would you pursue it and not…

A Momma-in-law had hoped that she and her new daughter-in-law might become fast and intimate BFFs, but the daughter-in-law has very different ideas about family-in-law entanglements… “…the duties and obligations…

At Chai Latte Diaries, a woman is caught between her family’s pressure to pursue marriage, and her gut’s panic to absolutely NOT. “Fun Fact! It is always hard to find…

I recently woke up to an email which read, in part: I fell in love with you the night H introduced us at Oliver’s and you argued with me about…

Very recently, I received some information about someone with whom I had once dealt. From a person unknowing about the involvement, so unadulterated, unfiltered details. The kind of information which…

At Chai Latte Diaries, a woman secretly mourns the death of a past suitor. A little at sea, she is uncertain of what to tell her husband and how to…

At Chai Latte Diaries, a newly married woman asks what she should do when her husband won’t let her join his alone marriage-counseling sessions. On his own. By himself. Without…

This week, I was asked about inheritance laws and allowances by a single woman, the only daughter with two brothers: …your parents can in fact provide you with the inheritance…

For those who have lived here long enough, you remember him from the original post of 2008, because – oddly – I receive references about ‘the stand-up guy’ regularly from…

Preamble: I know it’s hard. We all know it can be crushing to recover from any ending, but we have all recovered. Each of us. We have all moved onto…

At The Chai Diaries, a man’s wife tells him she doesn’t “love [him] anymore” – confused, lonely, and worried about their children, he reaches out and asks what (if anything)…